Parfum d'Elle

01.august. 2014 My review goes for a vintage (probably one of the original editions) EDP spray, which comes boxed in a beautifully unfolding outer box, leaflet inside and inner box for perfme bottle. The list of ingredients is short: sd-alcohol, 39-c, water, fragrance. First of all i would like to say that i have been checking the notes and reviews before purchasing it for a long time and i wasn ́t sure if the combination of tuberose, bergamote, oakmoss, melon and ginger sounds really my way so i always thought it wouldn ́t be a safe blind buy and i didn ́t want to waste money on something that sounds so weird. When i got a chance to purchase this magnificent perfume on a huge discounted price i thought why not and i am surely glad i did! The bottle is a piece of art for sure!!! It is very magical and even more abstract than the "Parfum de peau" from Montana, which also have a fabulous bottle which is a pleasure to hold in hands. I have sprayed it one time onto my forearm and here is my impression. OK, i agree whith many of below revievers who say that it opens up quite strange and even unpleasant maybe for some. I can smell the citrusy melon in the opening, mixed with a heliotrope and LOTV notes. So this indeed may smell not good on everybody. Me too was thinking at first that it would be hard for me to wear this fragrance if at all. So my impression is that the most dominant notes in opening are: melon, heliotrope, ginger and LOTV. I don ́t smell a lot of citruses in the opening, as some of you (maybe it gioes only for reformulated version?). I even wondered about the tobacco note - where is it and if it even for real in here when approximately after a 1,5 hour it began to show in the composition. It is quite doft and not something that turns the whole frgrance into masculine or stinky one, but it indeed adds a very interesting accent to the smell. On this stage it begins smelling like a niche fragrance (floral-tobacco niche anyone??). Actually that ́s when it begins to turn into pleasant fragrance right up to my alley. Still no sign of tuberose or oakmoss... Now, 4 hours later this is a pure magic! Finally i smell a leather and tuberose soaked in honey. Yes, i know, no sign of leather in the note, no honey either, but one thing i can tell for sure: the drydown of this fragrance smell almost the same as the "Parfum de peau" but just bit more honeyed. Now this is an old school chypre which is sublime. It is so strange how one fragrance can change so much from a citrusy-melony with no sign of oakmoss to a magnificent chypre drydown. Such a verstile composition! Judging this fragrance by the notes voted would be a mistake, since different notes are indeed dominant on different stages of development. Don ́t be fooled by those votes. I agree that this one is a late bloomer and developes beautifuly. I also agree that it is weird in the opening and might scare you off. And i agree on the great silllage and lasting power specifics of this potion - they are exceptional! OK, one thing is that i would like to add is the lines that are written on the box about this perfume: "Warm, sparkling, pungent, unique, enveloping Parfum d ́elle, an invisible array of radiance. Hymn to pleasure and to space: a perfume with an aura of elsewhere. Spicy, fruity, exotic floral aromes which blossom out over wooded, dense, honeyed (!!!!) and ambered undertones: Parfum d ́Elle by Claude Montana" I think these lines sum it up very well. And indeed a honey accord is mentioned, so i guess it is not my imagination only. Would love to try the EDT version as well.

To be honest I expected something entirely different from Montana. Maybe because my first Montana experience was Just Me, which is in a totally different realm. It took me a while to figure out what it really smells like because on me it is citrus on top of citrus and some soapy notes. Plus I tested it first simultaneously with other fragrances and my nose was too overwhelmed. After looking at the top notes, I can see that it is indeed citrus overload. After about 15 minites I get a hint of sweetnes which is probably vanilla, but this is it. It is not unpleasant, but it is just bizzare. When i think how I feel about it, I just go blank: not elegant, not happy, not loud, even the sitrus notes get so quiet, that you can't even categorize it as citrusy. Here is the closest comparison: if you know how the smell of grass after your law has been cut- that's d'Elle. I will try to wear it outside of the house...maybe something will change. Edit: It does warm up with amber and vanilla after about 30 minutes and becomes quite interesting and.....yes, elegant. Looks like this perfume has a very delayed developing. One thing you can't take away from it: its great sillage and complexity. I can return this bottle, but I am going to keep it, after 1 hour its quality won me over. Also keep in mind that I am a fan of heavier perfumes, so for someone who prefers lighter scents but the ones with good projection, this perfume maybe the most heavenly scent in the world.

