Umbra

I wanted to purchase an expensive high quality fragrance FROM Spain, to remind me of my travels through this amazing country last year whilst I was there. Stumbled across this wonderful parfumery boutique in San Sebastián stocking all the beautiful & special niche fragrance houses I have seen & read about in magazines & this site. UMBRA by Mr Monegal was my choice & it is sublime. Unisex in nature. Not cloying, sweet, floral or sickly. The cool 'dampness' & wet but summery feel of this scent reminds me of the coastal walk between Getaria & Zarautz, 2 quaint, postcard perfect, Northern coastal towns of Basque Spain. The warmth & summery vibe of the sea & blue blue sky with the sun beating down on one side....the moist coolness & relief of the abundant, green, almost tropical, luscious hilly growth on the other side. This is what UMBRA conjures up for me when I wear it now....back here in Australia. Lush & happy travel memories......

The dry down is the best part of this. Once the vetiver dries down it transforms to an outdoorsy type of fresh/woody scent with a touch of sweetness. I am not a big vetiver lover but I do enjoy it when blended great with other brighter notes and this is sort of an example. The citrus effect of geranium takes a bit too long to make it's presence. If it had a 50/50 opening of geranium/vetiver I think it would appeal to more people but that's just my thoughts. I have tried quite a few from Monegal and this is my favorite after all I said. I feel the prices are too high @ $185 for 50 ml's. More than Tauer, are you serious?

Vetiver fans rejoice for here is one of the most natural smelling vetiver-based fragrances that your money can buy. A radiant combination of vetiver with oak moss, pepper, fir and tonka bean, this is a hauntingly beautiful and yet so very subtle juice that radiates a nice bright energy around you. Moderate sillage and projection. Also a pretty safe scent that can be easily worn by both genders in many settings, this is a lovely composition. However, given the nature of ingredients I am sure there are less expensive alternatives on the market.

Very nice, gentlemenly, slightly sweet slightly green and limey scent. Performance is also good. Loved it.

This could have been a great fragrance! Sadly two things let it down. The abysmal performance which is strange because from most of the others I've tried from Monegal all have been fairly decent with this being the exception, becoming a skin scent in under half an hour! Secondly the transition of this fragrance also was a big dissapointment. The opening is fantastic, very fresh and green which also smells like theres mint and a touch of Lemon. Then in a matter of minutes the tonka decides it wants to steal the show and be the hero, completely changing this to some powdery concoction whilst sucking the life out of all the freshness leaving a touch of vetiver as his side kick to keep him company. To summarise, this is Vetiver and Tonka that's barely even noticeable because of the shocking projection and forces me to shove my nose literally right up to my wrist to even smell if it's still there! I won't give up just yet but I'm not expecting miracles. When its all said and done, i do love this fragrance but am so torn as to whether its full bottle worthy. Edit: The dry down of this smells almost identical to Viaggio D'Africas. Im also reminded of Vetiver fatal and Bal d' Afrique, minus the fruity sweetness.

First impressions- amber and wood laced aromatic herbs. Vetiver and pepper notes that blend into very rich and velvety smooth wood notes and amber. The description lists the adjective of “bitter” which to me carries a negative connotation. I didn’t get bitter from this at all; I got a sharper and crisp aromatic herb note. After a few hours- The aromatic green/herb/mossy notes die down and I was left with deep and rich woody notes that were paired with an almost gourmand amber and booze/whisky. Longevity and sillage - very impressive on both ends. Got more amber and woods than spice/herbs. Would I buy a bottle - not at this moment BUT, I want to revisit the sample during colder months as it’s a little heavier than what I would prefer to wear in summer. 3 words to describe this fragrance - classy, gentleman, rich

This is amazing. The vetiver is green and sharp very similar to Sycamore in my opinion. However, the tonka contrasts with it giving it a spicy-sweetness and the gernaium adds an herbal/sharpness...it is all supported by a mossy vibe and which is giving it a classic feel very nicely done and a perfect signature scent for the mature and refined. I like Agar but find it too similar to other ouds on the market..this one is quite unique with what it offers.

First sniff you will feel an ice cold feeling with different geranium and a deep spicy scent. On the green side, damp, grassy and not for everyone. This house is quite unique and it will be very hard to find the same scents in another brand. Not for any occasion. More for spring and day time and very masculine maybe to understand it is the family of FM French Lover - nothing the same but not so far away.

Meh. It's pleasant enough, but smells like a million other things out there (CK One, for example). And certainly not worth $185 for 50 ml. Citrus oils are among the least expensive fragrance ingredients, and vetiver and pepper are also not especially rare or pricey. There are many other similar fragrances that are both less expensive and more distinctive and memorable.

A brilliant vetiver scent, with a quite beautifully done balsam note. The inclusion of black pepper and geranium leaves pick up the spiciness of the vetiver, and add balance to the musky tree moss. The overall accord is one of an earthy dryness mixed with a verdant vegetal quality. Conjures up images of a moss laden forest just before dusk. (61)

I like it . I dont love it. The price is way too high on this one. Its a bit too feminine for my own taste as well. On a woman though.. I would definitely be more attracted to it. Its ok .. nothing more . 6.5 out of 10 for me.

Silky smooth, soft vetiver. Some geranium, black pepper and fir tree smell peaks through. Nothing too innovative but super pleasant and fresh. Beautiful green fragrance - classy and easy to wear.

