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Trainload of Montale sampling

post #1 of 23
12/7/12 at 4:07pm
Thread Starter 
I am 7 deep into a lot of Montale samples and I am struggling. I already liked Full Incense and so far I also sort of like Red Vetiver and don't hate Greyland (will revisit it). But good grief do Aoud Forest, Aoud Leather, Fougeres Marine and Embruns D'essaouira ever stink! Aoud Leather was my first scrubber in a while. I just couldn't take it.

Black Aoud has been hit-and-miss for me. Lightly applied I can get some enjoyment out of it alone at home, but I just don't think I could wear it out. I think oud may just not be for me. I still have the following to sample:

Dark Aoud
Red Aoud
White Aoud
Aoud Velvet
Aoud Roses Petals
Wood and Spices
White Musk
Black Musk
Roses Musk
Fruits of the Musk
Musk to Musk
Patchouli Leaves
Wood & Spices
Chocolate Greedy
Vanille Absolu
Wild Pears
Blue Amber
Mukhallet
and Soleil de Capri

Any clear winners in there? Any warnings? Pray for me, it's gonna be a long weekend.
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post #2 of 23
12/7/12 at 5:46pm
Have all you have already tried and those in your list in large bottles. Standout IMO are: Dark Aoud, Blue Amber, Red Aoud &
Black Musk. But so many others are great too.
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post #3 of 23
12/7/12 at 5:49pm
Dark Aoud is very good though I found Red Aoud's gourmand qualities to be quite sickly.
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post #4 of 23
12/7/12 at 6:03pm
Thread Starter 
Most all have been very harsh in the top notes without letting up much an hour in. I know many Montale scents have legendary strength and I wonder if I might not be over-applying.
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post #5 of 23
12/8/12 at 12:54am
Given how long some of these persist on the skin, you may need more than the weekend to free up the needed fresh sniffing space !

Might want to leave Blue Amber 'till the end, is what I mean.


PS. And yes, it might be worth experimenting with application rates. I have several things that are nice at low rates, but which turn into something different and vile if over-applied.
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post #6 of 23
12/8/12 at 1:03am
My favorites from your 'remainder' list:

Patchouli Leaves
Blue Amber
Musk to Musk
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post #7 of 23
12/8/12 at 10:54am
Dont give up on black aoud. It takes a few wearing to adjust to its stregnth. It doesnt even feel strong to me anymore. But I agree a lighter application is best. It allows the rose to come out.

Blue amber
Woods n spices
Red aoud
Red vetyver
Dark aoud
Attar

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
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post #8 of 23
12/8/12 at 12:58pm
Thread Starter 
Okay, since initial post I have tried Wood & Spices which garnered a thumbs down, Aoud Roses Petals and Dark Aoud which both were ok enough to garner a revisit, and White Aoud which was too "perfumey" at the top but dries down quite nicely. It is too feminine for me to wear but something I can appreciate.

Next up, Red Aoud and Aoud Velvet.
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post #9 of 23
12/8/12 at 1:31pm
From the remainder list, Chocolate Greedy which is a nice dry cocoa scent and Patchouli Leaves, a very calming,soothing scent I find
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post #10 of 23
12/8/12 at 4:18pm
Blue Amber is fantastic. Chocolate Greedy would be great for this time of the year and holidays.
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post #11 of 23
12/8/12 at 4:34pm
Try Sweet Oriental Dream. For me it's a winner alongside Blue Amber, patchouli leaves, black aoud, red aoud, red vetiver, dark aoud, taj and vanille absolu
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post #12 of 23
12/9/12 at 12:31pm
Thread Starter 
I'm wondering if some of these samples aren't tainted. Both Chocolate Greedy and Vanille Absolu are disgustingly sweet blobs. I can't definitively say that I can detect Chocolate or Vanilla in either. That same sickening sweetness has been detectable in a couple of others as well.

If these are in fact not tainted, then I am very disappointed in these samples overall. There have been a couple of decent ones but as far as being full bottle worthy Full Incense remains my only real contender with Red Vetiver right behind.

