Pierre Montale is quite renowned for presenting high-quality fragrances with superior longevity and sillage. In 2015, he came up with a unisex compliment magnet, Starry Nights.
Like other Montale perfumes, this one comes with an incredible scent profile, fantastic longevity & enormous sillage.
However, you will find many dupes of Starry Nights Montale and smell-alike frags in the market. But all of them aren’t worth trying.
So, let me help you in finding the best alternatives.
What Does Starry Nights Montale Smell Like?
Starry Nights Montale is a shining fragrance that starts with the zest of Calabrian Bergamot and a hint of green apple. The core is sweet, rosy, and somewhat smoky. Next, you will get to enjoy a warm & sensual dry-down that rises from the blend of musk, amber, and powdery accords.
Besides, I get an oud-type aroma from this fragrance, however, oud isn’t mentioned anywhere in the notes list.
Before we jump into the in-detail review of Starry Nights, let’s have a breakdown of its luminous notes:
Top Notes: Calabrian Bergamot, Apple, Lemon
Middle Notes: Rose, Patchouli, Jasmine
Base Notes: White Musk, Powdery Notes, and Amber
See, the ingredients aren’t many, but they are so well-balanced that you will definitely appreciate the overall aroma.
The citruses offer a fresh and shimmering vibe at the early moment. Here, the tart smell of bergamot and fruity essence of green apple brings a splash of freshness.
Bulgarian Rose dominates the heart of Starry Nights, overshadowing Egyptian jasmine. It makes sure that you smell gorgeous and garners compliments wearing this perfume.
The sharp presence of roses may seem feminine to you. But soon, it tunes with patchouli and gives rise to a unisex aura.
When the magical essence of rose gets combined with Patchouli from Sumatra, they expose a woody, oriental, and impressive tone. This aroma will surely make your romantic or crowded nights radiant & enjoyable.
After 8-10 hours, Starry Nights Montale stays on the skin. At that time, you will get a powdery, musky, and amber kinda flavor from your skin. It is calming and very addictive. So, once you spray it and get close to your beloved, he/she will cuddle you for sure.
It is a mass-pleasing perfume that projects loudly for the first 7 hours. That’s why I avoid this fragrance during the hottest days of summer.
But when the weather is temperate or cold, I apply Starry Nights without pondering about the event I’m gonna appear in. Because it matches almost all kinds of events, including formal and informal.
Which Fragrances Are Similar to Starry Night Montale?
The use of citruses, rose, patchouli, musk, and amber is very common in the perfumery world. Starry Nights is also made of these five accords. Therefore, you will find multiple frags that smell like this Montale perfume. But all of them aren’t able to offer satisfactory performance. For instance, I didn’t receive a standard performance from the KDJ-inspired dupe of Starry Nights Montale. Its longevity and projection are too weak.
With my proficiency, I have identified 5 closest dupes of Starry Nights by Montale, Let’s see how they actually smell and when to apply them:
1. Sui Generis Bergamot & White Musk by Royalife
Top Notes: Apple, Bergamot, Lemon
Middle Notes: Rose, Patchouli, Jasmine
Base Notes: White Musk, Amber Notes
It is an excellent replica inspired by Starry Nights Montale. Here, you will find a right balance of masculine and feminine accord.
At first, the citrusy-fruity twist of apple & bergamot makes a vibrant appearance. It is somewhat sweet, delicious, and lively. Within a few minutes, rose and patchouli take the lead.
We all know how splendid the aroma of rose is. And when it comes to Patchouli it not only brings earthiness but also adds an intoxicating aura to comfort the mood.
The vibe of this dupe ends with a musky and ambery essence.
Musk is so prominent that it informs others about your presence. The powdery and animalic edge of musk nicely tunes with the balsamic flavor of amber. Therefore, you can enjoy a sexy and warmhearted feeling at this phase.
When To Wear
Similar to the original, this dupe is perfect for temperate and chilly weather.
Why Should You Buy
- Stays on the skin all day long.
- Alluring dry down.
- Compliment earner.
- Budget-friendly.
- Unisex.
2. Santalis Under The Stars
Top Notes: Apple, Bergamot, Lemon
Middle Notes: Rose, Patchouli, Jasmine
Base Notes: White Musk, Powdery Notes, and Amber
After seeing the cheap-looking bottle of this clone, I was displeased. But its powdery aroma with rosy, musky, and citrusy essence seems amazing to me.
It starts with the strong flavor of bergamot and green apple. This sharp fruity opening is perfect to capture the attention of others in a crowd. People around the wearer won’t feel annoyed; rather, chances are high that you will hear flattering words from surroundings.
You can feel the density of rose and patchouli in the core. Sometimes, jasmine joins them, but most of the time, this white blossom remains bland.
The higher concentration of musk dominates in the dry down. Hence, I can sniff a multifaceted smell, including woody, earthy, sweet, animalic, and mostly a powdery scent from this clone.
When To Wear
Santalis Under The Stars is suitable for night outs, dinner dates, and ceremonies. It suits better in spring, autumn, and winter rather than warm summer.
