To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Frontmann – :
Like the bad boyfriend you keep going back to even though you know it’s never going to work out. This will be my last time sampling Montale.
I’m doing some spring cleaning and thinning out of my collection. I’ve always read that this is the one Montale that many people can wear. Found White Aoud several months ago at a discount online, and purchased it.
Unfortunately it’s going in my trading bin so I can start dating … uh…I mean “wearing” other scents. I just can’t get past the sharp, harsh chemical laden opening. I’ve gone on enough trial dates with White Aoud, and one thing I know: he is annoying me to the point that I’m on the verge of getting a headache.
No other scents have caused such a vile, physical reaction, but yet I keep going back for more. Today I stop. No more Montales.
But I must mention one positive, the one thing every girl is looking for this fragrance has it: amazing performance. White Aoud can go for hours. Longevity is off the charts.
Sadly Pierre Montale and I are not a good match, I don’t think I will ever be tempted again
Ura9999 – :
This is a fabulous oriental scent.
The opening is a bit strong with saffron and aoud, then it becomes warm and sultry with rose and patchouli. The drydown is to die for, patchouli, vanilla, amber and sandalwood.
Sensual and sophisticated, this is a masterpiece in my opinion.
The lasting power is amazing.
Not for everyone.
I adore it!
Roba – :
You’re a biologist working overseas. You’re in a white lab, wearing a white lab coat and white latex gloves, sitting under a white light. You’re at a microscope, inspecting different bark and root cultures dissected from some ancient trees newly discovered at the edge of a mountain range in Malaysia. Out of nowhere, you get a phone call from your lover, and you step outside the white tent to take it. He’s standing right there, between you and the sun, surprising you with a bouquet of roses. He grabs you and lifts you off the ground while you’re trying to figure out how he flew in to see you, how he even found your research outpost. You decide to break for lunch and together you hike over to a nearby saffron farm to have a meal. White Aoud by Montale.
александр – :
Beautiful, smooth and creamy vanilla/rose perfume that manages to still be fairly unisex (maybe leaning slightly more on the feminine side but definitely something a man could still pull off…I should know as I’m one!). There is some wood (oud and sandalwood) in the background but it’s not that noticeable as standalone notes – more than anything, they add depth and smoothness to the fragrance.
VERY long lasting (24+ hours on clothes, usually more like 36-48)and definitely projects very noticeably. Definitely something for you if you like a sophisticated, not too sweet rose. I’ve gotten a few compliments on it, and they always included ‘sophisticated’ as a descriptor.
Нагорнов Сергей – :
I love two perfumes in the history of perfumes, I owned 100s of them, but still two of them I return to buy over and over again: Montale white Aoud for winter and Chanel coco noir all year around. I had my first bottle sitting on the shelve for months before I really got into it and White Aoud has become my favorite. it does have an almost unbearable smell of some kind of medicine, reminds me the smell of hospital halls… but there is more of course after the Aoud there comes the powerful rose, saffron and very pleasant vanilla, not a cake smelling one but rather sophisticated. Well, I really love it and people love it on me. Lasts very long and on my skin, it does not change much after 10 minutes. Although I love it I would suggest getting only a sample size for the beginning. It takes time before you appreciate this smell.
AlekAlh – :
I love this scent in theory, but unfortunately it gives me headace and leaves unpleasant smell on clothes afterwards.
Would definately recommend trying to waer it for a day before buying – my one quick sniff was misleading.
caster89 – :
For me it is a skin-scent. But such a pleasant experience to smell it from time to time, that I made an exception and bought it.
Vanilla and aoud, the sharp antiseptic scent combined with the warmth of vanilla. Not sweet, not pungent, just a soft melody.
Beautiful composition, I’d wish lasted more.
MrRado – :
One of my fav ouds. The initial phase is gorgeous. However in the dry down a note dominates and this is the deal breaker. Im not sure if it is the labdanum and incense combo. Worth trying as the latter notes are possibly amplified on my skin.
ctpatim – :
Montale White Aoud is a less celebrated cousin to Black Aoud, but should be receiving some more attention, as it’s a little more agreeable and easy to wear.
