Fougeres Marines

I bought Fougeres Marines simply because I read how close this is to Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger. This is also my first experience with Montale as well. Tommy is one of my all time favorite fragrances. I even have 5 back up bottles of the original formulations when they were made in Switzerland and the early NYC production dates pre-2010. I was surprised by how small the Montale bottles are. For some reason they looked like a can of hairspray online, but they are small. The bottle is also a very thin and light-weight aluminum. You cannot see inside the bottle to detect how much liquid is inside and the bottles do not come filled to the top and because it is so light, it almost feels empty in hand. I feel this presentation cheapens the experience and comes across as inferior quality to a thicker glass bottle. The sprayer has no cap, like CK One flankers. Moving on to the scent itself, it DOES smell like Tommy. The closest thing you will ever get to Tommy. This does smell great but IMO, Tommy smells better, especially in the dry down. Montale does not seem to last longer or project much better than current Tommy formulation however. Perhaps, my bottle needs to macerate. If this changes, I will update my review, but so far I would advise you to save your money and just buy Tommy.

I like it. It’s one of the few Montale scents that works for me and doesn’t have one of the typical few drydown formulas Mintale regularly uses. Sweet lavender mostly for me with a slight salty marine vibe on top brightened with vetiver. patchouli to darken it a tad. Comments here saying it’s missable and an 80’s / 90’s retro generic reproduction are NOT unwarranted. The performance regarding Sillage is under par for what it also should be but ironically again I forgive it. (If you read my reviews you would also realise that Montale is one of my pet loathes as a brand). So why do I like it - it’s simple, natural, well crafted (bar Sillage) and just the right amount of refresh for not horrendous money. I also have and class as similar Gendarme EDP, Pierre Guillaume Aqaysos, Mad et Jules Aqua Sextius, Lab on Fire Almost Transparent Blue and Norne Grev. All similar but justifiable to own as they are all different enough - clean refreshing scents - but they cost more and are funnily enough too in your face (not that that is a bad thing) - sometimes you just want that little personal pick me up that lasts a while in summer - this will do it nicely for me...

This is like if Creed had released Tommy in 2000 instead of Hilfiger/Lauder in 1994. I don't smell Fougères Marine as a "clone" of Tommy so much as an alternate universe version of this fragrance, a universe in which Tommy Hilfiger never released their signature masculine, and Creed released this instead—and called it Fougère Marine instead of Herbe Marine. It smells a cut above Montale in quality and composition. Certainly not very "Montale-like" in character. Instead, it's shimmery, bright, rich, yet also kinetic, buoyed by the air around me as I wear it. Imagine Tommy but greener, woodier (a solid vetiver core) and with a sizable synthetic ambergris accord (Cetalox, Precyclemone B) married to its flourishes of sweet apple and fresh laundry musks. Fougères Marine is easily one of the more gorgeous fragrances in my collection, undeniably well done and easy to wear. Backup bottle-worthy. Even my fiancée likes it, and she doesn't like anything.

This one here put the absolute biggest smile on my face the moment I smelled it! If you are a fan of the original "Tommy" by Tommy Hilfiger, then you need to have this in your collection! Waves of nostalgia hit me like nothing before when I first sprayed this, it instantly takes me back to first year high school in 1997 when Nintendo 64 was brand new and I was playing games on it non stop. This actually smells better than Tommy ever did, the quality here is just awesome! I am definitely curious now to try more from this house, but for now this is hands down one of my best blind buys ever made. This is practically a time machine in a bottle and damn does it smell great, almost had me getting all emotional with how spot on it is, but niche quality. Just simply in love with this stuff. Highly recommended as a blind buy even if you're not familiar with Tommy. This is what you call a timeless scent, my personal favorite from the 1990’s.

Okay I’m seriously starting to believe that Montale’s older releases simply focused on the legends of 90s & 00s in an effort to create niche company versions. Wood and Spices (2005) - undeniable similarity to Nikos Sculpture (1995) Santal Wood (2012) - A failed attempt (?) to create CH 212 Men (1999) And this, Fougeres Marines (2007) - similar to Tommy - Tommy Hilfiger (1995) and a maybe a bit vibes from Higher - Dior (2001). The scent is very good though, immediate throwback to teenage years, Millenium, and youth. Very different from most Montale’s known nowadays, and again I think the company made a sharp turn with Oud becoming the thing in western perfumery. If performance satisfies, may consider a full bottle, mainly because of nostalgic feelings it triggers. But currently I’d go for Tommy Hilfiger hands down given the price difference and not much value added.

