Perfume of the Day: Montale Boise Vanille

Whoa. I was completely taken off guard by this scent. It has a LOT going on, on very first application it is resinous and herbal, then quickly turns to…powder (I guess that’s the pepper, it does that on me a lot). It’s like being in a very glamorous boudoir backstage in a Weimar cabaret. I expected a gung-ho gourmand, and I got something so much more refined. I guess this might help us keep our new year’s resolutions: compared to that other sandalwood vanilla scent with a similar name, this is as sleek as a greyhound and a tad more interesting, too.  Another one I might slightly prefer on my man, but will steal from time to time.  $95 for 50 ml at Luckyscent.

the scoop
Plain vanilla? Foody? For little girls only? Not this amazingly unique, complex new Montale creation. This vanilla is spicy, woody, dark and brooding, and most certainly unisex. The citrus and aromatic top notes set the dry, piquant tone, ridding vanilla of its typical sweetness. The star note here is not gourmand but rather resinous, slightly insensey. The middle accord is peppery, balsamic and earthy; the contrast of the black spice and woods and golden vanilla is exquisite. The drydown of soft patchouli and full-bodied, luxurious cedarwood is warm and enveloping. The sophisticated, multifaceted, not in the least sweet vanilla scent, altough certainly stunning on a woman, might just turn out to be that elusive perfect vanilla perfume for men.

Boise Vanille notes
lemon, geranium, bergamot, lavender, cedar leaves from Canada, Jamaican pepper, iris, patchouli, vanilla, tonka bean.