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).

I have the original Houbigant aftershave on my right wrist and the current version on my left. They start off developing similarly, and I was surprised in a way, because scents manufactured 40 years apart typically don't map well onto each other. But in the opening, there was a lot of similarity. The new Dana product performs really well, and stays alive and present. But an hour in, there is a crucial difference which steps to the fore. The 1970s original has musk with warmth, and this stays throughout; but an hour in, the original shows spades of tobacco - golden Virginia, fresh from grandad's tobacco pouch. I love it. I want gallons of it. If I could afford it... If it was even available. The newer scent has the musk, but an hour in becomes musk + a commercial soap like Dove. No tobacco whatsoever. There may be a whiff of violet in there but not much. And not like Fahrenheit - a snippet of Grey Flannel? I think a lot of people will like it. The soap is NOT like 80s soap (Paco etc) - it's *very* contemporary. The musk, however, lifts the scent across time. My preference is the old, but they're both great. The new is not a "faded" scent, prompting a whinge about reformulation. They're just different scents, but with a similar parentage.

Simply superb! I grabbed it more due to my curiosity, and actually didn't expect that it smells so nice. I thought a scent from that era(70s) might be too "dated" for nowadays tastes but I know now I was wrong! Monsieur Musk is a fresh green musk scent with considerably tobacco undertone, quite classic structure. But it suprised me that it's so well-balanced, the not-too-dry green herbal accompanied slightly spiced notes, subtle clean musk (compare with nowadays super clean, pale, and in face musk) and smoky-but-no-dirty tobacco take turns "sing" their parts, either a solo or a choir, and the whole scent is in a heavenly harmony. There's not anything tricky or edge in this scent and it smells just great and classy. I don't know the dana's version, it maybe lost some of its quality but still remainds as one of the nicest masculine scents.

This is the nicest of the old-style musks that I've tried so far. It's a clean soapy musk rather than a sweaty libidinous musk, which I think makes it smell less stuck in its era than others do. It makes me feel clean and professional, yet virile, all the while employing a surprising amount of florals. I don't have remotely enough experience with florals to tell you just what's in there, but I sure notice them when I exhale on the spot and then inhale slowly! It's really interesting how just adding that musk in there transforms what might have been a girly floral into musky man juice. An excellent traditional cheapy...I'll have to see if I can find a small bottle of the EDC, even though the aftershave is strong enough.

I purchased this cologne as part of a Dana gift set, as a Christmas present for my fiancé. It is a surprisingly strong "just this side of dirty" musk with a slightly oily/sweet spicy accord and rich tobacco notes. I also detect a hint of dry leather and just a touch of baby powder towards the drydown. Longevity is excellent, while the sillage is moderate. This is NOT an "office fragrance" unless used in very small amounts. It is a great cologne for night, as a matter of fact my love wore it on Valentine's Day!

Gosh I like this. I have the recent Dana brand eau de toilette iteration. I tried it as a blind buy because I love tobacco and it gets good reviews. I own fragrances that have a more pronounced tobacco accord, but with Monsieur Musk whether in the initial spray or hours later, the tobacco is always relegated to a supporting role and never the main feature. Nonetheless, every time I become aware of this eau de toilette on my skin or clothes I take another moment to savour it.

I have been wearing Monsieur Houbigant Musk since the mid-1970s and find that it goes well with leather. I never detected the tobacco essence in the past. I have tried one of the CUBA essences by Parfums Des Champs which has a definite tobacco component. I am currently seeking a cologne or after shave with a fairly strong tobacco component in it - Any suggestions?

This is a spicy tobacco fragrance that within 30 minutes turns into a lightly spicy musk. The tobacco hit at the start is fantastic. The dry down is light and fantastic. Nice quality with 5 to 6 hours of longevity and projection of about a hour. For less than 12 dollars this is a very nice casual fragrance. Enjoy!

