Pour Monsieur Chanel for men

I just received my 8 oz (!) VINTAGE "C" foil-sealed splash-bottle I found on eBay for $50. The packaging, (box included), seems to indicate this big bottle is early 70s perhaps even 60s. Ullage seems minimal if any.

There's nothing like a big, decadent, Chanel splash bottle. And this one is mine!!!

Good grief, I love this scent. This was my first cologne back in the 70's, it is my sig-scent and it will be on me when I die. (I may need it...)

I find great pleasure from this scent which I enjoyed in my youth, and now fiddy, I respect this scent more than any other.

It is a long established premise that familiarity produces liking; my taste has grown over the past half century, and my liking for Chanel Pour Monsieur has kept pace.

The evolution this scent makes in a day is more than most people accomplish in a lifetime.

Classic, complex, versatile and demure, with many moods and expressions. The perfect men's fragrance.

this fragrance is a miracle. on me it changes quite a bit throughout the day, reacting to my chemistry and turning into something a lot more powedery and floral. the citrus doesn't last long. such a complex, sophisticated scent. i can't understand how some call it 'old'... i think it is a work of genius. i put this on and feel elegant...all day.

-Class, elegance, style, discretion.. The most refined fragrance in the world? Yes, I think so!

It smells classic but old.

I have some of the vintage cologne. It dries down to a slightly animalic, slightly powdery, and slightly sweet/vanillic base. I don't get much moss and just a little wood. Natural smelling and well balanced, though not very strong. I can swap a one ounce decant, for those interested.

بوی لیمو کاملا در آن مشهود است و خیلی کلاسیک است
به نظرم یه جورایی بوی داروخانه ها را می دهد
کسی را آزار نمی دهد اما نظر دیگران وقتی از آن استفاده می کنم متوسط است

I've been wearing this fragrance, on and off, since the early sixties. It is one of the few perfumes for men that does not contain heavy, artificial musks - especially in my youth when all one had was Old Spice or Brut. I love the top note of bergamot and the delicate spices. It tones down to a mossy, powdery aroma which, sadly, doesn't last. Even with its shortcomings it is my favourite, as it is intimately entwined with my past and present life. Beware , though, there are fakes aplenty out there.
Anyone remember Caribbean Extract of Lime?

Smells great but it's just so generic. A victim, apparently,of its own influence. There are hundreds of similar smells and while PM may be the best of them,after a lifetime of walking through department stores I can't help but associate it with that cliché men's dept miasma. In fact it's exactly what I try to avoid.

Really different. Dries similar to Rochas or Play Intense, though starts different, almost lavenderish to me with lemon top. Stays close to skin, not that long lasting to me (although mild sweet basenotes survive). Semi-thumbs up.

@armchair sailor
It's the same with me ;)

I expected something rich and balanced, but as soon as I sprayed it I smelled lemon. A lot of lemon. Lemon on the paper, and later lemon on my skin. Lemon on both of them half an hour later. I'm sure there are other things in it, but honestly, I couldn't detect them.
It's an excellent lemon, don't get me wrong. But I want a perfume to be more interesting than that.

Keen to explore the classic men's fragrance offerings of the 50's & 60's I have found some such as 'Eau Savage' to be initially appealing, but ultimately unable to sustain my interest beyond the primary phase. 'Tabac' was more appealing however, so it was with a mixture of curiosity and enthusiasm that I tried out Pour Monseur and its sibling PM Concentree. Of the two I initially found the concentree version to be more appealing. However, after giving PM a second test I can safely say that the mixture of refreshing citruses and woods in this composition, I find to be very uplifting, pleasant and timeless. I have also tried for example 'Givenchy Gentlemen' another contemporary of Pour Monseur, yet for me I personally found it to be dated. I am amazed that a fragrance created some half a century + can be so fresh and contemporary. I respect that people find that this scent to be reminiscent of their grandparents, all I can say is your Grandpas had great taste!

Expectation is so often the issue in not liking a perfume. We have an idea in mind and foster a notion of what a perfume will be. We might have read a list of notes or a review. Really we just shoot ourselves in the foot.

