Monsieur

Try before you buy, you will either love or hate this. Yet when I say try, I mean go spray it on your arm, wear and try nothing else. Dedicate at least a day to it. The amber and musk in this will react differently on your skin to someone else, so a test strip will do no justice. Now you tried it, if you was not sure or hated it, I suggest you come back to it two or three times. It may take you a while to appreciate this one. The musk, incense notes and almost transparent yet grey paradoxical patchouli make it quite dry. The hidden woody notes in the background accentuate this dryness and add the faintest greenness that suddenly gets drowned out with a hefty amber note in the dry down. This one, I think is well done, but I do understand the controversy surrounding it. I personally love it and own a bottle, yet I love patchouli, and this is an unusually transparent patchouli, not thick, not dense, somewhat earthy, not chocolatey. At first you get hit with a top burst of a slightly boozy, musky, woody accord that is slightly sweetened by a fruitiness that is more dry orange rind that juicy or zesty. A medicinal, woody-incense airy quality lurks behind, waiting to dominate in the heart. You get patchouli after about 30 seconds, yet it is a very clean, no-rough edges patchouli. Patchouli essential oil is quite brown and oily, yet this feels more like a transparent vapour, leaving behind all the dirty aspects. The rum-booziness for me is a transitionary note that bridges the amber in the heart to the tangerine in the top, all the while the airy, woody, patchouli heart sits patiently beside. The composition remains quite dry all this time. There is a definitive leather note, which does come across as a suede when paired with the dry dusty incense note. As the fragrance transitions to its dry down, amber and musk start to dominate. The woodiness of the patchouli remains, yet the medicinal aspect is mostly lost. Synthetic ambers warm up and can get quite noticeable, moving it away from its dryness as the incense is lost, becoming more thick, a little more sweet. Yet, sweet in comparison to a very dry heart, not at all sweet stand-alone. The musk structure in this reminds me of Portrait of a Lady (POAL), and is very 'Frederic Malle'. The musk accord mainly adding support, push and longevity to the fragrance. Some people are anosmic to certain musk and may not smell this similarity, and some may. The patchouli and incense notes may also push this association, although the two fragrances are not alike and head in different directions. I have heard some reviewers say that this is very black and dark. I disagree, I think there is enough going on in this with regards to a slight greenness, a slight booziness and fruit zest that makes me think of shades of brown, dark green and rusty orange in a grey shadow. It does feel dark, but the initial sniff may take you so far away from your usual comfort zone that all you see is black, black, black. A good analogy for me is when you go turn the lights off in a room at night. You cannot see anything. That is your first reaction, as the contrast is great. Yet your eyes will adjust slowly with time and you start to pick out certain shapes and objects in the room. After a while, it is not so black and you can see more colour, more detail. This fragrance is like that. Back to my original comment, give this one time and you will start to see depth and intricacy. Maybe then, you may start to love it. Peace to you all :) EDIT: After analyzing this perfume, I have to say it shows how great a perfumer Bruno Jovanovic is. The dry and darkness really is coming from the meticulously placed AmberXtreme. AmberXtreme smelled neat and undiluted is so powerful, black, so dry it sucks all the moisture from a 10 mile radius. To use such a tenacious molecule to create the effect we all detect in monsieur, without it being apparent is just genius. Amazing.

