Montabaco

When I first sprayed Montabaco Intensivo, I vividly remember how quickly it shattered my preconceived notions of what a "tobacco fragrance" should be. Mention tobacco to most fragheads, and their minds immediately jump to the cozy, vanillic warmth of Tobacco Vanille or the honeyed gourmand territory of Naxos. Geza Schön took a completely different path here for Ormonde Jayne: instead of heavy, syrupy sweetness, he bottled crisp high-altitude mountain air, dried tobacco leaf, and supple suede. The opening doesn't hit you with oriental heaviness. Instead, you're greeted by an ozonic "mountain air" accord fused with the sheer freshness of juniper berries, bergamot, and sage. Cardamom adds a subtle spicy crackle, but the composition remains firmly unsweetened. Geza Schön’s signature molecular backbone—especially the heavy loading of Iso E Super and Hedione—gives it an expansive aura right off the atomizer. As it settles, green tea and delicate floral undertones smooth out the initial crispness. Rather than steering the scent into feminine territory, these florals act as a sheer buffer, keeping the leather and tobacco from feeling overly harsh or dense. The drydown is where the magic happens: a dry, unburnt, slightly herbal tobacco leaf paired with buttery suede, cedar, and the subtle, mineral saltiness of ambergris. It radiates an effortless "quiet luxury" vibe. To be fair and objective, this isn't a crowd-pleaser for everyone. If you're looking for a cozy, sweet winter tobacco, this will likely disappoint. Furthermore, due to the massive dose of Iso E Super, be prepared for the classic "now you smell it, now you don't" phenomenon. It causes rapid olfactory fatigue (noseblindness); just when you assume it has evaporated, people around you will still catch phantom wafts in your wake. That push-and-pull nature can be fascinating to some, while frustrating others who mistake it for poor performance. In terms of longevity, the Intensivo concentration easily pushes past the 10-12 hour mark on skin. Sillage isn't a room-clearing cloud, but rather a persistent, sophisticated scent bubble that moves with you. Overall, it's a charismatic, highly versatile niche creation that pairs just as easily with a tailored suit as it does with a suede jacket. While the premium price point makes it a risky blind buy, it’s an absolute must-sample for anyone who appreciates modern, transparent perfumery.

Simply, a masterpiece. Pity this original version has effectively been discontinued, in favour of the stronger 'Intensivo' version, which is still a lovely fragrance.

I'll be honest. I originally HATED this scent. All I could pickup were dried incense and notes of old tea bags. I bought a 10ml version to test out (which was not cheap). I was so disappointed. Until my wife started commenting how amazing I smelt every time I put it on. I kept insisting I didn't like it, like it was dried up tobacco that you would smell in an old-fashioned pipe. But true to word, I'd spray it every now and then and she'd go crazy. Then I started wearing it a bit more and applying more sprays. One day, in Spring, it just clicked. I couldn't stop smelling myself. It was like a whole new fragrance, with complex tobacco and tea leaves replacing anything I could smell before. I've never had that happen to me before with a perfume, and now I keep that 10ml for special occasions because it makes me feel great. It's an instant hit and can be worn all year round. I find it to be an amazing spring and summer scent, like a backstreet in Verona with espresso and cigarette floating in the morning air. Buy it.

I've tried the "parfum" concentrations of both the original Montabaco (now discontinued) and Montabaco Intensivo. They are essentially the same fragrance but the Intensivo is stronger and fresher, due to less emphasis on tobacco, and more of that mountain air accord plus even more sparkling woody amber (iso e super) than the original parfum version (although both have large doses). To my nose, the original has better balance, feels more natural and has more character, however there is also something magical about the Intensivo: the scent trail is extra clean and addictive due to more synthetics. It's got extra moxy. In conclusion, you can't go wrong with either version, however if you want the Montabaco DNA to be supercharged and fresher, go with the Intensivo. Personally, I prefer the original, as I love how the tobacco is more pronounced in it. I have no issues with performance for either version.

It’s masterfully blended sophistication. As a woman I pick up orange, suede, tobacco, saffron, tea. It’s a powerhouse! A bit too strong projection for my taste, but wow this is beautiful.

There is no tobacco? You mean you didn’t wait for the dry down?

This is a niche version of Imagination by Louis Vuitton. Not in that the smells are similar per se, but the vibe is similar. They both very light and can be used all the time and anywhere. I very much prefer heavy and dark scents but I quite like this. It will be my go to professional scent.

Nose to skin I get cardamom and tobacco mainly. In the air I pick up on the tea and it is lovely. Having this on one wrist, and Intensivo on the other, I can attest that the differences are negligible. Both have the "mountain air" accord that truly does make it seem...well...airy. I've never really been to the mountains to say whether or not it's accurate, but I can say it adds a needed dimension to the scents. I'm biased due to my love of tea scents, but this is really good stuff!

