Reviews of Black Aoud (2006)
by Montale

First Aoud wearing. Not a fan of this scent and if all aoud fragrances share this volume and aromatic quality, then I'll opt to not wear aoud.

Immediately pungeunt and very little goes a long way. Very dark smelling to me and linear. Between the aoud and rose, it never develops past the first few minutes and just stays and stays and stays for days. If you only concern is for longevity, this is your baby.

My wife actually liked this and tried it. Smelled a tad better on her, but not much....yet she thinks it's an underrated spice scent. HUH??!!! As much as I like to try and wear different juice, this will NEVER make it into my rotation. I won't give Black Aoud a negative because aoud apparently is what it is.

A neutral is being kind....so I'll be kind.

I was eager to sample this, because it is so popular on basenotes, but I’m afraid this is not for me. The first impression is that is has a very realistic and very strong rose note. If there would be powder in Black Aoud, the rose would have turned very feminine. Luckily the rose is counterbalanced by woods, which makes this scent unisex. I still do not think, as some people do, that this is a masculine scent. I can wear sweet fragrances like Dior Homme without feeling awkward, but the rose note in Black Aoud is way too much for me. When after hours the drydown sets in and the rose fades, things get a lot better. This is an interesting scent, which would probably smell great on the right person, but I just do not feel comfortable wearing Black Aoud.

Rose. That's all I get is a weird rose note. Doesn't develop on my skin at all. It's very dark and mysterious, yes but doesn't conjure up images of bleak castles and Gothic clothing. Not terrible but not for me.

When you first spray it on, it smells medicinal, which quickly evolves into something else. Let's just say I won't have a moth problem with that scent... if I kept on using it. Which I won't. I actually felt uncomfortable wearing it. Perhaps it just doesn't work with my skin, though.

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After several further tryouts of this fragrance I felt I had to say something publicly. Black aoud, I'm sorry I said those bad things about you, I was ignorant and foolish, because I never really gave you a chance, I thought you were an ugly duckling, but in fact you were a swan.

It's a strong fragrance, in more ways than one, and it makes me feel good wearing it and I think that's what fragrances are all about; not really how they make other people feel, but how they make you feel. Several people agree Yatagan smells offensive, and I love to wear it because of the attitude it yanks me into. Black Oud is much more civilized than Yatagan in that regard, but you have to learn to appreciate it. Not that I would want to wear it all the time, but geez, there are times I wouldn't wear anything but Black Oud, and my tester is almost empty, so I guess I'll be heading for the shop now.

Too dark, too melancholy, too simple. Too divinely dark, too well craftedly (is that a word?) melancholy, and simple...simply wonderful that is. Unfortunately also too unwearable for me, for now atleast, that's why the neutral rating. BUT if you are the dark, brooding, and simplistic type, Black Aoud is definately for you. Me, I'll stick to my Le Labo Rose 31 as far as rose scents go.

Do I dare to review the mythical beast that is Montale's Black Aoud. Oh, brothers and sisters.. I dare. I have a soft spot for heavy, dank scents and based on reviews, Black Aoud should have been right up my ally. I'm not sold. It's not that I don't see the value or artistic significance in the creation... I just don't enjoy wearing it. Upon initial application, the Aoud, quite expectedly goes on sharp and medicinal. I don't get much of the much discussed complexity in this scent. A hint of rose - a dose of patchouli - a bit of warmth. This fragrance has very little development on me and seems to drag. It becomes a lot more impressive in the drydown stage, but the initial 'paint thinner meets perfumery' character nags at me. I sold my 1.7oz bottle and have not regretted it. This is as neutral a rating as I can give. It's a good scent, if unspectacular. With my arsenal of scents that evoke personal response.. I would never even think to reach for it. Black Aoud.. the myth.. the legend.. the 'shrug'.

Like Vibert, I wanted to like it as well. But on me, I didn't care for it.

A typical Montale. Great top notes utterly ruined by a cloying drydown. Not a thumbs-down only thanks to the oud note, delicious until the sugar powder comes into play (quite soon into the progression).

I was quite disappointed when trying this one. I was expecting something to blow my socks off, but instead I was left there with a neutral impression. I don't understand how this scent can be "Black" by any means. It's rather clean and bright. There was something striking familiar to me when I first tested it. Ah, yes! Now I remember. This smells like a darker version of C&S No 88. It has the same citrus/bergamot opening blended with a rose note. The only difference is that this has oud, which contributes to making it smell more like cleaning solvent IMO. Sure, I can see how some people would like this. But to me it quickly conjures up memories of cleaning the kitchen floor tiles with Pine Sol. No offense to fans of Black Aoud, but I personally wouldn't buy this even if it were 3x cheaper.