Why Should You Buy
- A perfect clone of Starry Nights by Montale.
- Affordable price.
- 4-6 hours of longevity.
- Decent sillage.
3. Valencia by Swiss Arabian
Top Notes: Apple, Lemon, Bergamot
Middle Notes: Rose, Jasmine, Gardenia, Peony
Base Notes: Sandalwood, Musk, Amber, and Powdery Notes
According to the brand, the citruses on the top of Valencia unveil a desire for freedom full of happiness and hope. That’s really true!
The opening is dependent on apple, lemon, and bergamot. Hence, it smells buoyant and uplifting. Seems like a fresh start to achieve something new or enjoying a cheerful time at the end of a tiresome week.
Hereafter, a charming flower bouquet will please you. Rose is the king of this bouquet. When its mystical tone floats in the air and plays with other white flowers like jasmine and gardenia, a heavenly aroma develops.
The presence of these white petals ensures that Valencia Swiss Arabian doesn’t lean on the feminine edge.
The dry-down is made of rich sandalwood and the sensual touch of musk and amber. Moreover, you will find a soft powdery snap, which will surely remind you of Starry Nights Montale.
When To Wear
You can use Valencia in any season. But keep in mind that it fades quickly from the skin during the colder days. So, if reapplication of fragrances doesn’t seem bothersome to you, go with this one in any of the months.
Why Should You Buy
- Around 12 hours of longevity.
- Excellent sillage & projection.
- Good value for the price.
- Trendy & versatile.
4. Aventus for Her by Creed
Top Notes: Green Apple, Bergamot, Lemon, Patchouli, Pink Pepper, Violet
Middle Notes: Musk, Rose, Sandalwood, Styrax
Base Notes: Black Currant, Peach, Amber, Lilac and Ylang-Ylang
If you’re looking for a feminine perfume with Starry Nights-like vibe, Aventus for Her is the best option. It is the female counterpart of the legendary fragrance Creed Aventus.
This niche fragrance was launched in June 2016, and within a few days, it achieved a huge fanbase.
The first sniff of this masterpiece is fresh, fruity, and invigorating. The perfumer blended bergamot, green apple, lemon, and patchouli in such a nice way that I can detect each of their essence.
As time goes by, I can perceive a soft spicy flavor along with the oriental touch of rose, musk, and sandalwood. I guess the spiciness denotes the courageous side of a female character, whereas the other sweet & warm accords indicate the generous side of her.
The ending is slightly sweet, fruity, and sensual, with the addition of peach & amber. Black currant adds a unique flavor to it, which makes the dry-down more amazing.
So, there exists fruity essence, floral gist, musky twist, woodiness, earthiness, powdery flavor, and animalic undertone in Aventus for Her. What to expect more?
If you can afford it, I think it is a blind buy for you. However, there are some affordable perfumes similar to Creed Aventus for Her. If your budget is limited, you can check them out.
When To Wear
Aventus for Her is loaded with freshness, moreover, it is pretty energetic. So I prefer it more in summer, autumn, and spring.
Why Should You Buy
- A premium quality fragrance.
- Lasts for about 10 to 12 hours.
- Perfume trail spreads within 6 feet.
- Massive projection for the first 6 hours.
5. L’Aventure Rose by Al Haramain Perfumes
Top Notes: Rose, Citruses, Red Berries
Middle Notes: Rose and Jasmine
Base Notes: Amber and Musk
If you’re in love with the rosy heart of Starry Nights Montale, you should check the aura of L’Aventure Rose at least once.
It is an amber floral fragrance launched by Al Haramain Perfumes in 2022. You won’t find citrusy pinch and the zest of patchouli here. Instead, you will get something more captivating. Let’s see what it is!
From the very first moment, L’Aventure Rose highlights a heavy scent of rose. It seems like the citruses and juicy red berries are hidden behind the powerful rosy aroma.
In the next phase, the soothing extract of jasmine aligns with the rose petals. Together, they elicit a marvelous aura that no one can dislike.
When the perfume dries, a musky, powdery, and ambery tone evolves from the skin. It is not overwhelming at all; rather, it pulls attention and compliments from the nearest ones.
While checking the scent profile of L’Aventure Rose, I found that its DNA matches well with Mancera Roses Vanille, which is considered the most popular and one of the best-smelling Mancera perfumes. So, if you’re an enthusiast about the brand Mancera, you can give these frags a try.
When To Wear
Spring, summer, and fall are the best seasons to wear L’Aventure Rose. If your partner likes the rosy aroma on you, apply this before spending quality time with him.
Why Should You Buy
- Top-quality ingredients.
- Holds good price value.
- Moderate sillage.
- Long-lasting.
Final Thoughts
When you start the journey of finding alternatives to a well-known fragrance, you may face many issues. For example, sometimes, you figure out many substitutes but don’t know how they perform. This may end up in buying something unpleasant.
Considering all these factors, I have noted 5 substitutes for the popular Starry Nights Montale. You can choose anyone among them depending on your budget and preference.
Do not forget to share your experience after using these frags. If you have already used any of them, let me know how they delight you.