In Chandler Burr's The Emperor of Scent, Luca Turin mentions Parfum d'Elle as he smells it coming from a woman walking by: "That's so strong, almost pure beta-damascone." Upon reading this, I just had to check it out. Of course, the Serge Mansau-designed bottle is something else—and it turns out, the fragrance does match it. It is true that it seems to have a lot of beta-damascone, a powerful rose ketone that has a complex bouquet of deep rose, plum, dark berries, red wine, and moist tobacco. In Parfum d'Elle, this is set against a backdrop of rich fruitiness, including a ripe melon and citrus. The floral heart is amorphous, in that classic "c'est du parfum" sensibility, somewhat green, somewhat yellow, somewhat white. This abstract floral stage grows more honeyed over time, and just a wee (pun intended) bit pissy. From all that dark and delicious fruity floral flair, the surprise comes in there being such a mossy chypre base and musky deliciousness. The dry down is sexy. I would argue this is just as phenomenal as Parfum de Peau, though not quite as heady and animalic. In contrast, there is an agreeable translucency to Parfum d'Elle that adds to its intrigue. Note that there is a 2002 version that is an entirely different composition.

I recently found a full bottle of this in a limited edition 120ml seashell shapped oval bottle still with the box in a tobacco shop stocking a range of rare discontinued scents of all places in Union Square Sanfrancisco. I have always wanted a bottle of this and gladly paid the mere $35 to have this precious bottle. To me this is a best of the 90s scent, its a woody, golden-yellow floral but it has a by the seaside salty note (kind of like that in CK Escape) and summer notes of melon and bright ylang-ylang and peach. It is kind of like a strange mixture of all the classic 90s yellow florals with a honey-powder base, it reminds me of New West or even a bit of EA Sunflowers (which I actually don't like) but somehow it works. It also has a herbaceous green mossy note which gives it an earthy sourness.

Montana parfum d'elle was quite a surprise, pretty soft honeyed woods balsamy with fruits and tobacco absolutely a summery scent that lingers somewhat skinscent to me.. Very nice and smooth not loud like my signature Montana Parfum de Peau which I absolutely adore with that said... It opens kinda citrusy then the tobacco, tonka bean, ginger Oakmoss and melon wraps you then it mellows into a woodsy notes that melts with a little honey just right! Totally different from her twin sister Montana Parfum de Peau but equally masterful!

Completely beautiful!!! It's such a wonderful mixture, so complex and enriching. A fabulous beginning, of delicious fresh sweet ginger and tingly citrus, and then beautiful tuberose and yang-ylang, gorgeous delicate lily-of-the-valley - sweet and ethereal - and a divine fresh woody hyacinth, which goes on and on delightfully, and the dry down of gorgeous romantic sweetness from vanilla, tonka, cedar and divine tobacco!!! Oh it's completely delicious and wonderful!!!!! Absolutely gorgeous. I adore it!!!!

This perfume is a real late bloomer! Here I am standing at the post office 3 hours after I put it on and thinking oh, wow, somebody smells so nice. I look around and there is no one around, then I sniff my wrist...and it's me! It even lasted through an hour of severe boot camp!The drydown is the best part of d'Elle. I am glad I decided to keep it!

This is a truly floral fruity leather fume.Some i have smelled it on was delicious!On me it is pleasant but not long lasting nor strong.I would say its LOvely,just not on my skin chemistry.But, I tried it again and it was totally different.Rich,heady and unique.Now one of my favs.Give it time and test more than once.

amazing... Just like the other Montana product. It is distinct, deep, multi-faceted, serious, misterious. Just beautiful. The 2 nd edition is far from this one ( it is totally something else) but good too.

Amazing fruity-chypre-woody creation, unique and complex. Would be great of Fragrantica will put his creator in the description: Patrick Jantzen, and bottle design Serge Mansau. 💛✨

A lovely surprise this one! I bought a mini of this. I guess it was never opened, as I had to prise off the cap to get to the juice. It opens with a powerful blast that immediately reminded me of or for better words was almost identical to the start of Montana Just Me: syrupy tropical fruit (mostly pineapple as in Just Me although not listed), heady hyacinth mixed with leather and a touch of oakmoss. Oakmoss is an ingredient tend to avoid, here it's subtle and smooth and only slightly bitter. I would say the opening is more leathery than mossy. The heart of the fragrance is a completely different affair as if Parfum d'Elle had changed her mind and become somebody else. The main theme is clean, a bit soapy but altogheter fresh and spicy floral affair, that you'd find in bittersweet nineties florals like Claire Nilang. It's slightly sweeter too, floral sweet due to the lily of the valley. It also develops an underlying woodiness. It finishes off very subtle, the florals left are slightly herby and woody with a tiny hint of spicy vanilla undertone. The drydown reminds me of Envy for Men (my brother in laws signature scent) as they do share a few notes (tobacco - vanilla - amber - leather). Actually, if you take away the mossiness and keep the leathery tones that are still present, the two are almost identical. Parfum d'Elle isn't masculine though, it simply gives it a soft, oriental feel. A real 90s masterpiece, typical of it's era, shame it's so hard to find. It's almost a chameleon, with three distinct facets, that either play solo or decide to morph into each other and play together. To sum up, a fresher, lighter or daylight version of Just Me, a true fruity chypre with a wee bit of masculin, leathery edge.

