Montale • Black Aoud • Fragrances

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hisquiggle on 12/8/2012 6:38:00 AM more reviews by hisquiggle

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Medium, Warm   Hair: Other, Straight   Eyes: Black    

I've tried a number of Montale's aouds, and while they're each lovely in their own right, Black Aoud is by far my favorite and has worked its way into my everyday fragrances. On my skin, it's a simple yet intoxicating blend of aoud, smoky incense, and rose. Everytime I smell it, I feel like I'm on an exotic vacation. I don't find it too heavy or offensive to wear during the day or in the summertime, despite the strong sillage and heavy aoud. In fact, my husband described Black Aoud as "clean" when he smelled it on me, but my skin tends to take the skank out of most scents (for example, Serge Lutens' famous "ball sweat perfume" Muscs Koublai Khan smells tame on me). I actually find the aoud in Montale's other aoud fragrances like Red Aoud, Queen Roses or even Moon Aoud to be more medicinal and pungent. Black Aoud is a more rounded and rich fragrance that doesn't smell as sharp as the others . It's one of those fragrances that'll up your sex appeal whether you're male or female, young or old.

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tntntn on 10/11/2011 7:27:00 AM more reviews by tntntn

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Absolutely mental, but a classic. I wore this to a wedding once. That was probably a weird thing to do, but it was the sort of wedding where the bride wore a Vivienne Westwood black dress and Louboutins. The bride stopped me as soon as I arrived and said "OH MY GOD what is that perfume it's amazing". The other person who used to love it was my ex-boss who was actually, literally, a psychopath.

It's a completely impractical fragrance in so far as your boyfriend and most nice men will hate it, sexy Robert Downey Jr alcoholics will love it, you shouldn't really wear it to weddings or to work, and it costs £99,000. AMAZING.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Nickylily on 1/4/2011 11:55:00 PM more reviews by Nickylily

Age: 36-43   Skin: Oily   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

This is intense and purely sensual. If you wait about 30 minutes from the initial camphor blast opening, you suddenly get incense, spice, sweet yet dry wood and real, full bloom roses. Very strong at first, but then it calms down and lasts forever with a lot of woodsmoke in the dry down. Cleared my sinuses after i smelled it up close to early on before the dry down. My first sample I could not detect rose, even in the dry down. Then I tried it again and the roses were there. Black Aoud is still more incense and warm wood than Montale's queen roses and the sweeter/orangy Aoud Damascus, but I am not sure which is my fav. Black Aoud has more spicy warmth and incense. Queen and Damascus feel safer, but I don't always want safe. I highly recommend trying this as a sample if you like dark rose scents, woody, spicy, leather or attar scents.

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SniffingAround on 11/15/2010 9:50:00 PM more reviews by SniffingAround

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

Hold onto your hats, cause this one packs quite a wallop. Amazing, dirty, delicious aoud--but spray it on with a light hand because it has heavyweight sillage and lasting power. Get it on clothes and it's there for ages! There's a hint of rose and orange in there too, to give it a bit of sparkle. Technically designated as a men's fragrance, but women can definitely wear it (though I would absolutely follow any man wearing this home--really).

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whitecountess on 7/21/2010 7:46:00 PM more reviews by whitecountess

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

The Truth?
Wearing Montale Black Aoud is like having an impossibly gorgeous woman cross the room, softly kiss you, and then throw a drink in your face. It is hot and it is BOLD.

You will LOVE it, or HATE it, but if you are a true perfume enthusiast, you've gotta try it!
It has the rose note from Diptyque's 'L'Ombre dans L'Eau' and the leather note from Chanel's 'Cuir de Russie'. Then add wood and masses of sex appeal!

After you (sparingly!) spritz it, you will not even know what has happened to you for close to fifty minutes. It is just so strong. But then, the journey begins.......

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*TOP REVIEWER* suzi2qs on 6/7/2010 10:29:00 PM more reviews by suzi2qs