White Aoud is brighter, more floral, and more feminine, but not quite the overwhelming monster that Black Aoud is. Rather, a rose/oud combination with elements of saffron and jasmine, and a dry down of amber and vanilla. Pleasantly unisex yet still a bit provocative while not being too provocative.
Performance-wise, it’s still superlative like most many winter-leaning Montales are, though it’s not quite at the very extreme end of performance like Black Aoud is. Still, one knows they’re getting their money’s worth, performance-wise, when it comes to most Montales.
Not a masterpiece but a lovely mix of varoius notes, a variation of Black Aoud and leans toward the feminine and just seems plain more wearable most of time. Not one I’ll likely buy a full bottle of (I just sold my bottle of Black Aoud since I seldom actually wear it), but I’ll be content with my decant for a while whilst I pursue other Montales–bottles and samples.
7 out of 10
leha8633 – :
Oh it is that good , Mouth watering good!
edz633Diobtetty – :
This is the most BEAST MODE perfume I have ever owned by far. But its a lovely scent – very perfum-ey and a little more feminine, though its considered unisex. It spreads like bacteria…if you touch something or someone, they will smell like it. Cant wait for colder weather to start wearing this one! 🙂
qnm776Unlogrere – :
It smells like an old lady on a dentist chair!
fleellipt – :
Amazing!Mysterious and seductive.Got people asking what I’m wearing all the time.Just fab.
Skiatheos – :
This is a beautiful and addictive perfume. To me it first smelled like hand made incense sticks (which I like), and it took a few days until I could sort out some notes. And yes, rose and oud play the most important role, but the oud is tame. Vanilla adds warmth and there’s also a smoky vibe.
It’s intense and attracts many compliments!
ssoj – :
This is pleasant but not mind blowing. Sadly it gives me a headache after a while. Will not repurchase this one..
OlegGavr – :
This is wonderful, and the only Montale I can wear. It reminds me of Al Haramain Attar all Kaaba in the sweet rosiness and Oud. Most Montales scratch the back of my throat and make my eyes water, but this is, after the initial 15 minutes of harshness, the softest and most long lasting vanilla/rose/Oud scent. Sillage is soft but distinct, and longevity is over 8 hours. It gets better and better as the day progresses. I love to layer this with Mona di Orio Musc for even more depth and softness. If you’re not familiar with Oud frags, this is a great one to start with.
9/10
dth181elipseskism – :
Yep! I love it. Feminine oud at last! Labdanum with vanilla are always lingering in the heart, giving that graceful lipstick touch. Its very similar with different other types of fragrances, based on oud+rose+saffron, with Calligraphy Rose, for example, by Aramis, but here you have really bright agarwood, which nevertheless soft, crouching, melts nicely into the skin. Easy to wear and enjoy.
koly222 – :
Don’t like it at all. A great disappointment for me. It is not feminine at all, nothing gourmand in it.
It is just heavy, sharp and harsh fragrance.
It is alamost a medical type, disturbing fragrance.
A plus point fot the longevity, it is extra strong!
4 hours later is somehow wearable, soften to a powdery fragrance. But I can’t bear it in the firts 3 hours 🙁
pak71 – :
I’ve given this a full wearing this morning and taken it to the gym even for a deadlift and wod sesh. (Incidentally it’s the ONLY oud I’d wear to the gym and very lightly at that!) It has just become more and more beautiful throughout. Despite working heard I still smell good enough to devour. It just get softer and more creamy. First off it reminds me of being enveloped in an actual cloud. It’s soft and ethereal and powdery in a good way, like cotton wool. The dry down is utterly divine and starts to sweeten up. I cant beleive I’ve let this one sit on my shelf for a year thinking it was all too much oud and not me. I find it very very sexy and I’m definitely going to be wearing it more.
GORE – :
As many have said watch out 🙂 This company is known that can shock u out a bit with their oud compositions and this one all do not as harsh might come over as medicinal and in your face specially as the initial application… so if you want to get to know this better hold in there 🙂
After 30 minutes this will start to turn and will become something else… the oud mellows out and u get some really nice sweetness from vanilla and sandalwood coming through… now just when i start to enjoy the performance begins to struggle… at least on me.
