Aoud Queen Roses

Applied on wrist....waiting, waiting. First reaction: there is a bracing, astringent, medicinal quality, reminding me of the antiseptic smell of a doctor's office. The aoud is a very strong note and quite strange for a "perfume". Perplexing. The top notes literally attack my nose and for the first few minutes I feel like I have been slapped in the face! Must be patient....Allow this formula to calm down..... The weird aoud character takes a bow and exits stage left. Next, a confident and quirky rose note strides to the front, making quite a grand entrance, and soon she stands alone in the spotlight on an otherwise darkened stage.... 30 minutes later.....in the afternoon a wonderful, heady, bruised rose is resting atop a bed of rich, wet earth after a spring rain; she seems to be sleeping off some sort of secret, indulgent activity, and woody aromas are swirling around, caressing the rose's petals. This is a softer, extraordinarily feminine rose - all woman, not spicy or sweet. She is not a shy rose, but she is on the quiet side. She seems confident and commanding, as well as refined and elegant - but one also gets the distinct impression she has a heretofore hidden, naughty side. Yes, a definite naughtiness and an invitation to come closer....closer...closer still.....that is, if you aren't too afraid..... Abandoning my initial thought to turn away, I place my nose into the center of the bruised rose petals and inhale deeply. 1 hour later.....creaminess, warm musky rosiness, sensual and satisfying earthiness. Soapy and dirty at the same time. Feminine sexuality - no, wait: masculine sexuality - no, wait: both. She is turning me on - I admit it even though I should stay in control. Confusing. Frustrating in a good way. No more dominatrix making my nose recoil. Just a wonderfully complex, very personal aroma which I want to explore. The Fragrantica description of this is ABSOLUTELY 100% right-on! It is an exploratory rose bored with her usual floral partners and instead dirty dancing with admirers from the narcotic and deep underground. I think I am loving this! It will require several wearings to really understand my relationship with this one! The next question for me will be to see how the husband reacts to this. In my experience, very few men like a strong rose note in women's fragrance. I have heard men remark that it reminds them of bathroom freshener or old ladies. Even if this scent turns me on, not sure what I will do if the men around me hate it..... Stay tuned, hubby will be home from work in a few hours and we shall put Aoud Queen Roses to the test!!

***** On Level 3 of the Tate Modern, London, there’s a mesmerising collection of Mark Rothko paintings called ‘The Seagram Murals’. Like segments of primordial DNA, these large canvases dominate and impose themselves on those who enter this inner sanctum with their ‘simple’ blocks of 2 colours entitled: ‘red on maroon’, and ‘black on maroon’. As part of a series they have a striking similarity to each other: literally variations on a theme with each painting expressing a density beyond the wall. Indeed, I recollect with fondness the time when my friends’ young son innocently and ironically remarked that ‘they all look the same, daddy’, as we adults admired this collection with degrees of intellectual critique! In this way Montale’s olfactory explorations with Aoud bear a striking artistic resemblance, as many of their dense creations are binary iterations comprising combinations of aoud and rose: the exquisite ‘Aoud Queen Roses’, for me, offering a centre-piece for Montale’s self-styled genre. As with the majority of Montale’s creations the impact of ‘Aoud Queen Roses’ is massive and unforgettable: huge brush-strokes of sumptuous rose adorning a canvas of bewitching, seductive aoud. Devoid of thorns, this is a warm, full-bodied rose and, extraordinarily, able to summon new physiological life somehow when making contact with one’s skin. The Aoud employed is similarly tantalisingly beautiful, resonating like an organic see-saw of contrasting qualities that flirt with dusty, earthy, animalic nuances, verging at times towards bitterness, to suggestions of impending sweetness as if masquerading as purest sandalwood. The crowning achievement, however, is the way in which the rose never withers on the vine, so to speak, and instead continues to flourish as if the aoud nourishes the flower above in symbiotic perfection. This creation sits closely to the wonderful ‘Midnight Oud’ by Juliette Has A Gun and less close to the Rolls Royce that is FM’s ‘Portrait of a Lady’. However, its closest neighbours are indubitably from Montale’s Collection itself: the latter a monumental achievement of opulence, grandeur and the highest artistic merit. Stunning!

