Présence d'une femme

Soft Woody-Floral BRAZILIAN ROSEWOOD with Pepper, Mandarin & Orchid... In the first few minutes before the spray dries, I can feel the rosewood notes with their rich floral and slightly spicy tones. Once the spray dries and the sillage starts to open up, I get the mandarin & pepper, but the rosewood notes are already swelling through. As it transitions to the heart some soft floral tones emerge with orchid and cyclamen, but the florals, including vanilla-flower, are here more as part of the rosewood accord. In the base there's a trio of woods (rosewood, mahogany & sandalwood) accented by patchouli & soft vanilla-flower. Overall I get a rosewood scent, with all of the other notes serving to enhance and support different facets of rosewood with it's powdery, rosy, velvety, rich-floral, spicy-sweet,creamy-soapy & woody tones. There's also a nostalgic quality for me, that's hard to pinpoint - but more in a down-to-earth way than a vintage perfumery way. This has been a signature scent of mine off and on, since it first came out, and I've been through more than one bottle. Initially this struck me as feminine, however after reading reviews I can see how this may read masculine to some as it has some touches usually reserved for men's cologne. In truth, it's unisex, but regardless anyone could wear it. This isn't a dupe of anything, but it has reminders for me of other rosewood prominent scents like Dune Dior, Rosewood Banana Republic & Midnight Fleur Nest. Contrast to Rosewood Banana Republic: These are different, but there are similarities with a forward rosewood. Presence d'une Femme leans spicier, sweeter & more complex. Roughly equivalent performance, or slightly better for Presence d'une Femme. Overall: gorgeous, unisex Brazilian Rosewood scent profile with average or slightly above average performance. This is the perfect scent to wear for going home, if only in your mind. It's a longtime love for me. Enjoy!

I first fell in love with this frag in 2002 just watching the bottle: a round shaped silver base, the transparent round glass...it reminded me of a pebble, and it was really pleasant to keep in your hand. superb design, innovative, classic and sophisticated. That’s what I though about the scent when first spritzed it: sophisticated. An elegant, but decided woman that is classic yet sensual, mysterious and irresistible. This perfume is never overpowering, it opens with a fresh scent that blends with tangerine. Then it reveals a modern floral bouquet, and I find the dry down irresistible: powdery, a little oriental, sexy and very very delicate and clean. Stays on all day. Enrobes you with sensuality. A delicate vanilla patchouli with a balsamic woodiness. Some reviewers in other blogs have written about pineapples notes – I have used 3 bottles of this fabulous fragrance without noticing any pineapple note. Then I went to check the actual pyramid (see below) and it turns out that only the leaves of pineapples were used, not the fruit.. :o) I always receive many compliments when wearing that. _____________________________________________ Pyramid: Top note: Pineapple leaf, tangerine, pepper Middle note: Cyclamen, orchid Base note: sandalwood, rosewood, vanilla flower, patchouli

One of my favourite types of fragrances is the woody feminine ones some people find unisex. This was released in 2002 and so was I. The bottle is cool and edgy, quite modern looking. It reminds me of the "Aqva" line by Bvlgari but this one is flattened at the end which allows it to be stored upright. It is also quite compact and lightweight. "Présence d'une femme" is a perfect blend of juicy, woody, fresh and floral. The fragrance manages to be woody and feminine at the same time. I would not say it leans masculine in the way "Stash" by SJP does. The wood here is creamy, powdery and warm. The mandarine orange is juicy and the pepper is subtle. There is a hint of orchid in the background. It is quite refreshing for such a woody, warm fragrance. It is pretty strong in the beginning and lasts about 6 hours with one touch-up. I recommend spraying this on your shirt because the scents sticks to fabric for much longer. I can also smell it on my hair for a long time. However, the ridiculously low price compensates for the average longevity. I am blown away by how good this stuff is. A budget friendly masterpiece. I see it reminds some people of "Reveal" by CK and I guess it makes sense although they are pretty different. To me, this is more like a cousin of "Euphoria".

