Maxim's pour Homme

in general, this fragrance is pretty amazing. the fleeting opening is REALLY amazing. on the one hand this is very well blended and refined, but you could also go over the notes list here and pick out most of them. particularly I pick up on all of the top notes in the, again, very fleeting opening. the bergamot is exceptional (considering this was probably bottled 35 years ago) and the big carnation facet is truly special for fans of the note. In the fast-arriving mid, the rose is more of a sidekick to other notes, as is the clove to the sandalwood. and it's a suuuuper smooth creamy sandalwood. i even pick out the jasmine which is used carefully. i pick up cedar in random whiffs, not so much in others. in the base there's a big load of oakmoss and of course the leather, which is one of the most obvious parts of the fragrance. the leather is certainly a true black leather as opposed to a suede-y type scent, but like the other big parts it's so well blended and smooth that this fragrance never becomes brash or loud like Antaeus does in my opinion (I also don't think it would be redundant to own both). finally, the last 3 listed base notes (patchouli/musk/vanilla) almost seriously give a 'guerlainade' vibe to bring it all together. I don't agree with many of the "smells like" posts lol....Tsar? Really lol? Eh, to each their own. Globe? eh, I dunno...the leather is much different in Globe and there's no fir here. I also don't get much florals from Globe but they play a big role here. Of course, based on notes the closest thing is Antaeus. However, Antaeus is seriously in-your-face and hardcore compared to the refined and seductive Maxims, and if i was taking a woman out on a date id pick maxims over Antaeus every time. If you take the extended dry down separately, it has strong vibes of vintage Passion for men by Elizabeth Taylor and even Ralph Lauren Monogram (the prominent leather bows out to an incensey ambery dry down) On top of all of this.....this is easily found for LESS THAN $40 USD, people! I don't see how that could remain the case much longer because this is a late 80's superstar that's starting to become wider known. i first heard about this scent from Ramsey, possibly best channel on youtube to find "hidden gems" and forgotten fragrances as well as to just plain learn about perfumery. I have only a handfull of back up bottles of anything at all, but I'm seriously considering a back up very soon before prices go up. HIGHLY recommend, 8.5/10

Once upon a time, our favorite master perfumers had their career beginnings, where they would be assigned their briefs as relative newcomers. It's unlikely that we see their complete potential in these early releases, but glimmers of their prowess often shine through. Such is the case of Jean-Claude Ellena (not Ropion), who was tasked with composing the male-marketed follow up to 1984's Maxim's de Paris. Ellena would compose a lush, leathery, mossy chypre that had become de rigueur since the release of Chanel Antaeus, and while the nose can definitely trace this back to its roots, a more polished refinement follows its aggressive showstopper carnation/wet jasmine opening. The spice and aromatics simmer rather quickly to settle into a very mossy, slightly rosy, castoreum-ish leather, leaving a seductive, musky skin scent. It's more than decent!

So few fragrances--particularly masculine ones--use carnation as a dominant note anymore that this smells like very little else on the market right now; the heavy use of oakmoss, coupled with the third dominant note of leather, makes this seem even more like a blast from the past. I love this great 80s scent, although it may seem to people under 30 very old fashioned. But if you are over 30, who cares? This is old school with a vengeance, and smells dark, leathery, spicy, floral, green, and luxurious--everything you would want out of a chypre called "Maxim's Pour Homme." It would not smell at all out of place on Louis Jordan's character in "Gigi." Wear this if only to please yourself! Belle Époque glamour in spades.

Maxim's (I have the original formula) is a paradox. It's clearly a modern fougere with oriental elements, but it somehow conjures up an earlier more genteel time. The Art Nouveau packaging enhances this aura of La Belle Epoch, and the scent brings to mind images of Paris around the turn of the twentieth century. I can imagine sitting in a Parisian cafe seeing posters by Alfons Mucha and Toulouse-Lautrec ... hearing music by Debussy, Faure and Ravel ... watching the passers-by in their finery. Elegant, complex, smooth and refined are all words I'd use to describe the scent of Maxim's, and it's one I still wear regularly.

Maxim's Pour Homme is a very sexy smelling leather chypre fragrance. An elegant and very nice balsamic woody-leather scent with a really enjoyable smoky, and almost sweet floral notes; a bit like the masculine-smelling leather in Bel Ami. Although Maxim's Pour Homme can be worn for any occasion, in my opinion it is best worn for intimate moments and dates. Though it can be worn for a night out, it only radiates within an arm's length, so someone across the room will not smell you unless you walk by them or embrace them. Best worn during the cooler months of the year, day or night. 10/10

Opens with vintage-style fresh/spicy florals, that will fast be taken over by that typical leathery moss of yesteryears, and hint of animalics (musk?) that the previous reviewer has accurately spotted. The drydown is all about a soft amber, made powder-y by a beautiful patchouli. Overall soft projection. While there are unquestionably traits 80's powerhouses, 'power' here is not the right word. Because everything is soft and refined, with edges rounded, starting from the spicy carnation (which can sometimes appear sharp, but not here). This is elegance in a bottle. I'm in love.

