Parfum de Peau

17. march 2014 I have finally got my hands on a vintage bottle of EDT and i also have a full size 7,5ml bottle of extrait of this wonderful fragrance. Been wearing it for the few last days and feel ready to share my opinion about htis fragrance. Let just start by saying that i know quite a lot about Claude Montana, his background and impact to fashion, so i had expectations for this fragrance to be very excessive as well as his infamous exaggerated shoulder pads and structural fashion. I hav never smelled this fragrance before (i still haven ́t unsealed my extrait bottle), except for one time when i have smelled a most probably recent formulation of it while visiting someone. Oh, it was lovely, heavy, honeyed, just the way i like them for the colder time of the year. But wearing it and smelling it from the lid are quite different things. When i smell a lid of my vintage EDT, i smell familiar fragrances that i madly love (Regine ́s, l ́arte di Gucci EDP and Moments by Priscilla Presley). They all share that vibe of a syrupy, sweet, heavy on rose/tuberose fragrance. The smell of Montana from the lid is very similar to them as well. BUT!!! When i sprayed myself quite liberately with Montana, first thing i got was relatively light soapy tuberose scent. I know, i know, notes don ́t list any tuberose for this one, but it must be a combination of blackberry, patchouli, orange blossom and narcissus i guess. And i can most certainly say that for the first couple of hours i can detect only soapy tuberose scent on myself. WHERE IS THE LEATHER???!! Not even close in here! And it also doesn ́t smell anything that i have smelled from the lid, that my favorite orchestra of notes. This stage lasts for quite long time and many hours later it starts to become more syrupy. Yeah baby! that ́s when i get that lovely "lid" scent! That ́s when i smell that beautiful rose i wanted. The honey is not listed, BUT my nose smells something like honeyed rose (same as in Gucci Arte EDP). Now i think that i might have overapplied actually with the scent, since it ́s sillage becomes more potent that in the opening. Quite a heavy one. By this time it becomes a "typical 80 ́s powerhouse". Gorgeous! I can clearly see the connection of the fragrance itself and it ́s marketing face Christelle Saint-Louis, who was one of my most favorite models in 90 ́s. She always walked quite slowly, bit lingered her steps, had that great look in her eyes and fabulous fizzy hair. Once you have seen her in motion, gracing down the catwalk in a long evening outfit, giving you THAT look and halfsmile (a hint of it), you ́ll get the idea. The Montana fragrance lingers like a trail of that fab dress, it envelopes and surrounds you, makes you want not to rush anywhere and give everyone THAT look in the eyes. Ok, the fragrance lasts on my hair for over 48hours by now, also on my skin it is very much detectable, so the lasting power is amazing (but most probably because i have applied it also SO much!). But the transformation of this fragrance doesn ́t end in here. The next day, 24hours later, is the time, when i finally smell the fabulous LEATHER. Yess! it is a thick yet soft vintage leather jacket. Quite dry leather with an amazing animalistic one. I know, no civet or anything else animalistic is listed in here, but this leather in here has that most gorgeous drydown of the Paco Rabanne ́s "La nuit" skanky undetone. I ́m totally speechless! I ebjoy it to the very last moment from the very first moment!. True, the opening was a bit dissapointing at first, but after a very short while i enjoyed it very much as well. Truly great multifaceted fragrance. I am seriously glad i have got it finally. Top rating from me for this one! P.S. Oh, did i mentioned that the bottle itself is a piece of art and absolutly magical. I SO much enjoy holding it in hands! MASTERPIECE!

