Year: 2003
Notes: saffron, Bulgarian rose, oud, patchouli, styrax, sandalwood, white musk
In a nutshell, Dark Rose is a more approachable alternative to the rose-oud offerings by Montale.
The closest Montale release that one can compare Dark Rose to would be Black Aoud (but based on a fraction of its normal concentration). With the typical opening of medicinal oud and rose, there's also the addition of an underlying jammy fruitiness (almost berry-like) that adds an extra dimension.
Apart from that, it's not exactly a darker or richer equivalent of No.88, even though their style and execution are both quite similar. Furthermore, since its original release, both the quality and quantity of oud interpretations (in Western perfumery) have increased to such an extent (courtesy of Montale, Amouage, and numerous designer and niche oud copycats) that it now pales in comparison, smelling comparatively bland and anaemic.
While it may still appeal to some, there are a myriad of superior alternatives available, provided you're prepared to make the effort to discover them.
The closest Montale release that one can compare Dark Rose to would be Black Aoud (but based on a fraction of its normal concentration). With the typical opening of medicinal oud and rose, there's also the addition of an underlying jammy fruitiness (almost berry-like) that adds an extra dimension.
Apart from that, it's not exactly a darker or richer equivalent of No.88, even though their style and execution are both quite similar. Furthermore, since its original release, both the quality and quantity of oud interpretations (in Western perfumery) have increased to such an extent (courtesy of Montale, Amouage, and numerous designer and niche oud copycats) that it now pales in comparison, smelling comparatively bland and anaemic.
While it may still appeal to some, there are a myriad of superior alternatives available, provided you're prepared to make the effort to discover them.
