Pour Monsieur

5.4/10 Definitely smells older. I get lemon cough drops. Smells a bit like habit rouge edt without the vanilla.

Not bad, but to me feels more of a fougere than a chypre (it lacks the depth, sweetness, contrast and melancholy to be what i consider to be a chypre) , and thus doesn't really pose any serious competition to proper fougeres. too similar to Dior Eau Sauvage for example (minus the lavender) for me the chypre reference is mitsuko or diaghilev. and the fougere reference is something like TF beau de jour

I appreciate it as a perfume, but it really sucks to wear it publicly

It took me a few wears to really appreciate how wonderful this fragrance is. When you first smell it, you probably won't be wowed. It's not trying to be hyper unique. It's a classic scent profile done to perfection, with a beautiful lemon opening that's slightly aromatic, mossy, and powdery.

It's really weird—on me, it smells like that toilet cleaner lol.

I'm in and out of airports a lot for work, and I'm fascinated by how the modern bottles of Pour Monsieur EDT in airport duty-free shops differ so drastically from one another. There are some serious formulation control issues happening at Chanel haha. The bottle I recently tested in Vienna basically skipped the opening and went straight on into the dry down with a much more pronounced evernia prunastri accord, lovely stuff, but not as strong a performer as the Tokyo bottle I tested. Now, just this week, I tested a bottle in Melbourne (batch code 1105), and it was literally just all top notes, citrus, petitgrain, neroli, and ginger that collapsed into a dry down of vetiver with barely a trace of oak moss compared to the Vienna bottle. Still lovely stuff, but a very different experience. This bottle also had by far the worst performance of the three. All were tested on skin. Complete roll of the dice each time you purchase this as to what type of experience you'll get. The actual scent profile though is truly mind blowing in the effortless elegance it imparts upon the wearer. People react differently around you when you wear this; they gravitate towards you and are more attentive. I'm not just saying that; I've noticed it with certain fragrances, and this is one of them. It instills a sense of calm, confident command, and approachable, effortless class. This smells like a man with a plan who never feels the need to prove themselves to the world, because they know that they've already arrived. Shimmering, aromatic herbal chypre perfection. I also love Dior Eau Sauvage, Armani Pour Homme, Fiero, New York Intense, Cravache, and YSL Pour Homme. But this is the "reference chypre" for mine.

(Review of the EdT c. 1980s) Some years ago the first experience I had of Pour Monsieur was the EdP reworking by Jacques Polge. It wasn't love at first sniff. It took a fair amount of time for me to "figure it out" and understand what it was doing. Its "all things to all men" character initially read to my nose as a bit vacillating, but after quite a bit more time and patience its many puzzle pieces fell into place and I started to see the big picture. It sent me on a determined path to find an old formulation of the EdT. There are quite a few differences, though nothing terribly stark (the vanilla "mistake" makes a contrary argument, however), between this old EdT and the new EdP, but I won't expound upon them here (read my review of the EdP if you're curious). Though it is the briefest part of Pour Monsieur, the lemon opening is the best part. It's not bergamot; no zesty, oily bitterness here - that would be too loud, a bit too forward, for a 1950s man's-man fragrance that must be about simplicity and cleanliness. Just a big squirt of lemon juice made a bit smoother and a bit less acidic by a gentle addition of powdery aldehydes. If this doesn't put a smile on your face and a kick in your step, see a doctor. The cool brown spice heart is beautifully done. Cardamom mostly, with very tiny and muted touches of stuff like coriander, cinnamon, and anise. A quick sniff could fool someone into thinking there is a floral aspect in here, but closer study reveals that to not be the case. The spices are so soft, quiet, and multi-dimensional you can pull slight floral aspects from them since there isn't much of a piquant/spicy din getting in the way. Then, of course, the cloud of oakmoss - the real deal, the good ol' stuff, in one big pile. Damp, woody, green leaves, fresh-out-of-the-morning-shower earthiness supported by a bed of very quiet, gentle, aromatic cedar and woody vetiver. This heart and base transition is refreshingly bitter compared to the lemon opening's refreshing and bright sourness. At all points Pour Monsieur is bath powder smooth, clean, and seamlessly woven together like the lightest and plushest of cashmere sweaters. Elegance, class, understatement, and simplicity perfectly bottled. It's a legend for a reason, boys. One of the best "for men" perfumes ever created. A benchmark. There is not a single thing I would change in it, and I dearly love it.

Let’s be honest, 95% of the praise is because its in a Chanel bottle, otherwise it would get panned. It is an average mens fragrance and that’s about it.