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond, Coarse   Eyes: Green    

Montale has created a beast and Black Aoud is thy name! Raw, unbridled sexuality in a little black bottle. This is as subtle as a catagory 5 hurricane with just about as much humanity. This fragrances rocks, like the bitch is back, strangle hold, rock you like a hurricane and the train kept a-rolling all night long.
The simple list of notes: Cambodian oud, Indonesian patchouli leaves over a combination of mandarine, musk and rose. But as they say in AA, simple is not always easy. Nope. This one blew out my senses at first try. Never thinking I could wear this, I sprayed on my pulse points, slipped my little sample into a box and walked around in a state of confusion for 12+ hours. No, I couldn't possibly do this one. By the end of the day, I had, to my dismay and confusion, collected 7 compliments and 2 inquiries as to what I was wearing and wear it could be purchased. A waiter at least half my age asked me if I was married. Is this weird? No, this is Black Aoud. It opens with a blast of "what the hell is this?" bursting through strong, healthy roses ready to cross pollenate to preserve their kind, and yes, nice earthy patchouli. Ok, the sample came back out of the box. I have worn this alone, I have layered it with simple rose fragrances (wow) and with skanky musk oils (I'm a freight train, feeling no pain). Yes, I bought a full bottle. This is not a fragrance for shrinking violets, girly girls or prissy socialites. Lets put it on exotic dancers, tugboat captains, beautiful and larger than life drag queens and serious fragrance junkies. This is Angeline Jolie, Steven Tyler, Gordon Gecko, Joan Crawford, Satan's unscrupulous lawyer and some ridiculously handsome, filthy rich Sultan sprawled out and spent after an opulent orgy. Damn. Glad I can wear this. Hope you can too. Test before you invest. The beast is not for everyone.

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TheEmpress on 3/12/2010 7:33:00 PM more reviews by TheEmpress

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

This fragrance screams Very Loud! Best for formal nights.Still to loud for me.

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kishwer on 3/2/2010 3:34:00 PM more reviews by kishwer

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

As they say it really is something else! I am from the indian continent and have smelt spices, attars and others before. This stuff is very different it is strong!! You get black dark dying rose ( desperate to live another day it does its best to fight) sandalwood, aoud and mmm something i cant put my finger on. The scent plays with me sometimes it is musky dark rose other times i smell aoud and sandalwood. Definately one to try before you buy. Its like marmite. love it or hate it. I love it.
White aoud was a little softer and muskier ok but not all that.

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SmellieKat on 2/17/2010 8:14:00 PM more reviews by SmellieKat

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

Black Aoud is an adventure in a bottle. I love White Aoud as well, but it's a little too "vanilla" in the drydown, even though it is an interesting, weird-ish vanilla. When I first tried Black Aoud, I hated it, almost scrubbed it, thought it was Lysol/Pinesol/Pledge in a bottle. Put it away for months. Tried again later and found the soapy/incense/rose/aoud absolutely magical. A woman (or a man) must have a few miles on them to pull this off - it's not exactly mainstream, nor is it 20 years old. But it's hot as hell; masculine and ultra feminine at the same time. Surprising and adventurous. Like, "oh, my god, I could never wear this" kind of adventurous. But then you wear it and fall in love. Would I wear it to the office? Hell, yes, because I'm the boss. Would I wear it to a wine tasting? Probably not. Would I wear it on a romantic date with my husband? Of course. One "encounters" Black Aoud and must meet it with equal confidence to appreciate the experience.

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*TOP REVIEWER* ellizam on 9/18/2009 4:20:00 PM more reviews by ellizam

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I realize that, per se, this costs the earth. However I ticked the price at less than the earth because, as with many Montales (and none more than this), a little goes way way way way far.


I am stunned that I didn't review this earlier -- I was one of the first on the Black Aoud train and honestly, I'm not sure how much I can add to the discussion. Yes, this is very strong, yes, a light hand is all. Yes, this is another of the drydown fragrances -- you MUST let it dry down for at least 15 minutes before you wear it around any human without anosmia.


I can see how people parse leather out of this, though I always smelled it as bitter, dry, rich oud with a labdanum shift. I didn't take it in as rose, I think because the aoud shifts the rose so much. But now I parse for rose specifically, yes, this is the rose of the really good essential oil rose. Not the cheap fragrance oil rose knock off, or the inexpensive essential oil rose (you know that one, pretty but much sweeter, more like tea rose at times). This is the dark, almost dry one. And wierdly, once I read it in the notes and look for it, there IS mandarine orange and it's beautiful -- it's what makes the rose work, I think. The sour/aromatic quality of the mandarine orange pulls together the sour/aromatic qualities of the aoud and the rose.


So what can I say about Black Aoud that's new? I got this in Paris. I had gotten samps of Black Aoud before and thought "feh," and didn't like them. Then in the Paris store, I bought something else and they gave me a couple of huge samples of this, among other things. They are canny people, those Paris Montalians, because I took this home, actually put it on my skin, said to myself "oh yeah, didn't like," left it alone, and fifteen minutes later was looking up when the Montale Boutique opened so I could go in and buy the biggest bottle they had.


