White Aoud

I had been wanting to try Montale for a while, and finally got the chance at an authentic fragrance discounter here in LA. I had been worried about the synthetics and all the headache inducing scents that people had been talking about when it comes to Montale. But I finally pulled the trigger, and this one won me over. This is the first “oud” scent I own. By no means am I am oud expert, but I had smelled Al Oudh before, and White Oud is nothing like that. I think White Oud was a great name, nothing animalic or dirty, at least on my skin. I have no clue what natural oud smells like, but the top is where I get a clean, sharp, medicinal vibe; this is what I assume is the “Oud” accord. The mid retains some of that medicinal vibe with added spices and florals. The base retains some of the florals and gets sweet and creamy. By no means is this a designer scent, but this isn’t a crazy artistic fragrances only niche snobs would like, either. It is quite unique without losing too much mass appeal. This is definitely a conversation starter. This does come off a tad more feminine than masculine, but a confident guy could pull this off. Just wear the scent, or else it’ll wear you. If you love sweet, creamy, spicy florals mixed with an oud accord, you’ll love this. I do recommend sampling it first, especially to guys. It’s no barbershopy aromatic fougere or cologne-like citrus aromatic fragrance. I do find this smelling better in the air than smelling directly on skin, but that’s just my opinion. This is the loudest fragrance I own. Super potent for the first 3-4 hours, room filling with only two sprays (and I tend to overspray). Lasts an easy 24 hours on my skin; it has even lasted 48 after taking 2 showers. Obviously by that time, it sits closer to the skin. Better for mild or colder weather, can go day or night. Better suited for a date night, a formal or black tie event, the club/bar, and for a party. This screams for attention, but in a pleasant and surprising way. I’m bringing this with me to New York, and I can’t wait to wear it out more. EDIT 10/08/21: I wore a polo a couple of weeks ago, washed it and dried it, and holy shit after 2+ weeks, I can still smell White Aoud on the collar even though I didn't spray my clothes at all. Just goes to show how strong this one is

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.

---> 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.

So far White Aoud is my best preferred in the whole Montale collection. The only detail I regret it's the first ten minutes: it is totally Dentist's office, with a huge, sharp almost metallic medicinal-disinfectant note. This metallic- medicinal part is what Aouds are like. This is really the worst part of the fragrance. Second thought: I really do not get how somebody say this is "sweet"? To my nose, it is not sweet at all. After those famous first ten minutes, you get a lovely, soft rose and some warm spices. It is so creamy! I guess the creaminess is given by the jasmine and the warm woods on the base. I can smell cedar, although it's not mentioned in the notes. The drydown is the best part of it: sensual, spicy, patchouli-sexy will get you smelling your wrists for hours; then vetiver, vanilla and labdanum do the rest. This is a marvellous round floriental, aoud based, and something that will not go unnoticed. I recommend this for winter and Autumn and not really for casual or office wear (this is huge). One spritz will do, as it has a huge staying power. This is a godsend scent (after the first ten minutes as said). PS I have 2 decants dated 2009 and they are way way better than the current juice sold nowadays (price has gone down but so has the quality).

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!

Even though the word "aoud" is in the name and the first burst of fragrance is of mothball-ish oud aromachemicals, the oud fades into what I can best compare to the wrapping on a gift of olfactory delights. For me, both the oud and the saffron are much softer than for others - really a sort of platform for the other ingredients than a central theme. What is a marvel is the synergy of the combination - the vanilla, rose, jasmine, cardamon, labdanum and, way in the background, the sandalwood. It makes White Aoud not just another pretty and interesting scent, but really beautiful, soft and very feminine. White Aoud was one of those very rare samplings that resulted in an immediate search for the biggest bottle I could find, after having sampled Montale's Black Aoud - too musky, Red Aoud - too fruity, and finally White Aoud, with which I had a real Goldilocks moment - because it IS just right... It also lasts forever, fading 10 hours later to a warm, ambery, sandalwood, and projects beautifully for a very long time.