The longevity of the modern bottles is criminal. Especially for a fragrance that smells this incredible. Gives one the olfactory blue balls, smelling that heavenly opening spray yet knowing at the back of the mind how short this lasts. This would be a signature fragrance of mine if I could rely on it to perform; unfortunately, my current bottle mostly burns off by early afternoon... However, just tested this at Haneda T2 international, expecting the usual disappointment I’ve had for it in terms of longevity/performance whenever I try out new bottles. Nope. This particular tester bottle was an absolute nuclear bomb in terms of performance, to the point where I was shocked. Ended up getting sozzled on G&Ts at the ANA lounge and forgot to go back and check the batch number. Also, I'm fairly sure I stunk out the entire lounge with this god-tier juice wafting everywhere haha. Wish it were possible to buy the actual tester bottle at the airport when you chance on a nuclear batch. One could simply own Egoiste, Platinum Egoiste, and Pour Monsieur EDT and technically not need another fragrance. Each covers all the bases. Absolute class. I’ve always preferred this to the EDP, I’m not a fan of that one's vanilla dry down. I've always considered the EDP a rare misstep by Chanel, and I'd love to see them redo it. Smells like: Alain Delon in Plein Soleil (1960)

I sampled a vintage bottle from the 1970s. It opens very elegant, French, and smooth like most Chanel fragrances do and doesn't smell dated. It's a very rounded chyrpre citrus fragrance with an almost cool herbal powdery undertone. It then dries down to this oakmossy musk which changes the character and direction of the fragrance, making it more linear and dated smelling. The vintage version lasts all day but the top notes go by the 5th hour. Overall, I'd recommend sampling the current EDT, which is only sold in Europe today. While the vintage is very high quality, I'm not fond of the top notes going so fast, and the heavy use of oakmoss which was common back in the day. Keep in mind the bottle I sampled is 55 years old approximately, so some of those top notes could be gone over the decades. I've heard the modern formulation is fresher but doesn't last as long. Overall rating 6.5/10.

A true classic from 1955. It's so easy to try this and very quickly understand where Monsieur de Givenchy (1959), Dior Eau Sauvage (1966), Yves Saint Laurent Pour Homme (1971) and doubtless many others came from. They all share the DNA of the Chanel. Somehow, the grey coloured box seems such an apt colour in which to package this fragrance and out of the bottle it is a beautiful blast from the past. The downside? Yes you've guessed it. The longevity is piss poor. I put it on before leaving the house and by the time I've arrived at the office, this has already become a skin scent. At the current Chanel price of £109 per bottle, that's a very bad deal for the customer. Let's be real, this will not be as potent as it once was. Almost certainly it will be absent of elements that it once had or have synthetic alternatives that weren't around at the time. But still, for the price, it's a bitter pill to swallow. What I will say in it's favour is that because it does fade so quickly, you're in no danger of creating a scandal in the office with one exception: if anybody is close enough to you to really pick up on this, that will probably be a matter for your HR department....and the office gossip! I'm laying it on a bit thick (no pun intended), it sticks around for quite some time but it is very VERY subtle and, as beautiful as that opening fanfare is, you'll wear this because it is tasteful, because it is professional and because it IS low key. The fragrance equivalent of the saying "money talks, wealth whispers"? Perhaps so. I do enjoy it and enjoy wearing it but the price is the killer. Once this bottles out of the way, I might give the Eau de Parfum a try, a touch cheaper and likely at least a little more present.

Genuinely obsessed with this fragrance, but sadly the longevity issue just doesn't make it worth it. An old school citrus creamy blend, but done so uniquely. Can't find a dupe like it, since Chanel's blending quality is top notch, but can't justify the price. A modern similarity I guess is probably something like Dior homme Cologne, which also has its longevity issues.

My favourite men’s fragrance by far. It is absolutely timeless. I imagine this is the scent of the archetypal Gentleman. It’s light without being watery, sensual without being obvious or cloying, and can be worn all seasons day and night. A perfect signature scent.

Smells like a man with a plan. Never idling, ever so classy and always on time. Merci monsieur.

Chanel Pour Monsieur is classic perfumery with perfect manners. A crisp citrus–aromatic structure over dry woods, clean, sharp, and impeccably dressed — like a white shirt ironed properly, which already puts it ahead of most modern releases. The opening is bright and precise: lemon, citrus, and aromatic freshness, razor-clean without being aggressive. Then the fragrance settles into a dry, slightly mossy woody base — smooth, composed, and quietly confident. No sweetness, no noise, no drama. Just structure and good taste. Performance is civilized: moderate projection, steady presence, no unnecessary theatrics. It doesn’t shout, it doesn’t chase compliments — it simply exists with composure. What it really evokes, though, is a very specific image: my grandfather in the 1950s — young, perfectly dressed, hair in place, probably smoking, and somehow looking cooler than most people today without even trying. The kind of elegance that is natural, effortless and slightly dangerous. Chanel Pour Monsieur is proof that you don’t need complexity, sweetness, or volume to smell great. Sometimes, good structure, clean lines, and a bit of old-school charm are more than enough.

