Decant Shop Trial No.4 Chanel Pour Monseiur Concentree

[Phog Allen]

Ah, down to the first use of the last decant in the batch. I should first say there is a bit of misunderstanding by me and I think a few other gents when approaching this scent. There is indeed a Chanel Pour Monsieur edt that was first made in 1955 or thereabouts. It has always carried a good reputation. What I am testing is a newer concoction with the 'concentree' added to the description. From all accounts this fragrance bears little resemblance to its namesake. The original is still available in the UK and Canada but is unlisted anywhere in the U.S. More's the pity because I really wanted to try it. This will have to do.

Like the others I applied two quick spritzes to the pulse points on my neck this morning. Immediately I was hit with what I thought was going to be the generic fragrance we have all smelled these last twenty years. Thankfully it never quite exploded full force into that dreck. And the quality of the scent components were much better. However, I always felt it was lurking just in the background, ready to come full force with the sugar water. After an hour or two it settled down some and I thought I sniffed a slightly smoky spice note. The whole affair lasted 5-6 hours to my nose and only an occasional whiff was caught later. As you probably noted I make very few references to individual scent notes. This is because with these perfume type scents I cannot really tell what I am dealing with. I am simply not a good enough nose. I can tell you without hesitation this is my least favourite fragrance of the four I have sampled so far. This should not be taken as any great proclamation. I am sure there are plenty who like and truth told, it is no where near objectionable like so many modern fragrances. In simple terms it probably will not be something I would ever entertain buying. And I would not ask for it as a gift. So you may see fewer updates on this one. Now I really want to try the standard edt version.

Cheers ,Todd

 

[mistercitizen]

One of my favorites.

Ben

 

[nEver-Ready]

I prefer the non-concentree original. It has a beautiful, bright citrus opening followed by understated and classy woody/mossy base - simple, spare even, but perfectly constructed - not one essential piece missing and not a single distracting one tolerated.

The CPMC has a more muted citrus opening than CPM, and has more spice and amber in the mid/base. But it is a bit like putting fins on a Ferrari - it mucks up the spare, beautifully proportioned structure of CPM more than it deepens it IMO. Don't misunderstand me, CPMC is not a bad fragrance, it's just one of those variants that obscure or dilute rather than enhance or embellish the core beauty of the original. CPMC is perhaps more appropriate as a formal/evening fragrance than CPM. Whereas CPM aligns more with Eau de Guerlain and Eau Savage, CPMC aligns more with Tiffany for Men, PdN New York, Creed PdP and similar.

 

[Phog Allen]

I can only echo my first post about this. Unremarkable but certainly not bad. If I had to live with one 'modern' fragrance I handle this. At least for awhile. Now more than ever I want to find the original non-concentree version. I will have to look overseas since it is not sold in America anymore.

Cheers, Todd

 

[Bigsly]

This one suggests to me an attempt on the part of Chanel to create some competition for CK's Obsession for Men. It's too heavy and singular for my tastes, but I have Obsession and might wear it once a year as a change of pace.

 

[banditman]

I can only echo my first post about this. Unremarkable but certainly not bad. If I had to live with one 'modern' fragrance I handle this. At least for awhile. Now more than ever I want to find the original non-concentree version. I will have to look overseas since it is not sold in America anymore.

Cheers, Todd

I have the original PM and like it very much. You should be able to get a decant pretty easily to try it out and see what you think. For larger buys, it can be ordered from strawberrynet.com.

 

[mdevine]

This one suggests to me an attempt on the part of Chanel to create some competition for CK's Obsession for Men. It's too heavy and singular for my tastes, but I have Obsession and might wear it once a year as a change of pace.

I find CPMC much more modern smelling than Obsession, and quite a bit lighter due to some of the citrus notes in the opening. I wore Obsession quite a bit when I was in my twenties, but, like most of the era's powerhouse fragrances, I find it too heavy these days. But if you enjoy orientals like Obsession, but would like something more refined and in no way cloying, try Jacques Fath pour l'Homme. It is outstanding modern oriental. Fragrances are my chief AD, and out of the more than 100 fragrances in my cupboards, it is the one I'm most likely to reach for when planning an evening alone with my wife. It is also one of the best bargains in Perfumery, at under $20/bottle.

You're unlikely to find Jacques Fath pour l'Homme locally, but it's worth searching out on-line. (I think I picked it up at Amazon).

 

[Bigsly]

I find CPMC much more modern smelling than Obsession, and quite a bit lighter due to some of the citrus notes in the opening. I wore Obsession quite a bit when I was in my twenties, but, like most of the era's powerhouse fragrances, I find it too heavy these days. But if you enjoy orientals like Obsession, but would like something more refined and in no way cloying, try Jacques Fath pour l'Homme. It is outstanding modern oriental. Fragrances are my chief AD, and out of the more than 100 fragrances in my cupboards, it is the one I'm most likely to reach for when planning an evening alone with my wife. It is also one of the best bargains in Perfumery, at under $20/bottle.

You're unlikely to find Jacques Fath pour l'Homme locally, but it's worth searching out on-line. (I think I picked it up at Amazon).

Generally-speaking, I favor more complex scents than any of those mentioned, such as vintage Lapidus Pour Homme (1987), but if it's simple the ingredient quality must be high, and the later formulations of Obsession were substandard, IMO. Also, sometimes you come across a surprise, for example, I'd rather wear Avon's Imari than any of those mentioned above, though I may have a superior vintage version of it, for all I know about Avon. It's often the case for me that heavy scents smell best if there is something like a strong sandalwood note to counterbalance it, but others seem to enjoy that heavy, one-dimensional amber quality.