Oudmazing by Montale

I ordered this fragrance along with two other Montales in 20ml boxes, and without a doubt, it’s the one that impressed me the least of the three. It seems to smell like Lancôme’s ‘La Vie est Belle’, and since I’m not a huge fan, it’s the least exciting for me. They share gourmand/fruity notes: pear at the start, jasmine in the middle, and vanilla and patchouli at the base. The truth is, they share way too many notes, haha, but I expected it to smell more like grapes and figs. In Oudmazing, I notice the difference: it’s a more mature and darker version, with distinguishable leather notes and a very present oud from the very beginning. It’s practically unisex, sweet and strong at the same time, with a bit of everything. I was looking for something more spectacular and different, but it reminds me too much of the current gourmands that are saturating the market (and our noses XD). I’m not sure if I’d recommend it for daily use; I see it more for occasions where we want to stand out, formal events, or nights out. I think this fragrance leaves its strong character in the air.

If you already know several fragrances, this Oudmazing might remind you of some, but without losing the Montale identity. It has a very present fruity component, a green touch, and a base of leather, oud, and vanilla-scented patchouli that’s very pleasant, within the dense and heavy combination it can be. The fig, pear, and grapes come through at times, but the overall vibe is a sweet perfume with good body, high quality, and leans feminine. It reminds me of scents like La Vie est Belle, Black Opium, or Oud Satin Mood, but I highlight that its quality-to-price ratio is excellent for what it offers. There are few perfumes I’d call nocturnal, and this is one of them. It’s one of the best from the brand; I recommend trying it. Personally, I wouldn’t own it, but for a gift or for a woman, it would be a good option. Rating: 8.5/10. Tested from the brand’s discovery set.

I’ve worn more than 20 Montales and tried another 20, including several ‘Aoud’ versions, and this is undoubtedly the most unpleasant of all. It’s a 100% feminine perfume, made for the lady and her lover. The woke agenda is going too far by forcing it to be unisex. If you identify with the pre-2010 definition of a man, stay away from this immediately. It has that powdery/fruity/jasmine/bergamot accord that triggers a reptilian reaction in the male brain by associating it with a feminine scent. No man who wants to do himself a favor should wear it. I have more to say but I’m out of energy; the olfactory memory still haunts me. 0/10

The best thing about this perfume is its performance: 12 easy hours with good intensity at the start. The rest isn’t as flattering; although it’s not a disaster and I understand it has fans, it feels a bit cloying and sickly sweet to me, which happens sometimes with fruity scents. I don’t think you need to worry about that strange mix of oud with sweetness, because the oud only becomes noticeable and somewhat dirty at the beginning. The rest of the notes are presumably there, but what dominates are the fruits, which are far from feeling natural.

What hooks me most is the heart and dry-down, because at first it reminds me of other proposals in the same category. It’s not monotonous: it mixes florals, spices, fruits, and that almost omnipresent Montale oud, which here accompanies without being brutally dominant. Over time, it gets sweet and highlights the florals. Longevity and trail are solid; you have to let it work on your skin to discover the good vibe it has in its development.

What I love most is that it lasts a long time, about 12 hours with good intensity at first. Then, while it’s not a disaster and I know it has its fans, it feels a bit cloying and overly sweet to me, which is typical of fruity perfumes. Don’t worry about that oud-sweet mix because the oud is only noticeable at the start, a bit dirty, while the fruity notes dominate and are far from natural.