Black Aoud

Black Aoud, inspired by Montale Black Aoud (2006)

Citrus barely registers before the oud arrives, and saffron adds a leathery, spiced tint. Montale built the scent on Cambodian oud and Indonesian patchouli, and the two dominate the heart with rose woven between them. The rose here is deep and dusky, not fresh or dewy. Guaiac Wood, a smoky wood with a faintly tarry smell, joins leather, sandalwood and white musk in the base.

About the original

Black Aoud dates from 2006, and fragrance references credit it to Pierre Montale. The brand calls it the house's emblematic fragrance. A separate flanker, INTENSE Black Aoud, is sold alongside it, along with a Black Aoud body cream and candle; this page refers to the original.

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Montale stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

Rose-oud purists, more than gourmand fans, are its audience: rose and oud come first, with musk and patchouli rather than sugar behind them. If oud tends to smell medicinal to you, the opening may be a struggle.

Related scents

• Montale Oud Pashmina
• Montale Fantastic Oud
• Montale Arabians Tonka

Notes of the original fragrance, as published by the brand.

Top notes: Lemon, Mandarin, Oud, Saffron

Heart notes: Rose, Patchouli

Base notes: Leather, Guaiac Wood, Sandalwood, White Musk

Lemon and mandarin flash past, while oud and saffron take hold almost at once.

The heart is rose and patchouli, earthy and dark, with the oud running through both.

Leather and guaiac wood give the drydown a smoky grain, softened by sandalwood and white musk.

Is this Black Aoud or INTENSE Black Aoud?

The original Black Aoud from 2006. INTENSE Black Aoud is a separate flanker.

Is Black Aoud sweet?

Not especially. It reads as a dark rose-oud, with patchouli, leather and guaiac wood in place of vanilla or sugar.

Is Black Aoud for men?

Montale does not market it to one gender. Some fragrance references list it as masculine.

Inside the EU, delivery is free on orders of €49 or more. Below that it is a flat €4.99. Outside the EU, delivery is a flat €4.99 on every order. We send every order in 1 to 2 working days. It arrives in 3 to 7 days across the EU and in 7 to 14 days outside the EU. You have 14 days to return an unopened bottle.

Black Aoud and Montale are registered trademarks of their respective owners. Parfumour is not affiliated with, associated with, or endorsed by Montale. Our fragrance is an independent interpretation inspired by the original, created to evoke a similar scent experience. All trademark names are used for descriptive and comparison purposes only.