(Review of an early 1990s EdT) Parfum de Peau, the Perfume of Skin, is lewd. There is a carnal, red-blooded body heat to this that will make you fan your collar. This skin that touches you has plans best left to total privacy. The opening may not fully reveal intentions as it is a pretty standard handshake and hello from the beauty in front of you. A big swirl of sparkling aldehydes, bitter and citrusy bergamot, silky peaches, watery-waxy blackcurrants and plums are natural accents to a jammy rose accord that itself is readily apparent. Spicy peppercorn is the key part here, giving an electric tingle to this handshake and introduction. Then comes the florals. This part of PdP gives me chills. It’s hair raising. The rose in this section makes it quite clear it wants you... big time. The red rose is peppery, woody, earthy, succulent fruity, and luscious to an impossible degree. The accents to this accord provide the glint to the eyes, the corners of a sultry smile, the stiffened neck and shoulders, and the warm breath on your ear. Indolic jasmine keeps the rose from going too deep and jammy, carnation adds to the fleshy density with creamy warmth, ylang-ylang the powdery exoticism of skin on skin contact, and a musky leather and civet combo that is animalic and salty and just on the right side of filth... but only barely. The amber dry down is a post-coital nestle and a cigarette. Warm beige sandalwood, gently smokey-resinous and green frankincense of which the latter descriptor is helped along by a green woody vetiver, with plenty of damp, warm and slightly dirty breath from oakmoss and civet still lingering. The dry down is the primary focus of PdP, suggesting the afterglow is the best part that should be relished for as long as possible. A notable difference between PdP and others in this vein is how quietly it wants its lascivious mood to be relayed. Unlike many other floral chypres of the era PdP will not fill the hotel room and the hallway with its carnal moans and groans, rather it wants to keep them firmly in your ear for you and only you to hear, which means that one could - in theory - wear this to the office or to informal and/or non-romantic outings but should someone get close enough to you they will probably greatly question your plutonic intentions. Parfum de Peau is a masterpiece, a brilliantly composed floral chypre capable of eliciting some of the most primal reactions. Stunning.

Marigold Rose Leather Smoke! Of COURSE there are other notes here, but these are the ones that hit me between the eyes and take no prisoners. :D Those of you who love a strong and tangy 80's rose are in for a gigantic treat. Yes, the patchouli is a definite presence - thoroughly balanced by every other perfectly blended note. Not a subtle blend of notes, or even slightly tamed. This wild beast of an animalic beauty is in the same category to my nose as two other unique scents: Animale Animale and Caesar's Woman Both of which are about as loud and proud as the animalic chypre gets! Animale has an earthy presence, reminding one of vegetal roses and ancient growing things. Perhaps more dry than Montana, with softer sillage. Caesar's Woman is sweeter than either of these, with Huge orange blossoms, brashness, and sillage. It would be truly wonderful when worn with cigarette smoke and sequins! Of the three, I feel Woman the hardest for me to wear, announcing an almost soured sweetness on my skin. For others, it's primarily floral presence might be substantially more likable. Animale is the easiest for me, with an earth-like element which somehow quiets and slightly tames the rough character of this rose. One squirt under clothing is my calming, mossy comfort scent. :D Some people really notice the civet in Animale, but I do not. Instead, I feel the Marigold and Narcissus in MONTANA are far more wild and untamed in their animalic splendor! As yet I have read few if any reviews characterizing Marigold and Narcissus (those orange and golden sirens) as anything other than floral. But when mixed with leather or other chypre notes I often sense such an amazingly strong presence of animales. My nose literally smells unbridled CIVET and Castoreum. Strong stuff indeed... Today I am wearing but one spray of Montana on wrists, and it has lent an exhilarating element to this rainy weather. I am Alive, Alert, and very, very Scented!!! Five stars for excellent sillage, longevity, presence, and a most distinctive personality. In other words - WOW. Only negatives.... getting harder to find and not to be worn around the perfume intolerant! ;)

