Reviews of Must de Cartier (1981)
by Cartier

I second the recommendation to find the old version, if you can.

Must was my first big perfume love. I found it in about 1990. Bought a bottle, a large extravagance at the time, and loved every drop of it. I have since bought another EdP and the EdT. They are nice of course, but I've wondered why I didn't get the same overwhelming sensory experience as I did with that first bottle. Now I know it was reformulated in 1991 or 92, using cheaper ingredients. But try the new one--if you love it, go searching for the older version. The modern version is only disappointing if you remember it being better...

I have received a bottle of Must at a Christmas from my hubby. At first I thought this was too strong, beautiful, but loud. However, for the rest of the evening I caught myself smelling my wrists constantly. I was addicted. This is now one of my favorite perfumes. It makes me feel powerful, elegant and yes, it has been said before: sophisticated. The musk is superb, has so many tonalities and it wraps me like an invisible shawl. This one will stay in my wardrobe.

To put it politely, this is a perfume that most people would probably consider to be for "a sophisticated woman." It is not girly, by any means. I'm so bad at naming notes, but when I tested this, I got a clear set of associations. The opening notes remind me much of Halston Couture, which I know has a sharp opening due to citrus. After about 4 to 5 hours, it smells very much like a Baskin Robbins that we used to visit every Sunday after Mass. I can't tell if it's because there maybe was a woman who wore Must de Cartier and worked in that particular establishment, or whether it's the vanilla that I'm smelling in the heart. Then after about 9 hours, it lays into this sultry scent that for all the world reminds me of the time I discovered my uncle's Ginger Lynn video, which he had left on the VCR during the time he briefly lived with us. That must be the 1980's musk, I guess.

Another great classic I can´t wear! It is so dissapointing! This one is just messy and strong on my skin! I envy all of you who carries this one well!

I stick to Le Baiser du Dragon when I find the Cartier perfumes, it is the only Cartier I wear truly well.

Yummy.
layer the parfum & edP for the full effect.
Not for the meek. Rich, deep, decadent.
Try.

Enticing. Voluptuous. Decadent. Truly one of Cartier's best (right up there with Baiser, anyway). Not for the timid, though, nor for the woman seeking a pallid little Tommy Girl.

No, this beauty is a full figured French gal who takes lovers and smokes Gauloises in her boudoir after -- this stuff is Catherine Deneuve meets Anais Nin.

A powerhouse woody oriental. Predominantly dry/bitter in it's overall impression. Could be the particular vetiver used here. I think I might prefer this on a man. A little more vanilla could soften this composition a bit, but the vanilla makes too late an appearance ~ about 1-2 hours after application. On my skin this is "MUSTY de Cartier". Not wearable for me.

I picked up a small bottle of the vintage extrait...definitely better than the Men's version that came out a few years ago in terms of longevity, quality, and sillage. I'm not so much a fan of musk, and this is a floral musk, but done with such talent and skill that it smells like a high quality essential musk oil--I'll definitely allow this in my wardrobe! Sweet, smooth, sexy animalic! Do not hesitate! The extrait is so strong, I managed to detect the scent by only applying what liquid that adhered to the lip of the flacon on my skin. I haven't tested the reformulated version, so I don't know what ill has been done to it, but definitely see if you can get ahold of the vintage before thinking of getting the newer stuff.

I thought this was well made and a good scent if you like a heavier wood. It was a little too heavy for me. I didn't feel like it was very feminine and could not smell the vanilla for the Vetiver.

A beautifully made scent—extraordinarily well balanced and crafted. Not overtly feminine, but I think that element is definitely there. Just as with Must de Cartier Pour Homme, I find this one exquisitely crafted but lacking a special distinction. It needs a touch of uniqueness—a counterpoint—along the elegant flow.

Magnificent - one of my favorite scents - a grassy green vanilla with a mere hint of florals and a nice blend of vetiver and musk. Perfect for oriental lovers.

Very sophisticated Oriental scent for women with a hint of vanilla...not overtly sexy...more, powerful, like a strong willed business-woman with a steely intelect...buying companies like your average woman buys clothes...her presence commands respect, yet all the while she remains very feminine...deffinately a classic female fragerance...

must de cartier at the opening smells like expired whisky, and dried down to a wood scent. it smells awful on me and strong wood scent doesn't make a woman feel feminine

This is my first review and I don't have the vocabulary yet! Let's just say it is a compelling scent and I like it very much.

A generous gentleman got this for me; had he not, I would have spent my own money. An extraordinary scent. Of course, NOT for every day. I agree with lush, opulent, elegant and strong. Works fabulously with my body chemistry and is a treasured scent. That is what my son had in mind when he got me the Jil Sander 4!

I was comparing samples of Must de Cartier, Panthere de Cartier, Boucheron's Trouble, and Chopard's Casmir on different parts of my arms over a period of days. Panthere was the first to be eliminated as it seemed undistinguished against the others. Must de Cartier went next. I appreciate its civility and woody qualities, but was looking for a fragrance with more personality. It lasted well, but I won't be purchasing any. I'm a bit on the fence about Trouble, but am happy with a miniature of Casmir at this point.

Very powerful oriental - an opulent lush spice, harsh and bitter but elegant

Has anybody any experience with Must Cartier? I have a parfum version that seems me very strong. Nice but very strong.