Year: 2015
Notes: Sri Lankan cinnamon, flowers, honey, Sumatran patchouli, Madagascar vanilla, Laotian oud, leather, amber
After a fleeting animalic facet, Honey Aoud opens up to reveal a voluptuously sweet array of honey, cinnamon and florals.
The honey is extremely inviting, with a comforting warmth, while a generous serving of cinnamon enhances the gourmand introduction. As for the florals, they are pretty much indistinguishable but exude delicious cherry-like subtleties. As a result, the overall effect is balsamic, soft and mellow.
As it approaches the core, the patchouli and vanilla surface to provide a creamy woodiness to the proceedings. And as the top notes gradually subside, it slowly transforms into something darker and woodier (but noticeably restrained). And all the while, the honey accord still lingers in the background.
The oud and leather are kept to a bare minimum, so as not to compromise the composition's dulcified concept. Instead, some amber reinforces the now almost caramelised sweetness that gently pulsates. With the honey now having almost faded, during the drydown, the amber takes over and continues to interact with the demure leather and woods – with only musky woody-amber murmurs remaining some hours later.
Unlike Aoud Lavender, Montale has finally managed to completely steer away from the tired rose-oud pairing, and successfully produce something both new and unconventional. And while Honey Aoud isn't a powerhouse, and could have been a little more challenging (possibly with the addition of some beeswax), it's still probably the best Montale oud creation in recent years.
Whatever the reasons for this unexpected renaissance in this house's creativity, one certainly hopes that more substantially rewarding offerings are on the horizon.
The honey is extremely inviting, with a comforting warmth, while a generous serving of cinnamon enhances the gourmand introduction. As for the florals, they are pretty much indistinguishable but exude delicious cherry-like subtleties. As a result, the overall effect is balsamic, soft and mellow.
As it approaches the core, the patchouli and vanilla surface to provide a creamy woodiness to the proceedings. And as the top notes gradually subside, it slowly transforms into something darker and woodier (but noticeably restrained). And all the while, the honey accord still lingers in the background.
The oud and leather are kept to a bare minimum, so as not to compromise the composition's dulcified concept. Instead, some amber reinforces the now almost caramelised sweetness that gently pulsates. With the honey now having almost faded, during the drydown, the amber takes over and continues to interact with the demure leather and woods – with only musky woody-amber murmurs remaining some hours later.
Unlike Aoud Lavender, Montale has finally managed to completely steer away from the tired rose-oud pairing, and successfully produce something both new and unconventional. And while Honey Aoud isn't a powerhouse, and could have been a little more challenging (possibly with the addition of some beeswax), it's still probably the best Montale oud creation in recent years.
Whatever the reasons for this unexpected renaissance in this house's creativity, one certainly hopes that more substantially rewarding offerings are on the horizon.