Much to my misery, I own a reformulated Parfum de Peau. It is strong, but in a special way, STRONG with capital letters. Imagine the novice me spray liberally and i n h a l e ! Slapped in the face, punched in the nose, but I was sincerely woken up. I once put it on when going to bed and I could just not fall asleep. Parfum de Peau puts you in charge, acts on your hypothalamus and overactivates your cortex, sharpens your nerves and prepares you for a challenge. Well, do not wear it to bed, do yourself a favour! Step number one: apply less than sparingly and then yes you have a potent but tamed chypre scent, still loaded and demanding. The first to be detected are the ginger with flowers and afterwards pepper. The pepper is dry, invigorating, and I think this is what gives the impression of tons of oakmoss. There is also something winelike at the very beginning, which then gradually fades (maybe marygold). I do not see dramatic changes of the scent, I mean from now on the scent evolves very very slowly, that it seems to take a whole life, without changing too much. My skin needs a lot of time to get to terms with it, but when I do detect the basenotes, I like it, as they remind me of the basenotes in Diva, less sweet and more woody. At this point the scent (contrary to all expectations) remains just a touch of warmth, of leather, a hint of the initial fragrance but which clings faithfully for a long time. I'd rather I put it on in the evening in order to smell good in the morning, according to my taste and development on my skin (sleep permitting).

The first female scent I ever tried for myself. After a few wears, it became my signature and made me all-too-open to trying feminine fragrances. It's a masterpiece. I've gone through at least four bottles. I wouldn't call it masculine-leaning, but it's hardly feminine. On a bad day, you might find yourself smelling like celery. Fizzy, bright, and hilariously harsh green top that mellows with florals that smell less floral than they seem to sweetly coalesce with the green notes, while providing a ladder for the smoky, animalic, resinous base in the dry down. You'll go to bed feeling cozy and carnal all at once, awash in a perfectly balanced haze of amber and incense. The evolution is incredible. The longevity is fantastic. Unexpected compliments. A favorite of huggers. My mother has threatened to get it for her husband. I understand what people find confrontational about it, but there's also something confrontational about an open mouth kiss from a gorgeous woman pressing you against a car outside a party. I'm not on the waiting list to cry about it and I feel bad for anyone who is. This could easily be released as a niche unisex today, but it would also be less interesting and less daring. It's sexy, it's serious, it's faceted like a diamond and spooky as an opal. It's also frequently at discounters and generally pretty affordable even when it isn't on discount. The atomizer is the most reliable I've ever touched and the sprays are fat, wet, and pillowy like a good set of lips. I can't wait to try Peau Intense.

This is just a fabulous, sophisticated, ingenious creation in a bottle. Sparkly notes on top of sophisticated, light leather. When I was a teenager in the 80s I had two favourite designers, Gianni Versace, who needs no introduction and my very favourite, Claude Montana, whose architectural clothes on the pages of Vogue opened a window into the mysterious world of Parisian haute couture and left a lasting impression on a young teenager in a small town in the Finnish countryside dreaming of becoming a fashion designer. I remember I liked the perfume already then when it first came out in the late 80s, sampling it at the perfume counter of the local beauty shop. Reminiscing back now decades, and much life, later I recently got the new issue which is such a wearable, ambery, leathery, brightly floral that smooths down to a simply beautiful sophisticated caressing scent, right in every occasion and every weather. The bottle is a tactile delight - I can’t believe it took me this long to reacquaint myself with the delight that is Montana Parfum de Peau. If you don’t know it yet, you should. I don’t understand some of the reviews below - maybe this is one of these works with certain body chemistries only scents (I do well with dirty beasts but this, for me, is LIGHT). EDIT: I also got the later issued Peau Intense which is supposed to be more like the original (which I sadly don’t have at hand). The Peau Intense is, however, nowhere near as good as the current Peau. Somehow the nuances get buried in that issue