I am wearing this today of a sample i purchased and this is the second time i applied it and got the same result … the opening is not for me but i am ok to wait for the rest as its worth is problem is when the rest arrives the thing is already a skin sent…
To put this in perspective I have applied this at 8 30 AM its now 10 30AM and this is skin sent only… nice skin sent but thats that… in this regards I will not be getting a bottle of this.
Regards S
макс бел – :
—> For those NOT already familiar with Montale:
Watch out, the opening might shock you! If you’ve never had The Montale Aoud/Saffron Experience, it can seem harsh, medicinal, or like bugspray for the first little bit. I really suggest only 1-2 sprays on your ankles or inner knees if possible.
But give it 45 mins and watch the magic! Not only will it last all day but it will project a creamy, spicy vanilla cloud to people around you. After a few hours the once-harsh oud translates into some exotic spiciness a lot of people can’t place, which makes it that much more interesting, mixed with delightfully smooth sandalwood milkiness, cardamom, and patchouli. Personally I love it, but it took me swapping off my bottle and having more oud experience before I could really appreciate it!
As a funny note, I had a coworker get in my car after I’d sprayed White Aoud on myself (just once!) in it about an hour before. He wasn’t into scents at all, and he commented, “Damn! It smells good as hell in here!” He might not be the classiest bloke but I think he hit the nail on the head 😉
—> For those already familiar with Montale:
In the vein of Red Aoud, this one is the characteristic nosehair-zapping saffron/oud/patch opening, mellowing out into the creamy sandalwood and vanilla spice I mentioned above (still with plenty of the oud tone of course). Longevity/projection are on par with their strongest offerings.
noseynose – :
White Aoud is one of the “easier” oud compositions for me to wear and I appreciate its femininity. It’s just so dang pretty!
Musty agarwood, milky vanilla and velvety rose make for a very rich, powdery composition – it asserts its presence, yet isn’t too spicy. Sometimes oud fragrances can be so harsh or strong that my head starts to swim, but White Aoud is one of the more gentle types in the genre.
I don’t know if I’d wear White Aoud enough to warrant buying a full bottle, but if I were to buy an oud fragrance for my collection, it would be this one.
neosmd – :
Another bug spray, NO THANK YOU, if someone interested in sample email me.
iii503elipseskism – :
A floral, amber smell. It has a medicinal (syrup-like) dimension to the smell. White Aoud leans towards the feminine side more the masculine.
It has good projection & a really good longevity.
================
I’ve tried multiple Montale fragrances. The vast majority of his smells are very usual, familiar smells to me as a Middle Easterner.
I mean I grow up smelling & using fragrances that smell exactly like Montale’s since the early 1990s.
White Aoud is no exception.
We have fragrances that smell like these for like 20% the price of Montale’s.
I believe the only reason his fragrances are highly regarded is because they introduced Middle Eastern-type fragrances to Europe & North America.
The only 2 Montales that I really like & consider buying are:
1. Black Aoud.
2. Amber & Spices.
& while I have not smelled a Middle Eastern fragrance that smells like Black Aoud, there are fragrances that smell exaclty like Amber & Spices.
I apologize if my review is harsh.
If you come from a place other than the Middle East, where smell like these are unusual, please go on & get yourself some of Montale’s & go & explore the world of Middle Eastern fragrances.
danilinpe – :
I tried this on today… and it reminded me so much of my dentist, that I put it immediately back… I’m trully sorry and hope I’m the only one around with the same horrible experience.
DrCrit – :
The oud is much stronger than the roses …. I smell the milk and nuts with a hint of vanilla ….. I do not like. not as bright as black oud.5 / 10
powdery as gucci rush.