Just came to confirm what’s already been stated... YES!!! This stuff takes you straight back to 1997. The peak of the Tommy craze! The good times in life when us 41-47 year old men were in jr high and high school chasing tail. The halls and classrooms REEKING of Tommy Hilfiger and adolescent B.O. Obviously this stuff is higher quality and lasts a lot longer as it should. The first few mins I get some sort of minty vibe that I’m not too crazy about, but it only lasts a few mins. Then the Tommy kicks in. After that it stays fairly linear throughout. I see some say it’s been discontinued but it appears to still be on the official Montale website. If you were a Tommy boy back in the day you need this in your life.

Do you miss the old feeling you got when you smelled your old bottle of Tommy in the 90s and you just don’t get that same feeling anymore with your new bottle? Well this is it. This has that old magic. This will stimulate those old memories and take you back to the late 90s when life was so much sweeter and carefree. This actually has that all American apple pie accord that the original formulation of Tommy had. To top it all off it lasts all day and projects for hours. If you loved Tommy in the 90s just buy this right now. This is the perfect 24/7 365 signature scent. Excellent 10/10

Upon the initial Spray I was instantly taken back to the late 90's/early 2000's when my older brother wore Tommy as his signature scent. Back when it was much fuller and stronger of a scent. What a pleasant surprise! This is quite literally niche Tommy. It has good performance as is, but I'm a performance junkie so I layer it over Molecule 02! What a great combination it is, and I highly recommend this to anyone who loves Tommy.

My general opinion is that Montale is a marketing house pushing their own fragrance line with a fairytale about a Monsieur Montale who never exsisted. BUT.They from time to time actually DO release some really good stuff. Intense Pepper and Fougeres Marine are good examples. FM is bright, optimistic, uplifting and fairly natural smelling. Reminds me of the original Tommy Hilfiger. I love this juice.

This is by far my favorite from Montale. I dont know if this was purposely done or sheer luck but this is a spot on reincarnation of the preformulated Calvin Klein Escape from the 90s. A scent that was my signature all through high school. Glad I can wear this now and not feel like I'm stuck in the 90s..not that it was a bad thing 😂😂

This is a 90’s throwback fragrance, and in the best way possible. This is a better quality, 1:1, version of Tommy Hilfiger. I recognized this scent as soon as I sprayed it. I had to go back and smell the OG, to find that although this is a clone, it is better in every way. Very impressed with this, and I will always sing its praises.

Just picked this up. Concensus is that this smells a lot like Tommy by hilfiger and I have to agree. Basically the same thing but louder and a couple of the floral notes have been amped up. Lovely fragrance. Was able to get a bottle for sixty bucks. If you’re strapped for cash get Tommy because it’s very similar. Great summer scent.

Tommy Hilfiger, Tommy Intense? An amped up ,Tommy, plus noticeable Oakmoss and 'green' accords. The 'Marine' accord isn't salty or seaweed like. It has similarities to, Calvin Klein, Escape with the 'green' accords and sour, fruit mash accord. If you love Tommy, but, wish it were heavier and lasted all day, get this!

This is Tommy on steroids. I'd say it smells 95% similar. However, the sillage and longevity are ridiculous (in the best way). I sprayed one spritz and my entire apt smells like it, nor can I get the smell out of my nose. It's a beast. Great price for a niche but designer type scent.

I couldn’t wait to get this after Ross from tltg said it smelled like tommy. I always loved tommy and was my go to in the late 90!s. At first spray the biggest smile came to my face because there it was in a more potent way. So happy I found this and might have to stock up

A fresh breeze. Im 1 of the few that actually likes it.this was my first montale purchase in 2007. Always got compliments.has like a mineral, seaweed and light lavender vibe..

Smells like mint and the Ocean. Last for ages and projects very loud. I only need 2 sprays wearing this. It's a 😍. Cheers

Really love this ... Smells so fresh clean and warm at the same time.. Good for all year long! Great to pair it as well.

Tommy with better performance, nuff said.

I recieved a sample of this and tried it out all today. I immediately recognized the opening as a 90’s scent but couldn’t quite place it. In the heart it gets a little minty, I assume it’s the patchouli. Kinda smells like Creed’s Viking with a hint of clove. It doesn’t project far at all. Kinda stays close to the skin. Nice though. Then I sprayed it again on my hand after work and it hit me. Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger. Dead on. If you sample this and like it, I would recommend saving your money and buying a $20 bottle of Tommy and layering it with Dua Scarlet Warrior (inspired by Creed’s Viking) for $45-$60 deepening on discount code going. I already own Tommy.l for nostalgic purposes, so I won’t be buying a bottle of this. It’s nice though and I recieved a compliment in the first hour. This is around $80-$120 per bottle so try before you buy. 6.5/10 for me.