My God, guys. This one nailed the patchouli too damn well. I have no complaints about its intensity. To me, the note reeks to me of earthy masculinity - a grounded realist who always wants to get great things done. The best way to describe this scent: leathery, incense-based soil. Scent: 8/10 Seriously, this is THE patchouli fragrance. Some say that it's overpowering to the point that it smells like oud. But to my nose, this doesn't smell edgy enough to remind me of the streets of Dubai (cf. Promise). There is a certain grassy, wet soil freshness that smacks me straight as patchouli. As the dry down continues, the sharp rum from the top and the dirty soil scent gives way to the incense, along with hints of vanilla and musk in the background. Very interesting development; keeps you sniffing it all day! Projection: 7/10 A patchouli-dominant fragrance shouldn't reek. Such an earthy, grounded note should linger around the user's personal space; nothing more. And that is exactly what it does with 3 sprays on my chest and neck - it creates an enveloping aura of confidence and aged wisdom. Longevity: 8/10 For the quality of its juice, lasting around 10 hours is perfectly fine, although I'm okay if it does power through a day like CDNMI. However, the latter's synthetic; this is not. Versatility: 6/10 Certainly, such a grounded scent should only be used when dressed up, at least to smart casual. I really can't think of pulling this off on college students - it just smells too wise and well put together. This can be used day and night, although I don't think this will survive in the high heat of summer. Total: 7.5/10 (Great) Any FM fragrance is a piece of artwork that deserves admiration, no matter how much one dislikes the note within. I happen to like patchouli, although I would prefer a mix of vetiver. But this work just goes to show how patchouli alone suffices as a wondrous note, and vividly represents what it wants to: a sophisticated, elegant monsieur.

This is a fine fragrance, and I can understand the comparisons between this and Patchouli Absolu, but only in the patchouli accord. My understanding is an aromachemical called Patchouli Coeur was used as the basis for this fragrance, and I believe that was one of three patchouli aromachemicals used in PA. While PA focuses on different, synthetic aspects of patchouli, to make it really green, earthy yet bright and sophisticated, this takes it more of an approach as patchouli just used as the foundation rather than the complete spotlight. Yes, you are going to get that very specific patchouli like smell, but accords of rum absolute, amber Xtreme, sucrasol (caramel/vanill-like), safranal (leather-like accord) & incense really are the driving force along this. Boiling it down, you will get a patchouli fragrance, with a suede-like leather, a bit of a boozy quality, some smoky incense and amber. The amber/vanilla synths used though create something more darker, not sugary or syrupy, but a dark sweetness to the fragrance. In the end, this is far from Patchouli Absolu and I feel it's easier to wear as well. It's actually a fairly complex fragrance and does have specific phases throughout, and as it dries down it becomes more balanced in all of the main notes, so it has a nice ride to it and is not really linear at all to me. Is it full-bottle worthy? Maybe, as a patchouli lover I can't help but own a bunch of patchouli fragrances, and I do think this fits a niche for the patchouli lover if they are looking for a "dumb reach" for most occasions, while still being complex and interesting to smell throughout its phases.

There are perfumes that decorate you, perfumes that seduce, perfumes that comfort. And then there are perfumes that hold you upright. Monsieur. begins with restraint. The opening is cool, slightly bitter, faintly green, and austere — almost architectural. It draws a clean line around the body. It feels composed, disciplined, intentional. Then, slowly, the structure warms. The sharpness softens into dry patchouli heat. Not sweet. Not syrupy. Not plush. The warmth is controlled — cedar and resin smoothed by a subtle rum glow that hums rather than announces itself. The bitterness fades, and what remains is balance. Nothing screams. Nothing performs. It is a rounded, seamless blend where every element exists in quiet proportion. On skin, it becomes calm. It doesn’t push outward. It doesn’t overwhelm. It doesn’t collapse into sweetness. Instead, it creates containment — warmth with edges, peace with hold. Though often described as overtly masculine, on me it reads as structure and warmth rather than bravado. This is not a comfort scent in the traditional sense. It does not wrap you in softness. It steadies you. It provides structure without rigidity and warmth without engulfment. After the first hour, when the austere opening has dissolved, Monsieur. settles into its true self: composed, grounded, quietly strong. It feels inhabitable. It feels sustainable. It feels like something I could live inside all day without fatigue. Some fragrances seduce. Some comfort. Monsieur. restores coherence. It is peace — with hold.

