Aoud Flowers
by Montale

Stuck in the middle between Black Aoud and Wild Aoud.

I regularly wear Black Aoud and Wild Aoud, and, as a consequence, Aoud Flowers strikes me as a neither here nor there fragrance. It neither has the aromatic burst and smoky dry down of Wild Aoud, nor the rich, barbaric opulence of Black Aoud.

The bergamot and geranium add a brightness to Aoud Flowers that does not gel with the rose and aoud heart. In Wild Aoud there is Artemisia to go along with the bergamot and geranium, and the extra note makes all the difference. While Aoud Flowers is pointlessly bright, Wild Aoud is aromatic and strident.

The teak and gaiac add a dry woodiness to the base of Aoud Flowers, which the musk never entirely integrates with. The base lacks the moist earth feel of black Aoud’s patchouli laden dry down, and lacks the smokiness and roundness that Wild Aoud gets from tobacco and amber.

Aoud Flowers is a fragrance in permanent tension: the pieces just don’t come together. It’s got all of the right Montale constituents, but I can’t give it better than a neutral rating.

I’ve often maintained that Aoud Flowers is a darker version of Black Aoud and, although many have disagreed, I still remain defiant about this viewpoint.

Black Aoud encompasses a romantic perspective of the gothic aesthetic, with colour associations including light and pastel hues (apart from its name and the term ‘gothic’, I fail to find any further associations of the colour black with Black Aoud). It’s best described as being stuck in an empty well with the glimmering light reassuring you of being discovered, and only the swaying of the towering trees to keep you company. There’s an element of light in Black Aoud that provides hope, with the ability to awaken you from the nightmares should they become unbearable.

On the other hand, Aoud Flowers represents the pure gothic nature – the facets of darkness and evil that most humans are unable (or unwillingly) to imagine. The rush of adrenalin, lust, fear and narcotics through the blood stream; the colour of congealed blood; and dark murky browns are some associations that spring to mind whenever I smell Aoud Flowers. Where Black Aoud is akin to being trapped in a well, Aoud Flowers is best described as being buried alive six-feet under, in a steel coffin. Yes, there’s definitely a strong metallic accord in this baby…

I love Aoud Flowers for being so distinct from most of the other Montale aouds. It’s sillage and longevity are simply amazing (even more so than Black Aoud). It’s also the best Montale aoud in quite a while and has yet to be equalled or surpassed.

Excellent!

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[Original submission date: 28 September 2008]

Very very typical montale rose-y oud opening. Medicinal, oily, waxy and completely captivating.
This is indeed very similar comparing to many other Aoud scents of Montale, starting from Black Aoud.

If I continue comparing this to Black Aoud, this turns eventually a bit brighter. It’s not that dark and I think it is even a tad stronger than BA with more massive sillage.

For sure I understand the critics who are bothered how much some Montale`s resemblances each other.
Aoud Flowers is definitely one scent which makes some other scents in the Aoud line completely pointless to own. I just suggest you just find out which one you like best of these rose-y ouds.

Aoud Flowers smells fantastic and it lasts so long that no one will be disappointed.

When I smell Aoud Flowers, I think of rubber bouncy balls which I played a lot when I was a small boy. Those balls had a very strong smell to them, and I just loved that Aoud Flowers-y smell as much as I was intrigued by the way those balls looked.


The colouring of AF aluminium bottle is very beautiful.

This is neither the ashy rose of Black Oud nor the stately rose of Aoud Queen Roses. Aoud Flowers is bright mix of honeyed rose and geranium balanced with exotic wood notes and dark Aoud. Like jenson, I find that the Aoud note quickly dissipates leaving mainly "polished wood notes" and rose. This fragrance has incredible longevity and lovely sillage.

Aoud Flowers is bright and dark, sweet and peppery. From the initial spray through the creamy dry down, Aoud Flowers is a study in contrasts that I find irresistible.

I find this to be a potent aoud coupled with a mixed floral. The floral aspects fail to captivate me at all and I would never reach for this if I have Aoud Damascus on the shelf (or Black Aoud or Royal Aoud, for that matter). It is an okay scent, but I think other Montale Aoud offerings are superior and more interesting.

This is another Montale where, to my nose, the Aoud grabs complete control of the opening and maintains a strangle hold on the accord. I get aoud with a weak mixed floral – primarily rose – background, and the aoud hangs on forever, it seems. In many of the more recent Montale Aoud offerings, the potency of the aoud has been reduced and with each reduction, there has been a corresponding increase in my appreciation of the fragrance. With Aoud Flowers the aoud is back with a vengeance. It’s not that I dislike aoud, it’s just that there are now six or seven Montale fragrance that present themselves to my nose in a such a way that they are basically the same potently aromatic wood fragrance with some miniscule variation in the background. I already own two of these aromatic aoud power houses and, to my nose, there isn't that much difference between them to justify further adding to the aoud collection… I don’t need to own another like that. I like the background in this one and I think it would make an excellent fragrance for one whose nose doesn't find the aoud all out of proportion.