I'm looking to trade for a bottle of this or the Intensivo version. Located in the USA. I have a ton of great great on my trade shelf, send me a PM if you're interested.

so unique, the tobacco with the cardamom and the citrus ingredients giving the scent wondaful vibe 10 of 10

Big love. This is a unique take on tobacco, it’s potent yet airy. Thankfully it’s not overly spicey and syrupy sweet like so many modern takes, and it’s not dry and stuffy like most old school tobacco frags. Two sprays is plenty, more it will fill a room and be too intrusive. Lasts all day in my skin. Smells high quality, not cheap nor designery. Wearable in summer.

Not a fan of the DNA, to me it's too similar or reminds me of laundry detergent and there is no tobacco. This is light very airy, fresh, and for warm weather.

Woody, aromatic, fresh, citrus, spice. Where is the tobacco. If you have baco end the first word in the title there had better be a little to in it. Hard pass for false expectations setting name. Also I think this stuff smells strange and projection is not up to standard. I do not understand all the love this is getting. There is a strange soapy/spice accord going on here that is a little off putting, almost vinegary. Other than that…. Now I know why. Gaza Schone. GS = Francis Kurkdjian, very overrated but minus the upscale marketing.

Smells like the shoe section in a high end designer store. It’s identical… wearable? Yes. I like it.

This is so beautiful, I am so sad it leans more masculine. I cant stop sniffing the paper and next time I will definitely spray some on skin to test too. This is that type of creation where you can not tell the single notes, at least I can't because the way they are form a fabulous unity.

Before wearing Montabaco, I looked up the note pyramid and was intrigued by the mention of a “mountain air” note. Sure enough, the opening delivered exactly that—this crisp, fresh, almost mentholated airiness. I’d attribute it to the combination of cardamom, clary sage, and juniper, with a subtle citrus presence in the background. It felt invigorating, clean, and almost weightless. Then, something unexpected happened—it felt like the scent just stopped. The vibrant opening faded quickly, and I was ready to write it off as one of those fragrances that start strong but vanish after a couple of hours. The floral mid-notes? Completely absent for me. I was hoping for tea and hedione, but I didn’t pick up on them at all. But then, gradually, something shifted. A soft, sweet amber and tobacco note started emerging, slowly gaining strength. At first, I thought it was coming from someone nearby, but I soon realized it was Montabaco’s base notes coming to life. The dry down developed into a warm, ambery-tobacco scent, but as it deepened, it became clear that Iso-E Super was the dominant player. The drydown has that characteristic "phantom" effect where the scent seems to fade, only to reappear in subtle waves. To summarize: Montabaco is a refined, crowd-friendly scent that leans masculine. It starts fresh and airy, then transforms into a woody-tobacco fragrance with a whispering, elusive dry down. The quality is undeniable, and while it’s long-lasting, its projection starts moderate and becomes ephemeral—fading in and out like a lingering memory.

Glad that is bought only a sample as it’s very masculine scent to me. It is still beautiful fragrance but overpowering masculine notes made it impossible for me to wear

Opened up interesting, ended up boring.

Okay so JUST based off the smell it smells pretty woody and juicy from the orange, juniper, and bergamot. The cardamom is so pronounced in the entire fragrance experience, it gives off this spice cabinet smell. If i had to compare this to anything id say that this is a combination of creed's himalaya with la nuit de l'homme. A very musky clean scent with a whole bunch of that overdose of spicy cardamom. The only downside id say that this is a very light scent, even overspraying this doesn't do much for me. :/

Pine🌲, tobacco🍂, pencil shavings.✏️ Freshly crushed loose leaf herbal tea.🌱🫖 An airy, chilly freshness like a cool, fall breeze hinting at the coming winter. A calming, comforting blend.😌 I prefer the Parfum rather than the Intensivo, which leans more masculine to my nose. I layer the Intensivo w/ various florals to fem it up & find, happily, that it plays well w/ most soliflores🌹& quite a few bouquets. 💐

I bought this in winter 2021 and it took me a long time to write about this. This is the first fragrance I bought that is far and away what I would call a masterpiece. I personally use this autumn/winter, under-spray for daytime and normal for special occasions/nighttime. It would suit someone else differently for other times I'm sure. Obviously performance is stellar. It's cool and highly aromatic. It's got a fresh edge to it, and it sparkles and cuts through the air, yet doesn't feel confined to summer. The notes accurately portray what you can expect, but the quality is off the charts. It was the first fragrance to clearly demonstrate how a scent develops over time. It showed me what was possible and what luxury perfume is. The notes are distinct, identifiable yet also balanced and done to complete perfection. I got compliments, my parent's had their minds totally blown by this too. My mom identified each note correctly but at the same time we wanted to wear it. Once you get going smelling this you really don't care about anything else. It's like opiates. It gives super city chic/glam or 2000's Mr. and Mrs. Smith. It gives NYC in the winter, glamorous young woman wearing a dark burberry trench with metallic detailing stepping into a limo, smokey eyes and Victoria Secret blowout and whipping put their phone texting en route. It gives Pierce Bronson and Daniel Craig's James Bond dressed up at a party. Really cool Oriental Fougere.

