On Wednesday, October 15th, I attended the opening of the first Montale Parfums boutique in Barcelona. A new space that joins the city’s olfactory map and, from the moment it opened, has become an essential stop for lovers of niche perfumery.
It was a real pleasure to reconnect with Jorge Martín, founder of 5th Essence Square and owner of the new boutique —the largest Montale and Mancera store in Europe—, whom I hadn’t seen in some time. He guided me through the visit, pausing at every detail: the noble woods, the golden reflections, the bronze gleam, the Parisian air evoking Haussmann elegance. The entire space breathes the same timeless refinement that defines the Montale universe: quiet luxury, depth, magnetism.
Throughout the morning, Amélie Montale, creative director of Mancera Parfums, introduced us to the world of both houses —Montale Paris and Mancera Paris— two visions united by the same passion: the art of perfuming both skin and soul.
Founded in 2003 by Pierre Montale, Montale Paris embodies intensity, elegance and mystery. Its creations —true olfactory jewels— blend French savoir-faire with Oriental tradition. Oud, rose, amber, vanilla… fragrances that tell stories of travel and evoke the most sensory form of luxury.
Mancera Paris, born in 2008 from the collaboration between Pierre and his daughter Amélie, translates that legacy into a contemporary language. A photographer and visual artist, Amélie brings a modern vision inspired by Art Déco, where geometry, color and matter shape a structured, polished and sophisticated perfumery. If Montale is mysticism and exoticism, Mancera is clarity and form —two complementary visions in perfect balance.
During the presentation, Amélie unveiled two new creations that capture the essence of the changing season.
Be My Plum, by Montale, is an ode to that suspended instant between summer and autumn. A fragrance that comes alive on the skin: juicy, warm, and provocative. Green plum and pink pepper open a sparkling dance that transforms with body heat; white flowers, coconut, vanilla and a touch of oud compose a sensual, addictive perfume. Not sweetness, but magnetism —an invitation to leave a trace.
Ombre Tonka, by Mancera, celebrates the contrast between light and shadow. A composition born, as Amélie explained, from a playful idea: to introduce pistachio into an oriental, woody structure. The result is a gourmand fragrance with character, where Venezuelan tonka bean intertwines with Turkish pistachio, Madagascan vanilla and Sumatran benzoin in an elegant dance of sweetness and strength. Its warm, modern trail embodies the spirit of Mancera: luxury that whispers, confidence that speaks for itself.
After discovering both creations, we enjoyed a private visit to Casa Batlló, a natural extension of the Montale and Mancera universes. Gaudí’s living architecture —its organic curves and shifting light— echoed the idea of perfume as a breathing, evolving art form. Both transform space; both are tangible emotions.
The day culminated with a wonderful lunch at JOK, where aromas gave way to flavors, completing what felt like a true sensorial journey.
The opening of Montale Parfums Barcelona is more than the arrival of a new boutique: it’s the materialization of a concept —perfume as a total aesthetic experience— a meeting between East and West, between tradition and modernity, between art and skin. In the heart of Rambla Catalunya, this new space becomes the stage where emotions take form, leaving in the air the invisible trace of beauty.
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