Presence

I bought this after a surreptitious sniff @ the store (TJ Maxx our Marshalls etc), because I felt it was as unisex as you could get without anyone questioning your choices.(LOL, as if I cared what others think about my fragrance choices). Anywhoo, this is a safe bet for the office, for that first or fiftieth date, for that job interview, heck, its safe enough for just about or for any occasion or setting. Be mindful, as it was with me, had I a significant other wearing this, they could ask for the moon and get it with a ribbon on it!. I do not get any (nada, nothing, no- no, well, maybe a teeny-weeny smidgen)of spices; nothing to blow your socks off, although with other reviewers ginger seems to be a predominate note. It just doesn't resonate for me. This is a cuddly, cozy, sexy and dare I say it, could make - you - a - magnet - for - the - opposite - sex- attraction scent, if I ever smelled one. Mind you, these are MY opinions and should not be taken as carte blanche for the masses. As @vertigo has so more aptly phrased it:"...the scent is not seductive - it's suggestive...". So if you are somewhat attractive/attracted to someone, this only amplifies current desires/feelings/thoughts/nuances . . .you get the picture. Update from my Nov 2018 review: I don't feel this is a dominant scent, but one which lets you know, hey, I'm here, and if you're interested, here I am, kind of scent. It doesn't shout, but it radiates attraction. I am drawn to this scent like few others in my experience. It would never cease to get my attention, if worn on the right person. That said, I would love to smell this on my relatives as well: father, brother, uncle, second-cousin twice removed. My Dad did use to wear Old Spice and it smells faintly of this, but less soapy, just-shaved scent. This scent skips a step and passes on the after shave and goes for this rendition. Only because it invokes feelings of warmth, closeness and companionship with those you love and care about do I associate it with the closeness of family and yes those you love, cherish and care for. IMO, fragrances are not always about getting laid or hunting your next sexual conquest, although many seem it as such for many others. i see this as a scent worn by a man who exudes confidence, and is comfortable in his own skin, but treads with a tad of uncertainty, not for himself, mind you, but on how well you would receive him should you approach him, not the other way around. He would want others to like him, but would not be unaffected by rejection. He is that humble a person. What's not to like about a man like that? Since I don't have a definite, all-time favorite fragrance I would like to smell on a man, I can say with a great degree of confidence, I would want my husband to smell like this, 50 percent of the time. This scent only gets better with time and while it remains decidedly close to the skin it still does its magic and continues to invite you into its warm embrace.It does not project much beyond your personal space, but oh, when someone comes within that space they can't help but take notice.

Have you ever had the full Barbour shoppe treatment? I’m talking the real deal: hot towels, exfoliation, beard trim, straight‐razor shave, warm conversation that feels like a hug for your soul... the works. Craftsmanship. Precision. Expertise. None of that “check in online” drive‐thru bullcrap haircut energy. No sir. Not today. Now take that rejuvenating grooming ritual; that symphony of steam, steel, and seasoned hands, and drop it directly into a hydraulic press. Hit that big ol' big red button and watch the pressure gauge climb into the “OSHA would like a word” zone! Then stand back as the very essence of that experience drips out in tiny, precious vials you’d absolutely hoard like a dragon with a grooming fetish! Bottle that up, splash in some perfumer’s alcohol, slap on a plastic cap that looks like it was ordered in bulk from “Giant Generic Caps R Us,” and voilla: You’ve just created Montblanc Presence. This stuff oozes comfort and nostalgia like the old‐timers at the classic cars & coffee meet‐up. The ones who can rebuild a carburetor with one hand and flawlessly hold court with the other. It’s steering wheels wrapped in warm leather and gear shifts with actual numbers on the knob. It's the cinnamon‐sweet glow of slipping into the back with your date to get a little handsy (and maybe a little more if you play your cards just right.) This is the fragrance equivalent of a man who knows how to fix things; not because he wants to impress you, but because he genuinely enjoys his craft. Presence doesn’t project like it’s trying to win a county fair yodeling contest. It’s more of a personal bubble fragrance. The kind that makes people lean in a little, not back away. This is the scent equivalent of a perfectly timed compliment; subtle, sincere, and surprisingly memorable. I reach for Presence when I want to feel grounded and not worry about whether or not I smell great! I know I do. When I want to smell like I know what I’m doing even if I’m absolutely winging it. This is a “Saturday morning coffee run in a soft sweater" or “leaning on the counter talking to someone you care about while the world slows down” scent. This is an "I read the actual newspaper" kind of scent. You know, the one's made of real paper and smudgy ink. This is for the guy that's not trying to be the loudest guy in the room, but he's the one people remember after they leave it. Montblanc Presence is comfort with a polished backbone. It’s nostalgia with a glossy lacquer. It’s the barbershop ritual distilled into a warm aromatic hug. Is it flashy? No. Is it modern? Not particularly. Is it special? Absolutely. Presence is the fragrance of a man who shows up, does the job right, and leaves the place better than he found it.