Review for Vintage Houbigant juice... A warm, inviting and oriental scent that is smooth and well-blended. A cozy, throw-back but something that feels more like a nice comforting 'blanket' of scent rather than a cologne or after-shave. Old-school in character, but never off-putting. This is most definitely beyond a typical drugstore 'musk' offering. After searching for a complete list of notes and numerous wearings, I found this to be more accurate: Top notes: grapefruit, lemon, spices, lavender, green notes (herbs) Heart notes: cedar wood, patchouli Base notes: amber, tonka bean, moss, tobacco & musk I agree with those who find the slightly smoky qualities here along with the herbaceous green & woody notes to warm very naturally on the skin to an alluring and long-lasting After Shave/Cologne. It is very classic, but doesn't feel dated. The musk here is not as dominant as one would think. The herbs, patchouli, tobacco, along with the warm oriental vibe really linger with a soft, slightly-powdery musk that is in balance. Excellent on skin (oily and full of vigor) and lasts for days on clothing. Comfort and class in a bottle. A very inviting scent, that while classified as a 'musk', reveals a lot more depth and structure. Impressive. Recommended. Vintage only.

its a nice spicy musk with what i guess would be, yeah, a bit of tabac scent. There is certainly cinammon too, and i guess some other earthy spicy notes. The musk is a clean sort of soapy musk. its not dirty like kiehls, and not terribly loud, but sort of just right in strength. It is a great scent to bring wherever and use generally. It smells nice because thats what musk does. certainly masculine, but also has the softness of musk. I dont detect any florals in this. well maybe lavender is in it a touch. The one i have says Houbigant 1994 on the bottom, but also says dana fragrance. If this is the so called "vintage" it is nothing special - I mean it is a drugstore scent after all. It's a pleasant, just sort of musk scent, not raunchy, but that musk warmth and serenity, with some type of light spice and pineyness and tobacco. I would probably get the newest one if i got it again, since many times, old bottles tend to "go off" or lose their top and sharpness, complexity and mellow out. its a cologne splash, and works pretty good - i just shake out a small bit into them palm, put two hands together then pat them to the cheeks and neck. the cool thing is the hands get fragranced too.

Monsieur Houbigant (Dana) is one of the most unique fragrances I've encountered; definitely an acquired taste but I do like it a lot. It also has great projection and borders on beastly. Am I the only one who instantly gets green Bell peppers upon application? For me MH is the ugly puppy one loves and cannot ignore. Edit July 6 2018 - I have both the most recent formulation and what I can only guess is its predecessor, the second of three formulations that I'm aware of. The latest formulation comes in a clear-ish bottle with a black and silver label with: Monsieur MUSK printed on it. The next earlier version is in a black bottle with a painted text which reads: Monsieur Houbigant at the bottom and the word: M U S K down one side. After comparing the two I've concluded that the most recent version is an altogether different fragrance; it has the M.H.M. DNA assuredly but is simply nothing more than a flanker, if you will. It's actually nice but it just is not Monsieur Houbigant Musk cologne.

This was my dad's signature cologne. When he died I grabbed his half used bottle from the bathroom. For the last 10 years I couldn't bring myself to smell it - it was just to painful. But yesterday I found it in a drawer and decided to close my eyes and take a whiff. It was as if my dad was right there beside me and I wasn't sad at all. A sense of peace came over me. The scent was just so perfectly masculine and comforting. It fit my dad's character perfectly...classy, masculine and strong.

I bought this for my ex as he really likes musk (more into the Egyptian musk / body oils) and he liked it - and I LOVED it. IT's sweet, long lasting but not strong. Amazing sillage. You don't need to use much and it is not overpowering. It's smooth from the first dash until the end - which ...well.. it never ends. Fills the room without being overpowering. I absolutely love it. For women, I like Jovan Musk, which my ex also likes, so it might be an ok unisex juice :)

Similar to Tabac Original, but more smooth, rather bitter then citrusy in the opening. Unfortunately the performance is really bad. No projection at all, and only lasts for about an hour on my skin.

A really nice inexpensive men's fragrance. Quite potent, would like more of this. Jovan Musk is equally as good in my opinion.

I used this in the 80's. Nice lavender and musk. I didn't realise it was still available.