Wood and Spices

This is a second review. When I started this hobby, this came across as weird in a sharp unpleasant way, especially in the opening. However, I decided to revisit it years later, and 400 bottles later, and this thing was stunning. So comforting, so sweet, not in a cheap cloying way, but rather in an elegant sophisticated, warm woody (sweet creamy sandalwood) way. I don't detect any oud, but if there is any, it's so well blended with the touches of incense that is present in it. The woods, especially the creamy sandalwood and the omnipresent yet minor sharp clean vetiver are blended in the same way they're blended in something like Creed Original Santal, yet they don't smell alike at all. I really like it. However that said, this I have to be in a certain uplifted mood to wear it, and I don't know why. People around me always like it, in an expected way, not in a "what are you wearing way". Wood and Spices have way more elements in its construction than the note breakdown suggests. I can detect some florals in the background, like a cooling geranium, and maybe a little rose (very minimal), and aldehydes. Think of it as a more complex Dunhill Desire Red, without the designer fruity notes, but with more creamy woods and depth. Some people get a cat piss scent and I do think this has a touch of cassis, but also it's the sweet sandalwood mixed with vetiver that might bring in this note into play. If you really try to smell it up close and try to separate the composition, you'll no longer get that smell. In the air, this is beautiful, but DO NOT over spray...I can over spray real beast mode fragrances but will not do that here. If you like spraying Mancera Red Tobacco 8 times, do six or four of this one, not that it is stronger than red tobacco, but it defeats how this is supposed to work.

I think this one hits people in different ways. You either really like it, and pick up really nice notes of sandalwood and flowers (white florals) or you absolutely hate it and it comes across as cat piss. A year ago I bought a sample from Montale and it did in fact come across piss smelling. I decided to give it another try a year later, and it again another official sample, and it is now totally different, like day and night. It has hints of Amouage Reflection Man, and Gucci Guilty Elixir, with an overdose of woods. It also reminds me of Dunhill Desire Red but much higher quality. It's one of two possibilities. Either our tastes change or tor it's our different genetics interpreting the scent differently, but given how I changed, I think it's the first. I have over 500 different fragrances, and this comes as a niche interpretation of that Sandalwood - Floral - Vetiver. Another one I also like recently is Vetiver Patchouli from Montale, that I didn't like initially as well.

So, after purchasing a discovery kit from Montale, and being utterly disappointed (as a guy), I finally come across one fragrance, in the pack of 20+ fragrances, that I think is freakin' awesome and good for a guy... This thing is bright, this thing is elegant, and to @NOSEYBODY before me, who called this a Niche' version of Versace's The Dreamer, this fragrance is my favorite from Montale thus far. If you wonder what I did with the other samples, I handed them over to my wife. They were either too floral, had too much rose, etc. Way too feminine for my taste. Great fragrances but, not unisex at all. This on the other hand, my wife loves, I love, and its something you can probably pull off all year around in the daytime. As of right now, I'm wearing this in the Fall, and its *sniffs collar* so damn good. *Update* After a few days, I've decided to add this to my permanent collection. If you like The Dreamer and wanted another take on it, you will love this, hands down.

This is a lady killer! And I don't just mean ladies, but females in general. Females of all ages find this scent alluring in an almost magnetic way. My wife, co-workers, daughters and strangers all make comment and notice of this one. So, whether you are on the hunt for a lady friend, or just want to smell pleasant for the females in your life...this is it. NEVER has a fragrance garnered so much attention. Not an oudy fragrance, and that's ok.... maybe it's there to tone down the sandalwood. Loving this!! Fresh, woody, a little sweet, slightly soapy from the sandalwood and very versatile! I detect a note of sweet tobacco too, weird, cause it's not listed...wonderful surprise. Reminds me of something, but can't put my finger on it. Very masculine, can be worn anytime including humid days. Better than all the designer ambroxen-bombs fan boys covet. Montale is overlooked and under appreciated. 9.5/10

I like this very much, dont look at notes this is 100% a fresh perfume, perfect for all seasons (maybe in the winter something stronger and sweeter would work better) This legit gave me more compliments than Red tobacco, idk why the score is so low, maybe that is missleading but the semll def is higher that a 3.68/5. Longevity is verry good for a fresh around 7-8 hours, even more than 12 hours of a faint sent if you smell close to the skin. Projection I didnt calculate because its harder, but its good for a fresh it gave me compliments so people felt it, i also have a small decant and i reaply from time to time. In conclusion I say this is safe blind buy if you want something fresh with good performance, including that this is on the cheaper side from Montale house.