FIRST IMPRESSION: I picked up a 50ml from a Macy's backstage 2 days ago for $24.99. Thought it wouldn't be much, but damn I was wrong. Heavy dose of cinnamon and ginger with a touch of cardamom at the top, and the cinnamon lasts throughout the life of the fragrance. I get the apple in the mid mixed with some herbal facet (probably the sage). The base is sweet in a soft way with the tonka bean and amber, mixed with musk and some woods. Probably the best cheapie I have stumbled upon so far along with The Dreamer. More masculine than feminine in my opinion, but anyone can wear anything. Projection is moderate at best for the first 2-2.5 hours. I don't know what it is, but it just lasts and lasts. I sprayed it yesterday at 8:30 a.m., and I could still pick it up at 11 pm. That was my first full testing, and the more I smelled it, the more I got some resemblance to Layton. I'll provide an update soon. If you can find it, pick it up. Actually worth the retail, but it's so cheap on discounters, might as well save some good money to buy some more fragrances. Perfect night out, date night, and first date fragrance. Subtle enough to be worn anywhere, but don't pull it out when it's hot. 01/27/21 Update: First side by side today. Presence is fresher and more subdued compared to Layton. Where Presence shows more of the amber, musk, ginger, bergamot, sage, cinnamon, and apple on my skin, Layton focuses on apple, vanilla, lavender, tonka bean, and cardamom, at least in the dry down. Put one spray of Layton on my left arm, and put one spray of Presence on my right arm at 8:50 a.m.; it is currently 9:22, and both are still detectable. Layton is pushing out far more and feels more bodied, but then again it is an EDP. As an EDT, Presence is light at this point, but still detectable. Layton surrounds me with a personal bubble, while Presence is more of a personal scent, almost a skin scent. I still think Presence is a fresher, more subdued alternative to Layton, and I think they're different enough where owing both isn't redundant. I don't know if Layton took some inspiration from Presence, but damn, both are really good.

Blind bought 75 mL after weeks of research. Guys, to me, the first spray on paper smells incredibly similar to Le Male or The Dreamer. In a few short minutes, it takes on a slightly feminine soapy characteristic. It's very inviting and subtle, but DEFINITELY not that unique. I get the cinnamon, sage, sandalwood, tonka and musk, with a very creamy drydown. It's quite synthetic to my nose, but I really don't care. Longevity is 8 hours on me and projection is moderate at best. With 4 sprays, you get a 2 foot scent bubble for the first 2 hours, and then it calms down quite a bit. As Greggieboy76 mentions on YouTube, it's blended very well and has this ethereal quality that is unlikely to ever become cloying, even in summer weather. It's very sweet, subtle and a little powdery, meaning that it's inoffensive and perfect for office wear - and even feels "more expensive" than say, Lacoste pour Homme (eventhough it's cheaper). Overall, it's a "handsome" and more mature, but very versatile cologne that anyone 18+ can pull off. But if you already have Individuel, Le Male or The Dreamer, this would just be redundant, because to me, this is just Le Male for the office. Still it's a solid 8.5/10. And if you enjoy fragrances from the 90s, you'll probably appreciate this stuff even more. Enjoy.

