Spicy Aoud

#240 in my "Tour de Fragrance" I picked this up in a travel spay and I am definitely ordering a full bottle. The patchouli, saffron, herbs and musk are all in effective harmony with the oud. Even the orange hint, which as usual is fleeting, adds a nice touch to the opening. I don't see this as unisex in the least, but hey, you do you. The projection is moderate. Longevity a good four hours. Not a Summer scent at all. Fine for office or datenight I think. May become my favorite Montale scent.

I can actually smell all the notes in this. Obviously oud is the dominant one but I can definitely smell the orange, patchouli and saffron as well as the musk. Not a beast mode montale but it does still have pretty good performance and longevity. 8.5/10.

I really enjoy this one. IMO, the spice comes from the saffron and musk; the musk carrying the oud throughout and the last note standing. The Montale musk note is strong and hard to wash out.

I first tried in on a warm day and I was like... meh, nothing special. It left me totally unimpressed. It's like 7C outside today, rainy and gloomy, and I'm really glad I decided to give it another chance because it developed beautifully and I'm finally able to appreciate it. This oriental is warm and comforting. It's not offensive as it stays close to the skin. Rose is not listed but I can smell it. I don't find it really original but it's spicy, woody and not overly sweet and its lasting power is 12+ hours so I guess I'm keeping my 20ml bottle. Would I repurchase? Perhaps not because I think there are more intriguing options in this olfactory segment.

Besides the notes listed on Fragrantica, the Brand's Webpage includes the following declared notes: Mandarin, Rose, Jasmine, Sandalwood, Leather and Myrrh. It bears some resemblance to Black Aoud, but in this EDP, the Oud is subtle, the florals are toned down, playing a supporting role by adding a soft touch, the Saffron Accord is very notieceable, and Myrrh, also very notieceable, adds a resinous, warm and spicy base. This is not as dense nor as strong as Black Aoud, but it's definetely present and long lasting. Perhaps not intense enough for cold winters, but very good for spring and fall. It's office-safe and unisex leaning masculine.