This was a blind buy for me in my hunt for my next signature fragrance. I tend to like the warmer fragrances, and Burberry Women was my go to for years. After that was Tonka by Reminiscence. This one starts with a powerful and "In your face" opening and then dries down to a sweet, warm, and skin close scent. Overall a good pick just buying based on the notes and the reviews. I wish this was a bit stronger on the base, as that is my favorite part of this fragrance. But it's not a big deal to reapply since the opening is very brief and quickly dries down to the part I love the most. The opening is a very strong, but pleasant and brief, Orange peel and pepper (more orange than pepper). Kinda like peeling an orange and the oils the peel leaves behind on your fingers. As it's drying a soft floral scent which is neither too sweet nor too feminine. Base is very nice mahogany and a soft, sweet, and warm vanilla scent. Not an offensive fragrance, in my opinion, and the base could actually afford to be stronger. This one sits close to the skin for me once it dries and I find myself re-applying once around mid-day. Could definitely be used as unisex, but as I am a very big fan of "masculine" scents, I'm keeping this for myself!

The bottle is so ugly I had to decant into an empty bottle. I personally feel that the bottle isn’t a good representation of the scent. While the bottle looks like it’s straight out of Dune or from some other Sci-Fi/Fantasy, the scent smells classy and sophisticated. I would say that out of all the perfumes in my collection, this is my top choice for a classy, everyday perfume that still radiates warmth. It’s not too loud or flashy, and can be dressed up or kept casual. First and foremost this is a spicy perfume. But not an “autumn spices” type of way. The pepper jumps out at me the most. I also get a slight rose note in the opening. As this wears the rose becomes distant in the background and I get a lot of warm woods, still backed by the pepper. This is a lovely perfume. I know it’s marketed towards women but I (a woman) would LOVE to smell this on a man. I can confidently say this is unisex, slightly feminine leaning. But smelling this on a man would be such a nice change from all the colognes that seem to smell the same these days...

This is utterly gorgeous. I went to a local perfume shop and asked for something woody, spicy--nothing gourmand or little girl sweet, nothing with white florals. She didn't even need to think a moment, and pulled out Présence d'une femme. Wow, it was perfect, exactly what I've been looking for. My skin *loves* woody and spicy, and this really works for me. It's elegant and yes, a little masculine, but still shades into the feminine. I see it's classed as Oriental Vanilla, but it doesn't work that way for me--it's woody aromatic. For me, it's warm, sexy, alive, just barely sweet (which I like) and not overpoweringly strong (though I don't go overboard with it). This might possibly be my favorite perfume. I'd wear it every day, but I like switching around a bit too much. Still, I pull it into rotation very often. Today is a day for it. If you like something that's not candy-sweet or vanilla-heavy, give this a try. I definitely recommend sampling before buying, because I think it's a scent you either love or hate. Me, I love it.

So interesting to me that many comments here describe this scent as masculine or unisex! I get the complete opposite response when I wear it. And on me, it turns heads, strangers stop me in the street to compliment my scent (men and women) , men approach me closely to whisper how lovely and feminine i smell. My loved ones have been nuts about it. A gay male friend of mine with a good nose and impeccable taste, described it as "the scent of simply clean, warm, feminine skin". I adore it, it's the only fragrance I'm comfortable with any time of the day no matter what the situation or mood, that's just ME. And I'm a bit oversensitive to perfume especially early in the morning. Heartbroken that it seems entirely unavailable since a long time, and would be so gratefull for ANY tip on where I can find it now! I suspect it's been taken out of production, the last time I got a bottle, my friend found it at the airport in Mexico and had people running between shops and storages to dig up a single bottle. That's true friendship :)

I think this one is unique, special. Although nobody says it and in his notes it does not appear, it smells like tea to me. A tea with mild spices, somewhat woody, with a hint of citrus and a few drops of vanilla. I see that many think that it leans to the masculine side, but for me it's more in the middle, inclined to the feminine side. I didn't like it the first time I smelled it but since I already had it (it was a blind buy) I gave it more opportunities ... and I fell for it. Now every time I use it I really do enjoy it. It's long lasting and has moderate sillage. It's my SOTD, and 8 hours after having applied it (generously) I still can clearly perceive it. And I find it very versatile, suitable for use all year round, day or night (except maybe in the hottest days of summer). I really love it and can't believe how affordable it was. As soon as I finish it, if it's still available I will buy it again, for sure.

