Chanel Pour Monsieur (1955)
by Chanel

POUR MONSIEUR’s opening is certainly one of the most favored among traditionalists, conveying a sense of refinement and self-assuredness through a masterful blending of neroli, lemon and petitgrain. I actually prefer this gentlemenly style to the conventional tart, almost pungent citrus opening oft-associated with classic masculines such as Dior’s Eau Sauvage or Guerlain’s Habit Rouge.

Unfortunately, after 15-20 minutes Pour Monsieur’s quietly confident character turns into ‘shy and retiring’, the fragrance becoming more of a slightly mossy sandalwood skin scent with minuscule sillage. As much as I admire the top, the progression to drydown feels disappointingly weak for a masculine chypre leaving Pour Monsieur further down the pecking order behind Guerlain’s Mitsouko, Esencia de Loewe and I must agree with Vibert, even Chanel’s own Cristalle.

*** This review is of the EDT, circa 2009 ***

This is a very classic chypre type of masculine scent, fresh opening and slightly sweet dry down. It has the longevity of a typical EDC, so it is perfect for day wear and for when I want something light and lovely. It's a shame that it has been discontinued in the States. I'd better get some in Europe before it gets pulled all together. People may find it blasphemous, but I actually prefer the smell of the Concentree over this one, although to be honest comparing the two is comparing apples to oranges.

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On its surface, Chanel pour Monsieur is a handsome, staid citrus chypre of impeccable propriety and refinement. Far beneath that surface a discreet animalic note (castoreum, perhaps?) lends just a hint of danger as it paces over the the mossy floor. Chanel pour Monsieur may be a well-dressed banker, but he’s going commando under that pinstripe suit.

So far, so good, but this classic loses me in the drydown. After that suave opening and mid-span Chanel pour Monsieur blurs into a disappoiontingly blunt, trite and inarticulate drydown. The banal base notes leave me wondering whether Chanel pour Monsieur has been reformulated, as they’re at odds with the glowing praise that’s been heaped upon this fragrance for so long. I want this scent to be great, but for me it’s just OK. For a citrus chypre in this mold I’d turn to Eau Sauvage, Diorella, Iskander, or even Chanel’s own Cristalle!

Do not judge it in the bottle, apply it first. It has a soft lemon zest, talc, cedar & moss scent. Classic in typical Chanel sense. It is still a fashionable wear. A little on the femme scale. It can be worn anytime of day, in any occassion, but not for the tweens. It is pricy, getting hard to find, never discounted; and, therefore, under used in this fougere-chypre men's category. I recommend it.

I have to agree with richie23 that Chanel PM is far to lemony. I also got this Pledge furniture polish vibe from it. The dry down is a little better, as the lemon fades off, but I just don't think I could wear this without getting a headache. However, I do recognize it as a fairly clean smell, the concentree has good silage, and if I smelled it on someone else it wouldn't send me running.