Montale Parfums: the house of oud and which fragrance to start with

Montale is the house that introduced oud to many European fragrance enthusiasts: generous perfumes with a strong sillage and a scent that lasts for hours. To start, the most popular are Intense Café if you like gourmand fragrances, Roses Musk if you love rose, and Black Aoud if you want to experience the house's take on oud.

In our boutique, Montale is often the first niche house people discover after moving on from designer fragrances. The collection is extensive, and it can be difficult to navigate at first: here is how we break it down.

The Montale Style

Pierre Montale combined the tradition of Arabian fragrances with French perfumery. The result is evident from the first spray: dense fragrances with many notes and a warm base of amber, musk, and vanilla. The aluminum bottle has become a signature of the house.

We offer over sixty Montale fragrances, almost all eau de parfums, plus several extracts such as Intense Roses Musk and Intense Black Aoud, which are more concentrated and long-lasting.

The Families to Know

Oud Fragrances

Black Aoud is the classic: rose, oud, and patchouli—dark and enveloping. Oud Tobacco adds tobacco, incense, and spices, making it an evening fragrance. If you want even more intensity, try Intense Black Aoud, an extract with maximum longevity and sillage according to our product pages.

Rose Fragrances

Roses Musk is a clean, musky rose that is easy to wear. Its Intense Roses Musk version is richer and lasts longer. Aoud Purple Rose combines rose with oud and saffron.

Gourmand Fragrances

Intense Café is perhaps Montale's most popular fragrance: coffee, rose, and vanilla. If you love it but want something more intense, try Ristretto Intense Café. Arabians Tonka is sweet and amber-scented, with saffron, oud, and tonka bean; Chocolate Greedy combines cocoa with bitter orange.

Fresh and Sunny Fragrances

Montale is not just about intensity. Day Dreams is a sunny floral fragrance with orange blossom and coconut; Soleil de Capri is citrusy and fruity; Sandflowers features marine and juniper notes.

Which One to Try First

• If you like sweet or vanilla fragrances: Intense Café or Arabians Tonka.
• If you love rose: Roses Musk, or Aoud Purple Rose if you want something with more character.
• If you want to try oud: Black Aoud. If it seems too intense, start with Arabians Tonka, where the oud is complemented by saffron and tonka bean.
• If you are looking for a fresh fragrance: Day Dreams or Soleil de Capri.

Montale fragrances are generous: two sprays are enough. In our boutique, we always recommend trying them on your skin and waiting an hour before deciding, because the base notes are what last the longest.

The Tracce nel Tempo gift set brings together Black Aoud, Dark Vanilla, and Infinity in three 20 ml bottles: a great way to discover the house or give a gift.

All the house's fragrances are on the Montale page. If oud interests you, you should also read about oud fragrances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Montale fragrances last a long time?

Yes, this is one of the house's defining characteristics. Many are rated 4 out of 5 for longevity on our product pages, while extracts such as Intense Black Aoud and Ristretto Intense Café receive a 5. They last for many hours on the skin and even longer on clothing.

What is Montale's most famous fragrance?

Some of the most popular are Intense Café, Black Aoud, Arabians Tonka, and Roses Musk. These are also the fragrances we recommend starting with, as they showcase the house's diverse character.

Is Montale a fragrance for men or women?

Almost all Montale fragrances are unisex. Rather than gender, the fragrance family matters more: rose and gourmand fragrances are often chosen by women, while oud and tobacco fragrances are often chosen by men, but there are no set rules.

Where can I try Montale fragrances near Milan and Bergamo?

At our boutique in Treviglio, halfway between Milan, Bergamo, and Brescia. You can also find them online, with 10 free samples included in orders over €100.