Montale

Dark Purple

Imagine you and a group of strangers, each with intriguing backgrounds, have been whisked off to a secluded island. Here, the world's leading chemical engineers, molecular biologists, and aromachologists have been secretly gathered to resurrect aromas from bygone eras. After a whirlwind tour of cutting-edge labs, and a soft-on-details explanation of the mysterious science being used, you're introduced to their latest triumph: code-named "Dark Purple," a fragrance that promises to encapsulate the essence of Studio 54's 1970s heyday. At first, tentative sniffs from the bottle or a paper strip deceive, akin to the anticipation one must have felt while queuing outside the legendary club. A synthetic rose and musk blend seeps through, reminiscent of the club's muffled beats. Yet, you didn't journey this far for mere hints and whispers. It's time for a full skin application. Prepare yourself, for you've just been granted VIP access behind the patchouli-scented, velvet plum rope, and the atmosphere is electrifying. A bold synth track of rose and geranium takes center stage, backed by an irresistibly danceable beat of sweet, ambery musk. Within the first hour, "Dark Purple" unveils its final costume change into a vibrant, artificial rose musk. Yet, while all the devastatingly beautiful people are in attendance, you can’t help but notice that there's something just a little off. That's when you learn the real secret behind this olfactory time machine: to bring ‘Dark Purple’ to life, they dared to blend scents from the world's most iconic scenes. New York’s brooding East Village, London's burgeoning punks, the Athens, Georgia art freaks, and even the legendary Chateau Marmont were used to patch in the missing pieces. This explains the surreal experience of witnessing a flower-covered, Bob Mackie-wearing Cher rocking out to a sweet, gourmand-soaked Diana Ross who’s belting out an impromptu 'Oh Bondage, Up Yours!' cover. Attempting to capture lightning in a bottle, the creators have instead Frankensteined a fragrance that evokes nostalgia for an era witnessed only through photographs and film. "Dark Purple" is not for the faint of heart; its bold presence lingers well into the next day, morphing into a vintage, Oliver Goldsmith sunglass-wearing, powdery rose club-kid, that wistfully stares into the Tiffany's display window while sipping their iced macchiato. For those familiar with the audacious spirit of "Dark Rose" and its Montale siblings, the revelation that these scents hail from Paris might surprise. Far from the clichés of demure elegance, these perfumes, encased in their loud metal bottles, are all brash and audacious brats. You will get asked what you are wearing, and with a few sprays, you're in beast mode territory. When it's all over, you might end up feeling more like a chemically induced ‘Disco Sally’ than the chic, ‘Bianca Jagger atop a white stallion’ cosplay you were going for. But don't fret, that intriguing mathematician, who wore all-black and flirtatiously whispered chaos theory, asks you out, proving that perhaps “Dark Purple” was always intended for a clever girl or boy, like you, to forge new, unforgettable scent memories with. After all, as your future ex likes to say, "Life, uh, finds a way, baby”

I smell wood and roses and I love it. My husband loves it on me. It is strong. I've been smelling myself for hours now and I love it's staying power so far.

Deep fruity-floral sweets are not my thing

Mixed reviews from friends and co-workers

This scent was not for me. It’s not a floral at all, which is what I prefer. I love Montale’s Roses. It’s one of my favorites but this is more of a masculine cologne scent.