Oriental Flowers
by Montale

I’m sorry but I really didn't like this one – it’s too synthetic, too dense, too sweet, too floral… it’s just too much. Although it did smell better during the drydown, I was too traumatised to even care...

******

If you’re interested in purchasing any Montale fragrances, please consider our highly-respected Basenotes member, maisonstinky, as your first point of contact. He offers an exceptional service, competitive prices and special offers to fellow Basenoters. For further details, please cut and paste the link below:

http://www.basenotes.net/specials/montale.html

[Original submission date: 28 September 2008]

The first time I tested this I thought that I had a mislabeled sample – the fragrance was strong, aggressively aromatic and extremely cloying. I thought it smelled rather familiar but I didn’t stop to delve into my memory because I wanted rid of it. I immediately washed it off and dropped the sample in the back of the drawer. Four months later I retried it and found that my reaction had halved… it was still strongly aromatic and cloying but nowhere near as annoying as the first time I tested it… and it was even more familiar. I have gone through two sample vials of this trying with various results, I wondered what was in its nature that made it so variable and random. Subsequently I have found that there is nothing inscrutable about this scent, it is just a loud, saccharine, massively floral, medicinally aromatic scent. Except for its extraordinary potency, its opening could be considered rather traditional with its rose, jasmine, and bergamot. From its heart it throws a powerful ylang-ylang and the Peru balsam base comes across in abundance and constitutes almost my entire continuing memory of the fragrance. I think I know someone who wears this. How many times have I walked into the Xerox room and said, “Oh, Allison was just here…” only to be told that she had been there an hour before. Oriental Flowers is that kind of scent.

This is gorgeous and I haven't smelled anything like it so far (and I have a LOT of samples being a fragrance addict!). I won't try to pick out the notes, not good at it, but I will try to describe. This is strong, not for the faint of heart, overtly feminine and rich. I suppose it is floral, yet it is something more and not spicy either. There is a dryness to it (powder perhaps?) It has absolutely phenomenal lasting power even after 12 hours and my skin usually kills scents. The drydown is amazing, very complex and soft, but tenacious. I don't reach for this everyday, but can't imagine not having it. Liked it enough to buy the 100 ml. Layers nicely with Patchouli Leaves. Takes it from ethereal to more earthly. Just love Montale and own 5 100 mls of their scents and several large decants. The only other perfumer I like that much is Dior and mostly for their classics. Oriental Flowers is not getting much attention and that is a pity because in my opinion, it is a masterpiece and very unique. I wish I could give it 10 Thumbs WAY up. (I think I just may have) sneaky!