The beginning is sharp and deliberate — citrus and petitgrain cutting through the air like morning light through old glass. There’s nothing loud, nothing eager to impress. It feels architectural, almost structural, as if built by hand from clean lines and careful thought. The lemon is restrained, dry rather than juicy, and soon the spices begin to rise — cardamom, coriander, a whisper of ginger — like warmth beneath linen. Then it settles. The middle becomes quiet, a measured rhythm of woods and moss. There’s something deeply human in it — pressed shirts, well-worn books, soft conversation in paneled rooms. The base of oakmoss and vetiver carries a muted confidence, more shadow than presence. It recalls old architecture in stone and cedar: proportioned, elegant, perfectly balanced. It does not smell modern, and that is its strength. Where today’s scents shimmer with synthetic polish, this remains grounded — refined woods and natural moss giving form to something calm and exact. It won’t be found in Sephora’s aisles; it belongs to another vocabulary entirely, one of clarity, civility, and discretion. In the end, it feels timeless — intelligent, composed, and quietly alive, a good, old-fashioned scent built on discipline rather than decoration. It reminds me most of Dior Eau Savage EDT and Guerlain Vetiver.

Picked up a bottle of this about a month ago. Smells lovely, and that citrus burst right at the start is fantastic. But it is not as strong as I would have liked. If this was a beast mode fragrance I would wear it more often. Still, it's a great fragrance, and I will buy it again when it runs out.

I prefer this one slightly more than Eau Sauvage. I really appreciate both fragrances--Eau Sauvage has this beautiful, bright lemon top, masterfully done and it perhaps smells more natural than Pour Monsieur. Monsieur opens with the same hefty dose of bergamot (less lemon it feels like, and more ginger, with some powderiness). They both run around the same price wholesale, with Sauvage being discounted, however. Gentleman's fragrance--if your gf is under 40, she might think you smell like daddy though :). I'd repurchase a bottle at full retail.

I smelled this a while back and really liked it, I think perhaps even more so than bleu. Worth a try.

Hello fragrance fam. For today's reformulation guide were covering the benchmark Eau De Cologne style fragrance by Chanel known as Pour Monsieur EDT! This fragrance is known for its lemon and citric top notes with an oak moss filled, chypre dry down. This fragrance was first released in 1955, and surprisingly through time Chanel has been able to keep it fairly true to it's original scent profile. Before I list PM's main three reformulations here's an approximate listing of PM's previous iterations. Each version may have slight batch variations. * USA, visit our web store VintageDecants If you would like to sample this fragrance in it's vintage formulation, along with hundreds of other discontinued and rare fragrances to choose from. Pre-1960: Released as "Eau De Cologne Pour Monsieur". 1961-1969: Name changes to "A Gentleman's cologne". 1969-1975: Name changes to "Chanel for Men" 1975-1979: Name changes to "Eau Pour Monsieur". 1979-89: Name changes to "Pour Monsieur" as an EDC 1989-2016: Name stays the same but changes to an EDT. Slightly different scent profile. Post-2016: Changes to an EDP. Very altered scent profile. *It's important to note Chanel markets regionally and this timeline may not match exactly world wide. Some bottle styles may have overlapping timelines with one another. I would consider Pour Monsieur to have three main reformulations. Pre-2008 - Bottles with yellow or amber colored liquid will generally be closer to the fragrances original scent profile. The older the bottle (The EDC's) the higher a concentration of musks and oakmoss you will receive. 2008-2016 - After a reformulation removed the allergins from the ingredients, Chanel opted to turn Pour Monsieurs liquid to a green color. The longevity greatly diminished, and its natural aroma became more synthetic around this time. Post 2016: The EDT was turned into an EDP with a new scent profile. The lemon notes were reduced, and a higher note of vanilla was added. This version smells closer to the discontinued 1989 flanker of Pour Monsieur that was titled "Pour Monsieur EDP Concentree". Hope this helps and enjoy the journey!

