This is a true chocolate a bitter cacao note in the top which fades back into a slightly paler Vanille Absolu which I adore BTW. I can't say I dislike this fragrance far from it, in fact it's yummy, sweet, woody, vanilla just a bit redundant for me, Simply because of the similarity to VA. This is chocolate/vanilla wafers and when you smell really deep it does have a slight fruitiness and something which is undoubtedly Montale about it. Just like choosing an Ice cream flavour sometimes you're in the mood for chocolate sometimes vanilla...sometimes both? So I love this too...absolutely love it but when the ice cream in question costs over £100 a scoop (flacon) you have to make your mind up as you can't have both.

No higher praise than a compliment from my mum! She is often horrified by some of my fragrance choices and is not shy when it comes to being vocal about it. On the rare occasion I get a positive comment, I treasure it. "Have you been eating chocolate?" "Nah...I just smell of chocolate...do you like it?" "Yeah it's nice...you really smell of Chocolate, just like drinking chocolate" That constitutes a compliment to me, and this stuff does project it has classic Montale strength to it, obviously not the strength of the powerful Oud fragrances but very good. I'm seriously stuck between chocolate greedy, vanilla absolu and intense cafe, to be my first Montale purchase.

Sweet but more spacious take on vanilla. Extasy is a wonderful composition, I got a peach(turned out to be apricot) and benzoin adding to what is a more floral vanilla with jasmine adding to that feel. It's very nice and is unisex, even something I'd wear but I can't help a slight association with the more feminine aspect of apricots and peach with a gentler less full on Vanilla. Just from a point of view...I'd like to smell this on a woman rather than dismissing it being worn by a man. Calming, lovely more faultless perfume from Montale...lasts well too and makes itself known...not quite as deep and long lasting as Montale Vanille Absolu but projects more and still has excellent longevity.

This stunned me! Amazing gourmand, so insanely sweet but I for one could never get sick of that smell. It's reigned in perfectly being a little dark, this is what vanilla should be about eg: A naughty, tasty gourmand experience. Nothing weird or spicy or like sniffing vanilla essence or anything of that sort. I can't tell what the contributing factors are in this scent apparently cloves and cinnamon? Well I don't know if I get that maybe a hint which changes the character and makes it smell exactly like vanilla wafers. This fragrance is so delicious, so delightful I want it... right away! I think it's the woodiness of it too... it's dense and incredibly long lasting on my skin but very soft at the same time. This is one to wear in bed with your lover and guaranteed they will adore this level of edibility! THIS SMELLS DIVINE!!! Sweet tooth well and truly satisfied! Update: I've been struggling to decide between This, Chocolate Greedy and Intense Cafe. I had a sample of this left over and after being thoroughly convinced of it's charms myself I had my girlfriend wear it the other day. Wow!!! We went shopping and I was floating around in her sillage trail on cloud nine and so were others in transpired. My girlfriend walked past a young couple with a baby and I stayed as I was looking at something on a shelf near them. The young lady with the baby then exclaimed to her husband..."MMMMMMMMM Can you smell that? ...I just got a really strong smell of vanilla cookies! Can you smell that? where's it coming from....it's amazing!" My girlfriend couldn't hear as she'd walked off but her trail still lingered and was causing a real stir for this woman. As she said it I looked up...and she smiled I think she thought it was me because I'd heard her and had a knowing grin on my face. This is just another occasion where one of these gourmand Montale's has had this exact effect. Brilliant!!!! I'll probably buy this for my girl and I'll have Chocolate greedy.

Really surprised by this one goes on with a mass of lemon, grapefruit and lime...in fact every kind of citrus! It's a face strunching opening and has a massive accord of ginger to me which is reminiscent of Dior Homme sport. I think it's the petitgrain and earthy opening of vetiver giving the ginger type smell but that settles right down after about 10 mins. All bets are off after that and this becomes a beautifully crystal clear fragrance with a huge juicy mandarin note and then its clean green vetiver and long lasting assimilation of citruses. A minor criticism perhaps is that it transitions a little quickly from opening to basically what you get for several hours after saying that some fragrances don't even have a transition so maybe a moot point? I love this so much it's zingy and bright as any citrus slightly peppery spice with the gorgeous cleanness of Tom Ford Grey Vetiver. A citrus worthy of the price tag!

That blend of citrus fruits with resins and labdanum is SO sharp its quite ridiculous. I can't tell you how much this scent reminds me of absinthe or wormwood it's almost like menthol vapours, reminiscent of some sort of smelling salts for reviving the unconscious. So 'Invigorating' is a totally appropriate name for this juice. I wouldn't call this fruity as such the resinous, balsamic quality is more apparent than anything. The drydown is thankfully mellower than the opening. This is NOT at all for beginners, I think you have to be pretty seasoned to appreciate it...it's not my thing but It's not outside my realm of understanding. So yet another great scent from this house. Boadicea keeps on performing, I've not encountered a fragrance yet that I've been underwhelmed by but they have plenty so there's still time. Would I wear Invigorating? No, not my cup of tea.

