Monsieur Musk

I deliberately went for the version of this bottle without the hideous belt and buckle—sorry, I just don't find it aesthetically charming one bit and they are often damaged and/or decayed! I do prefer the understated version that highlights the houndstooth pattern. Now that I have out of the way, 1967's Monsieur Houbigant is something I'd imagine Tom Corbett (Eddie's Father) or Mike Brady would wear: masculine, yet sensitive. It's a sleek wood-paneled soap-on-a-rope, gosh and golly kinda man in Sta-Prests and a Tattersall shirt kinda cologne. It's an "I'm switching to Sanka" kind of man. It wears the patina of an archetype that was already fast transforming. A man aged 30 at the year of its release (presumably the target age) would be 87 years old today. Think about that. This is a grandparent, a great grandparent, a Silent Generation now rapidly going...silent. I smell it on myself and my mind can't help but to consider all the many times I've smelled a beautiful, polished woods-carnation-spice-musk scent like Monsieur when I was quite young. Perhaps it was a postal worker, a school principal, a man simply passing by, that fleeting detection. And somewhere in my brain, tiny neurons fire and I feel so dreadfully but beautifully wistful. I myself are now past the date of that target age, fondly clinging onto a past that my mind fools me into thinking was simpler and kinder. Perhaps in some ways, things were kinder (though we know there was so much cruelty, too). My life was definitely simpler, as I was a child when scents like this hung in the air for me to marvel and to make strong, early associations. The dry and powdered tobacco aromatics against the warm, ever so slightly perspiring neck of a handsome man: the earliest associations of fondness before sexuality even fully developed for me—adhered to me into maturity. The poignancy is strong with this Monsieur. Regarding Monsieur Musk (1974): There is much similarity between Monsieur Houbigant and its re-launch in 1974 as Monsieur Musk: the soapy cedar, the carnation and rose. But now musk has fully become the rage and to compete with others, this version does have a decidedly fat, even petrol-oily muskiness to it that I do find delightful, with an even more tobacco-like dry down than its progenitor. It still brings the nostalgia hard, and I am glad I have it for reference.

I picked up a 120ml bottle of this stuff for $20 bucks at shoppers drug mart here in Canada. I’m not sure if I’ve overpaid or underpaid at this point, but one things for certain, if I was a younger I’d hate this stuff. It reminds me of something my dad would wear in the 80’s, however, now that I’m in my 40’s something weirds happened to my nose, I find myself craving older colognes that have borderline insane note lists in their pyramids. Luckily for others though, this scent carries that old school vibe but doesn’t have the typical 30 notes others similar to this style usually have. It took me a bit to find the notes and Fragrantica doesn’t seem to have the full list, here they are. Opening Top Notes musk, grapefruit, lemon, foliage Heart Center Notes cedar wood, patchouli, tobacco Deep Base Notes amber, tonkin beans, patchouli, Anyway, to those complaining about longevity, if there are any, please keep in mind it’s clearly labeled as an aftershave. Still though, it still retains some potency. On my skin I still get 4-5 hours which is more than acceptable for me and the price point. To me the most noticeable notes are tobacco, patchouli, and musk, this stuff is a musky bomb. It’s slightly more reminiscent to paco rabanne pour Homme over any of the other colognes mentioned on this page that it’s related to, but a much easier wear. I also feel like these oakmoss in here too, but maybe it’s just a combination of the other notes confusing my nose. It’s definitely barbershop like. It’s a strong like for me, but if you’re not 40 and up, I don’t think you’ll understand this one. Still though for a manly clean easy reach after a good shave, this one is a no brainer.

Epic Journey Into the Bottled Yonder, 028 ------------------------------------------------------- Purchased May 2017 Just like a bar of Imperial Leather soap. Dana Houbigant Monsieur Musk is a must have, that or Mandate you can take your pick and be happy with either. Unfortunately my one is an EDC splash while Mandate is a spray, jealous... This is a spicy, warm leather animal. Soapy too, because Imperial Leather was around for generations and everybody knows that stock non-Palmolive type of soap smell, so it's easy to pick up on it and enjoy it. Then there's the people who think everything is for old people if it's anything like a heritage soap brand. Well, big deal! Jesus, everything has to be brand new at all times? Ever think that back then all this shit was new, huh? Ohh, it was invented and a second later it was 30+ years old. In the old days we were able to enjoy everything because there wasn't much of anything to go around in the market and in peoples home where you could maybe check out someone's fragrances, and still most people wouldn't let you near their bottles let alone the room they're kept in. Now you have this window the size of the sun called the internet and you're all just constantly peering into it without realising what you're looking at. Slow it down some. Appreciate these nicer things because I can guarantee you that you will only be left with a handful of bottles someday soon. Now onto the scent itself. It's an absolute killer, a classic for the serious gent.

My father's signature scent. Probably the reason I love musk as much as I do. My father was a relic from a different time. A gentleman that always held the door open for everyone, carried a handkerchief everywhere he went, drove an old boat of a Lincoln, always pressed his shirts and pants before going out, always had a fresh haircut, and always smelled terrific. Since my father passed I hadn't smelled this in many years. Sometime last year I bought a pricy vintage splash bottle from Houbigaunt and it immediately took me back. Wore it for the first time around Thanksgiving, which was right by the anniversary of my father's passing. And it filled my heart with joy and a touch of bittersweet nostalgia. I own a vintage Houbigaunt bottle and the first gen of the Dana version. Can't speak the current version but I will pick one up soon as it's so damn cheap... The Dana version I have is still great. Not as much of a punch or depth as the vintage but still worth every penny. Hasn't had it's dick kicked in the dirt like Polo quite yet. Everything about this frag screams 1980's. It's almost like it was made for people with velour or leather seats in their cars, and for smokers. As much as I don't like cigarette smoke, the sweetness in this musk pairs flawlessly with the stink of cigarette smoke. You get a dry floral sweetness, musk, a touch of powder, and more musk. Truly love this stuff. Will always have a slot on my shelf both for my father, and myself.

I have 100 or so fragrances (including aftershaves) and have smelled many more. After wearing Monsieur Musk for one day, it's already in my top 3. This is the end of my search for a classy gentlemanly soap scent. It even beats Prada Amber Pour Homme as my favorite high-end soap fragrance. It also has great longevity. It is only moderate in strength and has fairly mild projection, but that's appropriate for a soapy mild musky EDT. This is one of the best values I've encountered, if not the very best. I would say it's appropriate for any occasion where people are at least somewhat dressed up, and for any season except summer. It's most fitting for a professional, preferably in his 30s (like me) or above. Edit on 12/17/25: In my original review, I think I was too excited at having discovered a soapy fragrance that's as good as this one. I now consider it to be a top-10 rather than top-3 scent (may arguably be in my top 5 sometimes, depending on my current tastes). However, it may still be my "soap king." It really does smell like a rich, classic, sophisticated, upscale bar of premium men's soap. Update on 1/15/26: It's even more amazing, with soapy richness, when enhanced with a small amount of IFRA-noncompliant oakmoss absolute (the one I used is from Providence Perfume Co).