Fragrance Reviews by hollyc

I really wish I could pick out the various notes of this one but I can't. It goes on strong and brash (I love it). Slightly spicy, but not sweetly so, more cumin? than cinnamon (thank god!). I detect some rose and good sandalwood. Lasts on fabric for days, and good lasting power on skin. While this isn't flagrantly feminine, I think the right woman could wear this well. Not for anyone under 35 or 40 I wouldn't think. Very retro and if someone had told me this was a formulation from the 30's or 40's I wouldn't have been surprised. This isn't a scent that sets out to "win you over", it's in your face, knows what it is and doesn't care if you like it or not. Very, very good and not deserving of so many unappreciative reviews in my opinion. Needs time to be appreciated. Also too, not like any of the other Montale offerings ( I have at least 35 samples). Really love this one, it never bores me. As a basis of comparison, it joins Aoud Queen Roses, Ta'if Rose, Oriental Flowers, Patchouli Leaves, Aromatic Lime, Red Vetyver, Vetiver des Sables, Fougeres Marine and Chypre Fruites on my dresser, dying to dry Oud Cuir Arabie, rather hard to find. So far, Montale is my favorite house, hands down! Ten thumbs way up!

The vetiver in this is soft and citrussy vs. the vetiver in des Sables which is bitingly resinous (and lovely). This one has a beautiful mix of soft spice and is just ever so slightly soapy. The longer I have this one on, the more I am convinced that it must be added to my collection. It wears close to the body and seems to last well, going through many stages. Fantastic! Also could be worn well by either a man or a woman. Another winner from Montale!

I'm getting really anxious, Montale is going to bankrupt me. This is stunning. Fresh, resinous, herbally drying down (far into the drydown) to a lovely sandalwood/musk base that is rich and hypnotic. Somewhat fresh and aquatic like Fougeres Marine, but only marginally. Sillage is moderate and lasting power is great. I think this could be worn equally well by a man or a woman. Must possess!! 10 thumbs wayyyyyy up!!

This is THE worst scent ever created. I love vetiver and would gladly chose death by drowning if it was in Montale's Red Vetyver or Vetiver des Sables, but this?!! Thank God I had some wet wipes in the car when I tried my sample fresh from the mail box. What does it smell like? Think really, really cheap chapstick (Berry) then envision the smell of straight rubbing alcohol. . . concentrated. That's it, nothing more and it doesn't change into anything better. I'm getting sick just thinking about it . . . .

This is what Fracas would be if it had breeding and manners. In fairness to Fracas, I don't like tiare, gardenia or tuberose, but had to try Intense Tiare due to its high ratings. This is a lovely soft tiare with a smooth, very subtle coconut base. All is blended seemlessly and if you like this type of floral and very sweet fragrance you really should give this a try. Well done, just not for me (just as well for my wallet)!

I like this. At first I smelled absolutely nothing, zip, zilch, nadda. Montale? Can't be! Then, in about 15 minutes, smoke, vetiver?, spice. Next a very, very subtle cumin note that barely hints at body odor, not offensive, rather interesting, then soft, sweet smoke, sandalwood. On me, this is not overly masculine at all. While I can see that it is intended as a masculine fragrance, body chemistry turns it sweet on me. Very nice. Not my favorite Montale, but I think 50 ml. worthy

I smell Giorgio with the volume turned all the way up! Thankfully I purchased this very inexpensively online. I don't mention to my husband when I'm wearing something new. I wait for the response. If there isn't one then I know I can wear it to MY heart's content. If there is a positive, unsolicited response, then I make of point of wearing it for HIS heart's content. This one illicited "WHAT is that you are wearing?!!" and "Please don't ever wear it again." I think it must be the tuberose that I find so noxious in this as does my honey, because I also loathed Fracas. Having said that, I think this one is probably well done (I loved Giorgio on a co-worker of mine)but could never wear it myself. This is STRONG stuff with prodigious lasting power. If you can wear tuberose, there are great deals on line. Use with caution, may meld with your DNA.

I love to love Dior, but not feelin' the Dolce Vita. To me it smells cheap, flat and boringly vanilla (literally). There are a lot of other fragrances out there more deserving of my $100.00 +++ dollars so the search continues....

Where's the beef? I tried this today intrigued by all the reviews here and wanting something edgey and in your face. I could barely smell it. I also had a sniff of Fahrenheit 32 in the store and thought it too weak, now I think it had more punch than Fahrenheit. Eventually, here is what emerged for me: Take one sweaty (not stale) man dressed in biker leathers. Walk him through a garage with engine oil on the floor, then take him into a field and roll him in sweet hay (what you do after this is not for me to say!!) I did not get gasoline here at all, rather a deep earthy crude oil smell that I liked. I don't know if I need a full bottle of this but maybe a decant for days I feel naughty. Final drydown a bit bland sort of generic musk, but not bad. Hope they keep making it and that there are always men who can relate to it. . . .

