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Mouchoir de Monsieur

post #1 of 23
8/22/05 at 6:12pm
Thread Starter 
I recently sought out a sample of Guerlain's Mouchoir de Monsieur, due to positive comments I have read on this board, with the thought of purchasing a bottle. Â*I thought it smelled very much like Shalimar. Â*I couldn't get over the similarity. Â*Yet, unlike Shalimar, which I have sampled and lasts for hours on my skin, I couldn't detect Mouchoir on my skin after an hour.

Being made by the same company, I can understand the similaries. Â*My question is, why would someone pay the exhorbitant price for Mouchoir, when they could find Shalimar at their nearby TJ Maxx or Marshalls for about 1/5th the price? Â*Is it because it's hard to find? Â*Is it worth the price? Â*Any opinions from those who have sampled Mouchoir or own it? Â*Does it last a long time on you? Â*

Thanks,
Jim
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post #2 of 23
8/22/05 at 6:26pm
Ah.....Mouchoir....so many stories....at one time it was a much more powerful scent...

Spray Mouchoir on one hand and Shalimar on the other...wait 10 minutes, now sniff...there's your answer. You'll find they head in very different directions. On me it is quite earthy and rich with amber and cinnamon, animalic with its tonka and patchouli, and slightly buttery floral with iris and jasmine.

To my nose, and for sake of history, Mouchoir is actually closer to Jicky with its lavender and civet notes, less about the vanilla as compared to Shalimar. I find it develops differently when sprayed vs. splashed or dabbed. But you are correct - a high price tag, but a chance to wear a vintage scent that truly has no comparison.

Use the search function to read more comments on Mouchoir from past threads - I think we'd all agree it's longevity is disappointing, but it does work as a second-skin scent. If Guerlain produced additional products it would really help carry this scent further.
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post #3 of 23
3/30/10 at 2:24pm
I recently sampled Mouchoir in depth recently (to refresh my memory of it) and found it more civet-y than I had recalled. I still find it very pleasant.

The scent later settled out into a nice, light floral. Perhaps too light for my tastes. (I like a bit of in-your-face masculine sillage. Perhaps my nose was off that day.)

Any other impressions on the amount of civet in Mouchoir de Monsieur, or the sillage and longevity of this very unique scent?
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post #4 of 23
3/30/10 at 2:33pm
Mouchoir is deceptive though. It actually lasts far longer than you think it does. I love the fragrance and always feel I'm wearing something special on the days it feels right to wear it.
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post #5 of 23
3/30/10 at 2:57pm
I find its longevity admirable at least on my skin. A few years back it wasn't that hard to come by. I think things might have changed now.
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post #6 of 23
3/30/10 at 3:36pm
Thank you for the input. Mouchoir is often not in stock for online retailers but readily can be had (at full price, of course) in the boutiques. I really like this scent and eventually hope to buy this some day. Remarkably well-blended and never harsh.
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post #7 of 23
3/30/10 at 3:45pm
I find MdM to have decent longevity. Mouchoir is a hold out from the 19th Century whereas Shalimar perhaps defines a more 1920s type stronger perfume. MdM is an acquired taste for sure, but quite nice to have around.
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post #8 of 23
3/30/10 at 4:12pm
From my point of view, men's fragrances were not commonly very tenacious in bygone days. MdM does have a lighter longevity than, say, Shalimar due to its original intended audience. Granted, it has been tinkered with over the years, and I believe the current MdM has much better longevity than it did in the past.... It always had better longevity than other early Gueralin fragrances worn by men such as Imperiale.
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post #9 of 23
3/30/10 at 4:30pm
I agree, mrclmind, that 19th century scents (esp. earlier on) were the eau de Colognes and eau de jasmins, which were essentailly light toilette waters. The Comte d'Orsay was known to have used "orange flower water" as this was listed in "essential things to have" when he, his wife and mother-in-law moved to London in the 1830s. I doubt if this was a potent EDT or pure parfum.
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post #10 of 23
3/30/10 at 5:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Primrose View Post

Thank you for the input. Mouchoir is often not in stock for online retailers but readily can be had (at full price, of course) in the boutiques. I really like this scent and eventually hope to buy this some day. Remarkably well-blended and never harsh.

I thought your comments were coming from someone who had already owned a bottle of MdM.

I, like you, found a certain 'absence' to this scent the first time I sampled it. It wasn't until I got a large decant (and then subsequently a full bottle) that I realized what a fantastic lavender masculine this is. It is everything that I wanted Jicky to be, but better. Longevity, sillage and the prominence of the civet can morph from almost imperceptible all of the way to very prominent. The magic of MdM is in the tiny, rather elegant whiffs, it gives off the entire time it's worn.

Have you read my review thread I started last year? http://www.basenotes.net/threads/237...rlain-a-review
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post #11 of 23
3/30/10 at 7:53pm
Thank you for the link, Mike. I enjoyed your in-depth review. I missed your thread in my archives search. I sampled Mouchoir many times in stores but never ended up buying, instead buying a sample. I hope to buy a full bottle but that confounded Habit Rouge always gets in the way...

