Royal Aoud
by Montale

Aoud Lime without the citrusy blast at the start, and a slightly different wind down. Like other Montales Aouds I’ve tried (excepting Attar) it takes half on hour for Royal Aoud to settle. Once it does it too is magical, rose that’s wearable on a male. Not my favourite Montale but certainly not far off. The only thing bringing it down for me is the sweet vanilla wind down, but really I’m just nitpicking, Royal Aoud is superb.

One of the more subtle releases from Montale’s aoud line. As previous reviewers have stated, after applying to the skin, it takes a while for it to kick into action. Royal Aoud is a more understated and gentlemanly scent, as opposed to Black Aoud’s full-on offensive. It’s nice but too apologetic for me. Average sillage and longevity.

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[Original submission date: 14 April 2008]

I'm working my way slowly through the Montale "Auod" line, having decided in the end that I actually liked their Black Aoud after my tepid review.

Of the Montales I've tried so far (Aoud Ambre, Attar, Royal Aoud, Black Aoud, Aoud Lime, and Steam Aoud) Royal Aoud is the only one that goes on positively understated. In fact, it makes the others seem downright histrionic in their entrances. It also strikes me as both the most complex and the least direct of the lot.

This scent has a powdery-sweet foundation that tempers the medicinal and astringent aspects of the oud. The listed fruit and citrus notes are very coy at first, but surface more completely during the development, where they serve to round out the heady note of rose. Eventually, a vanilla/tonka bean note slides in to add a bit of extra sweetness.

The oudh and the rose retreat during the drydown, leaving a pleasant, but not all that distinguished powdery-woody accord. On my skin, Royal Aoud does not have the stupendous (24 hr) tenacity of Black Aoud, but its development is not so glacially slow, either. (Black Aoud's drydown is so slow and extended that I didn't even realize it was happening the first few times I wore the stuff.)

Among the Montale's I see Royal Aoud, Black Aoud, and Attar as quite closely related, though differing in general character. Black Aoud, which is my current favorite, is bold, brash, maybe even brutal, in its directness and simplicity. (Imagine that! A "brutal" rose. Now there's a good name for a scent.)

Attar seems the sweetest of the three, with some mysterious accords and a drydown that goes in its own direction. I find Royal Aoud the easiest to wear of the three, as well as the "prettiest". Funny though: it's relative sophistication blunts it in comparison with its siblings, leaving it the most conventional of the three, and because of that, the least distinguished. I prefer the olfactory challenge of Black Aoud.

I have in front of me 9 Montale samples. I chose to wear Royal Aoud for a night out with friends. I have just come back. I have spent the whole night feeling ROYAL. this is Royal Aoud. I know what aoud smells like. But this aoud is the crown jewel. Etherial yet woody, sensual yet dry, lingering yet not cloying. If you want to know what aoud smells like probably this is the one. If you want to know what Montale is capable of definately this is the one.

if one has to be introduced to oudhs, i think this would be the safest way to do so. Royal Oudh is well, Royal. a very familiar smell (kumquat), sweetened by grapefruit, its sweet to an extent, but its stops way before one would call it fruity or gourmand. i really loved the opening notes of this one. makes one feel like one of those rich sheik arabs. the oudh in it is massaged in the background with slightly sweet fruity notes along with rich spices...the oudh is very much put in background and acts as a rock solid base for other top and midnotes...the whole balance of this frag amazes me..to see how the intensity of the oudh is controlled from top to midnotes is to be witnessed...its only in the base tht the oudh and some kinda chilli notes rule the roost..giving us a totally different frag that it was in start.....overall, worth sampling.

Sometimes I think Montale can put Aoud in anything and VOILA! it will work magic. Aoud *seems* to be able to make anything it surrounds exciting. That probably is not accurate, but I seem to find all of these Montale Aouds to be intoxicating.

Now Royal Aoud was the fourth or fifth Montale Aoud that I have tried. The above observation is not really a reflection on this scent in particular, but rather a cumulative observation. This one is smoother than some, fruity, with rose and spices too. I find it delightful and intoxicating, but not as intense as others. Probably not my favorite in the line and one that I will pass on for now, but excellent nevertheless.