What is wrong with me? I am SUCH a sucker for masculine/woodsy fragrances! Reminds me of D&G L'Amoureux; very bold, very sexy yet unconventional and sophisticated. Funny thing about this one: All I got from it was warm woods and a little pepper but when I asked my husband about it he said : "Hm, I don't know, it's a little too much vanilla for my taste." How weird is that? It's a great scent, surprisingly well executed and definitely something I'd consider purchasing. It has definite unisex qualities to it and the only REAL criticism I have is in regards to its name, which, in my opinion, is misleading. It's a straight-forward, bold, "balls-y" fragrance that does not exude much femininity, but rather captivates the essence of a strong (-willed) woman. Good sillage, matches the personality of the scent - not too overpowering but definitely demanding attention.

I've worn this in the past being only "sweet" 19 (I'm 28 now) and felt so grown up :) It was a gift of my mom. She herself received it as a gift but wasn't really into it so lucky me! I've ordered it again a few days ago and it finally arrived. It's soft and classy but edgy and fun at the same time. The perfect combination of feminine and masculine notes: peppery, woody, patch and a little flowers and fruit. Fresh and at the same time warm. I'm seeing a scheme here with my taste: I also love Chance, Dune... For me they also have these characteristics. I've had Lovely by SJP as my signature for a very long time but from now on this will be it. I'm so happy to have this in my collection again and hope that they won't discon' it anytime soon!

Boy oh boy, Mont Blanc does not disappoint! Their creations are of a sophisticated, rich smelling kind, and this is not the exception. I'll be completely honest: this was a crazy crazy purchase because I knew nothing about it, so it was completely blind. I am so glad I took the risk and went rogue buying it without even knowing anything about it because it is sooo good! It is carefully woody (well blended). It was crafted with expert and exquisite taste and detail. It smells expensive but it's not. Nobody talks about it and nobody knows about it, so I feel like a fortunate secret keeper. This is my fourth Mont Blanc. I also own Signature, Lady Emblem Elixir and my latest gem along side this one: Individuelle. Lord am I fortunate.

This is my latest blind buy and OMG yes! I fell head over heels for it. This is a floral wood-vanilla combo. A bit aromatic too. I get a soft Chamomile Tea aroma all the way, so unique. The opening is a blast of Mandarin and pepper. As it dries down I get a delicate floral aromatic scent and finally, it settles down on a woody vanilla base that my skin seems to love. People are very occupied by the masculine or feminine aspect of it. Do not! This is simply an amazing scent, round, well constructed, unique, elegant and not for the faint-hearted. I picture a strong and confident person wearing this fragrance. Also long lasting - 6 sprays lasts for 8 hours on my skin and longer on clothes. Sillage is reasonable. I am in love ❤️

This is nice and a bit different to the usual commercial fragrances. A lovely citrus wood combo. This would be nice to wear on a summer evening. It would be perfect for wearing in the office. Feminine but to be respected. As you would expect the orange is very evident from the word go. It adds a freshness and sweetness to the orchid and wood notes. I love the orange, orchid, patch, sandalwood combo unfortunately with the pepper becoming more and more evident on the dry down. Tbh I think all the pepper towards the end is too much and prevents it becoming a love for me. I dont find it very masculine at all. Moderate sillage and longevity.

I smelled this for the first time today. My friend used it to freshen an outdoor space and it was the spiciness that captivated me. It was also crisp, so I tried it on (even though she used it to freshen the air) and I fell in love. It started out crisp and spicy and settled into something warm and cozy by the end of the day. It lasted all day and I was outdoors most of the time. It never was overwhelming or suffocating. I kept smelling myself because it was such a beautiful smell. It was something like no perfume I've ever owned. It was feminine, but with a touch of masculinity. I have to order this now.