Opens with promise a lovely tobacco note very similar to Cuir Mandarine. As other reviews have mentioned this quickly turns more into a patchouli fragrance than anything else. There's a hint of lavender in there too but as this dries down it doesn't offend me necessarily just disappoints...massively. Cuir mandarine was a bit disappointing and it's far better than this! You'd think they had similar longevity and projection etc being essentially very similar but no....this doesn't last at all and quickly retreats to a soft skin scent. Has the strange slightly smokey leather thing I mentioned from CM. Again Cuir Tabac smells good just doesn't 'pop' for me...disappointing at this price. Another one that warrants a second wear but I suspect it will be the same story second time around.

I was looking forward to trying this one so much that now I finally have, it feels like somewhat of an anticlimax. It smells fantastic to be fair an awesome tobacco wrapped in fruity mandarin two fairly common(especially male) perfumery elements brought together and done well I'd say. The patchouli is also big player in this fragrance and the leather drydown is okay but not quite what I was expecting. By that I mean it smells a little bit strange not a deep tanning leather or a smooth subtle leather just an odd, slightly disappointing leather. I think it's confused between whether it's a leather fragrance or a tobacco one and something doesn't quite sit right for me. Also, the longevity is good but quite average for such a pricey juice. Still having said that, I'm being overly critical because of the anticipation I felt before trying. Cuir Mandarine is a luxurious and enjoyable fragrance but I don't think I'll be adding it to my collection just yet, I think this requires a second wear and I'll update if I change my mind. Update: Wearing this again today and it's patchouli all the way! Those mandarin notes are quite fleeting and the leather/tobacco feel is apparent but the basis is in earthy patchouli which in this context is actually quite nice. It must be stronger for others than it is for the wearer. Yet again my mum commented on my sillage trail and said "whatever you're wearing is too strong!" then added "It's smells alright though." I'd have to agree with my mums appraisal really Cuir Mandarine is okay.

Okay so the parfum version of Terre d'Hermes landed in my possession recently. I dismissed it at first as being a sample of the EDT which I own and thoroughly enjoy wearing and very nearly gave it straight to a friend. Upon closer inspection however, I realised it was the Parfum version and couldn't wait to try it and test it side by side with the EDT. Just to mention before I tried it, I looked at the comments on here and was astounded to see that a few people have that they like the EDP but will stick to the EDT...'hmmmm? that's curious I thought' But upon trialling this EDP I can understand why. Terre d'Hermes parfum starts out instantly recognisable as the original but also vastly different in it's delivery it seems more orangey, less bitter and more juicy. Also it has a deeper boozier feel to me but less dry spice and vetiver compared to the original which really appealed at first. As the EDP dries down it becomes more familiar and converges with the EDT, spice and resin coming through but it still just slightly different. The drydown again they move out of synch the EDP becoming sweeter and woodier but less apparent than the EDT. Yes that's right the EDT has far superior longevity by a good few hours which is not expected at all. Also the thing which to me makes Terre d'Hermes is the benzoin and pepper with the vetiver which gives a roughness and dryness against that orange note. I thought this EDP was more juicy and orangey at first which really appealed but strangely as the fragrance progresses it's the EDT that retains more character and more of that orange note. So all round the EDT is better although there's no way you could like one and not the other as they're so close in smell. Interesting how subtle nuances can make all the difference and they certainly do here, some people will prefer this to the EDT, I did at first too as I mentioned but really can't get over how poor the longevity is.

This fragrance is not really one for the guys but I enjoyed it enough to review Dia anyway. The effect of a floral aldehyde musk fragrance would usually be a unappealing one but this somehow has a retained quality to it. For me reading the sample card was a bit daunting when it said the perfect compliment to Gold (I'm assuming Pour Femme) but I couldn't help but think about Gold Homme, which is the stuff of nightmares! Strangely when I sprayed this on I had the awful realisation that Dia does indeed have the same feel as the opening to Gold. It's very, very, very powdery and smells like talcum powder and almost feels thick in your nostrils. Then it becomes complex and the aldehydic, floral qualities come through but never become too much. It's a great balance and I'm no expert in florals or feminine fragrances but I think this one shows restraint. I get an overriding vibe of peony, rose and peach to the subtle but enduringly strong musk. I'm so glad it just dried down with soft woods rather than animal stink which I was half expecting. I'd like this on a female but it's not exactly daring for Amouage more soft and elegant like something my mum might wear.

Again I thought I'd reviewed this way back but obviously not! My girlfriend wore this the other night (I got her the set for Christmas...I know...I know... what a guy!;) and I'd forgotten just how much I liked 1872. Couldn't put my finger on exactly what was going on or the similarity to other fragrances I was encountering. 1872 has the sweetness of rose and white floral elements jasmine and lily of the valley without any of the negatives. It has an engaging fruitiness pineapple and berries. Musk, sandalwood, patchouli and cedar make up what is a complex and woody floral scent which is feminine but not overly so. I absolutely love this and no matter what naysayers might say about Clive Christian, the house delivers on quality in almost every respect. This lasts and lasts on her skin and is yet more magic, changing slightly each time I smell it and that's the mark of a true masterpiece in my opinion. I like the Men's version but this one is a great gift for that special lady in your life.