I wish I could like this. It has a lot of nice green and woody scents with something in the background to round it out. Unfortunately, it keeps flashing memories of teens doused in CK One at me.

a slightly more modern version of the famous YSL live jazz. a magnificent perfume

I’ve tested four fragrances from Ramon Monegal. And I’m starting to think that this house is not for me, as there’s a quality that is quite unreal and unnatural in all four compositions. There are a few perfume brands with good reputations of which I cannot wear: Mancera and Montale come to mind, and now Ramon Monegal. I hope I find an exception, but unfortunately today I’m wearing Umbra and it’s not good. The opening is heavy handed, overpowering and it takes over an hour before Umbra calms down. Yes, the dry down is better. But the pungent, citrus-tinged vetiver is a nuclear assault, and only gets a tad lighter. I waited for the silky smoothness that others described and it never arrived. I have a few more samples to get through in my discovery set. Other than Impossible Iris —initially a favorable review, which upon further testing is actually challenging for me too—Ramon’s blends are a pass.

I got a 4ml sample from Scent Trunk. It smells really earthy and spicy, heavy on the vetiver. Like Terre D'Hermés but without the orange. It's pleasant, I imagine a more mature man wearing this with a suit. For me, as a 24 year old guy, it's kind of boring. It's crazy to me how anyone can pay such a high price for this when Terre D'Hermés does it much more beautifully and for cheaper. I tend to prefer more powdery/modern fragrances like La Nuit de L'Homme or Dior Homme Intense. But that's just me. 5/10

When I ran into this collection at Neiman Marcus I was intrigued. The bottles were beautiful and consistent and I love fragrances. Ramon Monegal had at the time like 10-12 releases. Umbra was one of the first I tried as the lady at store said it’s the best one. I tried the whole collection they had at the time and they are very strong and unique. They tend to be more about pure and the raw with notes of agarwood, musks, leathers and raw florals. Dry wood , Mon Cuir, Cuirelle and Entre Naranjos was what drew me in mostly. Though it took a lot of whiffs to get into it as they were very pungent. I was younger then, and my nose was learning. Umbra was the hit apparently but unfortunately I did not like it at all. It didnt smell bad it was just not my type. The notes all seemed like I would love it but on the sample strip I didn’t feel confident to pull off. It was not a pleasant smell that I would like to smell on myself. It was just too powdery. almost cloy even. After trying on skin and letting dry, I was right, not something I would like to smell on me. Even if worn moderately or less it’s not a scent I would care to have smelling around. Years later Bvlgari released Bvlgari Man Terre and I blind purchased it since I like the House, any earthy woody scents I gravitate to. Unfortunately it was my least favorite of Bvlgari because it immediately reminded me of the powdery cloy musky mossy scent of Umbra. Maybe it will grow on me. For now, Dry Wood is similar and much better.

Wonderful fragrance with strong vetiver, fir, and though it's not listed, I get a mint accord as well. The pepper, mint and fir fade, and the vetiver stays through all the way to the sweeter vetiver drydown, which comes 8-10 hours later on me. There is also a lurking faint lemon-citrus accord in the background that sometimes makes a fleeting appearance, only to disappear moments later. I almost get an amber-like accord in the drydown as well, which is also very pleasant. Projection is good for the first 6 hours, then down to skin scent, lasting for 4 more hours. Overall, this is a very pleasant scent, and while it isn't groundbreaking, it's sure to garner compliments for you. All that said, absolutely do not buy this scent, as you'll be wasting your hard-earned money. Instead, head to Amazon or the Bay, where you can find 1.7oz bottles of Kenzo Homme Boisee (Woody), which this smells literally IDENTICAL to. You will pay approximately one fifth the price of Umbra, and will have lots of spare cash in your wallet to boot. I have Umbra on one arm and Kenzo on the other, and the while the Kenzo has slightly more mint and pepper in the opening (which I like), they are otherwise identical, right down to the 10-hour longevity. I also find the Kenzo projects better, which I like as well. Overall, Umbra is a very pleasant scent, and if you love it, you'd be doing yourself a huge disservice if you didn't check out the Kenzo first.

I adore vetiver scents but this one doesn't do it for me. I think it might be the geranium. I don't want this to sound too negative but all this really is to me is a nice, out-of-the-shower scent. If you told me this was an Axe scent I would believe it. Not offensive in any way. Not bad. Just your usual fresh and clean scent that you'd expect out of any body wash. If you are looking for a typical vetiver, this one is not it. Edit: Its been a few hours and the drydown is much more classy and expensive smelling. It reminds me a bit of Declaration.

Umbra is a beautiful vetiver that does not over-power. All the ingredients mesh and the drydown is restrained- but spicy and green with a bit of woodiness, too, from the oakmoss. It has good balance, a lovely vetiver concerto, showcasing the main event but not letting it take over the whole ensemble. Gorgeous chords-perfect for evening, would be wonderful for an evening with a bit of spicy food or something substantial like lamb with red wine. Definitely works nicely on both women and men.

Umbra is a dry, kinda sweet-balmy, woody-mossy vetiver. A solid rosy-geranium plays a central role providing both fresh and old-school facet. Kinda soapy. To be completely honest, it actually opens with a modern accord of green fresh vetiver and pepper to then quickly evolve into a sweeter woody-mossy balsamic drydown that's definitely more old-fashioned. Interesting if you like restrained mascluine fragrances. Turns great on a woman... Rating: 6.5-7/10

A romantic aromatic with a vetiver backbone This is similar to lalique pour homme and amouage reflection man I have moschino uomo and lalique pour homme which fit my needs. This is highly quality, but more mature and does not have the italian vibe that I like with this kind of aromatic If you enjoy TF Grey vetiver then this might be for you 6 hours or so and fair projection and sillage

Think white crisp shirt and a navy suit, yellow tie in April.This this clean upbeat well rounded fragrance. Reminds me of Moschino Uomo but a little more softer powdery undertones. You could save 130 bucks and get the Moschino, unless you want a to spend a little more for something more refined. I see this more as a day scent. Definitely clean and is not loud.