I can see why some ladies find this a touch masculine. I'm wearing it in warm conditions and it really comes into its own. It's a "I mean business" scent but I'm also feminine. The wood notes are the unisex element but the sweet orange, orchid and vanilla remind you that I'm a lady. I wasn't sure about the pepper note but I find it much better in the warm atmosphere. It keeps it bright. Not bad longevity and sillage for an edt either. If you are looking for a modern, crisp scent for work then this worth checking out. It smells way more expensive than it costs.

I was going down memory lane and was looking for the 1999 fragrance by Adrienne Vittadini or something similar - and this is definitely it! It leans unisex but is still quite feminine. It has a noticable presence yet remains polite, making it suitable for the workplace and formal occasions. Slightly synthetic opening, however that fades within seconds and develops into an aromatic semi-sweet woody vibe. For me, the performance is 4-6 hours and has a very pleasant dry down. I would consider this a mature scent, ages 25+

Présence d'une femme is not nearly as "masculine" as many of these reviews would have one think. Yes, it is not a sweet or flowery scent. Woody with a touch of mandarin and a feeling of cinnamon to me. A very nice woody, by the way. This is a sophisticated fragrance, however, I wore it to bed last night, and the experience was so pleasant! I could see a certain type of man wearing this, but he would have to have a good bit of savoir faire. Luckily my man does, so he wears this on occasion, and I love it on him, too!

Im a man and I love and im using this perfume. Although this perfume is designed for woman, but its woodiness and spiciness make it masculine and gentleman. It is a compliment getter for me whenever I wear it to the office. Presence for femme much much better than Presence for Homme. Dry down for femme is fresh with a hint of spicy, but the dry down of Homme is sooooo musky and generic. Bring back Presence for Femme to the market!!!!

Everybody is different and is hard to recommend perfume-fragrance . I wear it for years and have whole collection of Mont Blanc for women . This one for my nose is .....a field of camomile and I love it . In my 50 , I am getting complemnts from young man on my scent . Really :) Very feminine , but with a floral-wood unique statement . It is not everyday scent to wear because of its elegance in the whole bouquet .

mandarino e vaniglia le prime note (o arancia dolce) che si fondono immediatamente su sentori di pepe. l'accordo evolve poi sulle note di cuore legnose di sandalo e mogano, per finire su patchouli dolce. benchè la persistenza sia molto buona, non si tratta di un profumo invadente: rimane lieve sulla pelle. mi pare più qualcosa associabile ad una donna gentile, quasi androgina. l'insieme è assai notevole.

Translating my comment below to help other people to know this jewel of perfumes: This perfume is for strong women, who lead teams, intelligent women, who are present, and it do not cease to be female. I think that's why people give him the unisex category, but it's not unisex, is very feminine, just not the kind delicate females, is for women .... floralzinho personality. Presence D'Une Femme ... Femme.

What a scent ! Pepper Orchid Woods Patch. Vanilla Ok - to a little maleish opening but it softens to a deep orchid, vanilla, woody and to me feminine scent ! Really beautiful to wear. I ́ll wear it a lot til spring with its lighter fumes serch for attention.! This is another blindbuy, based on Fragrantica community reviews... Thank You ! When I checked the online store for a back up...gone

This is both feminine and masculine. It is just right for those who like scents to be in the middle. It is careful not to reside either way and settles nicely all day. This is a new addition to my collection that will be cherished. You can't go wrong with this even if you order without sampling. The bottle is really cool too and is round and flat, fits well into purses.

Esse perfume é para mulheres fortes, que comandam equipes, mulheres inteligentes, que marcam presença, e nem por isso deixam de ser femininas. Acho que é por isso que as pessoas atribuem a ele a categoria unissex, mas it's not unissex, é muito feminino, só que não é do tipo feminino delicado, floralzinho....é para mulher de personalidade. Femme...Presence D'Une Femme.

