Bon Monsieur

Bon Monsieur is fresh Fougère bliss and I wish I could stop my review there but more needs to be said. Though they are warm and heavy ingredients the warm herbal qualities of carnation, fir, and lavender are balanced to emphasize the fizzy or foamy texture in this fresh, soapy and clean blend. When I sprayed this on I wasn’t ready for it. The explosiveness, energy and overwhelming quality of Rogue Perfumery fragrances is something that simply must be experienced by any fragrance enthusiast. This fragrance started relentlessly and heavy-handed with a bright, herbal, soapy lavender. An extremely rich soapy beginning that was so overwhelming it smelled of Fabuloso within the first 20 seconds, a purple lavender based bathroom cleaner. Cleaning the bathroom is the chore I have the most hesitancy with and the smell of Fabuloso does not seem like a smell intended for skin. However it only lasts for 20 seconds but somehow seamlessly transitions and is necessary to establish your nose palate for what it will receive next from the blend. I love how rich these transitions are in some of Manuel’s fragrances and you can see the concepts of Manuel’s culinary profession bleeding into this fragrance profession as if the soapy lavender beginning were the appetizers quick, guilty pleasure, forgivable, somewhat forgettable but designed to establish a comfortable transition to the entrees and the main-course. And the great part is that in his fragrances no performance power is lost through these transitions. Soon, when you wear this perfume enough times you forget about the rich opening altogether and you begin to adore the lavender introduction. No problem for me because lavender is one of my favorite notes in perfumery and I always look forward to the opening of Bon Monsieur. Now for the main course this fragrance settles from a rich soapy lavender to a somewhat fresh, bright, slightly foamy and aromatic heart. You are rewarded for persisting through the rich opening with a bright, fresh, clean, sharp and foamy sensation that feels modern, incredibly mature, classically masculine with little to no sweetness and all the aromatic facets of the refreshing shaving cream you just washed off your face. Rich, natural and well-blended ingredients. Bon Monsieur lets you have that aromatic shaving cream to wear wherever, whenever, you want for as long as you want (performance monster). This is probably my absolute favorite from the brand I can’t stop wearing this. I have to hide it from myself sometimes just to give my other fragrances a chance. Masterpiece 🧼 ☀️ 10/10

Another hit from Rogue perfumes. Very reminiscent of mens powerhouse's from the 80's and thankfully does the job immensely with just enough modernity. It's so manly and glorious, although anyone can wear what they like....and absolutely should if this tickles your fancy! Oakmoss, lavender amongst all the usual classic suspects lead the way, followed up with another barrage of all time greats in support. I won't go into a full on breakdown, all the info you need is here and on luxeparfumes website. I'll just add that overall it's exquisitely spicy, fresh and oh so mossy. This really is a beautifully made throwback of a scent that also has enough about it to have its own identity......and that's what you'll be if you opt for Bon Monsieur, distinctive, different and an individual. Not to mention gentlemanly and well kept. If you enjoy this type of scent then you've probably had a few more trips around the sun and know a little more about style and what just works than the younger crowd! You'll also be confident, self assured and in no doubt about your preferences. It'll last 6+ hours until becoming a noticeable skin scent. Projection wise, over arms length with a good trail for several hours. Trust me, people will notice in an overwhelmingly positive manner, especially others of the same ilk. It's different enough from Mousse Iluminee from the same brand to warrant both products. This is a little more of a moderate scent, than the aforementioned...only just as it's still strong though, just easier going and a tad less rich and powerful. Having said that, it works in this fragrances favour, it's less divisive and easier to pull off as a daily option. In fact, I'd say that you could wear this wherever and whenever you want. It's a great all-rounder, still a potent blend though so be mindful of your trigger finger. 😆 If like me (obviously) you love traditional perfumery for men such as Chypres, Fougeres and the like, you must consider Bon Monsieur....or any offering from Rogue, I've pretty much loved everything I've got my nose on thus far. So, if you are a man's man, enjoy the finer things as well as someone who stands a little above the vast majority, this is for you.

