Bravo Monsieur

Stumbled across a 125mL bottle at a TJ Maxx in Syracuse. What a fucking gem. Not a lot of people talk about this, but it's really good. This is worth retail, and it's a steal for $29.99. The composition is well blended; nothing is too screechy nor cloying; good atomizer as well. This, First Instinct Extreme, and Touch for Men are my go-to signatures when I don't know what to wear. I find Bravo Monsieur to be the most versatile out of the three. If you like powdery takes on sandalwood, this is a must-try; safe blind buy. I've never smelled Santall 33, but this does remind me of the sandalwood used in Tam Dao EDP. Although this fragrance is strong in projection (first couple of hours), it's not cloying nor abrasive. The powdery, slightly fruity, and slightly soft spicy nuances counterbalance the sandalwood and papyrus. Papyrus and sandalwood are the most dominant notes off of my skin, but I do get some cardamom, musk, cashmere, violet, iris, and the pomelo note. Open is fresh, woody, slightly spicy, and slightly fruity. When the spice and fruitiness go away, the scent softens up a bit; the violet iris combo adds a soft, powdery nature to Bravo Monsieur, lavender adds a slight aromatic feel, and the musk cashmere combo makes the fragrance smell fluffy (weird description, but it's the only thing I could think of). Eventually, in the far dry down, sandalwood, musk, and cashmere remain, leaving a nice skin scent. As mentioned earlier, I get great projection and longevity (about a good 9+ hours on my skin). I've only used it in the months during winter, but it's transparent yet strong enough to work all year. Perfect signature scent (it's one of my 3 signatures), and it can turn heads. Has blue fragrance versatility without smelling like a blue fragrance. Pick it up if you can; if you find it under $30 as I did, blind buy it, especially if you like powdery and woody fragrances.

OK. I wanted to run this side-by-side with Le Labo 33. Here’s what I found. Le Labo opens a little smother. Slightly better blended than El Ganso. However, you’d expect that from a $350 designer scent. Both project strongly for the first 60-90 minutes. LL smells more woody in comparison. Possibly the sandalwood and cedar combining in the base notes. El Ganso has a musky, slightly acidic tinge. Le Labo also smells slightly brighter in comparison, but that’s not taking anything away from EG. The leather is more prominent in LL after an hour or so. After a couple of hours, there isn’t that much to separate them. At a guess, I’d say there’s an 85% comparison here. LL is a tinge lighter with the leather running under it. EG is muskier. Point to note: Don’t overspray. The two sprays on each wrist emit some potency. I also made the mistake of spraying a couple of dots of EG on my neck. I’m sat here with fumes coming off me. El Ganso Bravo Monsieur is a fantastic frag. It’s a steal for its price tag. To the untrained nose (and mine’s nowhere near trained), people would think you were wearing Le Labo. However, you wouldn’t be that person who’d quip, “Yeah, it’s Le Labo,” would you? Horses for courses. El Ganso has made a frag to feel proud wearing. I still can’t get over the ridiculous price tag, so it’s very likely I’ll pick up a 125ml bottle soon. For an EDT, this absolutely bangs. Fantastic stuff. He’s a keeper. 👌🏻 Edit: Finished work for the day and both are still powering away 10 hours later. LL is still giving off that powdery leathery vibe. EG is still running with the powdery musky vibe. If you love LL33, snap this up.

This is a gem of a fragrance! Do not sleep on this! The fragrance is aptly named, because Bravo Monsieur is what you hear in your head after you have taken in the notes, quality and blending of this fragrance after a few weeks of wearing (not to mention the price, it is a total steal at 36 Euros!). I must confess, I struggle with iris in fragrances. With Bravo Monsieur I get the iris and it is nestled nicely between some violet, geranium and a perfectly rendered papyrus (that gives Byredo's Baudelaire a run for its money). The cardamom, incense and pomelo create the perfect backbone to this composition and help lay the foundation of the woody, musky finish. Bravo Monsieur is for dressing up or dressing down and could be worn by the 25 and up crowd. This is an office safe scent but could easily be worn on a day or night out with that special someone. Bravo Monsieur is a performer so no need to over spray. Give Bravo Monsieur a few sprays after a fresh cut and shave or after putting on a new fit for the first time; Bravo Monsieur will give you that standing ovation you need before you head out!

Bravo Monsieur by El Ganso is remarkable for its price, it has a rich sandalwood base, dry papyrus, and cozy cashmere, with powdery iris and other notes in a balanced and long-lasting blend, and this is good. On my skin, sandalwood, papyrus and cashmere dominate, creating an elegant, refined dryness which lasts for hours. This is an all terrain fragrance that works well in the office, for casual, or evening wear. Very good longevity for an EDT, with 8-9 hours or more on my skin. Projection is moderate-to-strong, then settles into a refined skin scent. Now, regarding the "elephant in the room". Is it a clone of Santal 33? Not to my nose. I have been wearing Santal 33 for several years now, and while it's true that Bravo Monsieur may remind you of S33 (maybe because of the papyrus note), BM goes in a completely different direction; the cashmere wood, the incense, the cardamom make it cozier... and, there's not leather. I'm a big fan of Santal 33, and now I definitely love Bravo Monsieur. 👍👍👍👍👍 A great little known gem for those that like their sandalwood dry.

Bravo Monsieur is one of the closest relatives to Santal 33. The DNA is 90% of Le Labo's. A fragrance where sandalwood enthusiasts will undoubtedly feel comfortable. I don't perceive the entirety of the pyramid. At the opening, cardamom and a hint of violet accompany a sweet incense. The evolution is swift, transitioning rapidly to the base notes that provide a refined balance of sandalwood and cashmere wood, where vanilla, if present, rightfully plays a minor role. It's a fragrance for the mature and refined man, leaving a discreet yet unmistakable presence. A perfume that harmonizes with elegance and distinction. To be worn, for those who can, on the deck of a Pershing 120 yacht, cruising in the southern Mediterranean... A must-have for lovers of woody and sweet fragrances. Lasts around 6-8 hours, 2 days on fabrics. Good trail and intimate sillage. Well done, El Ganso.