Yes, MdM *is* indeed a chameleon of a scent--at turns civet-y and then floral on me.
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post #12 of 23
3/30/10 at 7:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Primrose View Post

Thank you for the link, Mike. I enjoyed your in-depth review. I missed your thread in my archives search. I sampled Mouchoir many times in stores but never ended up buying, instead buying a sample. I hope to buy a full bottle but that confounded Habit Rouge always gets in the way...

Yes, MdM *is* indeed a chameleon of a scent--at turns civet-y and then floral on me.

Well, if I had to choose between Habit Rouge and Mouchoir de Monsieur (thank God I don't), I would pick Habit Rouge too Primrose.
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post #13 of 23
3/30/10 at 8:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeperez23 View Post

Well, if I had to choose between Habit Rouge and Mouchoir de Monsieur (thank God I don't), I would pick Habit Rouge too Primrose.

I would love to sample the upcoming HR extrait, but it is sooo pricey... (sigh) I love the EDP, though.
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post #14 of 23
3/30/10 at 9:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Primrose View Post

I would love to sample the upcoming HR extrait, but it is sooo pricey... (sigh) I love the EDP, though.

They are rereleasing HR Extrait? I thought that was gone.
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post #15 of 23
3/30/10 at 10:01pm
HR extrait is being rereleased because it was so successful apparently.
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post #16 of 23
3/30/10 at 10:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tott View Post

HR extrait is being rereleased because it was so successful apparently.

Where did you get this info? Mr. Guerlain had said that Guerlain Paris told him it was not slated for re-release. I hope you are correct!
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post #17 of 23
3/30/10 at 10:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrclmind View Post

Where did you get this info? Mr. Guerlain had said that Guerlain Paris told him it was not slated for re-release. I hope you are correct!

I believe that Mr G got the information straight from the horse's mouth, ie Guerlain in Paris.
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post #18 of 23
3/30/10 at 10:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrclmind View Post

Where did you get this info? Mr. Guerlain had said that Guerlain Paris told him it was not slated for re-release. I hope you are correct!

It seems the re-release is at best on hold: http://www.basenotes.net/threads/246...tumn?p=1793556 I missed Mr. Guerlain's March 2nd post when I first read it. Nothing like letting one's hopes soar and then dashing them to pieces.

I think I'll be one of those making a phone call in September.
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post #19 of 23
3/31/10 at 12:42am
On me, apart from the stunning smell, Mouchoir de Monsieur has such record worthy lasting power, that it were good value for money at almost any price
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post #20 of 23
3/31/10 at 1:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeperez23 View Post

I, like you, found a certain 'absence' to this scent the first time I sampled it. It wasn't until I got a large decant (and then subsequently a full bottle) that I realized what a fantastic lavender masculine this is. It is everything that I wanted Jicky to be, but better. Longevity, sillage and the prominence of the civet can morph from almost imperceptible all of the way to very prominent. The magic of MdM is in the tiny, rather elegant whiffs, it gives off the entire time it's worn.

I agree completely with mikeperez23 - it is amazing how you can keep catching prominent 'whiffs' of MdM even 4-5 hours after it has been first applied. It's not massively long lasting and doesn't produce acres of sillage - it's far too refined for that type of behaviour!! However, it lasts brilliantly on the skin and can be smelled on clothing the next day. Having owned it for a couple of years now (and used it sparingly for special occasions) I would hope to never be without it again. It will never replace Habit Rouge in my affections but comes a very close second.
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post #21 of 23
3/31/10 at 1:39am
This has been my favourite fragrance for the last ten years, and after trying hundreds of others I have never found anything better. This is as good as it gets IMHO.
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post #22 of 23
3/31/10 at 8:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken_Russell View Post

On me, apart from the stunning smell, Mouchoir de Monsieur has such record worthy lasting power, that it were good value for money at almost any price

And, Ken, as a plus, Luca Turin calls this "as studiedly dandifed as a perfume can be." LOL! He says of the reformulated HR, that it has less "dandified frippery" than earlier versions. Sad for the new HR, as I happen to like a little frippery...perhaps by "frippery" he is meaning the subtle sweetness.

I like the "reduced frippery" in MdM very much and adore the lavender.
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post #23 of 23
3/31/10 at 11:08am
All my perfumed life Jicky has been in my must have list and gets replaced when it's done. I'm not so keen on the latest reformulation but after the now disappointing opening I still enjoy it. I bought MdM without trying it first because I read on here that it's a 'brother' of Jicky's (and because I saw it at a good price) and I just love it. It lasts all day on me. I use three sprays and I can still smell it wafting up from the neck of my blouse when I get home from work, although it's not 'in your face'. It's not like Shalimar on me at all.
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