But in Pour Monsieur the expectation is Chanel's fault. The top notes of PM are so singingly beautiful, so inspiring. I want to be The Man Who Wears This Fragrance. 20 minutes later if you're close enough to me to notice, I'm The Guy Who Might Have Put On Cologne This Morning.

The disappointment: it simply doesn't last. The shame: it becomes surprisingly indistinct before it fades away to nothing.

All you men might appreciate a woman's take on this... First of all, I didn't know it was a man's fragrance until after I smelled it (and looked on the bottle). Can I be so bold as to say that it really hit the spot with sex appeal...? Being heterosexual, some perfumes formulated for men stir up the sex centre before it has even been registered in the brain (seduction of the opposite sex is no doubt one of the goals when creating a perfume). Scientists have proven that a lot of sexual interest actually comes from smell. This is true of body odour and other scents. And I am always so intrigued when I find a perfume that has this effect on me. Definitely going to be the present for Valentine's Day...

"Pour Monsieur" is one of those perfumes every perfumer (no matter his background, who he works for or what he represents) will agree it's great!
In a way it is the the definition of a "good perfume".
Being on the "light" side (not very masculine or "shout out") it is a clear statement of class, elegance and of a certain (very European) attitude towards life.
Not many people are wearing this nowadays (good taste is not a very common thing, anyway), but it is surprising how "valid" it remains by today's standards!
The only element in its formula that breaths something old is the trace of class and moderation it leaves behind.
A masterpiece!

A note: It is an ideal fragrance to start your day. Women can safely wear it as well.

This was the first fragrance mass marketed exclusiveley for men. Indeed, like No 5 in 1921, designed to smell like a woman, this was created to smell like a man. Citrus, basil and plenty of green notes. The spices give it a virile push. A few floral notes peek through here and there. The rich mossy fougere accord cannot be matched.

It changed the market and men began steering clear of Mitsouko and Chypre. The gate was opened and the mens market began.

This thoroughbred was destroyed with a sweeter reformulation the bears little resemblance to the original.

Have been wearing it as my main fragrance for over 30 years! Simply put it is just a lovely smell. It's clean, fresh and gentle; the sought of fragrance you can wear at a dinner without ruining the meal for everyone.
The smell everyone loves (my mother used to spray it on herself as she loved it so much)
Chanel herself made this for the men in her life, enough said really.
The perfect fragrance for a man.

its a great fragrance.. the citrus note is wonderfull.. then comes the second note where the lovely spices tingling around.. its fresh and everybody love it

"...and when the Joseph entered the hall, Harem ladies who were peeling bergamots, cut their hands by mishap and even felt nothing, cause he was immensely attractive and beautiful..."
From the story of Joseph the prophet

...and the story repeats again! Extremely awesome perfume. Something wild but gentle emerges out from this chilly volcano.

Confidence is the word.

It does not give an outright burst of loud masculinity, yet it is not quiet. It is subtle in its own way, making a wide locus of aura around you, like a circle of trust. In the circle, you will feel calm, as your surrounding people shall also shall this calm. They will somehow like you.

Gentlemen's Choice, as it is so named.

For solemn events for sure.

I tried it,
It smells exactly like Pour Monsieur Concentre, but does not last near as long- only lasted about an hour on me and it does not have the great vanilla/vetiver drydown of PMC.

Definitely stick with PMC instead.

This phenomenon opens extremely pleasant and surprising; tons of sweet lemon and lemon peel which pet my olfactory!
Although it hasn’t been mentioned among the notes, I think I smelt blossoms and tiny soft flowers like jasmine. Sour and bitter pattern from citruses and their leaves, and a undertone of divine smooth floral sweetness from blossoms. Furthermore, it presents a musky vivid smell but in the back and for whole the scent.
It’s heavy but not too much, so green, sport but in a young classical manner. After about an hour it becomes a little bit waxy and smoky. Overall, it's so chic and extremely attractive and handsome.
It emerges from a modern vintage high level mood in a sporty way; proper for mild to hot weather and polo shirts. Preferably evenings.
This marvel is a GIRL KILLER if wear it on green or grey shirt in a casual way! It's a masterpiece which dandies should not neglect.

longevity 9/10
sillage 10/10
scent 10/10

I know this was an huge release from Chanel, influential, kind of reference perfume but I'm not totally convinced. The opening is really pleasant with a crispy lemon note and neroli. It turns even more interesting within a few minutes with an animalic twist that takes the distance form millions and millions of men's colognes but I get totally disappointed in the drydown where PM becomes unacceptably dated. Older man (grandpa) in suit at the barbershop. Sorry, but not for me.

