Montale
Montale
84 votes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
Bright, syrupy citrus notes burst forth immediately, cutting through with an almost artificial sweetness that catches you off-guard—these aren't zesty, but rather confectionery-leaning, as though someone's candied the lemon peel. The fruits establish dominance immediately, with the rose and violet still muted, merely shadows beneath the sugared brightness.
The florals emerge gradually, the rose becoming creamy and perfume-like rather than botanical, whilst violet softens into something almost powdery-almond. The synthetic accords bloom here, creating a distinctly contemporary floral that feels airbrushed, the frankincense appearing as a warm, creamy undertone rather than anything resinous or austere. This phase settles into a comfortable, skin-like projection.
White musk dominates, having absorbed the creaminess from the frankincense and the sweet residue of the fruit notes, becoming something akin to soft suede with a faint amber warmth. The rose and violet fade to whispers, leaving only a sweetened, musky skin scent that's decidedly intimate and powdery, lingering gently rather than assertively.
Velvet Fantasy arrives as a distinctly creamy interpretation of florality—one that prioritises plushness over the brittle elegance many expect from rose and violet fragrances. The fruit-forward opening (those citrus elements functioning almost like a sweetener rather than a sharp counterpoint) immediately signals this isn't a traditional floral; instead, Montale has constructed something closer to a candied rose arrangement, with the synthetic accords providing a glossy, almost plasticky sheen that prevents the composition from becoming powdery or grandmotherly.
What makes this particularly compelling is how the frankincense operates beneath the surface—rather than asserting the austere, churchy presence one might anticipate, it functions here as a creamy binder, softening the white musk into something almost talcum-adjacent. The violet reads less as powder and more as a subtle almond undertone, adding a whisper of nuttiness to the sweet, fruited heart.
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3.5/5 (103)