I usually don't blind-buy fragrances. With Frederic Malle Monsieur, I had to, not only because I am a patchouli lover, but because there are so many reviewers and just "regular" people who write on this specific blog, that feel this fragrance is not likable because its over powering, patchouly overdosed, unpleasant, dirty, and so on and so fort. Whenever someone expresses this way about an oud or patchouly fragrance, then I find that is a good sign; then I know it's a magnificent fragrance that I must have, even if I haven't smelled it yet. And this one is. In my opinion, it is patchouly heavy, a very statement-making patchouly; which is great. It is masculine, elegant, classy, dark, gothic, power-house-like, and a long etcetera. If you are into 70's and 80's power-house fragrances, you'll love this fragrance. "In my opinion" (these set of words are my shield against crystal personalities that get offended easily) this is a very masculine fragrance. This is a fragrance for a man, a confident, assertive, mature, and "manly" man. A man that is not afraid to offend with his masculinity. This fragrance enters a room and he know he is better than you, but he doesn't use his power to make you feel less-than. He'll be educated enough to say "hello', and move away from you to enjoy a cigar and cognac, while talking with other bearded men about cars and hunting. Very few deserve to smell this good. Very few will know that this is what "smelling good" is. For the few, the proud... Men. (In my opinion)

Opening is a big blast of spicy rum, after a couple minutes it smooths out, notice a thick almost syrupy mandarine note along with the rum. After maybe 15 minutes it gets to the heart, a lovely woody, earthy, patchouli. It bends nicely with the top notes. Into the base, there’s some musk and vanilla that smooths it out, makes it less harsh while still having that lovely woody and earthy patchouli. It’s a very dry fragrance, not sweet or fruity even with the rum and mandarin top notes, they mostly serve to round it out. The incense adds a smoky touch that offsets any sweetness, and it adds a feeling of gravitas to it. The patchouli is full of woody and earthy facets that feels like a dark brown bark. Also get some leathery notes from the suede, very well polished. The blending of earthy patchouli with the warmth of cedar and the depth of incense evokes a sense of being in a serene, wooded landscape, where the damp earth and the woody scents of the trees combine to create a captivating experience. Something about it is rugged and manly, yet elegant and calming at the same time. It’s like an aura of comforting presence envelops you, along with some authority. It smells like something a gentleman would wear. Definitely strong and people who get close to you will notice, but thankfully, it doesn’t have huge projection, which works out great for this. The next day on your clothes you can really smell the musk. Absolutely love this.

The most masculine fragrance I own. The first 30 or so minutes are a bit intense - medicinal, camphoraceous - but the citrus, rum, and suede develop into a beautiful (or should I say "handsome") warm, dark patchouli fragrance. The amber and vanilla are just enough to offset the dryness of the incense and cedar and the inkiness of the patchouli, but it never leans gourmand. At the tail-end of its lifespan, I get musky whiffs in between the perfect synergy of vanilla, amber, and of course, patchouli. Overall, I love the evolution of this fragrance, and it's fairly true to its notes. For me, patchouli is the undeniable cornerstone of Monsieur. When I wear it, I spray it 30 or so minutes before leaving to give it a chance to mellow out. 90% of its lifespan is heaven. Even though it's a bit pricey, I'm happy with my purchase. It's clearly high quality and has acceptable longevity for the price point. The sillage really is perfect - just enough to draw in your date, yet not too much to push them away. Do bear in mind that this isn't a versatile fragrance, so if you're just starting out your collection, maybe invest in something you'll get more wear out of. My favorite from his line is Noir Epices. Wear on formal evenings in cold weather when you want to exude an air of pure confidence (and add 7-10 years to your age).