There are still several to go but my expectations are no longer very high.
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post #13 of 23
12/9/12 at 2:05pm
Quote:
I'm wondering if some of these samples aren't tainted.

Sometimes I wonder about the same thing, when it comes to samples. Like perhaps they've not been treated with the respect they deserve before we get them.

At the same time, there's something about stick-and-daub samples that seems to make it hard to get a real feel for things in the way we might if we were spraying them. You certainly hear people say this, and I don't really know what the problem should be, but I'm getting a sense that it might be true.

Whatever the case, Montales are known for being "big" which may explain the "blob" aspect that you've noticed. Hard to say if it's an application issue or not, but no one would ever call them shy.

At the same time, you are being able to pick out a couple that you like, even if you're not hooking up with the love that others feel for certain of them, so I'd say that your efforts have been worthwhile.
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post #14 of 23
12/9/12 at 2:25pm
Montale is a harder brand to "get". Open your mind alittle...you may come to love a lot more of them than you think. But honestly 2-3 montale frags is more than enough from this house. Imo

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
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post #15 of 23
12/9/12 at 8:05pm
Black Aoud, White Aoud, and Rose Damascus seem to be the most popular.
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post #16 of 23
12/28/12 at 2:20am
From your list (and my personal favourites) I'd go with Dark Aoud and Black Musk next.

I would also suggest samples of Aoud Lime, Aoud Musk and maybe Aoud Cuir d'Arabie
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post #17 of 23
12/28/12 at 2:25am
More importanly, where did you manage to get so many Montale samples?

It is the one house that I wish was more readily available. I've sampled Dark Aoud thanks to a fellow poster, but there are so many I want to try, with Blue Amber, Chocolate Greedy, and Red Aoud top of the list!

Enjoy the sampling!
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post #18 of 23
12/28/12 at 3:56am
With Montale samples ESPECIALLY, DON'T DAUB! they need light sprays putting a "glob" of pure fragrance on with the wand or finger won't do justice. Honestly, they smell completely different if you spray. If you spray, stay away from head/neck until you know the strength, they all are projection monsters.

Dark Aoud is my favorite. I like Louban better than Black Aoud, it is softer, less harsh. My wife owns louban, and it smells wonderful on her. I own Black Aoud and I found by applying it very lightly only to my chest and not my neck, it is fine. Cuir d'Arabie is wonderful also. Montale House for me are either Love or scrub...not much in between.
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post #19 of 23
12/28/12 at 4:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tyler-durden View Post

More importanly, where did you manage to get so many Montale samples?

www.ausliebezumduft.de is the place that most people get Montale samples from. Myself included.
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post #20 of 23
12/28/12 at 7:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andyjreid View Post

www.ausliebezumduft.de is the place that most people get Montale samples from. Myself included.

They don't appear to sell samples, except a set of Linari...
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post #21 of 23
12/29/12 at 12:59pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tyler-durden View Post

More importanly, where did you manage to get so many Montale samples?

www.europerfumes.com

$10US for 7 Montale samples. You don't get to choose the individual samples but as I had only ever tried Full Incense and Black Aoud, I thought it was a great deal and ordered 4 of the 5 sample sets offered.
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post #22 of 23
12/29/12 at 2:00pm
Did you end up liking any others OP? Red Aoud?
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post #23 of 23
12/29/12 at 9:35pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by JiveHippo View Post

Did you end up liking any others OP? Red Aoud?

Of the ones I have tried so far, I came across a few that qualify at least for a revisit. Red Aoud, Aoud Velvet, Blue Amber, Dark Aoud, White Aoud, Aoud Roses Petals, etc. After reading Possum's advice I am going to have to invest in a ton of plastic atomizers.

The stink-bombs so far are Embruns D'essaouira, Aoud Forest, Aoud Leather, Fougeres Marine, Wood & Spices, Chocolate Greedy and Vanille Absolu.

Full Incense is easily my favorite so far. I still have quite a few left to sample but am taking a Montale break and have been sampling other things.
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