Intense Cafe by Montale

Sweet and characterful. A novelty for me: the sharp note doesn’t come from citrus, but from a marked, powdery rose that dominates the entire development. As it dries, it sweetens like a rose wrapped in thick honey. The coffee is very subtle, coming and going, adding a spiced and warm nuance. Many perceive it as a creamy latte, but for me it’s almost imperceptible; still, I see it as a challenge and an expansion of my tastes. I bought it recently and I’m still discovering it, but it’s an interesting all-rounder that has already earned me many compliments. It wasn’t love at first sight, but there’s something that makes me want to understand it more, something that usually happens with perfumes I’ve just fallen in love with.

An olfactory clickbait that, despite everything, has worked. Its name promises one thing, but the fragrance takes me on an unexpected journey. Yes, there is coffee at the end, but it lasts barely five minutes and feels more anecdotal than authentic, synthetic, almost like instant coffee. Montale could have called it something more elegant and avoided the coffee reference. What truly dominates is a velvet mantle of rose petals that unfolds almost from the start. A rose so well-crafted that it has made me reconcile with this note. It’s warm and round, and right there the clickbait triumphs: the rose is a door to my past, evoking Arab culture, my Syrian grandmother, and those jars of rose petal jam. This Intense Café tells that story: a family breakfast with toast and that special jam, while my mother read the coffee grounds to my father. A simple scene but laden with meaning. It’s perfectly unisex; while I understand some noses might see it as more feminine, I wear it with total confidence. It’s ideal for winter: its warmth, spiced sweetness, and enveloping aura shine in the cold. So if you order an intense coffee and are gifted a bouquet of roses, accept it, for life is just that.

On my skin, it leaves an exquisite, sweet rose. It’s a very feminine, delicate and elegant perfume. Unfortunately, I don’t perceive the coffee; the floral notes are what dominate. I think it could be bought blind if you love the rose note.

Intense Café is another good perfume where the coffee note is recognisable, but not at the level of an espresso or like in Ristretto from the same brand. The combination with rose, vanilla and a musk that doesn’t feel entirely plastic makes the result lean towards gourmand, perform excellently and handle super well in the cold. The first time I smelled it, it was very intense, but I think with the right amount, the experience will be more than satisfactory. Personally, it’s a super pleasant perfume I’d bet on especially in winter, although it’s not my definitive coffee perfume. Note: 8/10. Tested from the discovery set.

I do perceive the coffee, but it’s more of a vanilla latte over a bed of dark, dried roses. The title is misleading, as the coffee is subtle and not the main note, acting more as an accent to the others. It’s not thinking about how coffee smells, but how a café adorned with bouquets of flowers would smell. Upon drying, the most evident notes are vanilla rose and amber. The powdery point that is declared is true, which is the hardest for me to discern. I use it for temperatures below 21°C; it’s the type of fragrance that gives you a hug. It’s the type of gourmand that doesn’t make me feel sick, as it has the dark and unisex point I need to wear it comfortably. However, among the brand’s stars, I prefer Arabians Tonka as it feels more elegant to me. Good trail and longevity. I agree with other reviews regarding linearity: it’s very similar to Mancera’s Roses Vanille, so it’s not worth buying one if you already have the other.

My first niche review: I smell no coffee, only a sharp, aggressive rose. In the background, something sweet but unidentifiable, nothing else. It reminds me of commercial air fresheners that hit the olfactory bulb hard with random flowers. Ultimately, it smells like that typical synthetic rose from Montale: you either love it or can’t stand it.

Sweet, subtle, and elegant. Not macho, but the vanilla and rose lend softness with a coffee base. Unlike other Montales, it is not a beast: it lasts about six hours. If they toned down the rose and boosted the coffee with wood, it would be ideal for men. It starts strange before becoming an addictive gourmand.

At first, I had great affection for it, especially the amber on my skin. Over time, it is no longer as obsessive as Montale’s Chocolate Greedy. Good moments, but it no longer captivates me.

One of my favourites: I enjoy smelling it but cannot see myself wearing it, though I am sure it will sell. It seems super sexy, for a sensitive, bohemian, spiritual man, nothing macho. Russell Brand embodies that profile. If you seek coffee but something more masculine, try Killian’s Intense Café. Montale’s Ristretto does exactly that: more coffee in the opening. The best is this one, the most balanced.

My mother has Roses Vanille by Mancera and it is the same. The only difference is that at the end of the rose and vanilla, this one leaves a hint of very subtle ground coffee, whereas Mancera retains the sugary notes. The performance is identical, so if you are undecided, buy the cheaper one or grab a deal.

I haven’t smelled it yet. People say it smells like RISTRETTO INTENSE CAFÉ, which doesn’t interest me. Based on the notes, it resembles MANCERA AOUD CAFE, but it lacks the oud and the blackcurrants. I’ll give it a try, but they also say it smells like MANCERA ROSES VANILLA, which complicates the purchase.

Personally, I don’t detect a marked coffee note, but I do smell those sweetened roses and vanilla notes found in many perfumes now; that’s why it’s not very original. It’s a comforting, sweet fragrance, ideal for autumn and cold weather. Nothing sexy; it’s more like a wool jumper or coat. The longevity wasn’t good: about four hours on skin and clothes, but very subtle. I finished it, killed my desire for a ‘Montale’, and moved on…

As a coffee lover, it was love at first sniff. In the opening, I smell sweet coffee with rose; as it dries down, it leaves a coffee scent (like a cappuccino). Everyone says it’s femme fatale, but for me, it’s an embracing scent, perfect for a romantic or friendly date, or for staying in at home reading on a rainy day. Ideal for an autumn afternoon watching Netflix. Despite the name, what I notice most are gourmand roses and a chocolatey musk, with the coffee there but not the protagonist. A special gourmand. For me, it’s a 10 for scent and performance.

My boyfriend doesn’t like coffee, and without knowing he was wearing it, he loves it; he says he’d prefer it in winter because it feels warm. I like it… I’m not sure yet. It smells of dark coffee, very black, with roses and something balsamic or mentholated, strong, like menthol sweets that clear the nose, yet dark. Perhaps it’s the acidity of black coffee. If people are three parts water, I am two parts coffee; I like coffee, but this perfume doesn’t quite convince me, nor does it kill my taste for coffee. We’ll see how it performs in winter.

I’m a coffee lover and this fragrance was love at first sniff. In the opening, I smell sweet coffee with rose; as it dries down, it leaves a delicious coffee scent (like a cappuccino) that accompanies you until the end. Recommended for cold days.