Presence is my third Mont Blanc after Exceptionnel and Individuel and so far 3 for 3, all good ones, so bravo Mont Blanc. Presence can be described in 2 words" Jaipur Lite". I did a side by side comparison and the cinnamon and tonka bean notes are very similar. Where Annick Menardo's classic is a very formal fragrance and a true spicy, floral oriental with the addition of benzoin, jasmine, carnation to the cinnamon, tonka, cardamom combo, Presence goes in a slightly more easy going direction with green apple and ginger. If you love Jaipur like I do, you will find Presence a wonderful,high quality, lighter version of it and probably more versatile for it. If you have not smelled Jaipur but are into or looking to get into orientals, Presence is a great choice either ways. Good projection for about 5 hours and with a little layering, I get about 7-8 hours longevity on skin. I can smell it on my shirt for a lot longer. This is a great fragrance for all occasions, the office, dinner n drinks, just hanging out with buddies, works anywhere as long as you are well dressed. ( not a gym frag) It can be found online at very affordable prices as well making it painless to replace once you finish your bottle so that's a plus as well. All in all, a winner. I love it. 8.5/10

CASHMERE, CINNAMON & CARDAMOM. Opens with powdery white musk with cinnamon-cardamom and transitions to a zingier heart of apple, ginger, sage & heliotrope all resting on an amber woody base of tonka, woods and white musk that together evoke cashmere wood to my nose. The cinnamon here is forward in the opening but moves to the background as it dries down. Contrast to Presence d'une femme MontBlanc: These are very different, but they have a similar DNA with the spicy cashmere woods. Presence d'Une Femme has an additional fruitiness that smells pineapple-y in comparison, and floral touches from cyclamen. The longer they're on the skin, the more similar they become. Contrast to English Laundry Signature for Men: Very different, but similar in their resemblance of Le Male Jean Paul Gaultier. ELSfM has lavender instead of cinnamon. Contrast to John Varvatos John Varvatos: Different scent but with a similar vibe. Both have that fluffy, powdery wood. JV has a slight additional sweetness from dates. Overall: Unisex leaning masculine, and average to slightly above average performance on me. May require dark storage after first sprays to develop performance and true scent. It's a love for me. Enjoy!

I've tried 4 Montblanc fragrances to date (Presence, Explorer, Legend, Individuel) and I must say, all have been bangers so far. Presence is my 2nd favorite to Individuel, and it's closing the gap the more I wear it. I opens with a minty shaving cream smell. After a few minutes, I get mild cinnamon and some vanilla that hangs around for the next several hours. It leans synthetic... but I like synthetic when done right. The performance is somewhere in the 6 hour range. It doesn't blast off of my skin at any point, nor is it a weak skin scent. I dont think it would last as long without the cinnamon, but who knows? This has all-purpose, daily wear potential, where you want to smell nice, but understated. It's somehow unique and familiar at the same time. The best way I can describe it: modernized Old Spice vibes. Don't expect this fragrance, like any other, to magically drop the drawers. However, Presence is definitely a conversation starter if you're a well put together guy. If you rocked this as a daily scent, you will likely be told at some point "you smell nice"... even if it's to yourself in your own head.

