I liked the original Monk EDT but this, I think, is something special.
In my opinion Michael Storer has really come of age as a perfumer. The reformulated Monk EDP is an exceptional perfume, blended with great attention, craft and some really beautiful notes and accords.
This is a very "manly" perfume with much coherence. It works across the pyramid the notes of the top, middle and base blending beautifully while vertically through the pyramid there are themes which link top to middle and middle to base.
It starts with a wonderful bergamot and a subtle bitter orange. Next I smelled cocoa falling into civet and (wonderful) blond tobacco with musc notes and a sweep of rose. I love the way the bitter orange sits beneath all of this just brightening it. The beeswax adds a resinous touch. The orange leads into frankincense and civet. The tobacco, musk (ambrette?) and cocoa lead through to the sandalwood, vanilla, tonka and benzoin. The base has a pleasing sharpness and definition, though never loosing its resinous quality; the civet drops off somewhat, leaving a lovely vanilla and tonka, with the vanilla doninating. Right at the bottom is a wonderful jasmine note.
The way I perceive this, three threads run in parallel to create the accords of the top middle and base. There is mild masculine floral theme which runs from acacia through rose and linden to low volatility jasmine at the bottom. Then there is a musky resinous theme which follows galbanum with cocoa, musk, beeswax, cistus and tobacco through to vanilla, tonka and sandalwood. Lastly there is a sharp bright slightly acerbic/funky theme which flows from bitter orange through to francincense and civet. Throughout these connect up and balance in a very pleasing manner. The orange lives on into the beeswax almost suggesting honey, which sits beautifully with the cocoa....I could go on...
For those who knew the initial formulation, while the similarities are apparent, this is warmed up from the original EDT. The civet is stronger and in general the notes are more distinct without ever losing their balance and blend. There is a brightness and an articulation throughout that was perhaps missing before. There is less sweetness around the cocoa.
This is pure class, in my opinion on a par with great perfumes like egoiste.
In my opinion Michael Storer has really come of age as a perfumer. The reformulated Monk EDP is an exceptional perfume, blended with great attention, craft and some really beautiful notes and accords.
This is a very "manly" perfume with much coherence. It works across the pyramid the notes of the top, middle and base blending beautifully while vertically through the pyramid there are themes which link top to middle and middle to base.
It starts with a wonderful bergamot and a subtle bitter orange. Next I smelled cocoa falling into civet and (wonderful) blond tobacco with musc notes and a sweep of rose. I love the way the bitter orange sits beneath all of this just brightening it. The beeswax adds a resinous touch. The orange leads into frankincense and civet. The tobacco, musk (ambrette?) and cocoa lead through to the sandalwood, vanilla, tonka and benzoin. The base has a pleasing sharpness and definition, though never loosing its resinous quality; the civet drops off somewhat, leaving a lovely vanilla and tonka, with the vanilla doninating. Right at the bottom is a wonderful jasmine note.
The way I perceive this, three threads run in parallel to create the accords of the top middle and base. There is mild masculine floral theme which runs from acacia through rose and linden to low volatility jasmine at the bottom. Then there is a musky resinous theme which follows galbanum with cocoa, musk, beeswax, cistus and tobacco through to vanilla, tonka and sandalwood. Lastly there is a sharp bright slightly acerbic/funky theme which flows from bitter orange through to francincense and civet. Throughout these connect up and balance in a very pleasing manner. The orange lives on into the beeswax almost suggesting honey, which sits beautifully with the cocoa....I could go on...
For those who knew the initial formulation, while the similarities are apparent, this is warmed up from the original EDT. The civet is stronger and in general the notes are more distinct without ever losing their balance and blend. There is a brightness and an articulation throughout that was perhaps missing before. There is less sweetness around the cocoa.
This is pure class, in my opinion on a par with great perfumes like egoiste.
