
Ajwad captures the coffee-forward opening and warm amber base of Intense Café quite well, making it a solid budget alternative for those seeking that café-gourmand aesthetic. However, the floral heart feels slightly less refined in the clone, with the rose appearing more generic and the overall composition lacking some of the original's sophisticated complexity and depth.
Ajwad's longevity is slightly shorter than the original, and the white musk in the base comes across as standard synthetic musk rather than the creamier, more nuanced musk used in Montale's formulation. The coffee accord is nearly identical, but the transitions between notes feel less seamless in the clone.