Well I went out with the intention of buying Individuel and ended up with this as I couldn't find it anywhere. Not only that but they didn't have a tester so it was a blind buy and my first impressions were not that great.I took a risk with it because I just like Mont Blanc as a brand and feel there's something very masculine about the other fragrances I've tried so why not? Soap, soap and more soap! Sometimes when people describe fragrances as being soapy I often don't agree or think..."Wow...what kind of soap are you using?" But this has a classic soapy note. There's something in the very top notes like a sharp fruity thing that is just delightful but disappears fairly quickly, then the dry down is really wonderful it truly has more dimensions than it first appears. I get sandalwood, Tonka bean, cardamom, a little cinnamon & ginger too! I think this is a delightful juice that keeps me sniffing. It's ultra clean and classy stuff It growing and growing on me this one...I think I love it now!

This fragrance was a gift and was my introduction to the world of perfumes, mostly because of the cinnamon, which I really enjoy. The best thing about it is that it smells quite different from others—or at least it has its own distinctive profile. It’s not too aggressive, not too sweet—pretty well balanced. It opens with a spicy kick and then transitions into a more floral-citrus identity, blended with woody undertones. For me, it’s amazing that it lasts around five hours in a hot, dry climate (which is common for floral, citrus, and natural fragrances—meaning it likely contains high-quality ingredients). It also has a moderate sillage, making it non-invasive for those around you. However, if you're looking for something bolder, louder, more traditionally ‘masculine,’ or mainstream, this might not be for you. That being said, always wear what you love! This is a great scent for beginners, for switching up your everyday rotation, or for a nice meal out with someone.

Thank you goes out to Ryanmmas26. Your review convinced me to blind buy Presence. It is almost summer and very warm here. I am wearing Presence and it is appropriate for the temperature and really very good. It opens with cinnamon and ginger. This is not baking cinnamon, but woody, barky cinnamon that blends with the aroma of sandalwood for a creamy base. My mother always made a party punch out of Ginger Ale and Lime Sherbet. Mont Blanc Presence reminds me strongly of that party punch and I love it. It really does smell like a really refreshing shaving cream. It smells soothing, smooth, and cool. Longevity is the weakness. It lasts about three hours with 2 feet of sillage. Then about two hours as a skin scent. I wish it was better. I still love it. This is a year-round, day/night utility scent.

This thing is good, really good. It doesn't smell old or outdated, maybe some people will relate the smell to someone that they know that is old, but the scent is 10 out 10. It makes you fell clean, elegant and confident. Very masculine and grownup, so forget about those bubblegum ultra sweet colognes, those are for teens. The problem is, or problems are, it is weak and doesn't last. This is the kind of scent you use want to smell since after shower until the end of the day, and it will not last half of it, actually in my skin, after 3h it is totally faded. Luckily it is cheap so you could respray during the day, but who is the crazy person that carry a parfum bottle to work? Not me, I just wish to find something like this but that last 6+ hours.

I love this stuff! It is my go-to workday scent. I found it at an estate sale of all places and purchased for $15 new in box without knowing exactly what it smelled like. I was pleasantly surprised by this scent. It smells like shaving cream, but in a really good way. It has a clean, almost minty smell. I have lots of other higher end fragrances on my shelf, but this is the one I go to most often because it is inexpensive and lasts the whole workday. I work outside in the heat and it performs very well in the heat. If you’re looking for something that smells clean, is inexpensive, and isn’t dated, you can’t go wrong with this. You’re not going to set any trends, but if you want a solid fresh scent that isn’t “blue”, give it a shot.

Update: Has become one of my favorites, especially for work. It’s just perfectly unobtrusively inviting. The sandalwood really comes through towards the end and is just beautiful. My new bottle smells the same but the performance is bad. Will let it sit and hope that improves. Easy blind buy. Even if you don’t love it, it’s not something you’ll regret having in the collection. I’ve gone back and forth with this one, but have concluded that I like this very much. It’s really nice. Especially the opening which I do wish lasted a bit longer. Still a very enjoyable easy wear. Understated and gentlemanly with poise and well, presence. This probably won’t rock anybody’s world or knock anyone’s socks off, but that wasn’t the point anyway.

