Monsieur Balmain

I read a review from a blog saying this was a great citrus lemon with longevity, so I went blind. Glad I did. The only fragrance in my wardrobe that is close to this is Dior Homme Cologne. I prefer this. There's something a bit more wearable in this, perhaps its the sandalwood, but I hate even mentioning that because I simply smell high quality lemon for the duration of the scent 5 + hours. Seriously. Perhaps, it's the sandalwood that embellishes the lemon so slight as to hardly be perceptible, but carries it over the duration of the scent. I can't imagine a lemon fragrance more wearable than this. Dior Homme Cologne is just a summery beach party, day at the pool, with an almost chlorine-ness to it. This is the more wearable casual version, no chlorine, just well rounded lemon for hours and hours.

I am impressed with the sheer beauty of this citrus scent, one of the best to greet the nostrils, for sure. Upon application, I am greeted by the most glorious larger-than-life sweet meyer lemon and verbena, with a radiance that puts so many other citrus frags to shame. The dry down is what sets it apart from others as well, as more of the zest and the rind of the citruses come into play, and a dry smoky vetiver enters the stage, with caraway and thyme shading and darkening into a truly masculine character. This segues into a more pronounced crisp vetiver, with lilting sandalwood and simmering musks. I am wearing this in August and it is the perfect time of the year for Monsieur Balmain. Bear in mind, I have the formulation in the lemon-yellow cylindrical bottle in the yellow box.

The cubic bottle represents the latest version of this classic fragrance, but is difficult to obtain now, though I managed to find one on ebay. The fragrance is as I remember it from the 1970's the dominant effect being lemon. The lemon has a sherbet aspect as someone below notes. I find this fragrance the olfactive equivalent of the colour yellow. Of course there are many nice lemon or verbena scents around but too many of them stray into the heavier territory of Eau Sauvage. Balmain is a good fragrance for monsieur, a refreshing change from the sweet oriental types which have invaded the masculine market.

Top notes are that of a lemon of the candy type - vervain. This rapidly turns into animalic notes, after which there are not many changes: it feels the composition lingers between these notes. I consider it a really interesting version of citric blends that could be ideal for warm days. I truly enjoy it. Edit: I am reading complains on poor performance. Hesperidic scents are not orientals, asking the first ones to behave as the last ones is somehow like asking a circle to be a square. Still, you can solve this out overapplying - I did so today at 10:00. It is almost 09:00 pm - I can still get whiffs of it.

The info here says Monsieur Balmain launched in 1990. The original version dates to1964 - think Mad Men on the French Riviera!I have worn MB since being introduced to it on holiday near St Tropez in 1971, but I only wear it in high summer. It is rare to find now. Strangers often ask "what are you wearing? It smells gorgeous" Optimistic, sunny, fresh, summery, Mediterranean...an absolute classic that will soon be lost as it is no longer produced, I believe. However the original version in the yellow opaline fatter bottle with the black stopper - pre-reformulation - was much more sophisticated and subtle.