FRAGRANCE | Kabul Aoud EDP: Not an official Montale product?

halfwhiteboy - Montale Kabul Aoud EDP

Kabul Aoud is my first Montale fragrance. I've had it for months already but I've never come around to giving it a full wear until now. Not fan of the aluminum bottle packaging but at least it's compact and light, which is the same case with vintage YSL Rive Gauche and Dolce & Gabbana's By Men. I find the clip used to lock the sprayer a bit of a nuisance, though.

Right upon first spray Kabul Aoud assaults you with a very sharp opening that carries with it an unmistakable, synthetic vibe. I know almost all fragrances today are made of synthetic ingredients, whether wholly or in part, but this just screams highly unnatural. The scent is sharp, woody, and dry. There's a mild resinous sweetness around the edges but it's easily drowned out by the sharpness that just refuses to go away.

Finally after about 20 to 30 minutes, the sharpness lessens a bit, with more of the sweetness coming forward, blending nicely with the dry wood and revealing a hint of smokiness from the oud. However, it's not enough to completely round the scent out—at least not yet. Nevertheless, everything is much better by the first hour that I can now tolerate the scent.

This fragrance can be overbearing with its inherently beastly projection, so a little control on the sprayer is not only recommended but perhaps required. With this one I go as light as possible to produce half-sprays. Longevity is off the charts, with the sharpness still there even after several hours.

Apparently there's some drama surrounding this fragrance that according to Parfumo it's no longer recognized as an official Montale product. It's something to do with a dispute between production facilities in Paris and the UAE sparked by some quarrel between the house's founders. Whatever.

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