Super beautiful. This was a blind buy and the only other real rose-oud fragrance I had tried was L'Autre Oud which just kind of missed the mark for me. It was nice but kind of elderly smelling, the oud was also quite a bit softer. This is just intoxicating deep dark roses, imagine a bouquet of DEEP DEEP red roses, this smells so rich. The oud balances the roses perfectly and yeah, it's just divine. Thick, heavy, but also very wearable. Super sexy. The oud is at the forefront on initial spray and over time the roses just emerge until they are neck and neck with the oud...the oud calms down to be less screetchy, more deep and complex...when I say screetchy...if you have smelled White Patchouli by TF, that's what I'm talking about. Almost burnt rubber. Weirdly this sometimes reminds me of WP, and I absolutely hate WP. Again, I think when you focus so hard on one note you tend to smell it more, so I try to focus more on the roses and then that goes away. Longevity 10/10 Sillage 10/10 I would really recommend getting a sample of this.

Let me start off by exclaiming that this is one saucy little Queen! The rose starts out authentic smelling, quite bright & frisky & flirty. It is not one-dimensional though, the oud lends this a smoky edge. It is quite lovely. The smokiness deepens and turns this rose from an ingenue to the dirty girl next door. It never descends into skank but it is alarmingly sexual in a vintage kind of way. I picture giggling girls wearing pink underwear with pin curls of all things! I could not identify what created this animalic energy, I guessed musk, but it turns out to be leather which makes more sense. I cannot actually smell the leather note itself but it speaks through a veil of rose, wood & smoke. Incredibly sexy. I do really like this scent but I keep expecting someone to come up to me in the office & ask why I smell like frilly knickers! I am going to keep this one at home, in the bedroom, from now on. PS - Agent Provocatuer can only dream of being this good.

Boy! When this fragrance turns, it really turns!!! I have been nursing a 2ml decant for two years, and when I got down to the last couple sprays, I realized it had turned...sour spoiled roses, mossy boggy overtones, and no trace of aoud left. A real scrubber in this state! So I can agree with Sherapop's first review when Aoud Queen Roses has spoiled. But when it is fresh and new, what a divine scent!! The top notes are bracing, medicinal, and icy to my nose. The rose, leather, and aoud are so masterfully blended in the heart, that the fragrance feels light and dry on my skin, although this is really a powerhouse scent with extreme sillage and stunning longevity. The leather note intensifies in the finish and feels like the perfect earthy counter-balance to the icy, medicinal start. I would buy a bottle of this if I knew it wouldn't go bad before I had the chance to finish it! If anyone can advise on the shelf life of theirs, I would greatly appreciate it!

Weird, divine, etheral, out of this world... smells like nothing I ever tried... The rose is a prisoner in an aoud cage; it's barely there in the beginning, overwhelmed, cold, sad, and distant; after a few minutes, it raises its beautiful, soft flower head, and starts spreading a fragile and delicate perfume... immediately it's caressed by a saffron air, that let's the rose know she is the queen of the castle, not the prisoner; from then on, she flourishes into a stunning and noble rose queen, able to rule the world, but still a prisoner between the walls of an exotic and misunderstood castle of aoud. This scent is unreal; I cannot describe it better than perhaps coming out of a fairy tale from Sheheradzada's 1000 nights; it smells very antiquated yet transcendental over time, space, sentiments. Truly incredible. Worth 1 million dollars for every drop, even though it sells for roughly $200 a bottle.

This was one of my faves years ago (see my 1st review)and I still like it a lot but my FB is almost empty (lasted years because I used very little) and I don't feel like buying again. Maybe Stella is filling my need for rose in autumn and it's a big rose with amber or maybe I'm just too conscious of my collection and spending money on perfumes is not the right thing to do now. I also noticed that in time the perfume turns, especially if decanted. I had a new purse spray and filled with AQR. Well, after only a few weeks it turned sour and vaguely rancid, I don't know why. Good perfumes usually stay very true, like the Guerlains, for years, but I'm no expert here. I really liked Aquila's comment: "If you are looking for something to scare away the masses, AOUD QUEEN ROSES is a step in the right direction" So true! LOL

Update: Well, had to take some time with this one to see if my feelings were truly love or just an intense lust and fascination with its eccentric character. After "experimenting" with AQR for a week or so, I have to say that the initial lust and fascination has indeed become a comfortable and satisfying place of "love" on my perfume shelf. UNFORTUNATELY, my husband did not experience the same lustful emotions that I did...I had a feeling he might not be drawn to the central rose notes of this fragrance. He was pretty emphatic that he didn't care for it :O( DARN!! Even though it doesn't work on my man, I think I will still wear this to turn MYSELF on!!! Ha Ha! Why not?? Life is short!!