Possibly the most unique and also underrated Montale frag out there. I love the opening so much, it reminds me of Bond No.9 Lafayette Street which is my favorite from that house, but once this dries down it turns into a musky, soapy bomb. I gotta say though, thanks to all of these reviews pointing out that the dry down smells like cat urine, I just can’t get that out of my head now every time I wear this. I can kinda see why people say that. Thanks lol. Still a very nice and pretty unique dry down. Performance is exactly as expected from a Montale - longevity, projection and sillage are above average but not nuclear like Arabians Tonka or Ristretto Intense Cafe. This one’s a 7/10 for me.

I love this scent. First I tested it on my husband. And literally could not stop sniffing him. Today I couraged my-Self to put it on my own skin. And oh WOW ! Wonderfull sweetness coming through!! There is same sweetie wonderfull feel with Wood and Spice than I get with Coromandel! Definitely for Ladies too, but try it on skin first to be sure it suits You. I love this beauty and need to buy a bottle to this house. Here is 5 male persons and me, so I am sure there will be used one or two bottles easily. My sons loves this one too. Definitely goes to purchase list.

I aint gonna like, i have always overlooked whole mancera and montale collection of perfumes because i found some very synthetic and thought of the brands to be low quality even tho they all performe great. However i didnt expect this one to hit like this, from the 1st spray i liked it which is rare, it is very very soapy and clean, a bit woody, and sweet in a clean way not sweet as fruit or sth. It is kind of linear but hey, you get what you pay for, atl the performance is nice. Overall 8.5/10

I get the reviews about cat pee. But for me it smells absolutely amazing, and everyone around me think so too. If you really focus on it there is a light resemblance to cat pee but to me not in a bad way at all, it has a citrussy/honey sweet fresh smell to it. Might be because of the pepper or amber coming of a bit strong on some skin types. Overall for me one of if not the best Montale but that just my opinion. 10/10 but always sample before you buy

I don’t know what the others are smelling but this should be more than 4.5 in the rating. Although it’s marketed towards men, this is very much unisex. I really do love this. It was love at first sniff and got a bottle afterwards. Haven’t regretted it. I am not a fan of sandalwood but this just does it for me 💯. It also reminds me of something from my childhood that I cannot place my finger on. It’s fresh and spicy. Just how I like it 👌

Wood and Spices opens very unpleasant on my skin for the first 30 minutes, but then slowly transforms into a gorgeous cologne-y fragrance. I believe people are giving up on this beauty too quickly in the negative reviews. Leans masculine, but a ballsy woman could pull it off. UPDATE: After looking through the "this reminds me of" section, Wood and Spices reminds me of a higher quality Bogart Silver Scent Deep.

I blind bought this one as it’s been on my list for a long time and was a little scared reading all these controversial comments. It’s not anything I would imagined it would smell like looking at the notes but I love it . Just a soft clean sandalwood soapy smell on me but not much else woody or spicy there for me? I personally love it and I’m giving it a good wear

This is very close to Versace Dreamer and, by association, to Uden Ovedose. It's really floral, tobacco flower, tonka, slightly woody and spicy scent. Very pleasant, very light (not like the name suggests) but redundant if you already have the above-mentioned alternative. Worth checking out, one of very few fresh manly scent from Montale!!!

I have about 20 fragrences in my collection and this is the one I wear at my yoga and tai-chi classes. I don't know what others are smelling? This just works for me and it becomes a mindfullness, blissfull experience. It's not a fragrence i'd wear to impress other people, it's just for me and the hour I get to spend on the yoga mat.

Exellent late summer early fall fragrance. My imagine of this fragrance is, is like on a 5:30 evening strong sunset,lights out in the house, holding someone in your arms, and looking out the sliding doors, at a lake or river. Strange opinion, but I love the fragrance.

Wife loves it. Projects like a monster even if the wearer does not notice the smell, it's there and will be for awhile after you spray it. I personally love it, I am very tired of weaksauce EDT's I only want EDP's from now on. Anyway, 10 out of 10 Solid stuff.

This a beautiful fragrance and it last for quite awhile with a strang projection whitin the first 2 hours. It is one of my most complimepnted fragrances. People who have given me compliments describe it as a nice, luxurious smell. Girls love it too 😉

this is an extremely well done fragrance, very strong very long lasting, it is very woody and spicy but not heavy, actually its very vibrant and energetic. The only thing with this one is that its not a unique DNA

Amazing fresh scent that takes me to a sunny spring day by a lake looking at fresh green trees and a blue sky in the sun! Give it a try if you want something fresh and powdery yet long lasting and woody :)

I was a little shocked by the reviews, I like this one. Its smooth and creamy on me, not harsh at all. I do pick up on honey and sandalwood. Wearing it in cool and rainy weather and its really nice.