The 80's was an era of perfumed excesses, in the heyday of Tecno, Punk, leather and broken jeans, this decade, was born true odoriferous beasts, full of excesses that announced that with more power and wake you smell better, on Everything, decade in which they made great floral and extraordinary leathers by which many niche companies would give themselves cakes by having them in their collections. Parfum de Peau is precisely one of those eighties beasts, which develops and evolves under the concept of floral leather, leather with a lot of calendula inlaid with rose and jasmine, an animal jasmine that is felt with a spicy counterpoint but more Smoked by the drying of a powerful incense that always fits below this excellent leather. Classic evolution, with all the rich pyramidal scale of notes and more, because they are many, feels deep, rich, opulent and with a chromatic similar to that of the gay flag, good superior, because also this would be short in comparison. It reminds me a lot and that does not look like the mythical Bandit de Piguet or Rumba de Balenciaga, that yes, (PdP is less astringent and camphorated) will be because in all of these I feel an aura of nostalgia, longing and even sadness that surrounds the aroma that A pleasant sense of well-being is produced even if it is contradictory. Demodé, retro, but with a powerful aroma, exquisite, and full of extraordinary strength. Completely sensational. Rating: 9.3

When I smell this one one ,"neon-chypre" is what comes to my mind to describe this creation in one word. I can totally see Parfum de Peau worn by someone on a 1980ies disco dancefloor. The fragrance and the bottle design are somehow bizarre and iconic at the same. Smellwise and from the looks of it I would say this is one of my most unusual ones. The perfume is quite intense, with the strength of a 80ies perfume without the heavy sweetness, spice or density. It has a strong projection and lasts forever on my skin. With it's almost squeaky character, this composition will definitely get you attention, it can charm or choke your surroundings depending on the amount of sprays you use. At the right dose it's an inviting, bright, flamboyant and playfully animalic one. An exciting game of indolics vs subtle leathery, ambery oriental notes without heavy spice. I recommend this beauty to collectors that want a more femme but just as bold counterpart to Kouros, or those looking for something Bal à Versailles without the sweetness of it . While this ofcourse does not smell like the ones mentioned, it hits close to home if you love this vibe. The first version is hard to find and sold rather expensive. In my opinion the new version still has more than enough beast to thrill, there are a few subtle differences between old and new, but they kept the spirit of the original alive in the reformulation. I would say I enjoy both.

Blue edp mini Oh that big sizzling neon 80s sour electric fruity rose. Montana is a myriad of ideas thrown in a blender and served up shaken, not stirred.The star on me is the big neon damascone rose which is also found in Magie Noire and Nombre Noir.Marigold and bitter fruit opening into the sour rose with the animalic creamy leather. Its just huge, over the top , sharp edged like the leather shoulderpadded skirtsuit of the working girl of the 80s. First formula splash edt update: Not as crisp as the edp..but well rounded and a complex beauty. The sour rose push pulls against the bitter marigold and the leather with the animalics support this gigantic opus. Acvording to the insert it states: "the fresh spicy top noted are contrasted with the wooded, floral, warm and sensual base notes where musk and amber melt into the skin. Cyprus, spicy musky, avant garde." This one can last 24 hrs. Can totally see Kim Katrall in Big Trouble in Little China wearing this as well as Tramell. Modern edt formula: Lighter and brighter. I agree with reviewier Fruitidiet that Montana needs to open fresh ontop. This formulation is plenty enough for the times we currently live in. Compared to the heavier slightly bitter rich vintage..this is a nice every day option with more florals. Note: it thrives best in cooler weather

Wow. And wow again. Next to very exciting Paloma Picasso and (sadly) not yet tested Paco Rabanne La nuit vintage edp (that, at this point, out of anticipation and totally irrationally, in my imagination evolved into "Her Majesty of Divine Dirtiness"), this stuff found its way to me and became The dirtiest creation that ever entered my nose and irretrievably stirred up my mind. I am infatuated. As many already mentioned, this does not evokes leather in an obvious way and it's also not a typical (oakmoss) chypre. It's something in between which possesses best components of both groups, in addition of strong presence of fresh, aldehyde-like quality, spicy sharpness and animalic power. A bomb. The next stage is an upgrade of not so ordinary combination of notes: ginger, narcissus, jasmine plus something else my infatuated mind cannot be sure of (civet? castoreum?), but registers as where that delightful dirtiness is deriving from. Sex-bomb. Finally: rose, musk, patchouli and marigold base hold the various pieces together, making the composition firm (almost conservative), heavy and demanding, at the same time great in projection and longetivity and yes, distincly retro-smelling. Vintage 80's sex-bomb. I adore it. This is a wonderful surprise. (vintage edt)

