Mountainous

Mountainous opens fresh and faintly aquatic, green mandarin and jasmine over a whisper of ginger, before the signature salty-vanilla accord takes centre stage. That moreish blend of sweet vanilla and a savoury saline edge is exactly what Olympea fans chase, and the dupe captures the gist of it well. The drydown brings creamy sandalwood, cashmere wood and a touch of ambergris for warmth, though here the base is smoother and less resinous than the original's deeper, muskier finish. Compared with Paco Rabanne's Olympea, this clone is a touch sweeter and simpler, trading some of the white-floral lift and the salt-sand complexity for an easier, more linear wear. Projection is moderate rather than room-filling, and longevity runs a few hours before it hugs the skin, where the original famously carries all day. As an affordable everyday version of that salty-vanilla signature, it does the job for dates and cooler-weather wear.