It's the drydown -- warm, almost laundry-ish in its snuggliness, but with a rich, smoky, edginess. Strong, familiar (rose) yet strange (aoud), seemingly simple (few ingrediants) but the ingrediants themselves are complex and shifting. This also layers exquisitely. It's strong enough to rescue you from any awful thing you may have sprayed on and can't get off, and yet layers in exquisite, fun ways with soft notes. Lemon, lily, gardenia, more labdanum, vanilla, amber, La Myrrhe, #5, vetiver, pretty much everything I've layered this with has moved beautifully with it.


I will say that I would never wear this in a professional situation, or not unless it had had several hours to dry down after a VERY light spray. This is a Perfume Statement, money in a bottle, attention getting and very opinionated, and in today's scent-neutral workplace this would be a very bad plan.

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*TOP REVIEWER* eurodivas on 9/10/2009 10:34:00 AM more reviews by eurodivas

Age: 36-43   Skin: Acne-prone, Dark, Warm   Hair: Brown, Relaxed, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I have neglected to write a review because I have been enjoying this one too much. No - honestly I was waiting to try as many Aoud variations from Montael and non Arabian brands before giving my verdict. The brand has so many Aoud scents I want to have some point of comparison.


This fragrance is really Aoud Rose perfection. Really there is nothing I can think about as a negative point. Very crisp, full bodied rose scent with the perfect balance of Aoud. Never gets stale and it does not wear the wearer as many Aouds can. When I wear this fragrance I really fell special.
It is not cheap but worth every penny.

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*TOP REVIEWER* KelseyP on 8/22/2009 1:48:00 PM more reviews by KelseyP

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

Oh, no, this one does not work on me at all. It is dark and heavy and the rose is *so* cloying and overhwelming. I tried it a few times but it just doesn't do anything on me worth waiting for. Too bad. The Aoud note on me is so medicinal, in both this and the white Aoud.

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laurenmillie on 5/5/2009 3:55:00 AM more reviews by laurenmillie

Age: Unknown   Skin: Sensitive   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

completely and udderly my favorite rose scent of all times...rose scents can often be so generic and ladylike--this is not one of those scents this is a dark wet rotting rose...almost cloying like a rose close to death. Medicinal and sharp to the nose at first-- it is one of the most amazing scents I have ever encountered. People actually stopped me to as me what I am wearing when I have this one on...it is like a stoplight--I get blinded by its beauty--I have many niche scent but this one is def in the top three of all times... apply with a light hand this one goes a long way
NOTES: rose, french labdamun, musk, patch, man. orange, and agarwood

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melmaid on 3/28/2009 8:54:00 AM more reviews by melmaid

Age: 30-35   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

i work on the place vendome in paris, and since the montale store is right on rue de la paix, i pass by the store very often.

when you pass in front of the store, you are immediately entranced by the smell of black aoud, the perfume that the store chooses to diffuse around its door to lure passersbys. it works. i fell in love with aoud immediately.

i first bought aoud velvet last year, loved the sweet white floral scents that reminded me of vacation - tiare, ylang ylang, orange blossom... but after 6 months i grew a bit tired of it, it's just too sweet. i then started to wear black aoud, it's wild, intoxicating, and extremely sexy. i love it.

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*TOP REVIEWER* bmichlig on 3/5/2009 3:29:00 PM more reviews by bmichlig

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Red, Curly, Coarse   Eyes: Green    

A sweet fragrance friend sent me a decant of this, and I'm so grateful she did!

Now, my chemistry is such that things get very sweet and syrupy once on - even those that are supposed to be dry. Messe de Minuit, for example, was nearly pure orange lollipop on my skin - I got the incense only at the begining, and it was all bitter orange + sugar syrup after a short time.

I tried this without knowing it was the "rose aoud" of the Montale group, and was very surprised indeed to find a lush old-growth rosebush in full overblown bloom sprouting from my wrist. This was a luscious, velvety, dark and cool rose, very sophisticated without heading into "grandma" territory (don't hate - I can say that, as I really AM a grandma!). I didn't get the medicinal bitterness from the aoud and I can't say I got the ladanum either - just pure concentrated rose essential oil - darker and rounder than the Bulgarian rose oil a friend gave me years ago.

I'm not really a floral, gal, though - so although I can emphatically say this is a gorgeous rose, it isn't for me. (Few things are, though, given my whacked out chemistry.)