Poitypeemiext – :
Somewhere between this and Black Aoud sits the blueprint that the Montale Aoud Dispenser (TM) references for its releases. This is the stock Montale model — a perfectly fine, cheapy-“oud” scent with all the standard parts on show. There’s the bitter rose, the latex saffron, the synthy sandalwood amber base, and the spices. Like Black Aoud, it’s very harsh and loud — vulgar, yet somehow refined. The difference between the two is that the rose in Black Aoud is more boozy and pronounced, whereas here, you get more of the saffron-latex. Absolutely serviceable for what it is, and if you don’t have a trashy, melodramatic “aoud” in your collection, it’s sort of the archetype. I personally find it better than Black Aoud as Black Aoud thrives on the bitterness of the rose whereas White Aoud softens things up a notch without losing any of the flare. Can you find better oud scents than this? Absolutely. But if you want a Montale-style rubbery-oud, this is sort of the touchstone.
gipqus – :
The opening has a sharp synthetic smell and I can identify it with the “bug spray” description as others say about some Montale compositions. The rose is barely there at the start, getting overridden by other notes rather quickly. Next, the vanilla turns up and takes it to the sweet side making it smell like a candy. That’s pretty much how the smell ends up, a linear vanilla and amber sweet candy which is getting quite powdery. The longevity is over 12 hours and in the first 2-3 hours it feels a room! This one smells better and rounder from sillage rather than up close.
Scent: 5.5/10
Longevity: 10/10
Projection: 10/10
serg3111 – :
It’s probably the best Montale’s release I own.
Great oriental composition. Although it’s more feminine than Black Aoud this fragrance is more comlex and times better (IMHO). Strong oily and after hours powdery. Nice purifying opening killing all bacteria around:)
A nice combo with Aquillaria and saffron. Rosa x damascena is pleasant (not withered rose in Black Aoud). 2 sprays are enough I do 5 and feel it whole day at work.
Scent 8/10
Longevity 10/10 (15+ Even after shower vanilla an amber notes still here).
Sillage 10/10
Versaility 5/10
p.s.: It’s all about oldest release (Look at the picture above. New release – no quantity below ‘WHITE AOUD EAU DE PARFUM’ in rectangular textbox is shown, letters ‘MONTALE’ are larger and the black bag is made of more rough material.
dimga94.92 – :
When I first received a sample of this I smelled it and thought “what in the world!” I didn’t like it or so I thought. Rather than dumping the sample and posting a review not in the fragrance’s favor I decided to just put the sample away and meditate on what I had just experienced. For days the scent haunted me. I would be doing something random like paying bills and suddenly, like a ghost, a hint of White Aoud would waft past my nose. No…I would not have put any on, remember, I put it away and away it remained untouched until it finally called after me, inviting me to try it one more time. I accepted the invitation, placing a few drops sparingly on my wrist and behind my neck. Love. That’s what happened. I immedialely fell in love with White Aoud the second time around. And now I’m off to buy a full sized bottle…
vsolov – :
A mild version of other aoud fragrances. still, the opening has a vague “bug spray” vibe that can be a little unsettling.
Then thankfully it starts to develop, like an opening flower. Saffron, patchouli, cardamom, they all appear shy but so beautifully.
How can a aoud fragrance be so delicate? It stays close to skin (unless you spray like mad).
It feels intimate and reserved, like the image of a beautiful insecure person that prefers to stay in the background as to not be discovered, but by its own silent and delicate humbleness it becomes the center of attention. That makes sense at all? Maybe i’m going crazy, but hopefully you’ll get the idea.
White aoud was a big surprise, It’s beautiful, a new classic scent. I guess most people will ignore White Aoud and find it less original than the rest of Montale fragrances. Still, I think this is a perfume worth having.
Megyv214Bessinepome – :
Got a sample yesterday and I am impressed. This is an amazing scent. White Aoud starts like a medicine cabinet, but grows into a soft powdery floral warm and comforting scent. It’s deep and addictive. It’s also a bit strange if you are not familiair with the Aoud thing. Try it and wait a little as you are curing from the medical shock. Just after that the truely healing-treatment starts, and believe me: don’t need to call no doctor. White Aoud gets you better and better by the minute. Like an elegant, professional and sexy nurse.
Do I want it? You bet I do!
