Oud Island
Oud Island by Montale is an unisex eau de parfum in the niche price tier. It opens with bergamot, mandarin and lemon, moves into oud, leather, tiare, tuberose and sandalwood and dries down to vanilla, labdanum, musk, tobacco and amber. Expect around 10 hours of wear, and it projects very strongly.
Notes, explained
Opening
- Bergamot Sharp citrus with a faint bitter edge. The opening of about half of all men's fragrances.
- Mandarin Soft, sweet, almost powdery citrus. Gentler than orange.
- Lemon Clean, sour, instantly recognisable. Bright but burns off fast.
Heart
- Oud Resinous, medicinal, barnyard-adjacent wood. The most expensive note in perfumery.
- Leather Smoky, dry and a bit animal. Can be a new jacket or an old saddle.
- Tiare Creamy tropical white flower. Suntan lotion, in the best way.
- Tuberose Creamy, waxy and enormous. The loudest white flower.
- Sandalwood Creamy, milky wood. Soft and almost edible.
Dry-down
- Vanilla Sweet, creamy and warm. The most comforting note in perfumery.
- Labdanum Sticky, leathery resin. Dark honey and old books.
- Musk Warm, skin-like and slightly sweet. Makes a fragrance feel like you.
- Tobacco Sweet, dried and honeyed. Nothing like a cigarette.
- Amber Warm, golden and resinous. Not a real material — a blend that glows.
Smells like this
- Masque Milano Vaiana
- Floris Honey Oud
- Mind Games Playmate
- Mancera Red Tobacco
- Montale Arabians Rose Leather
- Al Haramain Amber Oud Gold Edition
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