YES! This has finally been added to the database! Now this is the real deal right here! Manuel Cross is using patchouli in Flora & Fauna and in Bon Monsieur and it's stunning! Bon Monsieur reminds me of the barbershop fragrances as well as those late 80's/early 90's hits like Jazz, Pasha De Cartier, and Tsar. I think this is fully complete and very well rounded. For me, it's incredibly sexy too; I would melt if my date wore this. You'll definitely be invited to come up for coffee. I think I like it, even more than Mousse Illuminee which is a damn near perfect fragrance! Both are beastly if oversprayed and extremely high quality for what you're paying. Real oakmoss and a perfumer that actually cares about his fragrances! To me, this rivals the likes of Sartorial and MDCI Invasion Barbare rather than Drakkar Noir or Azzaro PH. Manuel, you've done it again! This is on my "to buy" list and I'm sad that I missed the Christmas Sale! Damn, better look next time. I'll be buying this along with the Giorgio Beverly Hills like Tuberose & Moss, love that one! I have Flos Mortis, Mousse Illuminee, and Chypre Siam from Rogue, and all of them are unique and deserve their own time in the sun. They can be a tad difficult to wear with a t shirt and jeans because of how nice they actually are! They feel special and worthy of actually caring about your appearance when putting them on; rather than an after thought, dumb reach type fragrance. This is not the men's department at Ulta....these are far from it; these will wear YOU if you spray too much and let it dominate you. You must be in control of yourself and have your fragrance compliment your style and personality, not speak for you. Of course, this is just my opinion. Bon Monsieur I think will be a Youtube darling for how versatile it is and affordable. I have no doubt it will be a hypebeast once people get their rollerball samplers in, which by the way Manuel nice touch ;). I would talk more about the scent, in terms of development and etc but I need more time with it. Continue to do what you do, my friend! You have a bright future ahead of you!

Rogue is not IFRA compliant, which makes all the difference. Manuel Cross is an exceptionally talented perfumer who does not compromise on the quality of the ingredients he uses and who blends his ingredients masterfully. The reviews below cover notes pretty extensively and suggest vintage fougeres that are similar to Bon Monsier. Suffice it to say that what makes this fougere one of the very best you can buy right now is a restrained use of wonderful notes including real oak moss. Because Mr. Cross has opted not to take the "whole pantry" approach to choosing ingredients, as was so frequently the approach of the big, 1980s fougeres to which this scent is aptly compared, we get something that pays considerable tribute to the best of the past while remaining strikingly current in its structure, the way it highlights discernable notes (lavender, geranium, fir, oak moss and sandalwood all have their moments on center stage during the progression of this fragrance) and embraces a comprehensible note progression. The price asked for all of the Rogue products are bargains considering the quality of the scents. The presentation is attractive and the atomizers are good quality. You'll want to be a bit circumspect with that atomizer because this stuff can get overwhelming if oversprayed. Longevity is good, you will still get noticeable fresh smelling wafts of goodness beyond 8 hours in most conditions. When applied with consideration, projection is moderate with a pronounced silage that will attract more compliments than you'd expect, if that's your thing. As such, I would be completely comfortable using this fragrance as an office scent. I can see women who like old school fougeres enjoying this fragrance. Any guy who is a fan of the fougere classics of the late 70s and 80s should just buy this stuff. I cannot imagine you'll be disappointed. Additionally, when you purchase, you are supporting a good guy in his efforts to create a long-lived, respected perfume house, and giving support to such ventures is always a commendable decision. Very highly recommended.

Out of all of the fragrances I own, Bon Monsieur is one of my absolute favorites. It's a masterpiece fougère that takes inspiration from Drakkar Noir and Duc De Vervins L'Extreme to make a soapy, citrus-y, and undeniably masculine fragrance that's suitable for any season, any occasion. It's smooth. Really smooth. Every time I catch a whiff of this stuff, I smell something different each time. Much like Manny's other compositions such as Tabac Vert and Mousse Illuminee, it has this Guerlinade-esque touch to it. The oakmoss is like a comfortable pillow after a long day's work. In cold weather, especially in the northeast, the soapiness is amped up but the other notes don't totally take a backseat. However, in warmer weather, the citrus and quite a bit of the spiciness comes out which I absolutely LOVE. On my Chernobyl-like skin, it lasts a whopping 14+ hours, three of which project hard. Really depends on what your climate is. I've had it last an entire day and the next morning, I'd still be catching whiffs of it. Less is more. Two sprays behind the ears are what I'd recommend because of just how easy it is to fill a room with this green beast if you're not careful. The only issue I have with this isn't the scent itself. It's the atomizer. When you've got a working one, it's great and pushes out a sizable spray. If you get one that really forces you to hammer it down just to get a full spray, don't be afraid to decant it. If you're on the fence about getting this, get a sample (or the discovery kit) and give it a shot over a few days. It's a timeless scent, but it's roots in the 1980's are front and center. That might turn people off, especially those new to fragrances in general or have never gotten their nose on some of the 'classics', so to speak. Younger folks might have a harder time pulling this scent off but if you've got the right kind of swagger and style, you can rock it wherever. It's everything I want in a signature scent. It might be yours too.