A very spicy oriental!. Not an ordinary smell, you will be addicted to it or absolutely hate it. I ́m very much addicted to it. MontBlanc has excellent and expensive smelling scents. I have all 3 and i love them all the same. The brand is not very well known and appreciated but for the perfume lovers a quit hidden treasure. Worth every penny.

This is most definitely the fragrance that compliments my personality. The very subtle feminine florals that is perfectly balanced by fresh citrus and sharp peppery note. The dry down of woody vanilla is warm and beautiful. I think it is just magical on my skin, not too strong, settles down well and lasts really long. Absolutely wonderful!

This is one of my favorite fragrance, i can bath myself in it. So i'll try to describe why i love it so much- it's not very feminine, i imagine a woman sitting in front of you, she is wearin a suit, she is very self confident, she is a leader. This masterpiece is very longlasting,unisex and unique.

I used this 5 or 6 years ago. I bought it from duty-free shop in airport, and now I can't find it in the shops around me. The fragrance is very long-lasting and classy. It smells really elegant. I loved it, if I found it again, dont think even a minute to buy again. Ps: Its bottle is gorgeous.

It is one of the most elegant and sophisticated scents I have tried. It isn't masculine. On the contrary, I find it super feminine, however it is not kind of "innocent" feminine scent, it is a statement fragrance, very sexy. It is a must-have in your collection! I absolutely love it.

As much as love this scent (I even got praises), as much as I'm hesitant to buy/wear it again, because it's obvious that people categorize it more under masculine scents It is very pleasant scent (specially in winter) and I'm keen to smell the empty bottle from time to time :)

I am totally in love with this perfume! It's my 3rd bottle, something like must-have for me and I'm still never disappointed with it. It develops different on me depending on weather and time of the day. I love the woody note that stays on me even after having shower.

5/5 got my hand on an old bottle, maybe like 10 years old, with some 20 ml left. natural spruce resin, just perfect rich foresty scent... i know spruce is not a listed note but that's the one resin i'm most used to smelling

This fragrance is my signature scent for years. It is a very nice vanilla mandarin scent, warm and sweet but not overwhelmingly sweet. I always get compliments when I am wearing it. I really recommend to try it.

This is one of my power fragrances. When I go to the office and mean business, this is what I wear. Not too girly, just a tinge masculine and absolutely lovely; the perfect fragrance to go with a power suit.

it's a classy fragrance, who starts a few masculine, woody, but after a while it's becomes sweeter. I like a lot because you not see a lot of women using this perfum. So, this one is quite unique for me! :)

I love this. I've had this since around Thanksgiving. I haven't worn it much, but I'm sure going to. I'm not keen on the first few minutes. But after that, I love it. I think it's ideal for cooler weather.

i love this one! there is no perfume which resemles to this one..very woody,unique and distinctive! i would definetely purchase it if its lasting power was stronger!

You see ,it's comments like the one before me that make me feel completely useless on this fabulous website. Fabulous reviews like the one before me....:) spot on!

Eu gosto muito do Roma da Laura Biagiotti mas ele é muito forte para o calor brasileiro, então eu encontrei o Presence, uma versão mais leve e fresca. Adoro!!!!

I love this fragrance!! It smell amazingly refreshing, not too powerful but definitely memorable. This one is particularly special and personal to me.

I wanted to test it today. It could be an unisex fragrance, it's easy to wear and very pleasant. 5 stars for the longevity!