Generally, anything with “white” in the name doesn’t appeal to me, so White Aoud came as a huge surprise. Woody, oud-y, and rosy, it starts out as a gorgeous, strong, Arabian-style rose scent. There’s a lot of vanilla to warm it up, a lot of saffron and some spices to spice it up, and the rose note is one of the very best that I’ve smelled anywhere. This combination is as near to perfect as it gets. It’s assertive but comfortable and soft, something that would feel right for just about any occasion simply by adjusting the amount applied, but it’s not in any sense a generic or conservative perfume! If it has a down side, it’s that it is not as long-lasting as an oil perfume, which would be more in keeping with the genre. I consider White Aoud full bottle-worthy, and have acquired a decant to go with my decant of its sib, Black Aoud, which I also love. Especially if you are a fan of rose scents, but also if you are a fan of Arabian-style scents in general, I strongly recommend that you sample White Aoud.

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!!

I have spent a lot of time trying all the new rose and oud releases; Armani Arabie, Atelier des Ors... even Sisley had one I think. And I always concluded that they are too powerful for me to wear. Then finally I had the idea to go back to the source, the godfather - Montale - and try a set of samples. They have a huge variety of ouds so obviously not easy to choose but i remembered black and white oud from years ago so I included them. White Aoud was my winner, it is really the choice for casual wear, suitable for the office, will not offend. Opens with rose, saffron and that medicinal kind of oud. Dries down warm, powdery, rose, wood and vanilla. It is definitely more on the feminine side, and very pretty. The scent stays close to skin and lasting power is not stellar, I would say only 6-7 hrs so struggling to smell it after a day at work. I'm so pleased I finally have found my oud!

Curse you Montale, just when I think I’ve had enough of the sameness I stumble on a gem! It’s true that Mancera and Montale are all only slight variations on the same theme, but for those with distinct (read: Picky) tastes, if you don’t like one you can find something similar but tweaked to perfection somewhere in the same house. White Aoud is a softening of the same ol’ rose-oud theme, with a leathery and almost barnyard oud opening that thankfully is short-lived. The rose is of the Damask variety, weaving in and out with its powder and incense facets. White Aoud finishes out with buttery orris and sandalwood. Throughout it’s bolstered with some yummy musk (am I the only one who would call musk yummy?!). This is definitely a perfume you should not sniff on your arm unless you need some sort of stimulation; I liked it a lot better when I sprayed on my chest and let it waft around me.

Had a really horrible experience with another Montale, but after hearing some raving reviews, decided to give this a try with a blind buy. Initial: A metallic, chemical bathroom cleaner nonsense, that is an immediate disappointment. 5 min: Less metallic, but chemical bathroom cleaner nonsense. I wanted to weep- I felt so much regret on this blind buy and giving this house another chance. 30 min: Much less metallic, somewhat chemical bathroom cleaner nonsense, but with a hint of vanillic rose creeping. 1 hour: Metal smell is gone, 5% bathroom cleaner. There is a vanillic rose rounded by some sexy agarwood to provide it depth and an edge. Probably the edgiest rose perfume I've smelled. The agarwood doesn't smell like urine, but it's sensual and feminine. I can't decide if this is a gourmand or a floriental. It's very polarizing. Impressed! Wow! Will keep updating...

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.

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.

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!)

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.

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.

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

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

Like extremebasketball15 below,this is the first ever oud I own. I had the chance to try it with a good sized sample and I fell in love with the warm,woody,balmy drydown. Yes the opening is terrible but only for a few minutes,it changes very fast on my skin.I dont detect any florals either.Anyway ,this is the only oud i tried so far that doesnt nauseate myself or others around me and lasts all day.( I wouldnt call it a beast though)Does anyone detects any similarity to Aromatics Elixir by Clinique ?

The opening is VERY INTENSE and screechy but after five minutes it comes to its senses and is actually very nice. I do understand the comparisons to MFK Oud Silk Mood but this is more oud, less vanilla, and added spices making this its own thing. Sniffing up close you get a lot of rose but in the air it seems more amber and spices. I would say this is a more masculine leaning than OSM. A safe blind buy if you’re familiar with Montale’s potency and the general scent profile of spicy oud rose.

Start to finish this is a lovely scent on me. Rose in a way I actually like. And oud in a user friendly way. A wonderful blend of cardamom and saffron that stays thru out the dry down. The creamy vanilla, but not too sweet. Sandalwood and patch which I love. This really is a perfect blend of so many of my favorite scents. I feel so lucky to find something that smells this great, but, it's mostly a skin scent on me.

For me it starts out, soft and subtle. I cannot detect any unpleasant note at all. Then it develops into a rich, creamy scent that lasts very well.I got this as a sample from Lucky Scent and I just love it. It will definitely be on my wish list. The different experiences from testers are really interesting. On me, there is no medicinal or harsh notes, just a beautiful development during dry down and beyond.