The beginning is dark, revealing everything we know from barber scents, but from the shadows. The darkness gradually takes on a floral character, all tempered by a metallic harshness. It’s like Tabac Silver, but serious rather than fresh. Rive Gauche is less open, while Armani and Habit share some similarities, as does Grey Flannel — which makes me suspect it resembles too many scents, making it hard to distinguish them clearly. Probably the closest is Armani, which might stand slightly above the rest. Overall, this is a dark barber scent from the family of Rive Gauche, Armani, Habit, and Grey Flannel. If mint appears, it’s dirty and tries unsuccessfully to come through. This might be the best among those mentioned, as it becomes fresher with time. Each of these five scents has its own character — all are classic barbers, and even Habit has its masculine beauty. For me, the strongest impressions come from Chanel and Armani, with Flannel resembling Chanel somewhat. Armani and Chanel seem worth considering. Surprisingly, after a while, it blends with Rive Gauche, making them similar, though Chanel feels less obvious. It gains sweetness over time and loses some barber qualities. In the end, there’s a magical, enigmatic sweetness — a complex and non-obvious scent. It feels sexy, reminding me of the secret island in Asterix’s Twelve Tasks. This sweetness is an escape from the overly common barber notes, as that old-fashioned “barberiness” is missing at the end. A good, old-fashioned scent.

The current formulation is so different, powdery limes in the opening, with an earthy patchouli dry down. It's very nice, but completely different to the original and frankly should have it's own entry with appropriate note listings.

My favorite old fragrance of all time

Chanel For Men!!! Chanel Vintage!! 🤗🥰🤗🥰 (1969-1975!!!) "According to the history of Basenotes and Fragrantica, the fragrance now marketed as Chanel Pour Monsieur was originally marketed in the United States as Chanel for Men and in the United Kingdom as A Gentleman's Cologne. So the American, well, Canadian chronology goes something like this: Eau de Cologne Pour Monsieur from 1955 to 1960; A Gentleman's Cologne from 1961 to at least 1969; Chanel For Men until 1975; Chanel Pour Monsieur Cologne in 1989? ; Chanel Pour Monsieur Eau de Toilette?; and a green juice version of Chanel Pour Monsieur Eau de Toilette?"

The perfect cross between New York and Eau Sauvage, and perhaps better than both of them! There may even be a little Diaghilev showing itself with this structure, in the sense that Diaghilev is, in part, a dry, spicy Chypre. Diaghilev, of course, is a whole other animal! Haha! Pour Monsieur remains a Chypre, and doesn’t stray into the oriental category as the first one I mentioned, something I’m grateful for. It’s really as close to perfection in a masculine Chypre fragrance as one could get. Very captivating, fresh, classy, smooth. Citrus(lemon), herbal, and mossy cedar and vetiver. The lemon is very prominent and beautiful in the opening. It perfectly prepares you for the rest of the fragrance. Pour Monsieur is light, but I think lighter is better. It’s so common these days to clear a room over-spraying the heavy fragrances available. I’m guilty of it, too. I want to learn to let fragrances be a subtle thing that passerby’s may catch a whiff of that create a lasting memory and a desire to lean in a little closer. This is the newest bottle available. It immediately became a favorite, and the first thought was that this is what I’ve been searching for all these years. A full 10 hours later, it lingers still with its beautiful mossy, vetiver, cedar base, even with a little herbal thrown in. If you have a spare bottle and are interested in some of the fragrances in my collection, I’ll let you know what I’d be willing to trade. I’ll trade you twice the value of a bottle of Pour Monsieur. If you are a fan of any of the fragrances I mentioned in the beginning, go ahead and pull the trigger on this one. You won’t be disappointed. A most definite timeless quality about this one.

Reminds me of creed Bois d' Portugal light.....softer, lighter version.

This is one of my absolute favourite fragrances. Even though I have tried and collected many over the years, I'd put it in my top 3 "traditional masculines". There's something about it that's so right, as if all the components are perfectly balanced, between woody, resinous, herbal, and citrus facets. It just takes a couple of sprays and it lasts all day. It's very gentle, so unless it's over-sprayed nobody else will notice unless they're within hugging distance.

Absolutely love it. But justt like Obsession, Eternity, Egoiste, yiu cannot keep wearing them since I did one day and someone told me i smelled like the 80s...Not a good compliment.

Love it, im a woman . Love it cause it reminds me Eau Verte , which is not in my country anymore.

Reacquainted myself with this at SYD airport during transit a couple of days ago. The most recent formulation still smells good, but much like the most recent Platinum Egoiste formulations, the longevity/performance is dreadful. There's no "punch" or power to this fragrance anymore, Chanel should be ashamed selling something that performs so woefully... Check out Robert Piguet Cravache (the EDT and EDP) if you like Chypre's but want something with more balls and heft to it. Scent: 9.5/10 Performance: 2/10