"Presence d'un femme" is a little aromatic, a little spicy, firmly woody, tenderly flowery, sweet-like vanilla and skin-like patchouli. The perfume opens with very apparent mandarine, but it is not sharp, or zesty, or bitter. Mandarin joined with pepper has a mild aromatic-spicy effect similar to the smell of "dried arancini" (Mediterranean organic sweets made of orange skin sun-dried in sugar, which taste aromatic and peppery). Nor orchid, or cyclamen are expressively flowery - flowers tame the top concoction, preventing top to become piercing, and bringing peppered mandarine back from spicy to mildly aromatic, before the other big concoction enters the stage: woods and vanilla. I really can't smell all three woody notes (rosewood, mahogany and sandalwood) - it is just rounded, firm woody complex on me. And then again - it is instantly followed by vanilla, making it rounder and milder. The vanilla-woods combo in base presents powdery-dusty effect, mildly sweet and freshened by remains of peppery-aromatic top. Sometimes I get almond/nutty-like vibe (I guess that's woody-vanilla expression) in this stage of development. And there is patchouli... I am very sensitive and somehow particular to patchouli iterations (they can thrill me and they can disgust me, I still don't get the pattern, except that this in some cases related to the warm weather). Patchouli is very discrete here - I sense it in the base only as some "warm-skin" presence, but far from anything skanky or noticable enough to provoke reaction. There is, in fact, some dissonant "maleish" accord present, partly in the peppery-citrus opening, and mostly in woody-vanilla dry down, which works as a subtle contrast to the natural sweetnes of flowers and vanilla. But, it is not dominant at all, and it likes to play "hide and seek". It is like you put on a lovers yesterday's shirt with the remains of his perfume, but you are wearing your own very feminine perfume, and it is dominant. I find that interesting and slightly tempting but, above all, not overwhelming. I really don't get this "totally masculine" feedbacks on Presence - in my opinion, this slightly masculine accord is the thing that keeps this fragrance away from beeing just another clichè perfume created for oriental-woody-vanilla lovers. Finally, about that "masculinity"-issue that flooded the reviews below, let's put it this way: the man that I sleep with - wearing Presence d'un femme? Well... No. Nope. Can't imagine that. No way. Sorry. Except - if I leave it on him. As my presence. Overall, Presence isn't the best ever, or earth moving fragrance - BUT - it is far from dull, stereotypical or "unproblematic" scents. Also, it is very pleasant and unintrusive, and for daily rotation it has quite enough qualities to be taken into account for FB, or at least for serious testing. * like ("ok one") * sillage: moderate (arms lenght) * longevity: moderate (up to 6 hours) * discontinued (but still available at affordable prices).

Unique. Along with Yohji Yamamoto pour femme, now discontinued unfortunately, this is one of my favourite perfumes. More than twenty years ago I met a woman who used to wear this fragrance. Back then there were no Baccarats, no Tom Fords (not so many at least) and there was no niche frenzy. At least not in my country. So her perfumes were magie noir, shalimar and some other classics and the extremly popular ralph lauren for woman. But she seemed annoyed with the classics even though she was in her late 50's. So one day she started wearing this one. I've waited about 12 years to buy it. First because my lack of finances and then because i was buying "new" perfumes or classics I've always wished to buy. In my opinion this is a masterpiece. Sharp, clean and exquisite this perfume smells like you would expect a smart woman to smell. It has a certain professional vibe. Professional as in someone who knows exactly what she is doing, capable, who acts from a place of power. This fragrance lacks romanticism, warmth, coziness and the velvety notes of nowdays perfumes. It's almost masculine, in a way. I like it because it has no sweet, overpowering notes and not the slightest gourmand note. Sharp, peppery, cold in the beginning. I love it.

First of all, i have to say that i got this fragrance from a friend, my female boss, because although it's a nice fragrance, the prices here in Brazil are OVER THE TOP, so wouldn't be worth it. Anyway, the review: The main accords of this scent, as described above are woody, balsamic, sweet, powdery, fresh spicy and patchouli. Not for me. I would describe this, in order of importance as Woody, Fresh Spicy and Powdery. I don't get the balsamic side, or even the patchouli (as i'm used to in other scents). Presence D'Une Femme is a wonderful simplistic scent. Sexy and classy without making any effort. Whenever i use it, i feel powerful without trying, like, paraphrasing Beyoncé, "i woke up like this". Downside (at least on my skin) is the poor longevity and projection. Office friendly, safe for dates and gifts. (For those of you who knows Brazilian brands, it reminds me a little of the original Glamour, without the citric accord - or a least not that pronounced).

