The story of Montale
Pierre Montale discovered oud and the traditions of Middle Eastern perfumery during work stays in the region, notably in Saudi Arabia. Back in France, he founded his house in Paris in 2003, aiming to marry those materials with the craft of French perfumery. At a time when oud was almost unknown in Europe, Montale made it a pillar of its catalogue, which soon counted many variations on the resinous wood. The brushed aluminium cylinders, which protect the juice from light, became the house's visual signature. Black Aoud, in 2006, combined oud, rose and patchouli in a composition that became a reference in the genre. Intense Cafe, in 2013, opened a more gourmand register built on coffee and rose. In 2008 Pierre Montale created a second house, Mancera, while Montale kept its reputation as one of the pioneers of oud perfumery in the West.
An olfactory signature
Montale speaks the language of power. Oud, rose and amber recur from one fragrance to the next, with bases of sandalwood, musk and patchouli that deliver considerable longevity and projection. Black Aoud pairs bergamot, grapefruit and patchouli with a heart of rose, labdanum and oud. Intense Cafe steers rose towards gourmand: roasted coffee, vanilla, musk and amber. In both cases the effect is dense, warm and immediately noticeable to anyone nearby.
Which Montale perfume to choose?
To discover oud the Montale way, Black Aoud is the reference: dark rose, oud and patchouli, best saved for evenings and winter. If you prefer a comforting gourmand, Intense Cafe, with rose, coffee and vanilla, is more approachable and easy to wear. Either way, one or two sprays are enough, because these fragrances are highly concentrated.