Ormonde Jayne Montabaco is the second fragrance i’ve smelt from this house, first being Nawab of Oudh Intensivo. With that one the bar was set high and i expected quality and refinement from this scent. Sure enough, it delivered. It is a woody, aromatic, spicy herbal tobacco scent with a brisk touch to it that slightly freshens up the composition. The tobacco along with the tea and juniper notes create a herbal, realistic scent that doesn’t make me think of a cigar or cigarette, rather the scent of dried and ground tobacco leafs. The notes of this scent, aswell as the addition of Iso E Super brings to my mind a few other fragrances, not because they smell the same, just they have common elements, namely: 1. Terre D’Hermes, but Montabaco is a darker, more natural fragrance that works better in formal situations. 2. Tom Ford’s Grey Vetiver because of the herbal aromatic qualities. Montabaco has more texture and presence to it due to the spicy facets and the tobacco. 3. Silver Mountain Water because of the “mountain air” briskness and tea note. The Creed however is fresher, colder, greener and more citrusy, better suited for summer. Montabaco beats both SMW and Grey Vetiver in my books, and the only reason i see Terre D’Hermes not made obsolete by it is the fact that, in comparition mind you, its more sparkling and luminous hence more versatile. So far, both scents i’ve got to smell from Ormonde Jayne are very high quality, modern mature scent profiles (with emphasis on modern) that don’t veer into the artistic or artisanal side. They are hard to find in my country and not cheap eighter but can go toe to toe with anything so the prices are justified.

Smells similar with Hermes Un Jardin a Chytere, and I love it.

To write this review I had to respray from this perfume. The opening is really good it is not something generic, it smells natural and fresh, maybe like what it says "mountain air"? Now that it had settled down, I noticed the hints of the flowers, a pretty good fragrance I would say also, feels like it fits all seasons. Also for its sillage, I wouldn't say it is strong enough but if you spray more and get a fair distance to someone it is noticeable to smell. Another unique smell obtained in my collection.

To me this smells like whitewashing an old wooden fence that cuts across a grassy field with wildflowers. I get sweetly-aromatic florals over a prominent base of dry, papery wood. The mid and top notes are breezy and fresh, with a classically pretty element to them. Meanwhile the tobacco note here is so mild and neutral it barely registers as separate from the woody accord at all. To my nose, which tends to amplify the dryness of wood and tobacco accords, the entire base of Montabaco reads like warm talc, paper pulp, and maybe a hint of chalky clay.

Montabaco by Ormonde Jayne is a fragrance that embodies the signature style of perfumer Geza Schoen and the distinctive DNA of the Ormonde Jayne brand. Although its name suggests a focus on tobacco, the scent is actually centered around a refined tea note with a fresh citrus opening, making it a standout in modern perfumery. The fragrance opens with a bright blend of air note, orange absolute, bergamot, juniper, and clary sage, providing a fresh and invigorating start that captures the senses. The heart features a delicate mix of tea, magnolia, rose, and hedione, creating a floral and aromatic complexity that is elegant and sophisticated. The base of Montabaco is composed of subtle tobacco leaf, suede, sandalwood, tonka bean, ambergris, and musk, adding depth and warmth without overshadowing the tea and citrus notes. This balance makes Montabaco more about a journey through nuanced tea fields rather than the heavier tobacco, making it a true masterpiece of modern perfumery. Perfect for those who appreciate a fragrance that is both fresh and complex, Montabaco offers a contemporary twist on classic elements, making it a versatile choice for any occasion.

I'm not sure if I love it or hate it. Smells kinda like gasoline to me.

I was surprised to find a velvety-smooth, aromatic, almost soap-like perfume while having expected something dense, heavy, Cuban based on the name.

Wow, I had to create an account just to review this fragrance. Me and my family went to Austria a lot when I was a kid and I remember that I always loved the environment, big mountains, clean air, crystal clear blue mountain lakes. I started to love the alps and everything that was around it. This fragrance took me back instantly to the memories I was feeling when I was there. Don’t know how or what exactly it is but the note mountain air is so accurate in this one I for real had an out of body experience. It is so airy and smooth but at the same time have so much depth in it self. I only have a tester but this will for sure be my first expensive fragrance.

Sampled the Intensivo and loved it and a friend was coming over but only the regular Montabaco parfum was available so blind-bought that instead (obviously after reading some reviews here). Suffice to say there is a noticeable difference between the two. The Intensivo is fresher and sharper while this one has a weird chemical (ISO E ?) that is overpowering everything making it smell like a room freshner! Up close it's nauseating. I experienced something simiar with Unique'e Akdeniz (great in the air but gag-inducing up close). I'd most definitely pick the Intensivo over the this and regret getting this one. Intensivo has the clean, sharp mountain air done right, brings out the lovely tobacco/tea (but only while I'm active), lasts longer, all without this chemical nausea. TL;DR: Intensivo is the final product. This parfum was a beta. I'm going to be hesitant spending that kind of money again on this house. Edit: Gets unbearably musky in the high heat.