I’ve been wearing Présence d'une for the past 5 hours and it’s still going, so very good performance. Indeed, Présence leans slightly masculine (and I’m a female who has always enjoyed masculine scents). This is for anyone to enjoy,....a good one to check out. Identifying specific notes in this composition—beyond the obvious pepper and wood notes—is difficult for me. Maybe there’s vanilla here, but it’s with a light hand. Initially I thought I loved Présence (and I did for the first hour) then Présence either developed or my nose grew tired of it. If I had to pinpoint the reason, I’m guessing too much iso e super, or another synthetic used, which is also why this thing is a performance monster of a perfume. In any case, I’m convinced this is a good, intriguing scent though I’m not compelled to run out and buy it—even though I almost did just that—as it’s going for a steal on fragrencenet. I’m glad I waited to sample first.

I bought a tester bottle of this perfume. when I first sprayed this on I was not sure, it smelt quite fruity, sweet and feminine which isn't really to my tastes. I was ready to not like it from there however as soon as it settled into my skin, I was surprised with how addictive this perfume really is. It makes me picture an exquisite and fashionable woman wearing a black pantsuit, branded sunnies, hair in a neat bun with some strands escaping just to delicately frame her face, dark lipstick, and she is striding with confidence and purpose on the streets of Milan this perfume lingers on me, and I keep catching a waft of it for hours. I notice when it wafts, I inhale deeply just to enjoy as much of the scent as I can. Needless to say, I love it and am keeping this in my collection

The opening was strong and sharp orange/black pepper combo. So spicy that I actually had to check the name of the perfume on my sample to make sure I really have a female version. It seemed totally masculine, so my attention was catched immediately. The drydown milds the scent into sweet (but not sickly) vanilla, underlined with woodsy notes and a little sign of florals. It smells clean/fresh, slisghtly sweeter, white, but with some spiciness to it. In my opinion perfect for spring for everyday every night use. Could be unisex. Safe for office work. I noticed some people said here it's not feminime. To me it is. As I believe there are also women who like to stand out of the crowd and who know how to wear something that is far from girly.

The most masculine smelling perfume I've ever tested to this date that is advertised as being a perfume for women. I can smell mandarin orange, pepper and I think wood (though I'm not sure because I'm not very familiar with woody notes - but it's a dry and dusty smell that stays during the whole time). Orchid, vanilla - no idea, my nose couldn't locate them. Longevity - sorry, poor, it stays on my wrist 30 mins max, I believe this is because it's and EDT. Sillage - nonexistent. I wouldn't buy this fragrance myself, but I got it as a gift so I will use it up though it lacks distinction. It's like a watercolor painting - it's there, but it's so sparse and thin, like a ghost of a proper perfume.

Mont Blanc PRESENCE D'UNE FEMME opens enticingly in a manner very similar to my memory of Dior HYPNOTIC POISON (can't be sure, though, since I only had a mini, long ago drained...). Lots of sweetness with a dash of pepper for extra interest. The drydown of PRESENCE is a scrumptious woody vanilla with just a touch of spiciness, still imparted by the pepper. The patchouli is only an accent, not the focus of the drydown. The wood is really dominant and becomes stronger over time. PRESENCE D'UNE FEMME edt has good staying power and sillage and is a surprisingly beautiful wintertime scent from a company primarily renowned for its writing implements!

I bought this unsniffed because it got good reviews and because I like another Montblanc feminine fragrance, Femme Individuelle. Michele Almairac was the perfumer for both, and Presence d'Une Femme and Femme Individuelle smell related to me. Both have pepper, patchouli and vanilla, while Presence has more woods and vanilla, Individuelle has more floral and fresh notes. While either could be worn day or night, spring or fall, I would tend to see Individuelle as the more daytime/spring scent and Presence as the more evening/fall scent. I think both are versatile, affordable scents.