Reviews of Crystal Aoud
by Montale

This is a sweeter version of Golden Aoud (and just as subtle). Although it’s not as sweet as White Aoud, with respect to the vanilla / tonka bean, its composition slots in nicely between these two.

Unfortunately, it’s too feminine for me…

[Original submission date: 28 September 2008]

So many times when I smell some fragrance it gives me an instant and unavoidable vision of some place or some specific thing that might feel a bit absurd even for me, yet somehow it feels very accurate even after many tests or wearing...


Crystal Aoud takes me to this cheerless room at the office building; There is wall-to-wall carpeting, the usual furniture’s and lots of different kind of equipment; computer and monitor, copying machine, printing machine….and then there is this middle aged officer worker woman in her jacket suit who is apparently wearing some overly sweet fruity perfume….a few sprays too much, that is.


Crystal Aoud is stunningly sweet, electrical and luminously fruity-floral-spicy hybrid. Aoud is very pronounced. It reminds me a lot of some other oud perfumes like Red Aoud (Montale) and Night Aoud (Micallef).

I like it, but not on myself. I find it utterly feminine and definitely more suitable for women.

One of those fragrances in which I advice *especially men* to be extremely cautious on the trigger.

Crystal Aoud has a stronger aoud note than many Montale aouds, so, to my nose, the aoud dominates to the point that the other notes are marginalized. I get melon and apple, but they remain way in the background while the aoud retains complete control. The background reminds me a bit of Millésime Imperial. Combining Millesime Imperial with aoud, does create an impressive parentage… rather a royal fragrance, and, in spite of the dominant aoud presence, I do I enjoy this scent. I like the mildness of it, and the fruit in the background are beautifully poised and balanced, and they don’t go crazy on me, as fruity fragrances are sometimes apt to do. With aouds I’ve found that with continued exposure to a fragrance, the potency of the aoud diminishes to my nose. Chances are I will eventually love this, but not here and not now...