Monsieur Balmain

I was so thrilled to find a sample of this old formula because it is one of the few masculine fragrances formulated by the great Germaine Cellier who was famous in particular for her women's scents for Robert Piguet (like Fracas and Bandit). Cellier's fragrances are best known for their intricacy, and this was no disappointment: it opens with lots of lemon, bergamot, and basil, which makes this aromatic and tart. But as it unfolds, you begin to smell the florals at the heart, which are surprisingly unfeminine and refreshing. And then surprisingly the lemongrass and ginger kick in to blend with the basil (the whole thing at this stage reminds me just a little bit of the delicious smell of Thai tom yum soup). Finally at the base are the cedar and musk (I couldn't really sense the oakmoss or the patchouli). As with so many of the great men's fragrances of this time, lavender ties it all together. The sheer complexity of this makes this fascinating. I don't know the new formula of this, so I have nothing really to compare it with; but this isn't like anything else I've ever smelled. This is very much a "Mad Man"-era fragrance. UPDATE (5/26/21): I managed to find a full bottle of this old formulation for a great price, and I love it more and more each time I wear it. Although I missed it the first time I wrote this review, the velvety oakmoss is actually VERY evident in the drydown--it's one of the reasons I love this fragrance so much.

This is extremely similar to Fiero by Xerjoff, but the vintage Monsiuer Balmain smells better. And i do actually love Fiero. Absolutely where xerjoff got the idea for the lemongrass in Fiero. Monsieur also has one of the best basil notes ive ever experienced. My bottle must be from the 80s at the latest, and the basil is literally like smelling fresh basil. Very nice all around classic masculine. Not an oakmoss bomb, not an 80s style powerhouse...a very gentlemanly and polite fragrance that is of the time it was created in the mid 1960s. I agree with the previous reviewer in regards to the florals in the mid

This is unlike any other citrus. Germaine Cellier's ability to create scents that were larger than their parts, to make scents that reveal themselves over hours, days, years- stunning work.