MONTALE
Nepal Aoud

2014

nepalese oud
nutmeg
saffron

bulgarian rose
amber

white musk
leather
vanilla

There may be different formulations of Nepal Aoud out there, but I’m not sure. Either way there’s a white and an orange/red bottle version. I’m not 100% sure which version I have a sample of, but the site I bought it from used the thumbnail of the white bottle of Nepal Aoud as is always shown above.

And Nepal Aoud was surprisingly nice. I’m rarely positive about Montale fragrances, especially the harsher ones, but here, it just worked for me. I find it mostly a woody rose. Patchouli isn’t listed, but it’s not a stretch to imagine a rose-patchouli fragrance in Nepal Aoud.

What sets it apart is the skankiness in the oud, but it’s mixed with a freshness. I couldn’t think of an example that smells like this, but the oud and brightness combination in Sarah Baker Symmetry could give you an idea of the feeling that this mix gives off. Except, here it’s rose.

Not fecal, not even all that barnyardy, but definitely some hints of rolling tobacco or hay with a daring edge and it’s combined with a sour brightness. Like a skanky, fresh rose. I’m sure it will have a negative effect on many wearers, but I could really appreciate it, especially in the first hour. The rose was the standout for me and it’s quite different from most warmer, sweeter rose-ouds.

As it dries, it does get sweeter, but it remains a bit skanky. More ambery and woody; personally I don’t get a strong leather or saffron, which was a bonus. After the first hour, I do find that the whole composition starts to get screechy, spicier and rough around the edges, but for a scent profile like this and a price point like this, that can be forgiven.

I’m not sure if I would purchase a bottle, given that it is so screechy and… well, Montale, through and through, but I was pleasantly surprised and I’ll revisit it after some time.