I've been checking out Maxim's Pour Homme for several months and so far really like it. 'Mysticman's' description is apt .... this is a 'Parisian' scent in the very best way. And so how could this be named anything else? The historic Maxim's de Paris was the place of distinction for the likes of Alain Delon, Brigitte Bardot, Pierre Cardin and a host of other iconic French celebrities. The smooth potpourri of oakmoss, leather, carnation and woods amounts to an elegant and uniquely bohemian composition reminiscent of french cafe culture. C'est très magnifique!

It is a dated but beautiful blend: it does play according to the rules of the time, plenty of woody base notes after floral tops. Any further description is useless, Bigsly's reviews is very precise. As a reference, any of the 1980's classics along the oakmoss / patch league can be thought of valid references - for example, Giorgio's Beverly Hills; even though they don't smell the same one can trace points in common. In that sense, that is why it may feel dated. But still, beautiful, regardless of the nostalgia.

This fragrance is gorgeous and I cannot believe it doesn't receive more attention. Maxim's Pour Homme is a masculine woods, leather, spice and floral blend in that order. To me, it's just a very lovable well-blended scent that is perfect for a Spring or Fall evening. If you're looking for a quality gentleman's chypre, you cannot do much better than this one. Performance is solid in that it lasts 7-hours and projects moderately on my skin, which is perfect for this kind of fragrance. Cheers!

As a woman i really love this fragrance to wear myself. It's chypre, Woody, spicy with a little sweetness in it. This makes it a warm, cozy lovely scent. I have the après rasage and use it as a eau de parfum. And its strong with above average longtivity and projection even for an après rasage. Imagine how strong de eau de toilette of eau de parfum must be. So very much on my repurchase list. 😊

Today I received a bunch of vintage minis and one of them was Maxim's Pour Homme. I have heard before about its comparisons to Antaeus, but I almost could not believe that Antaeus could have a sibling who might be as beautiful as him. For me MPH is like criss cross of Vintage Antaeus and discontinued Dior's Leather Oud. Both of them are my big loves and I will try to get a bottle of MPH soon.

Can anyone recommend similar fragrances? I need a lifetime supply of this style/scent profile. It's definitely a masterpiece and I am scared to keep using my bottles. This stuff is divine. Edit: Beau de jour fills the void. Great fougere at a 'reasonable' price

Like the vintage, discontinued Opium for women but masculine. Oakmoss and carnations. Green florals. Moderate animalic. Love it, miss it. Not sure about buying more. Bigsly below has a detailed description. And I hate to admit this, but richmilton is right...

A bomb of a perfume!Total love to this fragrance,every time i use it ,it makes me feel like a god,smoky leathery,spicy,blended to the perfection,it is worth to be bought without esitations,for the manly men and for the lover of brutal fragrances.

Guys, may you keep a secret for you. This fragrance seems to be the illegitimate father of Clive Christian No. 1. Look at all those similar notes and the similar smell. But psst, keep that for you!

Castoreum not listed. Maybe it is included in the leather accord? To my nose this all a rose dancing Tango with the beaver. Other notes just the background orchestra.

Whoever created this fragrance deserves daily head for the rest of there life. whoever discontinued it deserves eternal damnation

A very nice chypre for nice gentlemen. Was a bit late to the party unfortunately.

I like to call this one "The poor man's EGOISTE" (at least on my skin, but it is not so creamy like EGOISTE of course!) although nowadays it's difficult to find and not cheap at all. Spicy and strong on the oak moss. Almost a powerhouse fragrance. Beautiful opening, but so is the drydown, which - same like to 'ezequiel91' - also reminds me of Salvador Dali pour Homme (the reformulation!). Dark green, vetiver-ish-musky with a touch of patchuli. Wonderful! This one makes me really happy!

This is a very nice fragrance; an old-world (80s) classic that dries down to a spicy, powdery-woody, and slightly incensed scent. It reminds me of V.I.P Special Reserve by Giorgio Beverly Hills, which I prefer. Since I already own V.I.P., I'm not going full bottle on Maxim's. Performance is good, it's readily available for sale, and it's reasonably priced. Recommend. (BTW, the 4.45 rating here is deceptively high. It's good, not great.)