Edit: I read somewhere that Montale is the imagemaker of all the Montale perfumes and that a man called Attar Atmeh is THE nose. Only for the reason that ‘Made in French’ seems to sell better than ‘Made in Arabia’. I don’t know if this is true and to be honest, I don’t care. What matters to me is that White Aoud is a real gem, that I love it and that it ‘s parked on my wishing list.
loothebor – :
The rose in Black Oud is too sirupy, sweet, headache inducing. This fragrance is much better in my opinion.
OBD Connector – :
White Aoud is so much more than a fragrance. It’s an experience. After one week I feel completely addicted to it! It’s as perfect as any scent could be, from start to finish and I never want it to finish. The harsh opening note doesn’t last long on me – not even 3 minutes. Then I get a warm blast of the sweetest most mouth-watering rose with a subtle backdrop of oud.
It lasts a long time on me. 8 hours later I top it up and enjoy yet a different experience of the top notes mingling with strong deep base notes. Pure heaven.
This fragrance is much sweeter than the scents I usually wear, but the sweetness is not like candy. It’s intoxicating and like someone else here said, dreamy. I think I could wear this every day for the rest of my life and never need another fragrance. (Famous last words!)
Grousafaf – :
White?
Yes, the white of a dentist’s scrubs with cold, steel instruments tucked in a pocket.
If you (like me) are not too crazy about Montale in general, don’t be fooled by the white description and expect something completely different – this is one sharp, medicinal oud.
Nothing soft and fluffy here.
pavelgraf23 – :
As a hater of rose (sharp and cold) and incense (funky and dank) I really like White Aoud. Saffron, sandalwood, and what-have-you smooth, warm, and blend all the edges into sun-lit sweet rose nectar. The sweetness is touched by a soft buzz of incense. A romantic woman’s rose perfume that is vivid, simple and delicious. It’s winter in NY and a few swipes from a vial tester lasted me more than 8 hours. Use with caution though, the sweetness can become shrill…
Lersendudge – :
This is some good stuff . I get way over 24hrs with 3 sprays . 2 on the back of my head and 1 on the chest . Any more than that and it becomes overpowering .
atamanyknazar – :
White Aoud is more soft and subtle than I expected. Your mileage may vary, but for me this pretty perfume was a definite low-frequency presence for the first two hours, and then burnished down to a very faint amber. Sillage and Longevity are not extraordinary, but this is an enjoyable fragrance while it lasts.
гиря – :
I’m unfamiliar with Arab perfumery and thought trying White Aoud might be a way to ease myself into that scent universe, coming as I do with an orientation towards traditional French perfumery. I wasn’t sure what to expect, maybe something heated and spicy, evoking desert winds and grilling kebabs?
The first 10 minutes are a jar of tongue depressors in a thoroughly disinfected doctor’s office. A smell I quite like! I guess this is the aoud. It’s woody and becomes more complex over time, the most complex woody note I’ve ever smelled. Then a rose starts to bloom and melds beautifully with the woody-ness. The cardamom and sandalwood enter much later.
Contrary to my expectations, I find this a “cool” fragrance. Not so much of the desert as a dark, interior room in the Alhambra where a single rose is blooming in a vase on top of an antique wooden chest. It’s serene and composed.
I wasn’t expecting to like this as much as I do, and I would encourage anyone who’s leery of aoud to start their exploration here.
I wore this in August, and its cool, serene quality felt appropriate to the weather. The depth and richness would also work well in cold weather, I think. My application was light, and I found the sillage to be very manageable. Using a light hand, I think the scent is even office-friendly after a half hour. Totally unisex — I’d quite enjoy nuzzling with a man who was wearing this, now that I think of it.
Edit: I was so enthused about this scent the day I wrote the review that I applied a second time, this time, more than the first. That turned out to be too much. With this fragrance, less is more! Apply with a light hand to bring out its great beauty.
Александр XXX – :
All things about the scent itself have already been said, and I concur. This one is truly gorgeous.
I would only note that, in my opinion, WA is a Western perfume, nothing Middle Eastern here, just a reference.