Rouge Perfumery’s Bon Monsieur is a modern take on powerhouse fragrances from the yesteryears. It isn’t for everyone, and that’s apparent right from the first spray. This isn’t what you’d call mass appealing, and it may remind people of their dad or grandad. Right away as you spray this on, you get the barbershop aftershave vibe, in the best way possible. It’s very fresh right off the bat with the bergamot and lavender in the opening with oakmoss in the background. This very much reminds me of Houbigant’s Duc De Vervins L'Extreme, which I also own, but I feel like this smells more natural, more aromatic. This is very very green, but it also has certain floral aspects scattered throughout the life of the fragrance, in the most masculine way. The geranium, fir and sandalwood also standout once the fragrance dries down a bit. There’s never a dull moment wearing this, and it can be worn anywhere & any season so long as you have the personality to pull this off. It certainly is signature scent worthy for those aged 25+. Similar to what I mentioned in my review of Duc De Vervins L'Extreme, it invokes emotions associated with strength, confidence, stability, authority, and so on. For what it is and what it’s trying to achieve with this scent profile, it’s fantastic. I find that the performance is quite good, lasts for about an entirety of a workday and has a moderate silage for the most of its life. It is very masculine and I do not see women using this, but of course, it depends on the individual. My only gripe with this fragrance is procuring it outside of the US, as it is not very easily accessible. Additionally, the packaging could do with some improvement. It is quite basic, but the cap is of terrible quality. That being said, so long as most of the money is going into making this fantastic fragrance, I’ll take it for what it is. Overall, I’d give this a 9.5/10.

Bon Monsieur is unapologetically masculine. Thank you Mr. Cross for that. My nose must be a bit different. I am smelling something very green with a ton of oak moss. Oak moss is definitely dominant to my nose. It doesn’t smell anything like Drakkar Noir. I’m also not detecting anything resembling a barbershop fragrance like Tom Ford’s Beau du Jour, MDCI’s Invasion Barbare, or Penhaligon’s Sartorial. I get a little resemblance to Tsar by Van Cleef and Arpel’s. Tsar was one of my all time favorites. So, I really like this one. This is very unique. If you wear this, you definitely will not smell like anyone else. I don’t think it will draw a lot of compliments from either women or men. You wear this one for yourself, not to please others. It will not have mass appeal. I watched an interview with Manuel Cross, where he described his fragrances as edgy. I would call this one ballsy. If you like classic men’s fragrances from the past, you will probably like Bon Monsieur. You can pull this one off anytime of the year, but probably best for fall and spring, and maybe warmer winter days like we have in southern Louisiana. This doesn’t smell like a summer time fragrance to me. I am also not getting much longevity, maybe four hours at most. I have only worn this a handful of times. I will update if things change as I continue to wear it. Thank you Mr. Cross. I am looking forward to trying some of your other fragrances.

To me, this is the more wearable, more "pretty" version of Mousse Illuminee. They're similar in how they're both very green, they're strong, they have extensive use of oak moss. This one does not bombard you with oak moss, however, unlike it's older brother Mousse. With this one, the oak moss is just as beautiful as it is in Mousse, but it isn't the focal point. For me, it's the lavender that stars here. This is a true blue barbershop scent, something that reminds me of the 80s, not unlike Drakkar Noir but this is so much nicer than that. I know that it's cliche and I've used this type of statement way too much and it probably oversimplifies things, but this is the niche version of that. I've heard a lot of folks also claiming that this smells like Gucci Nobile and Duc De Vervins, and I haven't ever tried those but I know those are also often compared to Drakkar Noir so it wouldn't surprise me. Anyways, to summarize, this is a year round type of fragrance that smells fresh out of the shower. It's very much a traditional barbershop fougere, people who like things along the lines of Azzaro Pour Homme, Drakkar Noir and the like need to get their nose on a sample because it's a beautiful signature scent, and even though sometimes more wearable fragrances are boring, this is just as much a masterpiece to me as Mousse.

