Vanille Absolu
by Montale

A high quality vanilla and that seems to be just about it. Nothing wrong with it – in fact, I love it. Decent longevity. I think this would smell especially nice on a lady. I recommend it, but if you need complexity, consider something else.

I collect, and love, vanilla fragrances. I also love Montale, particularly for the unique accords and creative compositions in so many different fragrances. Montale's Boise Vanille is one of my all time favorite vanillas, so I figured how could I go wrong with a blind buy of Vanille Absolu when I saw it for a steal? Oh well.

If you don't like vanilla fragrances it may seem a bit odd to collect them - after all, it's 'just' vanilla, right? Not exactly. Even though every house has a vanilla fragrance of some sort of straight vanilla fragrance, there is generally something that differentiates them from being just plain-old-vanilla. Fragonard Vanille has a slug of sandalwood. L'Artisan's Vanilia has that candyfloss tinge, Parfumerie Generale Felanilla has a banana wood heart. Dior Addict has orange blossom. There's always something.

Well, this Montale offering is just plain old vanilla. It's hardly different than sniffing, say... vanilla extract for cooking. None of the few other notes (cinnamon, clove, woods) are noticeable, and if they're there from keeping the composition from being too boring there isn't enough of them. Even the saving graces - like good sillage - aren't present (though longevity is good as it is an EdP). I forgive Montale because I do so love Boise Vanille, and from the looks of it Vanilla Extasy is more interesting than Vanille Absolu, but I'd caution even vanilla lovers to take a look at any of the fragrances I've mentioned above.

I love wearing this. It has good sillage and it smells intoxicating. It's a "humid vanilla" instead of dry, and it does smell a bit medicinal, but I soon fell in love with it when I actually wore it for a few hours. You will smell it on yourself when worn on the neck or chest so it is a fun fragrance to wear for your own pleasure. Note that at first, it reminded me of a popular lip balm which is why it seems medicinal. If upon applying it you notice that too, don't worry, after an hour or so worn on yourself, you will forget that association and love it.

This one is perfect for when I want a sweetie. As Lizzie_J notes, it's pretty much a straight up true vanilla, not a sickeningly sweet or synthetic smelling vanilla (I suppose that would go without saying in this line), and I get a nutty praline quality as well. Yum. Notes: vanilla, cinnamon, clove, woods. I detect no clove at all, mercifully. I think this is really nicely done. I'm loving the Montale's as I try them. Too bad for my bank account!

A wonderful full bodied straight up Vanilla Bourbon with very little else, and that's what I love about it. A hint of musk, maybe a pinch of amber, but for the most part, high end, rich, layered and dark, vanilla orchid and bean. Heaven for Vanilla lovers.