My only disappointment is the longevity. I have the newest edition, and in all honesty I don’t understand why the majority of people regard WA as a strong and long lasting perfume. On me it lasts for 2-3 hours, and after that only a sweet amberish hint remains on the skin.
Scent 9/10
Longevity and sillage 5/10
wart – :
White Aoud to me is the definition of “balmy”. It’s smooth like honey, sticky and light in the same time.
A very woody scent, its aoud is not medicinal or cold, like the aoud in Queen Roses or Black Aoud. This is warm and it smolders the person who wears it in a soft blanket of cashmere, vanilla, while flowers and woods! I smell absolutely no rose in here.
Silage and lasting power are good, although not as powerful as other Montales… yet there are times when it can be cloying.. Seriously I believe it’s reacting with the weather, or the mood of the wearer, or something. It has such a capacity of changing, it never ceases to amaze me. Some kind of subdued sweetness dominates, unchanged, but this is the only stable characteristic in this scent. I suppose this is the reason I love this scent so much… it has charm and seems full of indecision, but deep inside, it always remain soft and sweet. Is it unisex? Definitely. Is it sexy? Absolutely. Is it uniquely balmy? No question about that either. Does it stand out in the ocean of aoud available out there? Oh yes. Gorgeous!
Absommaalonse – :
I’m enamored with White Aoud. It starts out with such strong oud that I always think it will be inappropriate at work (who wants to smell like burnt rubber in the office, right?). But after about 20 mins, a soft vanilla sets in with some bright pink roses, then I start to swoon. The vanilla seems a tad powdery. The perfume reminds me of dark winter woods covered in pure, white snow. The oud gives the perfume an edge of sophistication that makes it very inedible. In contrast, Red Aoud smells more like candy to me.
The strange thing is that when I smell my skin up-close, it doesn’t smell much like vanilla, yet the scent of vanilla is very clear when it drifts past my nose. So I find this to be an ethereal vanilla.
While it lasts and lasts like most of the other Montales, it’s not as potent as some of the others I’ve sampled, so I am comfortable wearing it at work, as long as I don’t over-spray.
P.S. This reminds me of Noir de Noir, but less spicy and a tad powdery, unlike NdN which is not powdery at all.
Arrixrilk – :
Perfect 😡
I love…
Very interesting, fantasy…
best of Oud
PrionoUnsunse – :
The openning was harsh and strong, very medicinal but if you have patience to wait until it settles, about 30 min, it’s actually very soft and sensual.
sergorb56 – :
Old houses in the Deep South have a particular scent to them. They smell woody, but they also smell musty in a distinctive way as a result of the oppressive humidity especially during the summer months. They smell a bit like rotting wood, but also a bit like dust. The opening of Montale WHITE AOUD very well captures that scent. I am not sure what is creating this effect, but the light aoud note may be one contributing factor.
The roses are perceptible as well initially, but they seem far away, like dried petals pressed within the crumbling pages of old books. The overall olfactory experience ends up reminding me of my grandmother, a bona fide Southern Belle. I realize that this makes it sound as though I am calling WHITE AOUD an “old lady perfume”, but this particular instantiation of that idea is very different from what most people appear to mean by the expression. No aldehydes and no oak moss here. Nor does this smell anything like SHALIMAR or L’HEURE BLEUE, which some have remarked is the dominant scent of senescent women in retirement homes.
As WHITE AOUD dries down, the “old house in the South” effect fades a bit, and the rose and patchouli come forth much more. I like some other rose-patchouli perfumes better than this one, but WHITE AOUD is nice for the trip down memory lane which it affords.
aleks528 – :
Urrggh, this is SOOOOO cloying, I want to puke! It seems that cloying sweetness is the signature for Montales. Sure you can smell the medicinal aoud in this one but only for the first 30 minutes as the rose pleasantly plays peekaboo with you, whispering sweet nothings about a fairytale trip ahead…. which you soon realize is a trick because once your blindfolds come off, you find yourself at the destination of cheap, cloying and generic $5 perfumes!
BOOT123 – :
This is the nicest aoud I have ever smelled. Very soft and nice, not “funky.” I don’t think I could wear it but I appreciate the deftness of its construction.
