Gres Monsieur

An enchanting treasure, Gres Monsieur has a more introspective, contemplative quality than that of its contemporaries at the time. After all, just a year prior saw the release of such bombastic scents as Kouros, Antaeus and Quorum. Monsieur has a laid back, sleek feel, but still emits a resonance. Monsieur is not shy, but is also not an extrovert either; choosing to let his presence speak for itself, with just enough volume to maybe make a head or two turn. I can relate to Monsieur. The opening in my vintage, while inevitably oxidized, still retains most of its citric essence, the bergamot still seems a bit zesty and pithy despite all these years (who knows how this bottle had been stored), and there is this herbal accord that is almost reminiscent of spearmint or cornmint. It's this touch of herbal sweetness that merges with the cinnamon and carnation, that makes Monsieur so alluring. It also is another one of those fragrances that hits deep in the hippocampus: where have I smelled this before? At what time? Was it years and years ago, and my childhood mind somehow stored its imprint for all these years? Whenever I experience this, it feels baffling and bittersweet. What is most stirring is when this all melds into a hazy, woolly ether of oakmoss with a dash of tonka bean, smelling much like the way the aromatic ferns of the Northeast US as dappled sun enters through the tall pines, a resinous ambery glow, a Zen drydown. Even as an old (who knows exactly how old?) vintage, there is this naturalism that is so seldom present in the tidal wave of modern releases that desperately cling on to fables but fall short of expectations. The desire for authenticity today is often sullied by pretense, and the end product is outlandishly adorned to distract from the reductive, derivative, soulless scent that has immediate diminishing returns in true value. I know it sounds like the same cynical, curmudgeonly discontent with the present and a romanticized vision of the past, but I truly think that with progress there is regress, its all in flux. And with fragrance, we could all stand to reach back and reflect on whence we came, and where we need to go moving forward. Forward I go, wearing Monsieur on a cool September morning, feeling hopeful and inspired.

This is a very interesting one. The initial impression is of old school powerhouse perfumery. The opening is a strong blast of Bergamot and is not dissimilar to vintage Givency Gentleman in the first few minutes, though perhaps slightly less animalic. I don't get the spearmint note as another reviewer mentions but I do get the carnation coming through, the cinnamon stops this from being to sweet or cloying. The old style oak moss and amber ensure a settled background skin pulse, and although I often find Tonka bean too much, here it really settles nicely in it's place and combines really nicely. I don't get any citrus or fresh spicy at any point which is puzzling. This isn't a wake you up face splasher after a shower and shave, this is one for afternoons or evenings, smart or casual. Some scents carry a natural sophistication and this is indeed one of them. it's not one I would put on 5 minutes before going out...it needs 15 minutes to settle ..and boy when it does...really really nice. I found a vintage bottle with about 25 ml remaining and I will be eeking this one out over the coming years. Very Impressed!! They really don't make them like this anymore!

FINALLY ADDED... a GREAT ONE VERY MUCH IN THE 80S STYLE,LAID BACK CITRIC PERFECT FOR SPRING EVENINGS,THE BOX,IN SHINNING BLUE IS VERY NICE TOO

one of the finest. Just sublime all through the drydown. They don't make scents like this anymore.