Montale Oudrising Eau de Parfum

Montale Oudrising Eau de Parfum is a dark, smoky oud composition from the French niche house, built around leather, tobacco and incense rather than sweetness. It sits in Montale's aoud-focused range but leans drier and more resinous than most of the line, which is why it has built a following among fans of smoked woods.

What does Oudrising smell like?

The opening is sharp and citrus-led, with bergamot and pink grapefruit cut by a dash of pepper. Once that fades, the heart brings in rose and jasmine over labdanum, black tea and smoked wood, giving a slightly bitter, herbal edge to the florals. The base is where the fragrance earns its name, settling into incense, leather, tobacco, vanilla and amber for a long, smoky dry-down.

• Top notes: Bergamot, pink grapefruit, pepper
• Heart notes: Rose, jasmine, labdanum, black tea, smoked wood
• Base notes: Incense, leather, tobacco, vanilla, amber

Performance and when to wear it

Like most Montale eau de parfums, Oudrising is typically moderate to long-lasting on skin, with the smoky base carrying well into the evening. The projection is noticeable without being loud, so it works for both daytime wear in cooler weather and evenings out. Its resinous, tobacco-heavy character suits autumn and winter best, though a light spray can carry into warmer months too.

Who is it for?

Oudrising is unisex and suits anyone who enjoys smoky, leathery orientals over sweet or fruity ones. It's a good pick for people who already like incense or tobacco fragrances and want something with a Montale signature but a drier finish than the house's more amber-heavy releases.