Montale 2019

U ££ Acquired

Ristretto Intense Café

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Montale Ristretto Intense Café is a fragrance launched in 2019. Ristretto Intense Café opens with Rose and Coffee, settles into a heart of Woody Notes, and dries down to a base of Musk, Amber, Vanilla, and Caramel. Montale's Ristretto Intense Café carries an Acquired verdict, a sweet-led wear.

This one's a Montale powerhouse, and it's certainly divisive. Some find it a delicious coffee-rose dream, while others are baffled by the lack of coffee and overwhelmed by the rose. Love it or hate it, its monstrous performance is undeniable.
What our verdicts mean →
  • Bold
  • Warm
  • Gourmand
  • Sensual
  • Soft
$107.09 at FragranceNet 3.4 fl oz (100 ml) · plus sales tax Check price on → Check prices ↓
Ristretto Intense Café bottle

Scent Profile

Composition

Timeline

Showing: Overall Blend
Topas listed
Coffee51%
Rose49%
Heartas listed
Woody Notes100%
Baseas listed
Vanilla31%
Caramel28%
Musk22%
Amber20%

Top, heart and base are the brand's own listing, not a timing claim - the industry classifies a note by its character as much as by how fast it fades. Each curve here is modelled from that material's own volatility, so groups can overlap when a house lists long-lasting materials in its heart.

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Performance & Mood

Performance

Longevity
Long (6-10h)
Projection
Strong
Intensity
Strong

Mood

Mood Energising
Calming
Character Playful
Serious
Sentiment Uplifting
Brooding

When To Wear

Best Seasons

Best For:
Fall Winter
Also Works:
Spring

A cold-weather scent - best worn in winter and autumn.

Best Occasions

Best For:
Date
Also Works:
Casual Formal

Its beastly projection and sweet, dense gourmand nature make it a poor fit for the office, where it could easily overwhelm. However, these same characteristics, especially the sensual rose and caramel, make it fantastic for dates or a statement evening out, particularly in colder weather.

Ingredients and allergens

FRAGRANCE (PARFUM), ALCOHOL DENAT, AQUA / WATER, CITRONELLOL, GERANIOL, CITRAL

From a shop in the United Kingdom. Boxes sold in other countries can differ.

Named in this list, in standard patch-test panels

Lists change between batches and markets, so check the box of the bottle you have. "Parfum" covers substances the label does not name, and we highlight only the allergens we could match. If you have a diagnosed allergy, look for the name your clinic gave you on your own packaging.

About

Ristretto Intense Café opens with a bold, rich blast that promises a strong coffee hit, quickly softened by an elegant rose and a luxurious wave of vanilla and caramel. The heart retains that floral sweetness, slowly deepening into a musky, ambery base. It's a sweet, gourmand journey through a highly caffeinated rose garden, with sticky caramel adding a decadent finish.

Similar

Alternatives

1 alternative from £10.00

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Complement

Two people, two scents: what sits well beside it when you each wear your own See what pairs well

Where to buy

Prices for the United States · · checked 8 October

Prices before sales tax, which the shop adds at checkout.

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Drawn from community reviews and editor-reviewed before publishing on . See our methodology and disclosure policy.