Aromatic Revelations: Uncover The Radiant Spirit Of Montabaco

It’s always about innovation. It’s fair to say new materials and new inventions bring advances in so many areas of our lives. Just as fashion was transformed by the invention of Lycra in the 1980s, which allowed for clothes to cling and form the body so did something as diverse as cast iron, when new production methods came into play, it was able to be used for industrial-sized buildings. It’s the same for something creative like perfumery. This continuous renewal is at the heart of perfume house Ormonde Jayne’s philosophy. Read more about it in Aromatic Revelations: Uncover The Radiant Spirit Of Montabaco

One day, a few tiny vials of perfume oils arrived at the Ormonde Jayne perfume house in London. Brand founder Linda was utterly captivated by them and placed them on her special red tray. It was whilst spending time breathing in the perfume ingredients that magic happened for her as if she were able to ‘paint a new picture’ in scent. New discoveries will often inspire fresh perspectives and innovative approaches.

During her ’emotional painting’ she discovered the new fragrance ingredient Sandalore, or even it could be said, that it revealed itself to her; it’s smooth, woody allure.

Sandalore is in fact, a velvety synthetic molecule that replicates the creamy, woody essence of sandalwood, imbuing fragrances with enduring warmth and captivating depth. Its creamy resonance swiftly became the signature note of her newest perfume: Aruba.

It inspired her to add this fragrance to her Montabaco collection. The series’ perfumes are a fragrant odyssey, capturing the essence of global landscapes and cultures inspired by Latin America.

The Montabaco series enters an exciting new era in 2025 with the highly anticipated Aruba perfume. The Montabaco-trio are an exclusive, limited-edition set of fragrances celebrating the rich diversity of this intoxicating region.

This year, the collection welcomes a fresh arrival, Aruba, inspired by the constituent island country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in the southern Caribbean. The third Montabaco perfume, is joining the beloved bestsellers, Rio and Cuba, whose line-up has evolved over the years.

Aruba. Image by Leonardo Zunino.

Montabaco Aruba is a tribute to the island’s breathtaking landscapes. Infused with tropical blooms and the sensual warmth of Tobacco and Leather. Opening with a dazzling set of Citrus fruits that bring a fresh sparkle and include Bergamot, Orange absolute, and Grapefruit, these bright fruits capture the sunlit shores and dazzle bringing a bright vibrant opening. Its heart contains the rare, but beautifully, subtle flower Magnolia with its soft spice and citrus facet, alongside other fragrant flowers including Jasmine, Rose, and powdery Violet that evoke the lush floral beauty of the tropics.

Beneath this, a rich, intoxicating blend of Tobacco leaf, Sandalwood, and Cardamom delivers a textured, warming depth. Central to its composition is this new note Sandalore; this creamy, synthetic Sandalwood molecule known for its addictive longevity and silken finish.

“Every fragrance we create is a fleeting treasure; a rare indulgence that, once gone, transforms into whispered legend for those who cherish the art of scent.”

Linda Pilkington

Together, the three perfumes in the Montabaco collection, capture the sultry rhythm of Latin America, where tobacco-laden breezes, golden sunlight, and the vibrant pulse of life infuse every note.

Each year a limited number of these three perfumes are produced, with each retailer allocated only a select number of these treasures, and so they remain some of the most coveted fragranced items in the world of perfumery.

Havana, Cuba. Image by Vlad Vasnetsov.

While Aruba casts a golden glow over the collection, its counterparts, Rio and Cuba, remain irresistible in their own right. Montabaco Cuba, a sumptuous gourmand interpretation, layers Mandarin, Orange absolute, and Vanilla absolute over a heart of Tonka and Suede, an olfactory homage to Havana’s opulence. The fragrance conjures the passion of a tango danced along the dimly lit streets in the heart of Havana on a sultry summer evening.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Image by Athena Sandrini.

Montabaco Rio, by contrast, is vibrant and untamed, bursting with Wild Fruits, Caramel, and Rhubarb. Playful yet sophisticated, it is a fragrance that thrives on energy, where Mango and Pineapple shimmer over a smouldering base of Tobacco leaf, Suede, and Sandalwood. The fragrance conjures the exuberance of a Samba danced along Rio’s sunlit streets, where tropical rhythms and playful energy infuse every step. A scent that dances to its own rhythm, Rio is the most mischievous of the trio.

Ormonde Jayne is a quintessential British Maison de Parfum, where artistry and heritage intertwine to create olfactory masterpieces. Founded by the intrepid Linda Pilkington, the house is celebrated for its relentless pursuit of the world’s rarest ingredients; from exotic spice markets to secret English gardens.

Each fragrance is a meticulously crafted narrative, a sensory journey that evokes ancient traditions, far-flung landscapes, and modern sophistication all at once. In this atelier of dreams, every bottle is an invitation to transcend time and place, enveloping you in a world of elegance, mystery, and sublime delight.

With each new ingredient placed in Pilkington’s red tray, a new journey begins; one where scent, like the great inventions of history, reinvents the way we perceive the world. Each fragrance is an open invitation to explore and to transcend the borders of time and place.

Ormonde Jayne’s Montabaco collection is more than a fragrance; it is a sensory bridge to the scents of Latin America. Even when we cannot wander far, scent invites us to travel beyond borders, beyond moments, and into the soul of distant lands.

Find out more on OrmondeJayne.com

If you enjoyed reading Aromatic Revelations: Uncover The Radiant Spirit Of Montabaco then why not read The World of Powerful Fragrances; He or She?

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