Rating: 9/10 for its relevance
6.5/10 for the drydown

I'm not a citrus guy but with the great drydown it is forgiven. Great for summer / suit wearings. Radiates class in a subtle way. At first I didn't really like it, but now that I'm more into chypre, I realize how wonderfully executed this is.

8/10

I'm on the fence.
I hate hate hate the lemon opening, lemon sickens me, it overpowers scents and ruins them.
But this scent, I dies completely after the drydown, and makes for a nice lil sweet, green fragrance.
If it wasn't for the lemon I'd be on this

This starts off with a bit of a "wake up!" kind of freshness. Citric. It didn't last too long for me, though. The elements of the top notes faded quickly, in a way that made it feel like those were for me, and me only. Like the cologne and I had a secret understanding. One that those I would soon deal with in the general public will never be privy to. Following that, Chanel Monsieur took a different direction.

I was hit with the feeling of "This smells like a man". Not a boy, not a guy, not a dude. A man. But that isn't to say manly as in tough. If I smelled this approaching me in a dark alley, I wouldn't think "Oh no, I'm in for a beat down and a mugging". I may be persuaded to think "Oh no, I'm in for an old fashioned mugging", but it's the old fashioned that is tied to the scent, the mugging just comes from living at Jane and Wilson in Toronto.

That is how I would put this. An old fashioned man. This actually makes me think of a time, more than an age. For instance, if I were to wear this when I'm twenty to thirty years older, I don't think it would suit me. If I were to wear it fifty-some years ago (with me ten years older, perhaps) it would suit me just fine. It's interesting to come across something that smells like an age rather than someone's age. Especially since I get the feeling of an age I wasn't even alive in, and should have no reference to.

I enjoy this, but I don't feel I could wear it frequently. It's out of my league, in how it would present me as a person. This is how I picture Bruce Wayne's dad smelling. You know... before the whole being gunned down in an alley thing.

If comic book lore isn't your thing, and you can't picture that, I submit the point in which Tom Buchanan is having a conversation with Jay Gatsby in F. Scott Fitzgeralds "The Great Gatsby", which goes something along the exact lines of:

Buchanan: "You can never be like us Gatsby. We're old money"
Gatsby: "Well, how old?"
Buchanan: "So old..."
Buchanan: "Old as balls."

Yeah, Buchanan was wearing something like Chanel Pour Monsieur when he said that. No doubt.

Well, I wouldn't call this fragrance 'antique', 'old-fashioned' or 'mature'. Pour Monsieur is a classic which has been around for decades, however it makes such a smooth transition into every decade, paticularly this one.

Pour Monsieur is nothing utterly breath-taking. It won't be encouraging me to jump any man wearing it, however with that being said, it is sexy in a grown-up, clean fashion.

I find this fragrance to be a particularly beautiful blend of citrus and herbs, with both accords creating a harmonious and friendly experience.

Pour Monsieur strikes me as being the scent of a business-man. He's focused, confident, intelligent and smartly dressed. In some ways, Pour Monsieur is the male equivalent to Chanel No.19 just perhaps not as green and leathery.

Apparently Pour Monsieur is a chypre, well I don't know too much about that particular fragrance genre, but I guess that oakmoss in the base places it into that category. I find the cedar and amber to be much more prominent.

This fragrance is one of those refreshingly green scents with a touch of spiciness which provides an interesting warmth. The sillage is so-so, however this fragrance does last extremely well. Not the very best Chanel fragrance for men, but cetainly impressive.

An excellent citrus/spicy fragrance that has a lot of character. However, there is a clove note in there that I find very slightly off putting. I would think that this is a citrus aromatic not an oriental fougere though. But it IS a classic and it's gorgeous! Also, try Bowling Green by Geoffrey Beene, it's very similar and it's great too.

