Montale Fantastic Basilic Eau de Parfum

Montale Fantastic Basilic Eau de Parfum opens with a sharp, green burst of basil alongside kumquat and pear, a genuinely fresh, unusual start for the house. It's one of Montale's more recent releases and one of its more everyday-wearable ones. Montale positions it within its floral fruity family, and it sits comfortably alongside the house's other Eau de Parfum releases on the South African market. It was launched in 2022 and has remained part of the range since.

What does Fantastic Basilic smell like?

The herbal, slightly tangy opening moves into a tropical white floral heart of frangipani and tuberose, keeping the freshness going while adding a touch of sweetness and body. The base is kept fairly light, with benzoin and tonka bean giving it a soft, creamy, slightly musky finish that grounds the fresher top and heart notes.

• Top notes: basil, kumquat, pear
• Heart notes: frangipani, tuberose
• Base notes: benzoin, tonka bean

Performance and when to wear it

Performance is typically moderate on skin, in line with its fresh, herbal-fruity profile rather than the house's heavier oud fragrances. It's a good match for daytime wear in warm weather, and suits South African summers particularly well. As with most Montale fragrances, expect performance to vary a fair amount depending on your skin type and the climate, so treat any description of staying power as a general guide rather than a guarantee.

Who is it for?

Fantastic Basilic is marketed as unisex and suits anyone after a fresh, slightly unusual fragrance that's easy to wear day to day. If you enjoy green, herbal openings but want some floral sweetness underneath, this is worth a try. Prices for Fantastic Basilic in South Africa are worth comparing across retailers before buying, since Eau de Parfum niche releases like this one carry a real cost.