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.

This one surprised me. Bought it months ago and never wore it. Pulled it out last week and I’ve worn it about 3 times since. Love this as long as I don’t overspray. Admittedly a bit feminine, but I layered 3 sprays over Gucci Intense Oud and got the deep, mysterious scent I was going for. Highly recommend if you’re into eastern fragrance profiles with a western flare.

My first niche frag, and the favourite of mine. Even in hot weather I like it. you can read the notes, but no words to subscribe this scent. this marvel reaches the acient sexuality of the woman deep inside. If you wanna meet the rampageous female in yourself this shameless elixir is the right choice. OMG, I love you sooooo much White Aoud!

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.

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!

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!

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! :)

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.

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 just love it.

Absolutely WILD performance. Thankfully it has a smell to match. The whiff you get on skin and a few feet away is quite different. The oud is subtle when you smell it from afar. For all the Muslim male viewers this would slap on a Jummah. 10/10!!

One of my favorite Oud perfumes, doesn't give you a headache, very well balanced. wearable year-round, maybe only for special occasions in summer and spring.

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 .

The rose in Black Oud is too sirupy, sweet, headache inducing. This fragrance is much better in my opinion.

Amazing!Mysterious and seductive.Got people asking what I'm wearing all the time.Just fab.

Perfect :x I love... Very interesting, fantasy... best of Oud

Oh it is that good , Mouth watering good!

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.

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

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. I gave my NdN to my brother. I wear White Aoud better, personally.

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.

i get that unmistakable plasticky montale oud at first that smells kind of odd but which i enjoy immensely, along with rose and saffron. i'm trying this because of the comparisons on here to aoud queen roses which is a favorite. there are definitely some similarities, but this seems a bit softer and this rose is pink and the other is red. here i smell some of the rose greenery here and vanilla, which adds a slight sweetness and softens the scent. this is like a lovely slightly fruity/chewy rose vanilla. a softer counterpart to aoud queen roses, which is quite bold. love this one! reminds me of lush rose jam with oud. i ain't complaining.

This opens up very medicinal, I would suggest going easy on the trigger and spraying on a body part a distance away from your nose. I can see how some can find this headache inducing. Right from the opening it leans feminine thanks to the florals. The oud is a light player, so it's a very wearable oud for females. I like it, but probably a bit too floral for me as a male. This fragrance is a journey that has a very nice dry down, the down side is it takes a awhile to get there. Not sure how many can last through the medicinal opening that lasts forever. The vanilla and sandlewood base is very nice Sample before buying for sure.

This one is very interesting. First wearing in summer, I’m not getting oudh (not traditional oudh anyway) which I tend to register as a dark powdery wood note - I get the powder but more of a sandalwood note in the dry down. The top is a bombastic ylang and white floral with a simultaneously soapy and powdery feel. Quite vintage feeling (like a nicer and sweeter Ciara) floral amber. Present but soft. I think this will be comforting if you like floral and soap notes - though on my skin no rose (unless it’s blended that well). I look forward to wearing when it’s cooler.

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...

These are all great notes, but together I get a soft, powdery oud, with a similar vibe to Blue Amber. I think the name and bottle fit the fragrance well, and it's a pleasant wear. It projects great, like most Montales, but it only lasted 6 hours or so on my skin, falling a little short of expectations. I've tried 20+ Montale fragrances, and while this isn't my favorite, it is maybe top 5

The aoud in this one lasts less than an hour on me. After that, it's pure labdanum and sandlawood with little bit of rose in the background. I'm not a big florals person, but the labdanum in this grounds everything in a smooth and creamy base that's captivating. I really, really like it; it's elegant and also cosy, but I'm looking for an oud fragrance and that's not it.

This starts out with a ton of pepper and burning plastic. Horrid. After 15 minutes it turns into oud - still sharp and harsh. After another 15 minutes it is a beautiful rose oud with a touch of vanilla. Projection is good. It continues to soften over time. Will definitely purchase a full bottle.

My husband says it reminds him of a `Bar-mitzvah` when all the aunts start to kiss you :-) For some reason I really like it I can where it in the summer. I like the powdery dry down Edit: A year later. I dont like it anymore,it was a short love afair. got to strong and sweet for me.