Mauboussin Homme

Anyone blind buying this should be aware the EDP has been recently reformulated. I got one of these from FragranceX. The new version comes in a box without the violet band around the bottom as pictured above. Rather, it is a solid brown colour with 2 thin stripes up the sides, along with the new "X"/bird logo. After I placed my order there was a comment/review added to the FragranceX website that complained it was a "chemical mess", not like before and the buyer was demanding a refund. This comment only lasted a few days so I am not sure if it was "voted off" like comments can be done here or FragranceX deleted it. Anyway, I was forewarned. Sure enough, when I got it I agreed. There is an initial smell of chemicals which hangs around for hours. No doubt, there is more going on than that but I am unable to make an objective review because I can't get past the chemicals. This reformulation is so different to the original and so bad it makes me wonder why Mauboussin would want to trash their brand so much. They are supposedly a high-end jeweler. It would be like them using cut glass instead of gem stones. This new EDP version is selling cheaply online which is driving down the price of the original formulations so if you can find them, get them before they disappear. I have stocked up with 3 EDP and 4 EDT. I asked fragrancenet which version they are selling and after 3 inquiries all they would tell me is they cannot guarantee which version you get. As far as I have been able to tell, the EDT has not been reformulated so that will always be the original. All versions of this perfume have now been removed from the official website so I guess it is now officially discontinued. The cynic in me thinks that Mauboussin had a large inventory of empty bottle they wanted to get rid of economically so they filled them up with anything cheap.

Mine is a newly purchased EDP bottle and the juice has turned blue-grey by the time I open the box. On my skin, the fragrance opens fresh and a little zesty, but also in a way that I experience as white and creamy smooth. The patchouli quickly becomes dominant, with its smooth or rounded minty clay or Play-Doh smell. There is a considerable herbal, aromatic aspect to the fragrance but I think that the earthy side of the patchouli probably anchors that and prevents it from becoming too jaggedly, bitterly green. There is something about the overall effect that reminds me of Champagne without smelling like it. Perhaps the slight powderiness is masquerading as effervescence, but apparently some people say that patchouli can smell "fizzy"... Perhaps there is also a parallel to vintage Brut, which was inspired by Champagne. Both fragrances have a kind of aromatic semi-woody greenness for me, as well as the powder. The Mauboussin doesn't smell old fashioned to me like Brut, though--old-skool maybe, but not outdated. It doesn't do powerhouse animalic skank. Performance is above today's average though, and in my case the combination of that and the undeniable patchouli aura means that I may not get a whole lot of use out of this without layering. Instead I'm inclined to use it the same way that I use another patchouli-forward fragrance, Zino by Davidoff, i.e. in cooler weather only, probably more in the evening than in the daytime, and not in entirely casual situations unless I want to stick out like a scrubbed-up hippie's sore thumb. Edit: I've been reaching for Zino lately but not for this. Zino makes this seem a little blunt or something. To be fair, Zino might do that to a whole host of fragrances.

I've been wondering about Mauboussin Homme for years & when i finally took the plunge to satisfy my curiosity & anticipation. Finally the time has come when my order arrived & i was in so much awe & deep regret that i wished i could've done this so much sooner when i first discovered it. This is completely the opposite of what i was afraid it would turn out to be...a dated, uber masculine, pungent & overpowering men's cologne. What a revelation! I never thought it could be so good...how did i get it so wrong? It is a well-balanced & constructed blend of spice, herbal, floral & woody notes. It is subtle yet complex with just the right & sufficient ratio of ingredients. It isn't dominated by just one or two notes, every component comes into play. This is another triumph from the master perfumer Alberto Morillas who is famous for creating some of the world's most popular & unforgettable fragrances of this modern era. I should've trusted my gut feelings & just blind bought this years ago, it would automatically have become one of my all time favorites & it definitely is now. This very underrated, borderline unisex gem is becoming a timeless modern oriental woody classic. Basic but pure essential sophistication in the most stunning, beautifully designed bottle i've ever seen, held & possessed. Longevity is from 6 to 8 hours on my skin with moderate performance & sillage which is acceptable. Quite simply a pure joy to wear...it feels almost like floating in a soft cloud of soothing pleasure, freshness, earthiness, comfort & warmth. A unique masterpiece that belongs in the museum of contemporary art.

EDP For starters, the shape of the bottle and the design of having to twist the top to spray it has certainly intrigued me. When I first sprayed it on my skin, I get a herbal blast of sage and rosemary followed by a high note of lavender giving it a real aromatic aroma. After 15-30 minutes later, the herbal notes slightly soften followed with a warm/sweet aroma of musk/patchouli and vanilla which comes shining through making it ABSOLUTELY STUPENDOUS to wear during the fall/winter months especially during the evening making it very luxurious. Longevity and Silage are very high quality lasting well past 10hrs hours on my skin spraying it once only. Overall opinion, This was practically a blind purchase because the boutique where I shop a lot didn't have a tester bottle so I had to base my decision on other's reviews. I want to thank almost everyone's sincere opinion on this TRULY AMAZING FRAGRANCE!!!! Rating this fragrance is no different than those who have already rated this fragrance. Personally less then a 10/10 would be so unfair to this GEM. This fragrance isn't just great....it's nectar from the God's making it ABSOLUTELY STUPENDOUS!! If you are curious and your not sure...take my word the review below are accurate, you won't regret buying it. :))))))))

I’ve struggled to review this one - it’s just hard to describe. In short it’s a sweet and slightly soapy oriental. But it’s complex, a lot of notes coming together in a unique impression/accord. The look of the light purple juice in the old-fashioned statuesque bottle may be a better description of the fragrance than words can do. Part of the struggle is that old-school complex masculines haven’t persisted on store shelves as well as their female counterparts. At least where I live, I can smell old-school women’s Diors, Givenchys etc at perfume counters, but for old-school masculines I have to blind buy from discounters even to try them. So it’s hard for me to put this in context - designers aren’t doing anything like this for men with their repetitive focus on specific aromachemicals, and niche/indie houses probably lack the experience, resources and market demand to go in this masculine-baroque direction. Mauboussin are in a somewhat unique position, not quite fitting in with the big designers or current niche houses, but having a deep library of older classic scents which they seem to keep in good condition in their current formulations. If you can afford the risk on a blind-bought cheapie, this is really worth a try.