Mont Blanc Individuel

Bergamot, Pineapple, Juniper Berries, Cinnamon, Rosemary, Peppermint, Cardamom, Coriander, Lavender.

Geranium, Orange Blossom, Jasmine, Violet.

Patchouli. Oakmoss, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Raspberry, Chocolate, Vanilla, Amber, Musk.

An impressive list of notes for this 2003 creation by Pierre Bourdon. Like numerous others, I picked this up discounted at the local TJ earlier this year.

Is it really as good as it's hyped up to be on certain fragrance sites? I think that's contingent upon just how many fragrances a person has been exposed to over the years. Individuel has been compared to Joop and a few other designers .......and while the comparisons may have some merit, I choose to let Individuel stand or fall on its own.

The first few minutes are dedicated to numerous notes vying for attention. Don't think that it's a jumbled mess, because together they smell very nice. Hints of citrus, herbs, spices and woods launch out of the bottle, reigned in by an intelligent volume unlike some of the original designers it's been compared to. It's this tuning of presence that highlights Mont Blanc's Individuel. Volume and throw are contemporary and in spite of my being a vintage owner-wearer, I actually prefer some semblance of civility. The transitions, on me at least, lean more toward volume dissipation than accord movements.

Individuel is underpinned with a subtle gourmand quality, yet never reveals an edible aspect on me. This is a full bodied scent that respects boundaries. I don't find it a terrific scent like some, but I own it, wear it and like it. There's something to be said for fragrances that smell modern, pleasant, unoffensive and possess versatility. The price point is another plus and while I've purchased others as good or better for less, that's neither here nor there. I believe I paid $20 for a 50ml. bottle NIB and it's assuredly worth it.

Once again, I have to buck the trend and state that I truly don't get the exaggerated longevity or sillage others have boasted of. That aside, Sillage is actually perfect on my skin with longevity approximately 5 hours. Thumbs up from Aromi for Mont Blanc's Individuel. As always, a sample wear is highly recommended before purchase.

Comments

Black Suede by Avon

Nutmeg, Clove, Amber, Musk, Moss, Wood Notes. Yes.........I am reviewing one of the Rodney Dangerfield's of fragrance. Black Suede has been gracing medicine cabinets, for better or worse, since 1980 my friends. If you're expecting me to inform you ( like others may have already ) that Black Suede is a nasty scrubber, you will be disappointed. On the other hand, if you're expecting a glowing review claiming it's a diamond in the rough, you won't hear that from me either. I will say though that Black Suede doesn't deserve the hate it's received and most of that is due to snobbery aimed at Avon products in general. I kid you not when I state that a close relative to this fragrance is Cacharel Pour L'Homme. The array of spice in both ensure comparison, but the "smoother" of the two is Black Suede due to its implementation of Amber. While wearing Black Suede, one can detect a hint of "drugstore". That quality doesn't manife...

Chanel copying Guerlain. Why?

Last month, I had the pleasure of trying Comète by Chanel, the latest addition to their prestigious Les Exclusifs line. This fragrance follows the release of Le Lion in 2020, another standout in the same collection. Like Le Lion , Comète is a beautiful perfume that captures the essence of Chanel’s refined elegance. However, both fragrances bear a striking resemblance to classic creations by Guerlain, leading me to ponder the direction Chanel is taking. Chanel has a great fragrance history. Not as hallowed and old as Guerlain but for past three decades it has far outshone Guerlain. In my view, no other perfume house has come close to Chanel’s excellence in this century. This makes their recent approach of echoing Guerlain classics somewhat perplexing. Have they run out of fresh ideas? Is Roger Dove at the helm of their fragrance division, or have they perhaps...

La Chasse Aux Papillons Extreme by L'Artisan Parfumeur

I read many reviews before or after I do my own and I seem to be at complete odds with the house of L'Artisan. I have previously said on basenotes that for me, L'Artisan Parfumeur is the most over-rated house I have come across. La Chasse Aux Papillons Extreme does nothing to sway that opinion. Yet another linear, floral dominant scent that does nothing to stir me up or inspire me in any way. This house has "pleasant" nailed down to an art form......but damn...can't we go beyond that? The only attempt at polarization so far has been Dzongkha ....and I found it a jumbled mess. At these prices, move me, anger me, hate me.......but please don't bore me. Extreme in a nutshell is a toned down tuberose with assorted "blossom" thrown in the mix. Is it bad? No, it's an acceptable floral scent that's very timid and just lays on my skin smelling like....well....a toned down version of tuberose with blossom this or that added to it. I'm almost a...

Il Mondo di Odore

Search This Blog