One of the ultimate Patchouli dominant fragrances I've experienced. To me this perfume features aromatic, earthy cedar, neutral or slightly bitter citrus, and remarkably potent "dirty" patchouli; counter-balanced with sweetness from amber, vanilla, musk, and rum. For some, the patchouli will definitely be over-the-top. It would come across as "medicinal, dry, and/or bitter" in the opening and mid-stage to them. For me however, the dry-down is absolute patchouli heaven! The more wearings I gave it, the more I grew to love the tangerine-rum opening as well. Monsieur competes with French Lover as my favorite from the house of Frederic Malle. Major props to Bruno Jovanovic for his creation! I would highly recommend Tom Ford's Patchouli Absolu to fans of Monsieur and vice versa. Both perform very well, and both would make exceptional signature scents in my opinion. I got my coworkers hip to the more niche side of perfume; fortunately everybody wears what they please at the office. My sympathies for those who cannot! Longevity is 8+ hours on skin (I would assume days on clothes), and the projection is moderate-to-heavy. This one will most probably appeal to the 25+ age group niche lovers, but probably not to teenagers, young adults, or designer fragrance lovers. Masterpiece.

When I first tried this one at Barney's, I thought it was incredibly butch and pleasing, but far too strong for me, nothing that I could ever pull off in real life. Then my taste evolved, I bought a bottle, and now I wear this one all the time. This one is strong with notes of rum, patchouli, vanilla, tobacco, and leather. Very classic in its notes and old-school intensity. It's outrageously pleasing, bold, attention-grabbing... yet sophisticated in its progression. Too strong for the office, but a hit everywhere else. I get positive comments from both men and women, frequently. Of super masculine fragrances, this for me is a tie with vintage Kourous (but more wearable). I like CBMusk and Alan's 2nd Cumming better, but this one is far more acceptable in polite society than those niche fragrances, and the notes are more authentic. In this overall cluster, I also enjoy Poivre Samarcande, but Monsieur. is boozier and more provocative. (It takes several hours for it to get to "mellow" whereas Poivre Samarcande is mellow right away.) Again, none of the notes, or this overall style, is what I thought I was shopping for, but Monsieur. expanded my horizons, and I'm glad it did. I wIll buy another bottle of this one for sure when I finish the one I have.

I am known as 'the fragrance guy' at work since everyone knows what I am in to and about my Youtube channel. Also having over 250 bottles in my collection (not even including the decants and samples) and working four 10hr days a week means I can literally wear something different every day for a year if I wanted to so my co-workers have been exposed to hundreds of different scents.. I get comments every day when I come in and it's kind of like a little game the my co-workers play as a "I wonder what he is going to wear today???" kind of thing. After years of being 'the fragrance guy' I have never received such universal glowing compliments as I did today when I arrived at the office. I love this fragrance and I was elated that EVERYONE in the office loved it, men and women alike, as well. Words like 'Incredible', 'Heavenly', and 'Divine' were used to describe it. I have a 10ml decant of this gem and this will most certainly be my first purchase from this house when I am finally done with my decant. The fragrance is ultra masculine with beautiful incense on a dark patchouli base. Just wonderful and full bottle worthy by far. --- Edit: I do now own a 2020 bottle of this incredible fragrance and I still feel it is to die for...

Sampled from a 1.5ml from noseparis. It's definitely dry. I don't really get rum or tangerine. Definitely get patchouli and insense. I also get that "medical" smell that others have mentioned, it's not a bad medical smell though. Someone said "old candy shop", it does have a slightly vintage convenience store like smell to it, it's mature. This does slightly remind me of pardon, but drier and greener. My first thoughts about 30min into wearing this was this smells like Alessandro gualtieri did an Amouage fragrance. But after a few hours those associations were now apparent to me as just recognizable, and not comparisons to judge this scent upon. This deserves its own merits. I can't comment on longevity, but it seemed to smell much more intense on my clothes vs skin. Projection was moderate, although that's difficult to assess from a sample. Overall first impressions of this I like this one alot, it's dry, a bit dark, green, mature and masculine for sure, although I definitely some women could wear this. Monsieur does remind me of pardon, which is one of my favorite fragrances, although its different enough, and carries a Frederic malle dna that I just love, that I would still want a bottle of this.