I first read about this perfume on a blog and was intrigued by the glowing review of the drydown. Bought blind on eBay as no samples were available. What can I say? I'm on the fence about this one. It's so unusual...Very green at first and I don't like the scent until the top notes disappear. Not a huge fan of the heart notes either; on my skin I get more of the rosewood smell which is odd. Later on the drydown smells quite nice - nice powdery and floral which is quite elegant. I don't know if I like it enough to wait for the drydown all the time but it's a good scent to pull out for a change of pace from the usual.

6.8/10 - Thought it was a failed blind buy at first but about a year later I actually find this very pleasant, albeit slightly vintage- its turned into a sherbert lemon on my skin, bright, fresh and and full of character. On clothes, still projecting a day later, for the money this is a proper perfume. My brothers and boyfriend don't mind it, I wouldn't buy again because I'm discovering I prefer more serious gourmand or darker scents. Don't seem to get the tobacco note but hear a lot of others do.

Juliete Hardy ( Brigitte Bardot ) in ...And God Created Woman

Wow, the two formulations are SO different, but both are very strong! The 1990 version is much more of a classic style perfume, the top notes are briefly soapy, the citrus and ginger is minimal, and the heart is dominated by the floral notes, although the ylang note itself is submissive. The base is full of oakmoss and does have a muskier feel to it as nyoka and Malegria each mentioned below. The new/current reformulated version is loaded with zesty citrus and ginger. It is much fresher, and much less floral. The heart is mostly ylang-ylang with citrus and ginger. The dominant base note is tobacco, but vanilla and cedar do begin to emerge. The current version has a similar feel to it as Salvatore Ferragamo pour Femme. If you like the style of that chypre-fruity, you will probably like this one too. Although, the spiciness in this fragrance originates with the ginger, so it has a cleaner, less complex feel, and a slightly powdery base from the vanilla.

this has all of my favorite notes in it; I thought for sure I would love this blind buy; but alas! It seems body chemistry has a far greater role to play than previously thought for this creation. I guess this makes me one of the few people who don't like Montana.

Unreal that my review would be the first, but I am pleased and proud to sing the praises of this scent as it has been a favorite of mine for years and I own it in both the original and in the reformulated version. The current version catches you with a whiff of the freshest ginger root mingled with zesty citrus. The tuberose is dscreet and bows to the Ylang in the hearts and the basenotes are dominated by the tobacco note which is a less sweet tobacco than I have found in many other scents. The vanilla does not temper this one which is balanced by the oakmoss. The fragrance is definitely not a sweet girly scent but a sultry one. Spicy from the ginger, but not in a candy coated or clovy way. There is something unique about this one as it stays so far from a sugary fruity feel. It is a sophisticated citrus and not entirely feminine. Men would find the tobacco in this one easy to wear and the florals hushed and close to the skin. I don't know of anything like Parfum d'Elle. I've stocked up!

My favorite Montana's perfume. Less known than Parfum de peau but more wearable. Yes, Parfum d'elle is easier to wear but it still have the distinctive touch of Montana's style. I can see the parenty between Parfum de peau, Parfum d'elle and Just me. A kind of perfume's designer trilogy. More memorable compare to Or, Argent and cuivre that were assez ordinaire.The bottle design by Serge Mansau is a real piece of art and fit so well with the ''architectural'' Montana's fashion.

Parfum d`Elle is a multifaceted creation, playful as a Persian cat.First spray was very blatant - melon and rose ( I know there is no rose but it sure smelled like it!) I noticed that it posessed a certain fruity skankiness, the same is in Montana`s Just me.Soapy, cloying....but I judged too fast. It develops into a light musky veil with a tint of ylang and oakmoss, clean and elegant. I am very grateful for this metamorphose!

It intrigues me that this is so cheap in the aftermarket, especially as it has notes that are becoming trendy again. I have the EdT, and it’s gentle and soft but not toothless. Melon is often a deal breaker for me, but here in lightens the proceedings and makes it very fresh and wearable. Excellent. Snap it up before it goes up.