This is to me the nicest perfume ever made. There is no other perfume like this one. Many people compare Rumba to this, as I do, and I do like Rumba, but although they share similarities, they are different. Rumba is much sweeter and stickier. The drydown of Rumba does indeed remind one very much of this perfume, although still sweeter. I find it hard to understand that someone managed to create parfum de peau. This perfume is in fact oriental but the flowers and mainly the ginger give it a really special balance. The original was better and stronger but the reformulation is still amazing and still, from my viewpoint, the nicest perfume in production. And the sillage and longevity are still very good, although the original would sweep the air. Unfortunately very hard to find these days. I do not know if they discontinued it recently. Does anyone know where to buy it online? I see it advertised in some american sites, but I do not know if it is the genuine product.

Parfum de Peau, also known as Montana de Montana, is usually described as sexy, assertive, dirty, and sultry. what a great way to describe such a complex fragrance.... I found it on my 1st trip to PARIS ..way back in 1989...at his Boutique facing Galerie Vivienne I bought Parfum de Peau ,The Savon de Bain,and mens leather gloves in his trademark Cobalt BLUE... All these years ...I never used the Savon the Bain ...I kept the Cobalt Blue Gloves wrapped gently around the soap box still in its original boutique bag. His Fragrance, as well as the Savon de bain is so amazingly well constructed and expertly made ..... that the Cobalt Gloves are now infused with the fragrance... and I wear them with great pride of rare special occasions.... I bought Parfum de Peau on Ebay ..as a treat to myself for my Birthday .. and yes, it remains the same formulation ...and if your lucky you might get a great deal on it ..like I just did ..

Montana Parfum de Peau is a Ultimate Masterpiece of the 80s and yet nothing I've smelled to this day can beat this beauty and/or even come close what can I say if you want to feel sensuous and sexy want to attract any sex this animalic leather avant-garde chypre will do its job mind you this fragrance is not for the shy or timid so if you want to feel like a Bitch or a Diva like Joan Collins was in Dynasty or someone in power Montana Parfum de Peau is what you'll need. And for the ladies and men' out there I dare and invite you to the ultimate Masterpiece of Montana Parfum de Peau you won't regret. Next to Diva, Coco Chanel, Fendi and even Magie Noire these are also unforgettable fragrances that will stand alone in time its a shame for reformulations and that they discontinued this Beauty. My personal experiences with Montana have always been Fabulous and very personal, I Love my Montana Peau Liquid Gold All Day!

Divina at Fragrance Bouquet.... I feel has the most astute and best description ... I wish I could have given ... of this Amazing Favorite Fragrance... so feel I must share a portion of what she said with you ... "Montana is a floral chypre that opens up with an overwhelming burst of pepper and cardamom, combined with juicy fruits that excite the senses and leave the nose tingling. The ginger and carnation at the perfume’s heart enhance and prolong the peppery spiciness, while rose and tuberose give the fragrance depth and substance. It is the base notes however, which turn this into a truly magical concoction: amber, cedar, patchouli, olibanum, vetiver, oakmoss, musk, civet and by far my favorite of all animalic notes, castoreum, which all blend together perfectly. I'm gasping for more in a state of addiction. Not only is Montana extremely unique and clashingly peculiar, it is also a Deviant by nature."

