Going to purchase 5 Montale samples. Help me choose.

[Andyjreid]

Hi All.

I've recently been interested in Arabian/Eastern influenced fragrances and have been shopping about the budget level of perfumers (Al Rehab, Al Haramain, Ajmal etc). While some of these are good none have really blown me away. Montale are a house I've always wanted to try but wasn't sure if I'd like or not. One of the cheap bottles I've purchased was Al Rehab's Oudy. I have no idea whether or not this is an accurate representation of Oud or not but I really like the scent however it lacks depth.

So I though about getting my hands on some samples but limiting myself to 5 to avoid getting overwhelmed and end up not being able to make a choice.

So here is the part I need help with. Which 5 should I get?

To make it a bit easier I really like dry, resinous, ambery, musky, spicy notes but maybe also a little leather. Not interested in anything too floral or anything that gives off a "soapy" vibe. Fragrances which I own and use regularly are LV Piper Nigurm and Uomo, Creed MI and Himalaya and Chanel Egoiste, however I am looking for something to satisfy my tastes for something darker. From my own investigation I think I'd maybe like Dark Aoud, Aoud Musk and Aoud Cuir d'Arabie but if I'm completely honest..... I have no clue where to start.

Also if any of you think the money would be better spent elsewhere then pitch in with your ideas.

Many thanks

Andy

[hednic]

Black Aoud
Aoud Musk
Oud Cuir D'Arabie
Greyland
Santal Wood

[cameron]

____ aoud
____ aoud
____ aoud
____ aoud
____ aoud

just fill in the blanks randomly and you'll be fine.

[Postumo]

Black Aoud
Red Aoud
Blue Amber
Sweet Oriental Dream
Dark Aoud
Patchouli Leaves

[Birdboy48]

On top of the obvious Dark and Black, I'll also throw in a vote for Red. It may not be as dry as some of the others, but well worth a sniff in my view.

[Andyjreid]

____ aoud
____ aoud
____ aoud
____ aoud
____ aoud

just fill in the blanks randomly and you'll be fine.

You'd think it would be that simple eh?

[alfarom]

Here are my picks...

Dark Aoud
Aoud Musk
Aoud Cuir D'Arabie
Greyland
Aoud Lime

[MonkeyBars]

Dark Aoud is the best Montale I have tried.

What do you consider soapy? Red Vetyver might be a good bet if you like Terre d'Hermes but are looking for something sharper and more potent.

[timdoeswell]

I ordered 5 Montale 2.5mL sprays from TPC about 18 months ago before I bought my three bottles.

I tried:

-Black Aoud
-Black Musk
-Full Incense
-Cuir d'Arabie
-Aoud Safran

At first sniff, Aoud Safran doesn't smell too groundbreaking (I bought BA, BM & Cd'A) but I've since realised how great this fragrance is. It's going to be among my next Montale purchases for sure.

[Darvant]

Dark Aoud, Black Aoud, Aoud Lime, Aoud Musk, Full Incense

[Chasing the Dragon]

For dark and dry, I would go with Aoud Cuir d'Arabie, Black Musk, and Dark Aoud.

If you like a little sweetness, check out Red Aoud, Wild Aoud, and Louban.

For something somewhere between sweet and dry (and quite subtle, for a Montale), check out Musk to Musk.

[bgoc]

http://www.basenotes.net/threads/312...=1#post2721772

[cacio]

I think the two references in the line are Black Aoud (rose + dark cedary oud) and Aoud Cuir d'Arabie (leather and dirty musks + oud). For the others, it really depends on which bent you like for your oud. I like Aoud lime (saffrony).

cacio

[volley2]

Black Aoud
Dark Aoud
Full Incense
Blue Amber
Aoud Cuir d'Arabie

[Diamondflame]

Black Aoud
Lime Aoud
Dark Aoud
Musk to Musk
Aoud Cuir d'Arabie

[Andyjreid]

I kinda thought this would happen.

Ive narrowed it down to 6 samples

Aoud Cuir d'Arabie
Aoud Lime
Aoud Musk
Dark Aoud
Greyland
Santal Wood

If I was to get one more sample but say this one was for a female who liked Narciso Rodriguez for Her, could you make one final recommendation?

[Hayven]

I would give Red Aoud a try. It almost blew my nose away.

