Montana Homme-Red Box

Aldehyde, Begamot, Tarragon, Lavender, Mandarin, Pepper, Cinnamon, Lemon.

Carnation, Geranium, Jasmine, Pine needle, Rose, Sage.

Amber, Oakmoss, Labdanum, Leather, Patchouli, Incense, Cedar.

Montana Homme ( aka Montana Red Box ) is an extremely underrated masculine. Released over twenty years ago, this has been repeatedly compared to Aramis Havana and for very good reasons. The same perfumer created both and each fragrance shares numerous similarities. This review however is about Montana, so we'll keep it on track and describe this terrific, under the radar scent that honors the name of not only Claude Montana, but my current home state as well.

Montana Red opens with a sharp aldehydic wave of citrus that's spicy from the onset. Lavender is immediately in the fray and a soft, green sheen overshadows everything you smell. This accord is cool to the touch and like mountain air brushing by you, it does so very briskly. This quality lasts a few minutes and it's unique to Montana Red.

The edgy and spicy floral heart is the bread and butter of Montana. Pine and Sage mix it up with Carnation and Geranium. Jasmin stays in the shadows and affords the accord just enough moistened sweetness to keep Montana from becoming desert dry. The heart has stubborn longevity and only reluctantly permits the base and drydown to punch in and start their shift.

Once the drydown gets under way, you have been wearing Montana Red for a good while. Leather is the alpha note in these part of the woods. You would think that amber and labdanum would take this in a predictable direction, but you would be remiss. A leathery patch with some help from wood won't let go of the reigns and only in extended drydown do I detect any softening.

Montana Homme is equipped with very nice sillage and better than average longevity. Think Aramis Havana sans the tobacco and with superior hang time. Personally, I'm honored to have a frag that smells this good named after the state I reside in. I could care less that it was named for Claude. Big thumbs up from Aromi for Montana Homme ( Red Box ).

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