I have been wearing this perfume for 8 years. I recall my first experience testing it from a decant when I went to pick up a box of Christmas pastries with my brother from a family friend. I sprayed it in a car and I found it way too overpowering from the initial spray. It was medicinal, earthy and boozy with hints of orange. Definitely not impressed at the first try. After a few wearings, it started to grow on me. After some time, I liked the scent so much that I had to get a bottle for my brother for his birthday. Later, I also bought a bottle for myself. It was my first Frederic Malle full bottle perfume. Now that I have a collection of almost all FM perfumes, I tend to go back to Monsieur every time when Fall starts. I don’t wear it every day, I try to save it for the right occasion. It’s the perfect scent for going out to have a few drinks in the late afternoon when the cold air rolls around and all notes start to shine. Bruno Jovanovic created a well-balanced, timeless masterpiece with a monster longevity. For me, this is a signature worthy perfume. It can be dressed up or down, it is elegant, sophisticated, mysterious, and unique. Cheers!

Not sure how people call this a monster in projection and Sillage.. yes it’s longevity is pretty decent around 6-8 hours on skin and clothes for days, but projection is not so so.. or my mind is playing tricks with me?? Anyways let’s get to the scent because that’s more important for me. The opening is extreme strong! Not sure how to describe it but I get directly a punch of wet patchouli and strong rum with some leathery accords.. after 5-10 minutes it fades and the incense with dry patchouli takes it over and from that point the patchouli gets more green and airy. This perfume is all about the facets of patchouli a true piece of art. Not versatile but can be worn dressed up or full in black since I feel that this scent is pure dark green with black. The raw materials are premium quality for sure and I enjoy it quit a lot, but with: coromandel, tempo and pardon this is the one I think last of. Not saying it’s not good since I’m crazy about patchouli.. but I would not wear this easier above the others. This one is comparable with the patchouli of pardon btw. Also dark intense and bit chocolaty. For patchouli lovers.. don’t miss it!

minhle1989, I bought a new bottle yesterday, April 2021. I have a few drops left from the 2016 bottle and around 5 ml from my 2018 bottle. When I smell it from the bottle, I get also more tangerine, but when I spay it, it feels not any different from the other bottles (which are identical). The old Monsieur. vibe is there. I wore it last night at around 10 pm, got back home at 4 am, and took a shower, This afternoon, my friend could still smell it on my neck. It smells a lot on my shirt. It will become an woody-patchouli in the drydown, and maybe a bit more citrusy. Monsieur. and Psychedelique are very medicinal in the first hour (Monsieur) and first 30 min (Psychedelique, which is reformulated because the juice is darker now and it is not as beast-mode as it used to be). I wrote to Bruno about the reformulation speculations because my new bottle does not have the concentration written anywhere. I got it from a verified store that is listed in FM's list. If it continues to be a beast-mode as it is, then the reformulation did not affect the power of Monsieur.

One of the driest also most seductive patchouli-incense fragrances I have tried so far (a typical church incense here). I absolutely love this awesome piece of fine perfumery. Patchouli is very predominant here, as it should, since it's a patchouli centered fragrance, but luckily its earthiness is very well tamed without loosing the patchouli character as done in fragrances with Agikala Wood instead, the bitter orange-rhum combi on top is not very distinguishable to my nose as a loud "rhum" and "orange" separately (hence donot expect a boozy or citrusy opening while trying it) , most probably since the latter two are very well blended with other compounds, the resins used for the incense effect (different types of Olibanum I presume) interact with patchouli perfectly, while leaving also a bitterish liquory facade behind, which IMO builds the signature DNA of this perfect men fragrance. Its sexiness acknowledges no compromises in anything, a purely ambitious man knowing no sense of concession while aiming for his goal. A perfume like a novel character