This was love at first sniff. Quite honestly, I never knew this fragrance existed until I saw it on the tester counter. The emerald-looking juice seduced me and I gave it a spray on my forearm. I knew instantly that I had to have this unique scent. I initially got mint notes in the opening, but now that I actually own a bottle, I've been able to analyze the scents better and I believe the combination of cinnamon/ginger is what dominates the opening. It mellows down to fresh (apple) and spicy notes with just the right amount of wood in the base. Very unique and versatile, IMO. Performance is average and the value is good. I'm glad to have this in my collection now; it will get a lot of playing time this Spring season. Grade: B+

So.... as soon as I smelt this one, yep opera lady singing, waves crashing on the shore and birds flying off at the same time moment. FELL IN LOVE! I love spice in my life and this definitely hit the spot, it also has a sweet cherry in there and ginger also aniseed with one of my most favorite notes, cardamom! It eventually settles down to a powdery vanilla with what appears to be a hint of lavender and soft woods, I get absinthe vibes from this scent. Can be worn anytime in my opinion, very manly scent, I highly recommend this one and I'm shocked at how great it is for the value, I will say its only okay for longevity, but hey, just reapply problem solved. 10/10

As usual, another blind-buy last year. First sprayed that time and didn't like it, so kept it for more than a year. This week, tried it again with moderate hopes, and it didn't disappoint! Maybe my sense of smell last year was quite different, or I was looking for very sweet or citrusy ones like Rochas Man or Clinique Happy. This week I was in the mood to try my other ones and this scent is quite addictive I kept on sniffing my wrist where I've sprayed it. Was planning to give this away as a present but no, I'm keeping it for myself! Longevity - 8/10 (2 sprays) Sillage - 8/10 (really not offensive and will be one of my go-to office scent) Overall: 9/10

If old spice had a cool grandson that was modern yet classic at the same time, this would be it. I get the warm spicy cinnamon aspect as well as the freshness. For $20 this is a steal. There's something alluring and seductive about this gem. It's a bit reminiscent of an old spice or pinaud bay rum aftershave, but it has a nice modern freshness. This is the quality you would expect from Mont Blanc! Very Well Done, might be for the more seasoned gentleman or a daring young man. You will smell unique with this one, in a world full of blue fragrances, this is Cinnamon, vanilla, spicy, fresh and smooth! Bottle-7 Scent-8 Price-9 Performance-6 Overall-8.5

Ok...So...I was sniffing perfumes...as usual..until I found this masterpiece. At the beginning I was like " OMA (oh my allah) this is something that I've been looking for a long time. The first thing that came into my mind was that this is a soapy perfume, and I loved it. Next day I went there and bought it <3 So...It's powerful but not very very powerful. I love it from my opinion I'd give this a 8.6/10. The reason for this is because the silage is not the best but it's enough to get you noticed. Buy it if you think you like soapy scents. It's a " must " in your collection <3

Total sleeper, Great Frag! I love this scent now, it's so easy to wear, pleasing , reminds you of another scent, but you can't place it, lol. I don't get much cinn. and any one note is not easy to pick out but i get a fresh scent with hints of sweetness, and fruitiness, I think it's the heliotrope ,that is also in Joop, that gives it that candy or grapelike quality. I really like this one and would highly recommend it for day time office or gym. 8/10 ,not too shabby edit robbieX succinctly sums up my thoughts perfectly, He's a great trusted reviewer.

This is a soothing scent. It's 60 to zero dry down is disappointing, as the opening is refreshing and promising. The dry down is calming and reminds me of Ambre Gris by Pierre Balmain, only lighter around the edges. Whereas AG's dry down longevity is about the same, it still has a greater presence in its dry down than Presence's morphing into an almost undetectable skin scent. After reapplying Presence after about 3 hours after the initial spray, it seems to remind me of hairdress/pomade with a woody petroleum base. Weird.. . .very strange indeed.