My only experience with classic Fougere fragrances is stuff like Dior Eau Sauvage and Tom Ford Beau De Jour, and I don't like most of them. They come across acrid to my nose and, dare I say, *dated*. But this newbie still wanted a classic-style fougere in his small curated collection and heard good things about the non-IFRA-compliant Rogue Perfumery, hyped for their collection of vintage-inspired Fougere and Chypre fragrances. And so I took the plunge... because the full sample pack is pretty reasonably-priced! Opens with a sparkling fresh citrus, lavender, and fir accord best summed up as "clean and green." There's a hint of minty freshness in here too from the geranium. The citrus quickly transitions to a sharp yet muffled pine needle smell, gentle spicy florals, strong mossiness, and a foamy soap. TL;DR This is mossy, piney shaving foam. Is this a classic fougere style? I don't know but I gotta say, I like it. *A lot.* Kinda gets a damp soil type smell in the deep drydown. I could still smell it projecting ~3hr later despite the method of application -- my Rogue samples came in roller balls -- lasting up to about 8hr as a skin scent.

Manny Cross's storytelling steers us that there's not much groundbreaking in his work (essentially he's recreating - or being inspired by great fragrances from the past - usuing the most natural ingredients he can). Okay thats open for debate, but this is definitely a fougere, an estabished genre of perfume. Bon Monsieur is like a fine pair of shoes or tailored suit - you know it may look 'normal' to the average observer but its the fine detail, the materials and the sweat toil and tears of the craftsmanship behind it which matters. I love this fragrance not because it's one of a kind or 'out there', but that it's a fougere, just so well done AND SMELLS VERY NATURAL. Performance on me is decent. It's also very wearable, so you should be able to get through a full bottle. Those concerned about cost or the risk of blind buying, Rogue sell sample sets. 4/5 Update: been wearing a fair bit now. The mid (which it gets to quite quickly) is almost chypre like. This is gorgeous stuff, it really is.

It's great to see how many people have reviewed this fragrance. Rogue has created on large number of woderful fragrances that cover wide range of genres. Bon Monsieur is yet another refreshing fragrance that evokes the outdoors in a green pine heavy way. I prefer Chypre-Siam and Mousse Illumine, but this one is a certainly a feel good scent that can be worn in any season. I feel it is a mostly a daytime scent. I still, after many years of trying fragrances, cannot quite figure out why this one is labelled by the vast majority of reviewers. I find it unisex since it is not scent bomb. It has moderate silage and moderate longevity and virtually all the notes are used in fragrances labelled male female and unisex. If I smelt this on a woman I would not think she had made a mistake, not even close. Is it full bottle worthy? If you are looking for an unobtrusive fragrances that can be worn to work or to social events, then this might be one you should at least sample.

@Zongo I literally shit myself I was laughing so hard. Damn I would blind buy this if I wasn't already in love with Bon Monsieur just based on your review. Christ on a Disco ball man! that was good. ;) My impressions of this fragrance brings up memories of YSL Pour Homme early formulation from the 70's. YSLPH is my favorite citrus inspired fragrance and if you look at the notes and compare between it and Bon Monsieur there are a lot of similarities in ingredients. Close but not a perfect match. YSLPH doesn't have oak moss but has vetiver and pachouli although I believe YSLPH used to contain Oakmoss back in the 70's .YSLPH also doesn't have rose and has fir listed in the notes. Both are great representations of the genre and for me to compare Bon Monsieur to YSL Pour Home makes this fragrance a real find since you can no longer obtain YSLPH except from ebay and such at elevated prices. Great job Manuel once again.

I have quite a lot of fragrances to choose from, and I can't stop grabbing this lately. This is like mixing VC&A Homme and Tsar together, but if they were made from even better ingredients than they were of old. I see people put Beau de Jour as a reminds me of. I would partly agree, they obviously share a masculine fougere heart but BdJ leans far more heavily on an amber base and a basil/lavender top. To me it's as I say closer to old VC&A Tsar imho with its herbal aspects, but then has some of the florals like carnation that reminds me of VC&A Homme, which gives it much more of a vintage feel but without going so "gothic dandy" like Homme did/does. It's those florals and the bright zinginess of the moss that makes this one special, and I might be mistaken but I feel like there is a bit of spice like cloves in here adding a bit more mystery. An amazing composition, my favorite from Rogue.