One of the most characteristic and charismatic perfumes I have ever used, very artistic, very femme fatale, a seductive fata morgana that rises from the magic lamp when you brush, sorry, spray the bottle. Arises with all its attraction above the surface like a sexy but dangerous nymph upheaving out of the mystic river Styx. Actually when you take a look at the ingredient list above, one would think "yeeayyy that's a fruity floral girly coctail" but it's not, it's 80s fellas, and all the women perfumes in 80s opened with a deep, thick, wall to wall covered Ambregris accord (mostly the molecule called Animalis Hypo) and this here is no exception, dusty,ambery animalic, powdery and hypnotic, I can only recommend, that you would need to train your nose to the 80s femme fatale classics (Ungaro Diva, Givenchy Ysatis, Lancome Magie Noir, Estee Lauder Knowing) before you take a try on this

I had this back in 2003 and bought a new one recently. Although it's not the 2003 one anymore, it's definitely a beautiful perfume. Strong and long-lasting. On my skin it starts off as a soap, then turns into a tuberose, then into a gorgeous orange blossom-leather smell which resembles the smell I remember from 2003, and after about 5 hours it softens to a darker leather-incense smell that lasts until you wash it off. It's like a leather smell that's becoming darker and sexier and one with the skin as time goes by, which I appreciate as my problem with most fragrances on me is that they tend to stink if I wear them for a long time, especially fruity ones. Very well made, very sexy, very expensive-smelling. Pre-reformulation it was slightly more feminine and more of a comfort smell for me, and now it's definitely more on the sultry side, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Nigels, in the new version the leather and animalic vibe are not so strong. The real leather, incense and animalic notes you can have only in the vintage, they are almost pungent. The vintage version is amazing, I think is the strongest, long lasting and pungent EDT I have ever smelled. Anyway, both versions are very good but for sure, the vintage is different, stronger, lasts forever on skin or clothes. A truly masterpiece, I have few bottles, 2 of them vintage and full and I am looking to stock it for the time when it will be discontinued...The reformulation is one of the best ever made I mean the scent is almost the same - except the animalic and leather, tamed in the new, also the lasting. But it s a very good one, comparing with the Dior disasters for instance (Dolce Vita, Dune etc) Parfum de peau is 95% the same!

Sultry, spicy, leathery, musky and yet fresh scent that immediately triggers off the images of an American Wild West with all its prairies, mustangs, rodeos and cowboys with their lassos and saddles always in hand to use...Pervasive odour of untamed emotions and headstrong feelings. The smell of passion; fizzy, sparkling, nipping, boozy, multifaceted, full bodied and complex in its country lyrics. Sun, sand and more sun- looks like there has been a storm on the sun that changes electromagnetic field of the earth ...with consequences here upon de facto... What is life without a little drama?!!! De-Lovely and de luxe! Electric like a summer lightning ! It never fails to charge me with energy. Absolutely stunning fragrance ! Just adore it!!! And this bottle...,the bottle is divine- the staircase to Heaven!

This takes me right back to my childhood. I grew up in a spiritual family, and on saturday afternoons I regularly would go shopping with my mom. We always visited some spiritual stores, where they sold lots of incense. When you open that door, a gentle mixture of all the scents would come and bring instant relaxation. In Montana PdP I found that scent once again! I never knew what made that store smell so good (nag champa? sandelwood? or just, 'everything'?). Now I have it and I'm so happy! Although it's a mini, I love it a lot. The soft, clean suede like leather, warm spices and a touch of some ginger make this such a wonderful scent. A scarfscent in autumn and winter, but perfect with a light hand in warmer types of weather too. Would definitely buy again!

"A fragrant whisper of passionate, pure femininity. From the satiny spirals of the bottle, a luxurious and magical universe unfolds, an intimate and sensual fragrance created by the designer like a dress, designed to blend seamlessly with the skin & the body. The fresh and fruity notes of ginger, birch and vetiver unfold, revealing warm nuances of musk, amber & leather. Parfum de Peau belongs entirely to the woman who wears it." Translated from a 80's italian ad! 🇮🇹 I absolutely adore this perfume. It smells like a catholic cardinal spilt a glass of fruity liqour on a leather couch, then sat in the puddle. His frankincense drenched robes & his warm butt activated the fragrant aroma! I mean this in the best way possible!