This fine entry EDT has notes of fresh, clean, little citrus, followed by middle notes a bit spicy, clove-like odor, narotas d base with wood and subtle shades like cream and light scent of spices.

It is a very masculine scent and elegant, a true classic. Perfect for a formal dress, including official think for a gala evening is a soft, pungent aroma at the same time, really noticeable. It is best to use it for the night, on formal occasions, is very elegant, despite its use at night can be used in hot or cold, this fragrance is very comfortable. The age range is universal, only requires the event to be used, a true wonder. Stay in skin for about 12 hours. Almost perfect.

One of the most discreet and elegant fragrances for men period.

Chanel simultaneously broke the mold for men's fragrances of the time and then set what I consider the standard for subtle, refined masculine elegance.

This frag is older than me yet it holds its own against any of todays popular up-and-comers. It is dynamic while being laid back. It comes on STRONG yet is not overpowering as it progresses. It never losses its quiet strength or its ethereal beauty. This is the iron fist in a velvet glove (real crushed velvet, not that tacky velour crap), make no mistake because it contains peony, verbena and corriander this scent has the "cojones"
to hold its own and once the velvet glove is off it is all business.

The only store in a 50 mile radius that carried this is now out of business, so it is years since I've had the privilege of wearing it. It is like the old-fashioned stylish worldly grandfather who helped define your ideas of masculinity and how a man should carry himself, and even though he may be gone he is not forgotten and continues to inspire you to be better and never ever settle or lower your standards. Sorely missed, yet ever present and a BIG part of who you are...

Sillage: fantastic!!
Longevity : excellent (fades to great)
Overall: 5/5 *Perfection*

There is no mistaking this fragrance and once you've experienced it you will not be the same, for it's the distillation of more than juice...it's masculine strength and beauty realised!

Who knew that a mix of ...
Citrus , Corainder and Cedar
would equal to ..
Sophistication and Elegance in a bottle!

This was my absolute fave fragrance when I was a teenager...
I would spalsh this on liberaly
while in Highschool..

Later when I was working for CHANEL Inc.
it was the Fragrance de riguer to wear

I was the Sophisticated,Worldly,Creature
that I had always wished to be ...
My Crisp White Shirt.. Red CHANEL logo Tie, Grey Trousers and Navy Blazer....
and the one amazing Scent that tied it all in a luxurious French Ribbon ..
POUR MONSIEUR Chanel.

As I slide my navy crombie blazer from the walnut hanger of my wardrobe, I feel a tingle of excitement that soon I will be applying Pour Monsieur - that cultivated, smooth, confident and suave scent. This is all about gravitas, depth. A crisp white chirt, silk tie, charcoal trousers, black brogue loakes, silk hankerchief top pocket and Pour Monsieur. It is the Gentleman's scent par excellence. The initial opening of neroli and citrus gives way to a dry down of ginger and vetiver that is so subtle as to be sleight of hand. This scent is like furniture polish for the soul, it lifts the mood, gets the juices aflame and says "step aside, classic male breezing through in sartorial style". If Louis the XIV had a fragrance, then the Sun King would have bathed in the stuff. Bravo Madame Chanel!

Elegance in a bottle, i am very suprised that this was created in 1955 because it doesnt smell oldfashioned at all... smells very discret, sofisticaded, one of the most sensual, high class perfume out there...

the best male perfume in the history by far, so chic, sofisticaded, soft, elegance... this masterpiece is very similiar to Cristalle in the drydown, but with the masculine touch to it... for this is Cristalle Pour Homme....

WOW! This seriously have to be one of the strongest and loudest fragrances out there.
I got out of the shower this evening, and added ONE spritz on to my wrist.
It was the first time I have ever tried this one out. Now remember, just one tiny spray.
OK. Back to the story. I got out of the shower, put it on and walked downstairs towards the livingroom.
I walked right across the room to sit down in a chair.
On the OTHER side of the living room, my stepfather sits in the sofa watching TV. The moment i got to the chair and sat down, he gives me this look and says; OH MY GOD BOY! It's reeking of you! coughing and whining from the lack of fresh air supposedly.. Im like WTF!? How in the world can it be that offensive and pungent, only from one tiny little spray on my wrist!?
Now im just sitting here, absolutely stunned about the effect of this fragrance. And also it is only an eau de toilette! AND, I was extremely cautious you know, since I havent tried it before as I said earlier on.
Thats why i only did one spray in the first place! Apparently, it was one spray too much also.
Is there something wrong with me or what?
Im guessing my chemistry really fired up this one to something completely unbareable to the suroundings. Too bad, since i really love the smell:(
Anybody else having similar experiences with this one??