[Norstrøm]

Black Aoud
Dark Aoud
Full Incense
Blue Amber
Aoud Cuir d'Arabie

These would be my picks as well.

[LloydLlewellyn]

Black Aoud
Red Aoud
Aoud Lime
Royal Aoud
Red Vetyver

[Shiny Beast]

Black Aoud
Dark Aoud
Aoud Musk
Red Vetyver
Aoud Lime

[Andyjreid]

So I got my samples through and this is what I find so far.

Dark Aoud: The star of the show. Smokey Aoud and easily worth a full bottle.

Santal Wood: Initially I found this to be really nice however as the day went on I felt it becoming overpowering and finally turning into a cloying white musk which reminds me of loads of designer frags.

Aoud Lime: The strangest of the bunch. I get the lime, reminds me of lime shaving soap at times it reminds me of "fairy liquid". I could see me wearing this but not all the time. Maybe worth getting as a 20ml Gift Bottle and not a 100ml.

Aoud Cuir d'Arabie: Well I get the leather, unfortunately I get a giant fecal note which does nothing for me.

Aoud Musk: It's earthy and musky. Nice but a little too sweet for me.

Greyland: Spicy spicy spicy. Loads of black pepper to my nose however the dominating note IMO is cumin which gives it a "body odour" feeling. Shame cos I liked the spices.

I also got Crystal Flowers to purchase as a gift. It's a nice light musky/floral.

So on the purchase list is,

Dark Aoud 100ml
Aoud Lime 20ml as gift bottle
Crystal Flowers 20ml as gift bottle

So now my issue is what other bottle to get as a 100ml. Originally I fancied Santal Wood but not enamoured by it. I've been reading up on Full Incense and I think I'm going to pull the trigger blind on a 100ml of that. I love incense frags and this one has been compared to CdG Avignon which I rate as one of their best frags.

Edit:
My wife has just expressed her distaste for Aoud Lime so it's off the list. I am now thinking of Full Incense and Black Musk, swinging toward the Full Incense for a 100ml bottle Black Musk for the 20ml

[catlettsl]

So I got my samples through and this is what I find so far.

Dark Aoud: The star of the show. Smokey Aoud and easily worth a full bottle.

Santal Wood: Initially I found this to be really nice however as the day went on I felt it becoming overpowering and finally turning into a cloying white musk which reminds me of loads of designer frags.

Aoud Lime: The strangest of the bunch. I get the lime, reminds me of lime shaving soap at times it reminds me of "fairy liquid". I could see me wearing this but not all the time. Maybe worth getting as a 20ml Gift Bottle and not a 100ml.

Aoud Cuir d'Arabie: Well I get the leather, unfortunately I get a giant fecal note which does nothing for me.

Aoud Musk: It's earthy and musky. Nice but a little too sweet for me.

Greyland: Spicy spicy spicy. Loads of black pepper to my nose however the dominating note IMO is cumin which gives it a "body odour" feeling. Shame cos I liked the spices.

I also got Crystal Flowers to purchase as a gift. It's a nice light musky/floral.

So on the purchase list is,

Dark Aoud 100ml
Aoud Lime 20ml as gift bottle
Crystal Flowers 20ml as gift bottle

So now my issue is what other bottle to get as a 100ml. Originally I fancied Santal Wood but not enamoured by it. I've been reading up on Full Incense and I think I'm going to pull the trigger blind on a 100ml of that. I love incense frags and this one has been compared to CdG Avignon which I rate as one of their best frags.

Edit:
My wife has just expressed her distaste for Aoud Lime so it's off the list. I am now thinking of Full Incense and Black Musk, swinging toward the Full Incense for a 100ml bottle Black Musk for the 20ml

Red Vetyver and Black Aoud!!

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[Mr. TL]

I've sampled Black Aoud, Dark Aoud, Red Vetyver and Full Incense.

While I agree with 90% of people on this forum that Black Aoud is a formidable scent, don't be surprised if you get a few people asking you if you're wearing women's perfume, though. It's very unconventional in the aspect of "traditional" scents worn by men in the US. It's a very pungent and aromatic rose scent followed with an even more pungent oud scent. Dark Aoud is in the same ballpark IMO, just more subdued. Full Incense is amazing, strong, and beautiful...a very "true" incense" reproduction. I'm after a full bottle myself. Red Vetyver seems to me at least, a very classy scent that wouldn't be as polarizing as some of Montale's oud offerings.