Dark Aoud by Montale
Men Women 2011
The olfactory pyramid
A guide to the opening, heart and lasting trail of the fragrance.
The community speaks
Compare the results and tap an answer to add your vote.
In the collection
Leading answer I own it
3,105 votes
What do you think?
Leading answer Love it
1,223 votes
Season
Choose severalLeading answer Autumn
1,060 votes
Time of day
Choose severalLeading answer Night
661 votes
Each question has its own vote count. You can choose several seasons.
Fragrance profile
About Dark Aoud
Dark Aoud by Montale is a woody fragrance for men and women. Launched in 2011, this olfactory composition was created by Pierre Montale.
Woods and mosses
It may remind you of
Ranked by what the community voted.
More from Montale
More from Pierre Montale
How it wears
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Longevity
Leading answer Very long-lasting
673 votes
Sillage
Leading answer Strong
746 votes
Character
Leading answer Leans masculine
269 votes
Value perception
Leading answer Fair price
236 votes
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Community reviews
13 reviews
Share what you noticed: opening, drydown, sillage and the moments when it works for you.
My absolute favorite from the entire collection. On skin, it doesn’t project much, but it clings to clothes. That sweet, original, and simple oud with touches of coniferous resin and a powdery, spiced base. The most satisfying blind buy; perfect for getting into oud at a very reasonable price.
My favorite fragrance from the entire collection. On my skin, it doesn’t project much, but everything I wear eventually smells like it. That sweet, original, simple yet special oud. It reminds me of pine resin, with a touch of attar and spice. It’s the blind buy that has satisfied me the most; for my taste, it’s excellent for getting into oud at a very reasonable price.
Dark Aoud is as masculine as they come. With just a few notes, it delivers exactly what its name promises. It’s dry and slightly rough at first, blending that typical medicinal Montale oud with a very tasty powdery sandalwood. If you’re looking for seriousness and masculinity, this is a great option. At first, I only wore it in cold weather due to its density, but this summer I felt comfortable with it. Don’t expect compliments; this is about making a presence. One of the best from Montale.
It seems very similar to its cousin Mancera Aoud Vanille. The latter is a bit sweeter due to the vanilla, without being cloying, while the Montale is less sweet and creamier thanks to the sandalwood. The listed notes are minimalist, so there’s surely more. In short: if you have one, you don’t need the other. If you don’t have either, go straight for the Mancera: it lasts longer and costs the same or less.
A very clean oud with sandalwood. On the opening, I notice bursts of myrrh, frankincense, and patchouli that aren’t listed. As it dries, it becomes a bit gasoline-like, but that’s my impression. Excellent perfume; Montale doesn’t disappoint once again.
Personal sensation and review! For me, it’s the perfect oud blend: wet, dirty, bordering on patchouli (earthy, nothing like the actual scent) and slightly musky at the start. When it dries, it’s impeccable: the creaminess of the sandalwood emerges, soapy and clean. The most elegant oud I’ve owned; I even compare it to Tom Ford’s Oud Wood, and this is another level, more niche, with spectacular projection and longevity. I dare to say it because I own Amouage’s Silver Oud, and Montale crushes them all on the street. Completely unisex if you have character and like things different; it’s imposing on women too. Undoubtedly a top pick.
Pure personal review! To me, this is the perfect oud blend: wet, dirty, almost patchouli-like (earthy, not actually patchouli) in the opening, with a musky touch. As it dries, it becomes flawless! The sandalwood emerges creamy, soapy, and clean. It’s the most elegant oud I’ve ever felt, better than Tom Ford’s Oud Wood; it’s on another level, much more niche. The projection, evolution, and longevity are spectacular. I say this because I own Amouage Silver Oud, and in my opinion, Montale crushes it. It’s a top pick, unisex for those with character who want something different, though it’s not for everyone. My friends wear it, and it looks stunning on them.
In the end, a review is just a subjective opinion, not science. It’s an expression of feelings. Let’s talk about Dark Aoud: a super woody and masculine aroma that reminds me of Gucci Pour Homme 1, Gucci Guilty Absolute, Bentley Absolute, or Dunhill Icon Absolute. I bought it guided by the statistics on this site, which promise an outstanding trail, but in my experience, that wasn’t the case. I expected a bomb like Dior Homme Parfum or Mugler’s Amen. Maybe the longevity was good, but the projection was very skin-close. A subtle perfume.
Montale lacks a middle ground: their fragrances either you love them or you don’t. Dark Aoud is a walk through a tropical forest with interesting longevity and projection in my case. I liked it. It starts medicinal and herbaceous, but soon develops into a rich, warm, and aromatic wood scent, very harmonious. The oud is well-balanced with the woods and sandalwood, which controls its power and gives it a slight creamy touch. An interesting, attractive, and sophisticated aroma, perfect for winter.
Reading descriptions from outside, they rate this fragrance as so mysterious it seems like entering a taiga listening to Gorgoroth. But on my skin, it wasn’t like that. Great disappointment. It’s very woody but lacks personality, bland to be frank. It smells of oud wood, sandalwood, and diffuse spicy accords. It’s like a ”diluted” version of Amouage’s Epic Man; they’re somewhat similar. And frankly, I don’t see anything unisex about it. Dark Aoud is totally masculine. The longevity, projection, and sillage are weak for a Montale. I’m surprised because, given the name and the house, it should have density and depth. Maybe the sample was in bad condition. Suitable for autumn, winter, and formal occasions.
Neither do I like it nor do I dislike it. What I notice most is a medicinal woody smell, probably from the oud, with a slight leather nuance. It’s quite linear and becomes woodier as it dries. As others say, it’s tremendously dry and dark. Try it before buying because you might be surprised. I haven’t tried more Montales, but if this is the mildest, I can’t imagine the rest. Not for me. Ideal for autumn, winter, and night. Long-lasting longevity, moderate trail.
I tried it a few years ago with a 1 ml sample. I noticed a very woody and spiced aroma, without many pretensions of originality but with a certain richness. It also seemed dry, like my friend Oscarsh86. According to Fragrantica, it only has oud and sandalwood, but I perceived saffron, cedar, and something earthy. It’s true that other sites attribute more notes to it, like Le Secret du Marais perfumery, which mentions Indian sandalwood, oud, black pepper, saffron, vetiver, teak, leather, and ambergris. For me, it results in being totally masculine. Longevity and projection are moderate to be a Montale.
Smells like dry wood, for real—it’s the driest scent I’ve ever worn on my skin. You can definitely detect the oud and sandalwood, but that sandalwood isn’t creamy; it’s quite dry. While some say it softens as it dries, that hasn’t happened for me; it smells like dry wood from the very start. The projection and longevity aren’t what you’d expect from a Montale. It’s totally masculine; I didn’t like it, but for anyone seeking woody, dry scents, it’s a great option.