Wow, I like this. I've worn this, MFK Masculin Pluriel, and Zaharoff Signature Pour Homme in the last few days. This one wins. I'm a big fan of Creed Bois du Portugal, and I compare all three with King Bois due to common scent profile elements of woody Fougere and smooth, classy, sophisticated vibe. King Bois is the best, but Bon Monsieur tucks right in behind it, probably in front of Parfums de Nicolai New York Intense and Le 3e Homme de Caron. On test strip, Bon Monsieur shares a lot of scent profile with Milano Cento Him and Lancetti Monsieur. And there is DNA that connects them and slightly differentiates this group from the others I've mentioned here. Fragrantica classifies this as a citrus fragrance? This is NOT a "Citrus fragrance for women and men". Thats funny. Fragrantica can do better than that. Woody Aromatic Fougere would be more accurate.

Was looking for a longer lasting Drakkar Noir only this smells much better. It's very green and not citrus forward, which most inspired by colognes put too much of. This is just so smooth. Problem is it's very weak for a niche offering. Highly disappointed in the longevity. Rogues other offerings project hard then intimate after the fifth hour. I was under the impression this would project like a beast but it doesn't. Maybe it's just the rollerball application? You have to add a lot and I don't feel it has any real sillage and after about 3-4 hours it's gone. Yes skin chemistry and all that but even the weakest colognes last long on me and Iive in hot, humid weather by the beach. So here we are, quite possibly my favorite scent ever, but it just. doesn't last long at all and at this price point, give me at least 6 hours, not 4

Amazing classic powerhouse fragrance. Reminiscent of classic men’s scents from 70’s and 80’s. Unlike all the reformulated junk out there, this performs amazingly. Great price per point, combined with outstanding performance equals the ideal men’s signature scent. Congratulations Rogue, a little niche house from rural Idaho is putting out juice that smashes the multimillion dollar competition. This tells you everything you need to know about the business side of fragrance. True frag heads thank you and pray you continue to bless us with your beautiful fragrances. For those considering this who love classic Barbershhop/powerhouse scents, fall confident with your purchase. You won’t be disappointed.

I definitely love this fragrance. It's old school barbershop in a bottle and you can pick up the fresh,spicy,mossy and earth notes in the opening. Also very fresh,floral with some underlying citrus notes. The lavender and oak moss comes in at the end and just blends well with everything. Rogue has also collaborated with Zingari Man to make shave soaps and aftershaves. I have already ordered Bon Monsieur shave soap and the aftershave and can't wait to try all of these products together. This will help to aid in projection,longevity and sillage,not that Bon Monsieur needs help in that department because l have always gotten good performance from all of Rogue's products.

The 80s are back baby, and in the best way possible. I'm so glad that someone is making men's fragrances like this, and a decent price. The designers now all smell the same - all Bleu's and Savage's which I cannot wear - or you have to scale up to niche in the $200+ range. This is a great smelling fougere in the old style. I never got into Drakkar but I can see the comparison, but this is its own thing. Fantastic stuff. I've also just tried L'Homme M. Lacroix, Rogue's other 'men's' fragrance and that's awesome too - a 80s inspired leather that feels like the coolest guy in school decided to raid his elegant Dad's (or granddad!) fragrance. really great stuff.

What a stunner! This will make you grow hair on your chest. A fougere lovers dream come true. The oak moss is delicate and smooth, contrasted perfectly with the sharpness of the lavender. Just that perfect barber shop masculine scent that stays on you forever and develops beautifully and a RARE find in this day and age. Got an instant compliment on Day 1 in the drive through line so it projects too. Just ordered two bottles, good job Mr. Cross. P.S. Rogue Perfumes are indeed IFRA compliant. Which goes to show that modern perfume making is suffering from a lack of vision and profititis. P.P.S I get a little bit of a lovelier Sauvage Elixir in the dry down.

It’s a kind of relief smell on my own chest these masculine fragrances in particular Bon Monsieur. Totally enchanted by natural ingredients first we get lavender ,a simple and big one after we found greenery fresh a little wet and lucid herbs after a while rests a little salty oakmoss Totally fresh frag for every season also in summer the reference here are ysl JAZZ , English fern Drakkar noir and so on... The difference here is a more natural familiar confort and never screachy formula, that indeed I can find always in modern e and reformulated frags Good work really a good work