Definitely unisex, though for the middle it definitely has a very, very pipe tobacco/leather masculine edge. The drydown on me smells almost coconutty, along with the cedar/vetiver... yum! At one stage in the middle I was saying it was such a masculine scent I could just...and then I remembered, this is the scent my uncle wore. (so much for the I could just... part!)

The drydown's softness is where its femme lies, IMO. Kind of like that really macho guy who, at his core, has a soft, soft heart. (or, I suppose, a strong, confident woman. Not for the young!)

I Will add it to my wardrobe in a few weeks!

Although it has "antique" apeal, it's still very modern, elegant, and fresh. It wouldn't be my first choice, but I can imagine myself wearing it on some occasions...

This was my first attempt at wearing a men's fragrance and was purchased mainly based on my friend's rave recommendations. Again, she was right and I quickly became smitten (at first whiff, actually) with this gorgeous concoction.

I was hit with a sharp, fresh burst of citrus right out of the gate and then, after maybe a minute or so, a blend of rich, delicious spices followed suit and settled in, unobtrusively melding to blend in with that mossy, powdery, elegant drydown that has become a familiar Chanel trademark. Ummmmm...heaven! I never lost track of the citrus notes but, although they were no longer the key players, they remained gently clinging to the spices throughout like a thin veil. It's kind of a paradox in that it has an exceptionally fresh, youthful, and modern feel, yet still evokes the sense of classic, almost vintage, sophistication and timeless beauty. Unfortunately, like Chanel 19 (one of my all-time favorites also created by Henri Robert), it's short-lived on the skin, but does linger for quite some time when spayed additionally on clothing and hair.

For women who don't feel enough bravado to wear a man's fragrance, this is a good one with which to test the waters and I recommend you definitely give it a try. It's undeniably unisex, delightfully fresh and just wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!

[Please note: This review is about the non-concentree version.]

A class of it's own,I have the EDT spray,a bit unfortunate that it does'nt last long on skin,one can get better result if applied on fabric.

"The" traditional chypre for men.

Longevity and sillage play according to the rules of a time when men did not wear scents, and if they did, they did not want to be smelt at in social occasions.

In these terms, Chanel pour Monsieur is in the same league as vintage Rochas' Moustache, Monsieur de Givenchy and Dior's Eau Sauvage, for they all have this "classic subtlety" in common.

"Timeless Elegance"....

Timeless & on-trend with its almost unisex appeal. Its clean citrus opener is gentle, there is a breath of sweet neroli & a wonderful savory herb & spice mix that lifts the warm earthy base. A touch of dusty powder adds a slight feminine edge to this classic. Elegant, very elegant.

For me the most suprising find was that it whisked me straight back to being a very young child. It was the smell of the box containing my farmyard toy set (one of my absolute favourites!). Lord knows how it ended up smelling so beautiful :)

my partner has this is his "wardrobe" which has grown under my influence. he likes the lemon in the top note. this really is a timeless classic, he was most surprised that it came from such a brown decade as the fifties. it's lemony without being sharp, and changes into a wonderful soft warm smell, it lasts on him too. it's my favourite of all his smells.

today I went shopping with a friend of mine, I was telling him about how I became a perfumemaniac...
I mentioned Pour Monsieur and how impressed I was with this fantastic male perfume, we went and tested it together. I tell you what! It fits great on mine and his skin! Now we both want to buy it! I think that it would look equally great on both women and men. Its kind of unisex:) Its masculiness will emphasize femininity and tenderness:)))

I love this perfume, and I don't think that its old-fashioned at all. I was surprised that it was created in the 50's 'cos it seems to be more modern then some other more resent fragranses

it's soo classic. some ppl tell that's scent of our parents/grandparents.... so whta???!! it's still great! you are making statement by wearing this fragrance