JPomhmyE – :
This last weekend we took my son to the racetrack to see if he has any interest in racing. My husband races, and we thought it would be a fun family sport. While we were signing him up I noticed this wonderful smell coming from the couple in front of us…couldn’t tell whether it was the woman or the man…unisex and lovely scent. Every so often I got a waft and I almost went up and asked what it was. They were from somewhere in the UK (I noticed their accents) and I was sure it was something niche and different. We got busy and I didn’t ask.
Then a bit later I was standing by some other people and amazingly another of the group smelled awesome as well…wait a minute…they smelled the same….wait another minute…HEY, that’s ME that smells so good! LOL What sample did I try this morning? Montale White Aoud. Smelled rosy and medicinal when I first applied, but my husband assured me it wasn’t offensive. I put a dab on each elbow (so I wouldn’t get any on my infant son) and forgot about it. Later it had developed into the most beautiful scent…not rosy, not woody, not patchouli, not exactly vanilla, but they were all there in equal parts just making a scent that was all it’s own. And the sillage was just right to waft every now and again to my nose.
I have since smelled Midnight Oud from JHAG, and understand the “bandaid” associated smell of the oud opening. These two smell quite alike in the beginning to my nose, but develop in a completely different way. Montale White Aoud is beautiful and creamy. I can see this becoming a go to scent this summer.
I purchased a full bottle, and luckily got a set of 7 Montale samples along with. I should be set for another week….
lakimen – :
Never really was that into aoud, or so i thought. Apparently i just didn’t know what real aoud smells like n how well it dries down. at first spray, i wasn’t excited bout this, but then the dry down got me going crazy. I think i finally understand the beauty of aoud. Jeca describes the fragrance well. its scent is just how she described it.
zazorg – :
I’m not an expert regarding oud, I also believe that this is an over spoken note in perfumery nowadays and this is a strange fact because all the literature I’ve turn to, regarding oud, says that -the natural one- is a very rare and precious ingredient and consequently highly expensive; but also a 50 and 50 natural/ synthetic oud can be quite dear all the same. In any case I ‘ve been really impressed by Montale’s W.O! I knew about the first shoking impression, all the ‘medicine’ evolution but after that my skin and my impression would be really positive towards it. I like it and I like all the pleasant surprises it brings if you’re relaxed enough to ‘listen’ to the fragrance quietly as normally should be before shooting some words or passing any judgement ; ) Saffron and rose (on my skin) are quite evident in the dry down. Nice sillage and persistence also.
kalan – :
Well, I received my bottle of White Aoud in the post this morning, having purchased it blindly from a lovely shop in Canada. On first spray this struck me as quite harsh and as other reviewers have said ‘chemical/medicinal’. In fact it reminded me of pink paraffin with some cardoman peeping through. Unexpectedly, it’s not unpleasant, but for me the true beauty of this perfume lies at its heart when it has settled down. After about half an hour all harshness disappears and it morphs into an edgy,creamy rose. It is almost like warm almond milk with a touch of whiskey – velvety smooth, slightly sweet, with an almost boozy / spicy twist (possibly the saffron). To me there is more than a hint of heliotrope, however I see there is no mention of heliotrope in the listed notes. I would definitely wear this on a night out – it’s all out glam which I adore. It’s very ‘darkly’ feminine – devilishly so!! This is a woman who knows exactly what she wants,and just how to get it…sumptuous and lush!!
klodi100 – :
I have just received my White Aoud and it does have this medicinal smell along with hints of amber. I can even tell you the name of this medicinal smell,Geritol! lol I don’t know why it smells like this but I had hoped for something a little more surprising than this. I”m gonna try 2 more of Montale they are Chypre Vanille and Dark Purple and hope for the best. If its not gud than I’m back to Western perfumes i.e. Tom Fords, Bond No 9.
seriu1839 – :
It’s oud-y, amber-y, and a little hint of rosy on my skin. I am pretty bad at detecting notes, so all I can say is: “What on earth did they do with the scents so that it smells sooooo GOOD?”
Warm, close to skin, and very well-blended.
I