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Budget Black Oud
A quick stroll through Marks and Spencer's beauty department a few days ago afforded me the opportunity of trying some Monotheme fragrances, a company that is new to me. If you enjoy Oud and are not willing to pay some of the exorbitant prices it goes for, then this £22 offering should be right up your alley.
From what I can tell, Monotheme is an Italian outfit, and I'd love to know where these fragrances are formulated.
Black Label - Black Oud opens with a colourful, orange peppery-ness before a sweetened Labdanum/Oud accord takes over. There is a warmth provided here too with the addition of a very controlled and delicate Clove … something I never thought I'd say about this spicy note! I'm really impressed that this fragrance doesn't contain the obligatory Musk undertone that many 'Black' Oud offerings do … not that I dislike the Musk in, for example, Montale's Balck Aoud … which I also love but rarely wear anymore.
This Monotheme offering moves in a different direction, sweetening up the woodsy dry down with a beautifully vanillic Amber. While the Oud note here is probably synthetic, it is rather convincing in the company of a well thought our Wood accord. Soft and smooth, the Oud here stays well out of medicinal territory and comes off as relatively light when compared with some others I have tried.
I may have titled this review 'budget', but that refers only to the nominal asking price of a 100ml bottle of this lovely fragrance. Black Label - Black Oud is a fantastic discovery … one that will find a regular place in my rotation.
From what I can tell, Monotheme is an Italian outfit, and I'd love to know where these fragrances are formulated.
Black Label - Black Oud opens with a colourful, orange peppery-ness before a sweetened Labdanum/Oud accord takes over. There is a warmth provided here too with the addition of a very controlled and delicate Clove … something I never thought I'd say about this spicy note! I'm really impressed that this fragrance doesn't contain the obligatory Musk undertone that many 'Black' Oud offerings do … not that I dislike the Musk in, for example, Montale's Balck Aoud … which I also love but rarely wear anymore.
This Monotheme offering moves in a different direction, sweetening up the woodsy dry down with a beautifully vanillic Amber. While the Oud note here is probably synthetic, it is rather convincing in the company of a well thought our Wood accord. Soft and smooth, the Oud here stays well out of medicinal territory and comes off as relatively light when compared with some others I have tried.
I may have titled this review 'budget', but that refers only to the nominal asking price of a 100ml bottle of this lovely fragrance. Black Label - Black Oud is a fantastic discovery … one that will find a regular place in my rotation.