Monsieur - I am mostly getting Rum, patchouli, incense throughout its life with a semi dry tangerine to balance it out. There is a little sparkle from the tangerine/some brown/grey colours and dry greasy/little metallic/medicinal/boozy/little smoky/camphorous/little leathery and incensey. Musk and vanilla peak out now and then. It is as if patchouli, tangerine, cedar wood and some resins are being crushed under a greased machine, mixed with rum and poured into an incense burner. Yet it is not dirty at all surprisingly. Strikingly modern yet classic and sophisticated. I can picture a 40+ industry tycoon (oil/industrial) wearing a brown pinstripe suit, slick black hair and beard, sitting in a dark bar and sipping some rum sunset cocktail with a cigar after a productive day. I have been wearing it during the weekends since December and enjoy it from start to end. I really love it for its "Saying - I don't give a shit with a smile" kind of attitude. My current favorite from Malle.

It is mystery and intensity in the dark. Marketed for the man who is virile and wears a pinstripe suit, it is also perfectly at home with black leather in the less visited corners of the city. Powerfully loaded with patchouli, this leather scent achieves its smokiness with an aura of incense. But it is not off putting, as the sublime sweetness of rum and vanilla give it a inviting appeal. I would not say that this is work scent. Although I am currently wearing it at work... to heck with being appropriate. It is my favorite fragrance that I currently own and after I give it a try over the next few days, I will be saving it for special occasions. I do not detect musk in this. Upon first application, this fragrance projects, not quite filling a room, but people around you will notice it. After about 10 hours, I can still catch hints of this from my neck. Scent 10/10 Projection 8/10 Longevity 8/10

Rich, leathery, fire-pit smoked oud; with deep, earthy, aromatic authentic patchouli essential oil. It's like a sexy man who perfumes his long, dark hair and goatee with patchouli oil, wearing oiled black leather engineer's boots and black leather jacket, relaxing by a campfire with a cigarette after a long day of riding and drinking at Sturgis. I find Monsieur sensual and intoxicating in its smokiness, and ist absolutely beautiful layered with Perfumer's Workshop Tea Rose to feminize. The aforementioned layering combo is essentially POAL🌹🚬🌱🖤 the added rose really draws out fruity notes (listed as tangerine). It'd also layer beautifully with Jovoy Paris Fire at Will, or Vanilla Sex by Tom Ford -- so we ladies can enjoy wearing this masterpiece, by putting our own signature spin on it. It really is beautiful, something every fragrance enthusiast must experience at least once.

I have to laugh at this one a little. Not of it’s own accord (pun intended) but at the Malle/Yovanovich description: “for the polished womanizer,.” Its 2021, even in jest that shit is not safe. Maybe it’s because they’re European they have some WASP entitlement but I’m still surprised that shit still flies at all. A lot of reviews I’ve read reference how masculine this is. Are you fucking joking? This shit is vanilla. Literally. It’s Carmel corn wrapped in vanilla. Don’t get me wrong, the incense, patchouli and cedar shine brightly, but the dry down is all sweetness. Anyone can wear this confidently, despite gender. A lot of the previous reviews often mention things like “age” and “confidence” as conditional to wear this scent. Show me the arbitrators for fucks sake, because I’m confused. You can wear this, and smell good doing so, literally anyone can.

Thank you Bruno! If this is a tribute to Patchouli, this review is a tribute to Bruno and Frederic for making my signature scent! 6 years of wearing Monsieur., 4 bottles, gazillion of memories, unmatched excellence! This is sophisticated, refined, classy, neo-classical take on patchouli, 52% of the formula is patchouli !!!!!! I might have insomnia with this one. After such a long time of wearing this, the best way to describe is: melancholic darkness, cuz this is not playful at all! It is extremely polarizing: love it or hate it. If you want to wear this to be noticeable, dont buy it. This is an intimate experience, as you best wear it for yourself, talk to it, feel the melancholic versatility of the notes, walk through its darkness, and freeze your thoughts. Such a deep olfactory experience! Always my Monsieur., until FM decides to reformulate it :(