Men
Minotaure
Acordes principales
Descripción
Minotaure by Paloma Picasso is an oriental fragrance for men. Launched in 1992, the nose behind this composition is Michel Almairac. The top notes are fruity, aldehydic, bergamot, galbanum, tarragon and coriander; the heart notes include geranium, jasmine, rose and lily of the valley; while the base notes consist of tonka bean, vanilla, sandalwood, musk, amber and cedar.
Resumen rápido
Cuándo llevarla (votos)
Notas clave
-
Salida
fruity notes
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Corazón
geranium
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Base
tonka bean
Comunidad
1,621 votos
- Positivo 85%
- Negativo 8.1%
- Neutral 6.5%
Pirámide olfativa
Estructura completa de la fragancia: de la salida al fondo.
Comunidad
Qué dicen los usuarios sobre propiedad, preferencia y mejor momento de uso.
Propiedad
¿La tienen, la tuvieron o la quieren?
Preferencia
Cómo valora la comunidad esta fragancia.
Uso recomendado
Estación y momento del día con más votos.
Dónde comprar
Compara tiendas verificadas para Minotaure y elige según envío, precio o disponibilidad.
Amazon
Envío rápidoEntrega rápida y política de devoluciones conocida.
Ideal si priorizas velocidad y disponibilidad.
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eBay
Más opcionesMás opciones de precio, formatos y vendedores.
Útil para comparar alternativas antes de decidir.
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Características
Resumen de votos sobre longevidad, estela, género y percepción de precio.
Longevidad
Escasa
Débil
Moderada
Duradera
Muy duradera
Estela
Suave
Moderada
Pesada
Enorme
Género
Femenino
Unisex femenino
Unisex
Unisex masculino
Masculino
Precio
Extremadamente costoso
Ligeramente costoso
Precio moderado
Buen precio
Excelente precio
Reseñas
Experiencias reales de la comunidad sobre uso diario, rendimiento y estela.
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40 reseñas
Mostrando las más recientes primero.
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If I could describe this perfume in one word, it would be: “love”. And not cheesy love, but that moment when you know you’re with the right person, or when your mother gives you a hug and you feel secure, or when you wake up for the first time with the love of your life. For me, that’s what it evokes: something poetic, almost mystical, a true work of art like Picasso’s. I bought it blind and as soon as I smelled it I had a déjà vu; it reminds me of something or someone but I don’t know exactly who or what. It’s a quite pleasant aroma. The opening is somewhat sparkling, struggling between something sweet and a bitter touch in the first minutes. That acidic animalic touch I love, but its whole evolution is as if each note were reciting a poem to you, a poem called “Minotaure”. It is true that it’s sweet, but not like current ones which usually reach the point of cloying. This perfume is precise, it has the exact dose of sweetness and freshness, a true jewel with a very own seal. The only flaw it has and I believe most of us agree on is its short duration. If this perfume had the duration they comment it had in its beginnings it would be totally perfect. But the truth is I don’t mind; precisely it has that intimate touch; I find it ideal for a honeymoon, when everything is perfect and you feel nothing exists, only you, your partner, and that addictive aroma (Minotaure). P.S. Something very curious: what happens with this perfume and the EDP for women is that currently both could perfectly be unisex. Minotaur has that soft, sweet, and balsamic touch that many women love, and Paloma Picasso EDP is a quite complex, dark, intriguing, hard, and strong personality perfume, a man could use it too, but just like women who use this perfume, it requires a lot of confidence to carry something of such magnitude. Both are a work of art that deserves to stay current forever.
Animalic and wild. I bought it again in 2020, a surprise for me versus the 2000 one (20 years, hardly anything). It doesn’t have the same duration: the first two hours give projection, but afterwards, around the third or fourth hour, it disappears; it’s very weak, you have to reapply. But undoubtedly it’s a perfume to get attention. If you’re not into strong and animalic aromas, this isn’t your option; otherwise, you must have it.
It’s a different fragrance. In its sweetness, it has something of strange dirtiness, must be the tobacco: rough but very pleasant. Strong, gentlemanly, and evolving. I consider it versatile; it’s not a bomb at all. Very contained projection, but a delicious aroma.
