The Montale fragrance house has been as busy as ever and so, for a few weeks now, we have the two new Eaux de Parfum Arabians Musk and Dallachaï in the Aus Liebe zum Duft range, which will hopefully warm me up and cheer me up on this bitterly cold and foggy, dreary January day. After all, both compositions are dedicated to or inspired by the Orient. So nothing can really go wrong, or what do you think? Will I get desert flair, precious spices, opulent, warming and enveloping creations for my frost-ridden mind?
Arabians Musk – Musk follows Tonka
While it is often said that “form follows function” in design, Montale’s motto is “musk follows tonka bean”. At least that’s what you could assume, as Arabians Musk is now the third fragrance in the Arabians collection, which also includes the Eau de Parfum Arabians launched in 2017 and Arabians Tonka, which was released in 2019. Fans of opulent and poetic names will be in the wrong place at Montale. The fragrance house is not only known for its very characteristic, often colorful and/or shiny metal flacons, but also for perfume names that leave little room for imagination.
Names such as Intense Amber, Spicy Aoud, Sweet Vanilla, Intense Cafe, Pretty Fruity, Wild Pears or Jasmin Full are simply typical Montale and that’s why we love the brand. Because we know for a fact that Pierre Montale, the namesake and perfumer, is a master of his trade.
But now to today’s star guest Arabians Musk. The fragrance naturally revolves around the powdery facets of musk and at the same time reflects the desert landscape of Morocco. Therefore, the eau de parfum should combine oriental-spicy nuances with musk powder, at least that’s my assumption. In any case, the fragrance notes sound absolutely enticing: honey, bergamot, dates, orange blossom, vanilla, tonka bean, musk and sugar.
The opening of Arabians Musk is sweet and fresh at the same time. The golden, flowing notes of radiant honey and sugar-sweet dates meet cotton-soft, crystalline musk, creamy orange blossom and tangy hesperidic tartness, which provides lightness in the background. The composition is very airy and fluffy-sweet at the same time, delicate, almost innocent. The eau de parfum has a good presence and is also convincing in terms of its longevity. Vanilla nuances and the subtle coumarin notes of tonka bean provide an extremely atmospheric finish.
Arabians Musk is like a warm, spicy-powdery breeze drifting over sand-colored dunes. A harmonious and soft, velvety creation that celebrates the mineral-crystalline powder notes of musk in a wonderful way. Thanks to perfectly selected olfactory companions, Pierre Montale teases beautiful facets out of the musk, making it appear creamy, fruity-fresh, spicy-warm or baby-powdery. Perfect for all those who love compositions with a light, sweet, rather delicate and transparent yet present musky fluffiness. Cotton-soft clouds of powder to spray on! Sweet, soft, Arabians Musk.
Dallachaï – Arabic coffee with tropical twist
Dallachaï is dedicated to intensely spiced Arabic coffee, which surprises me at first glance, as I actually associate the word “chai” more with tea. But it also seems to be a word that is associated with oriental spice blends. Incidentally, the first ingredient in the name of the eau de parfum comes from Dallah, a “traditional Arabic coffee pot that has been used for centuries to brew and serve Arabic coffee.” I am a big fan of the scent of coffee and am therefore delighted that Montale has combined it with cardamom, clove, saffron, passion fruit (passion fruit), milk, ambergris and musk. As the press release says so beautifully: “Arabic coffee is the soul of perfume.” That sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? At least for coffee fans like me. I hope you are just as excited as I am and like the ingredient in fragrances at least as much. ☕
Dallachaï starts surprisingly fruity. Luscious passion fruit combines with creamy, milky nuances, rich spices and the dark tartness of roasted coffee beans to create an exciting, tropical-oriental composition. I would not have expected that! The eau de parfum conjures up an incredulous smile on my lips when I sniff it, because somehow Dallachaï puts me in a good mood. The passion fruit is powerful, radiant and demonstrates impressive staying power, while the other fragrance notes gradually fade into the background. Powdery-warm, ambery-creamy nuances underline the passion fruit as the fragrance progresses, before the eau de parfum slowly fades away.
With Dallachaï, the French niche fragrance label Montale launches a creation that should appeal to passion fruit and passion fruit fans in particular. Bright, radiant and underpinned by a wonderful, warm milkiness, accompanied by lush spices and delicious coffee. Admittedly less coffee than hoped for or expected, but that’s why the fragrance house has creations such as the aforementioned Intense Cafe or Ristretto Intense Café. Dallachaï is a seductive and cozy fragrance with a tropical feel and good presence and longevity. It is perfectly suitable for everyday wear and the office, and I wouldn’t put any seasonal restrictions on it either.
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