Nepal Aoud by Montale

*****
Year: 2014

Notes: Sumatran nutmeg, saffron from Kashmir, Nepalese oud, Bulgarian rose, amber, leather, Madagascan vanilla, white musk
With short-lived nutmeg and saffron top notes, Nepal Aoud is a leathery rose-amber-oud combo.

While it lacks the edge or smokiness of Oud Cuir d'Arabie, it's one of the smoother oud releases, very much in the same vain as White Aoud and Moon Aoud. However, its close resemblance to these two Montale creations is one's main problem with Nepal Aoud.

Nepal Aoud is practically Moon Aoud, but with the base notes (i.e. vetiver, patchouli and sandalwood) replaced by a selection of base notes from White Aoud (i.e. amber, vanilla and white musk). With a prominent Bulgarian rose accord and an insubstantial oud presence, especially after the somewhat animalic opening, Nepal Aoud is yet another tired reiteration of oud from this house.

Possessing good sillage and average staying power, one seriously wonders for how long Montale can continue to keep recycling old olfactory ideas.


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