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Leimbacher
Top Review
12
Attack of the killer mandarins
"Montale's "Black Aoud" was an oud milestone, even if the rose there is as prominent as the eagle wood. No one with our hobby got around "Black Aoud" a few years ago. At least a test of that. A true breaker, a polarizing legend. Meanwhile also in my collection, I just couldn't help myself. Too own, too gloomy, too gothic. Too good. A Batman rose. Even if I barely wear it, only on winter evenings on more chic occasions... Now it's Intense Black Aoud. As if someone needed an even stronger version of it...
But "IBA" leans on fame rather than the scent of his big brother and could have been called something else. At least it's not an even more bombastic version of the black rose giant. That would be hard too. Rather "IBA" is a more fruity version of this or the typical Oud-Rosen-Combi from Montale. An overripe mandarin tries to swing its power out and hold it against it with lively peepy chords. That's okay to less. I'd rather stay with BA, he goes all the way. This one here seems like a compromise and experiment. Patch makes it softer, but overall it looks very scratchy and unbalanced. Far away from bad, but neither pleasant nor well done. Montale has felt hundreds of fragrances on offer. This one here, despite all the fuss and his big name, will not get stuck or stick out. There are both better ouds and better mandarins. And roses even more so. In no discipline is this above average. That shouldn't be the claim. Difficult.
Flacon: the golden-black colour gradient pleases and fits. The rest is default.
Sillage: similar to "Black Aoud" or other batten crackers from Montale - you don't fly under any radar with it...
Shelf life: you are already asleep when the scent disappears... 12 hours.
Conclusion: "Intense Black Aoud" follows "Black Aoud" a bit more mandarin, but is not more intense let alone better. But everyone who knows "Black Aoud" knows that its potency is sufficient for three ice ages anyway... IBA" is brighter, easier to wear, more stabbing. More artificial and hyperactive. There's a dozen nicer (A)Ouds in the wide Montale cupboard!