Boy, could they ever make them back in the day! When I received my tester, I smelled absolutely nothing, until I applied it to my wrist. Then Kapow! To me, this smelled like a chypre and the citrus blossomed powerfully on me for the first 30 minutes or so, then the other notes made their presence known. Very classy, refined understated and sadly shortlived. Two hours later, I can only smell it if I press my wrist forecefully to my nose. Still I think it is worth having in your fragrance wardrobe (man or woman) for the time when you want to know beyond a doubt that what you are wearing is the epitome of taste and understated elegance. Dreadfully hard to find, but still in production. I got my tester from the Perfumed Court and am debating a decant. I also love Jicky which is worth checking out.

I bought this as soon as it came out after smelling on a scent strip. Absolutely irresistable. Lo and behold, my body chemistry dealt it a smart judo chop turning it into something no one would want to wear and sent it packing. I continued to pick up the bottle and sniff it because it is so heart breakingly lovely, alluring and sexy. Eureka, I now spritz a little on the light bulb in my bedroom which treats it far more kindly than my body does. Not that I'm recommending it as a room spray, it deserves too much respect for that, but at least I still get to enjoy it occasionally. If you can wear it, I'm jealous. Very sexy.

Being an obsessive lover of green chypres, I hunted this one down today and tried it. First spritz "Eureka"! Unabashedly green, green, green and not in a citrus way. More leaves and swamp funk. I was in heaven and a bought a bottle on the spot. Tres stupide! Will I never learn? Two hours later the heady opening had grabbed its passport and left the continent. What was left was a thin spicy trail remeniscent of a diluted Youth Dew - my dreaded nemesis!! GRRRRR! My bottle goes back tomorrow to be replaced by the large size Knowing - things could be worse. So far I would have to say, if you possess Miss Dior, you really don't need Private Collection. Miss Dior goes on brighter and more fiercely, this attention getting stage lasts long enough to be satisfying and the resulting delicate spice drydown is artfully interlaced with rose, very sophisticated, long lasting and great sillage. Sorry Estee, I still love you for your other offerings. . . .

Oh my God, how did I miss this one? This is a rich, deep long lasting uber feminine fragrance that is enticing and refined at the same time. Very rich and mellow with good lasting power. Very strong as with all Lauders, but the strength and sillage are easily controlled by applying lightly. If I had passed someone wearing this I would have stropped to ask what it was. I hope they never discontinue because I will buy this foreverrrrrr! Just a note, I think the jasmine is what pulls this all together in such a silky purring way, it is done just magnificently. As we all know jasmine can be amazing or hideous. Estee Lauder has blended a masterpiece!

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!

Starts out very ozonic, but not like fragrances of lesser quality. I usually run screaming from ozone scents as being thin, watery and synthetic. Not Montale! This is a real beauty opening with the smell of a fresh ocean breezes that gently play over fields of fresh, soft ferns. Musk? Sandalwood? are they there as well? Seem to be and provide and soft fragrant base to the clean, fresh breezes that blow just above them. Love, must possess, good for either a man or a woman. Want to throw in a plug for Aromatic Lime as well, spectacular!!! Try the Perfume Shoppe in Vancouver for best prices.

Oh dear Good Life, sounds very much like your Mitsouko from the '80's may have turned rancid. If you can summon the interest, I strongly suggest you try a spritz from a tester at your nearest perfume counter or order a sample from the Perfumed Court. I tried this on a whim, not expecting to like it (AT ALL) and fell totally in love. It 's deep, complex, rich, changeable and timeless. I'm trying to rationalize the purchase of the EdT (I find the guerlinade in the Guerlain EdP's too heavy and sweet) in spite of my recent 6 100 ml. Montales (my husband will divorce me soon!!)I tell him, I could understand if I smelled BAD, but all this fabulousness? You may never get so lucky again! Good luck!

Come ON!! This is amazing. I am a big lover of Montale and must say that most of his fragrances, although listed unisex are decidedly feminine. Conversely, I find Lutens decidedly masculine regardless of gender delineation. This is one of the most masculineMontale's I've tried, but I love it. Deep dark limes hover lingeringly over a musky base that goes deep and is long lasting. Semi-sweet, earthy and rich. Just keeps getting better and better. Anyone who objects to the $175.00/100ml tag should check out www.theperfumeshoppe.com where it is sold for $120.00/100ml. and $80.00/50 ml. I'm anxiously awaiting mine now, can't wait to place it amongst my Aoud Queen Rose (WOW), Patchouli Leaves (YUM), Oriental Flowers (OMG) and Ta'if Rose (Discontinued. . . .SOB).