Explorer (2019)
by Montblanc

I came into this testing with very low expectations. And although they were kind of met, with Explorer very much betraying the designed-by-accountants kind of vibe I thought would be there, there are some positives, if that's not stating things too strongly.

Although there is a strong ambroxan presence, it's not overpowering. There is a decent savoury-herbal opening. And although many of most alluring designated notes are laughably absent, the drydown is fairly coherent, making for a dark, taut masculine that's at least wearable.

Worse than Aventus, better than Sauvage, identical to a whole series of other designer scents tenuously connected to the outdoors - all check.

I can't tell if this is an Aventus clone as I've never smelled Aventus, but what I can tell is that Explorer is close to if not 100% Davidoff Champion. Not a bad scent, but far from original and impressive. If this really is what that overpriced Aventus smells like than just go with the cheapest of the three, Davidoff Champion.

This must be the best fragrance that Montblanc has released to date. Similar to Aventus, but not a clone -
for starters, there's no fruity pineapple in the opening. But the fragrance accords are otherwise very similar, albeit more slightly different, more synthetic, and not at the same level of performance as Aventus.

Nonetheless, a really great fragrance, I find very delightful and immensely enjoyable every time I go back to it wearing it. I enjoy smelling it on myself again and again, throughout it's duration, as I do with other top fragrances, but the biggest difference is this is at a much more affordable price! What's not to like? Thumbs way up for me.

A very pleasant blast of fresh clary sage and semi sweet sharp citrus on first spray and nicely done too. The ambrox is clearly there but doesn’t shriek the way it does in Sauvage and the other ambrox-heavy ilk. It just plays its part like a steady bass part keeping everything tidy. There are vetiver and leather listed as notes but they don’t stand out individually - more like well blended facets of the aura but if any one note does stand out it’s the clary sage for me and it adds some real interest because its so unusual in this style of scent. In fact the clary sage does get more leathery as the fragrance dries down but always keeps the freshness too.

The question everyone keeps asking - does it smell like Aventus? Mmm-kinda-ish, if you tilt your head to one side and squint. As someone that has worn Aventus for some years I’ll say its quite different and it doesn’t smell like a clone although you can tell what the folks at Mont Blanc were aiming for. The basic structure of citrusy top notes and clean woody musks throughout will seem somewhat familiar but it has its own character.

Mont Blanc have managed to pull off a competent designer scent in Explorer in a style littered with nice tries and missed marks.

There’s enough space in my wardrobe for this too.

Thumbs up.

This is a faithful Aventus clone, to my nose.