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*TOP REVIEWER* tessture on 1/18/2009 2:37:00 PM more reviews by tessture

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I love the onset of this one. Rich, deep dark rose, medicinal, exotic Aoud, resinous labdanum (one of my favorite notes in perfumery). But it doesn't last this way. The labdanum fades much too soon and I'm left with sharply medicinal Aoud, something like sandalwood and a dusty rose that reminds me powerfully of Ombre Rose, that powdery drug store rose that, while not dreadful, can seem cheap or faded. The overall complexity starts very well, but fades too quickly for a scent in this price point and in the end, all that's left is the fragrance of an endangered wood, not at its best. Sad, because I wanted to like this, even while I was afraid I would and keep the Aoud endangered by buying up loads of the scent.

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cora-lu on 12/23/2008 7:41:00 AM more reviews by cora-lu

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Other    

Strange, how our experience of perfume varies. I suppose it has to do with body chemistry, and olfactory memories...

I have worn Black Aoud for quite a while, but let me say - it has to be just a tiny, tiny little dab (that's why i decanted in a small roll-on). If just dabbed like that, it is a beautiful, close to the skin scent, giving me a rich, almost unctuous feeling of rose liquor. Very satisfying.

If sprayed, even very carefully, in small amounts, it's much too much, and it takes very long to mellow down.

One of the very few perfumes that my DH loves :)

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*TOP REVIEWER* proximitythe53rd on 7/10/2008 9:09:00 AM more reviews by proximitythe53rd

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

Black Aoud is a very dark, very heavy, velvety rose fragrance, accented with dark woods, a bit of leather, some incense, and patchouli. There are mainly top-note traces of citrus. I think it's got a special sort of beauty all of its own, it smells wild and unpredictable.
I'm a bit torn about Black Aoud ... I like it, but I don't think I like it on myself. I don't wear this fragrance, it wears me. I never find myself reaching for it, because it becomes overpowering, even when applied very lightly. Its strength alone is enough to make me feel slightly ill, it's very thick, and definitely not what we'd call a "skin scent". It's assertive.
All in all, it took me a while to figure out that while I do like Black Aoud, it's just completely not me, and I don't like it on myself.

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BlackDahliaPix on 3/8/2008 1:19:00 AM more reviews by BlackDahliaPix

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I recently moved from my comfy California home to live in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, and after a week set out to find the perfect fragrance to represent this amazing city.

I have a tradition of buying a new perfume whenever I take a vacation in a new country, which was a huge success when we went to Italy two years ago. Now whenever I wear Stella my husband goes into rapture and begins speaking with an Italian accent!

The perfume choices in any mall in Abu Dhabi is absolutely staggering, with shrines for each cosmetic and fragrance house assembled in one palatial marble-clad area. My husban John tolerated me lingering at these counters for hours while I spritzed little cards looking for The One, but nothing grabbed me.

As we continued our quest to walk this entire mall we both caught a whiff of an amazing scent in the air and John said “That’s the scent of Abu Dhabi – whatever that is, you should buy it!” I looked over the balcony and spotted a huge brass incense burner on the floor below that was emitting the fragrance, so we went downstairs to find a local perfume house called Al-Jazeera which featured Arabic themed perfumes and looked like the inside of a gorgeous jewelry box. Jackpot!

I explained to the man working there I wanted to smell like that smoke outside, and he handed me a bottle of Black Aoud by Montale – Eau De Parfum from Paris but every bit the essence of Arabia. After he doused me with it, John agreed I smelled like Abu Dhabi so I handed over my three hundred dirhams knowing I’ve captured this country in a bottle.

Once back at home, I did a quick search to find out more about this fragrance and was amazed to find such passionate entries both for and against it on Makeup Alley. I must say I can see why this fragrance attracts a cult like following as my husband said it best: It's obnoxious and exotic and above all...VERY sexy. For a fragrance to conjure up words like that from him - it is a keeper for life. Oh, and by the way, for the 100 ml size it worked out to be about $90 American dollars - so apparently I should be buying this in bulk and shipping it back home!

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*TOP REVIEWER* ECMac25 on 1/28/2008 11:58:00 PM more reviews by ECMac25

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Black    

I expected this to be so strong I'd recoil from it, but Black Aoud is not as offensive as I thought it would be. I get leather,rubber, and candle wax all blended together with honeyed rose. I'm grateful I don't get any talcum powder accord - this is more resinous than powdery, and it's rather lovely especially the longer it sits on the skin. Compared to the other Montale Aouds that I've sampled, I'd consider buying a full sized bottle of this one.

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