Velvet Flowers Montale

It took me a couple of tries to love this, and I'm glad I gave it another shot.

The first time I tried velvet flowers, I was rather unimpressed. Perhaps it was the weather that suppressed the notes? Maybe I just wasn't receptive enough? For whatever reason, I brushed it off. Luckily, I was going through my samples box and decided to try this on again.

It opens as a watery fruit basket before it starts to settle a bit and becomes more heavy. It's sweet and very fruity (straight up peaches), almost sharp (perhaps from the tiniest bit of saffron that is detectable), but not intrusive. Right from the start, I also pick up a lot of musk playing around in the background, but it's a light girly musk, not a very mature one, if that makes sense.

A sniff closer to the skin reveals the rosy notes that never really take flight. This is the only part of the entire fragrance that lives up to its name, "Velvet Flowers". It is definitely the smoothest part of the entire fragrance, and is so incredibly feminine and mildly intoxicating - so well rounded and addictive, with beautiful musky wood notes backing it. It's a shame it sits so close to the skin, but I suppose one could see that as an added dimension.

As the fragrance develops, it gains an almost syrupy texture and a bitterness that I find rather confusing. The first thing that comes to mind is jasmine, but I have not known jasmine to be bitter on my skin. It's not unpleasant though; if anything, it simply contributes another facet.

It ends with airy musk and a faint fruity floral sweetness, with a hint of spice and wood. This stage is very much a skin scent on me.

Is this fragrance exquisitely different or unique? Perhaps not, but for the fruity floral enthusiast, this is worth trying.

Projection was noticeable throughout, and total wear on me was about 5.5-6 hours.

I love the brand Montale. I’ve loved every perfume I’ve bought from them up until now. Velvet Flowers is not one I can honestly say I like whatsoever and I’m sad I blind bought it based on the other scents I’ve loved.

For me it’s way too strong. It’s extremely fruity and nauseating to the point where after a couple hours of nearly vomiting I had to scrub it off. Unfortunately for me, it continues to linger for another few hours.

This is a fruit perfume 100%. Perhaps a touch of jasmine, but not enough to detract from the fruit cocktail. It’s just gross.

It’s definitely feminine, too. Don’t blind buy it. Get a sample first. I’m curious to know other users thoughts on this one.

I think musk is great. Unfortunately, musk is a bit problematic for me. Musk has to be somewhat sweet for me, at least fluffy-delicious-clean. Otherwise, musk smells sharp, bitter, and scratchy on me. Then it doesn’t smell like it should, fluffy-white, but rather moldy-yellow-gray.

The musk in Montale Velvet Flowers unfortunately ruins the scent for me. It’s the same musk as in Les Nereides Fleur Poudrée de Musc. Bad-breath musk, yikes.

Otherwise, the fragrance has really beautiful notes. The golden bottle with the deep violet splash at the bottom visually points in the right direction. First, there are bright fruity notes. Not a fruit salad, but a noble-perfumed fruitiness. A little later, rich flowers join in. Jasmine, rose, and peach blossom. All fresh-sweet-sensual.

Unfortunately, the metallic-musty musk is there right from the start. Therefore, it immediately disturbs the otherwise very beautiful composition for me. On another skin, it probably comes across wonderfully. Unfortunately, not on me. The name sounds so beautiful. Many thanks to Elchen for the sample! I’m glad to have gotten to know the scent.

Montale always smells different from "non-Montale." Usually very long-lasting. It’s not one of those scents where you wonder at noon: "Where did the euros go that it cost?" You can smell it yourself and others notice it too.

Very balanced, dominated by Gurjum. A blend of flowers and fruit. Subdued yet present. I don’t find it sweet either. This scent is one of the few that I wear year-round, although not for days in a row.

I can’t say it’s metallic-musty for my olfactory perception.

For years, I have been buying Velvet Flower about every 2 years. It has for me something of a scent drug that I need from time to time. It smells sweet and yet not sweet, of warm flowers and yet of summer and delicately fresh. Very hard for me to describe. The balance of the ingredients is so perfectly tuned that it is by no means a headache-inducing scent, as many floral fragrances often are for me. Another masterpiece from Montale for me.