I own and love Aoud Queen Roses as one of my more distinctive scents. It smells to me like the scent of an Indian princess (or Queen!). I'm not always in a mood for it and don't wear it as an everyday scent. For me it is beautifully crafted, eccentric elegance, deep rose, spice-saffron, hibiscus note is evident. I don't smell patchouli nor leather. I do smell aoud in this, especially in the beginning it smells like medicine smell or wet wood. Thta fades quite quickly (30 minutes) and leaves room to a beautiful mid-eastern romantic rose surronded by delicate saffron and hibiscus flowers. A true beauty. Not always appreciated by the masses.

I bought this blind based on reviews and description. This fragrance is pretty strong for the first 30 Minutes on my skin, although i just sprayed 2-3 times on neck area. Buuut after that it became very beautiful, warm and luxury. I have and had a lot perfumes, but never smelt something like this before. One of luxury perfume scents i ever tried. It smells like a beautiful sensual woman with power and character. I could smell it the whole day and on clothes it stays at least one week. Fazit: AQR is not for everyone. Either you like it or leave it. But you should give at least a chance. 9/10

Medicinal Oud combined with a beautiful rose - the classic middle eastern combination that has and will always work! Amazingly gorgeous combination that's deep, dark and oudy. Thus, it might seem offensive and irritating to the untrained nose, but to those who can appreciate it, it will fulfill your oud & rose desires. It offers great longevity and projection while remaining somewhat linear, with a fading rose note. Big recommend! Always have and will always love Montale's offering, especially considering the price of their fragrances. Rating: 9/10 - Amazing!

This lives up to its name. Just like a queen, she enters any room with a beautiful but dark presence. The hibiscus note is a lovely floral bomb on my skin & great addition to the rose/oud pairing. I get minimal patchouli and I don't get any leather at all but I don't care, I'm smitten. Three sprays at most since the sillage is great and I get 8+ hours on my skin. I spritz a teeny bit on the back of each hand before bed since I sleep with my hands near my face. Fabulous, just fabulous.

I bought this perfume back in 2007 and it was way too much for me back then. I had put it away and forgot about it until I rediscovered it recently. Maybe I got older and my taste in perfumes had changed, but this time I fell in love with it. It’s perfect for warm weather, one spray will last you a long time, especially after your own body chemistry comes into play. No fecal notes for me this time. Love its darkness and seduction...

this starts off with rose and a medicinal oud, but i love the montale oud in most of the ones i've tried. seventually the leather and oud come out and for a long while it's a gorgeous leathery-rose. it's heavenly. i think the hibiscus comes out more on the dry down, but it's primarily a leathery red rose. absolutely gorgeous, this has become one of my favorite scents.

I love love this. I bought this after seeing it compared to Attar which I also love. Beautiful rose oud. The hibiscus gives it a nice floral twist in the opening. As it dries down, it morphs and darkens. More complex than attar but still a simple scent. But nonetheless a beautiful intoxicating dark rose scent. In my top favorites right now.

I lovva. I nidda. I gotta have one!!! Aoud, rose, sex, dirt, leather and late spring storm - totally me! Beautiful strange aroma, clever combination, bombic reaction and just a love from first sniff! I wish it stayed longer... Axaxaxaxa, not enough of sniff

Although its marketed as a female fragrance, its easily unisex as most montales are, the rose is "alive" and smells as rose should in a good fragrance, the Oud & leather are just enough to give it depth. overall its a real gem from montale!!

Oh my. Love at first spray. I had bought so many perfumes looking for a certain type of rose and I’ve found it in this. Just divine and I’m going to buy a big bottle, as I only have a sample decant at the moment. Really beautiful 🥰

I got a sample from Lucky Scent and love it. It starts with a pleasant oud note, not harsh at all, to my nose. Then it develops into this gorgeous rich rose scent that lasts 5 or 6 hours on me. I cannot smell any leather in it.

Magnificent rose with subtle Aoud opening, mellowing to soft and gorgeous,very sexy. Very, very long lasting with great sillage. I sometimes layer with Montales' Ta'if Rose. Hope they never discontinue it.