When this perfume hit the market it was quite groundbreaking because it was sweet and oily, different from what was being done in male perfumery. It had sensuality and evolution. Nowadays it still survives despite the sweetness of new male fragrances coming out. But Minotaure has a soft sweetness and something ambered, not cloying. It has lost potency and could pass for a characterful Mediterranean and luminous EDT. It has stopped being nocturnal to also be worn during the day, where it stands out for a vanilla and cedar aroma accompanied by fruity notes where I perceive something of mandarin and plum (personal perception). The bottle seems to indicate it’s a potent perfume (it was in its day), but it isn’t. It’s a gentle fragrance that doesn’t give olfactory slaps but invites approach. That said, it’s an all-terrain fragrance and for all ages; it’s still easily recognisable and perfect to be the personal fragrance of whoever wears it. Personally, I didn’t like it when it hit the market; I thought it was very adult. But in our days it has become younger, loaded with fruity notes, vanilla, white musk, and cedar. For those who like a classic perfume and Mediterranean inspiration. It can perfectly pass for an Italian or Spanish perfume being French. A charismatic perfume.
Minotaur is the only male fragrance by Paloma Picasso I know of. Launched in 1992, it was very groundbreaking in the 90s for having a certain fruity sweetness and slightly vanilla note, something not characteristic until then in male perfumes (except for exceptions like Joop! Homme), but this slight sweetness didn’t make it unisex. Minotaur is a character perfume, with strong notes. Like almost all perfumes of the era (especially those before 90), they were loaded with notes and it wasn’t easy to analyse by dissecting the fragrance; many try it today seeking its past glory and are surprised to find it’s not so complicated nowadays, although it maintains a pleasant and quite versatile aroma. Perhaps it was labyrinthine in its time due to the quantity of notes: that opening loaded with synthetic fruity notes with a certain bitterness from galbanum and a slight animalic touch recalling the mythological creature trapped in the labyrinth, also with notes of tonka, vanilla, aldehydes, delicious woods like sandalwood and cedar, plus a lingering sweet tobacco note that I perceive (perhaps some components create this accord), spicy notes like tarragon and coriander, and flowers like rose, jasmine, and a bitter muguet that, together with geranium, highlight its virility. Over time it has lost a bit of its potency but still feels current; perhaps for new generations it’s not so sweet or complex anymore. Perhaps in these times Theseus, with the help of the thread, found the way in the labyrinth and defeated the feared Minotaur.
Tremendous name, beautiful bottle; even the cap alone of the flask is a work of art. Its opaque glass like veined wood (recreating a stone) with the name protruding from the same. Please tell me what herb Paloma Picasso smoked for the concept of her bottles. Nowadays Minotaure has its cult following and they sell the reformulation at exorbitant prices, so when I acquired a Cosmair tester (with some drops remaining), it was like finding the lost unicorn. These kinds of flasks don’t go unnoticed: Minotaure, Kenzo Pour Homme, Horizon by Guy Laroche, or Montana Classico left a mark on my curious childish mind back then. Minotaur was born in the early 90s; this mythological beast is governed in the full transition of perfumery “from the dense to the light”. What I mean is that the execution of the fragrance is more similar to Michael Almirante’s Sculpture than to Davidoff Zino. Minotaur opens with an intoxicating fruity note (not necessarily sweet or light, it’s like a basket of well-ripe fruits). Surrounded by a herbal flash of tarragon, mixed with the acidity of bergamot. Yes, the struggle of the aldehydes to “effervesce” the fragrance is notable, in contrast with its semi-spicy herbal side which is more interested in obscuring it. Up to here we have a conflicted beginning, just like the story of the Minotaur. But after a while it shows its floral side with blends of geranium and jasmine, starting to ascend what “taaaan de moda” would be in the 90s: an amber base, vanilla-like, with woody tones and a strident dose of Haba Tonka. Part of that base was also used by Almirante in Joop Homme. In general terms, at an olfactive level, there is an interesting similarity between this perfume and Laura’s Roma Homme: that fresh sensation from the citrus, medium-heavy due to the herbal, similar tones of sandalwood. But I find Minotaure more indolic, floral, becoming slightly sweeter/tobacco/animalic due to the interference of Haba Tonka with musks (as it dries down). It can be confusing for some noses this game of fruity, herbal/floral, woody/musky, with a strong presence of Haba Tonka. That’s why I recommend being careful with Minotaur. Almirante would later make Sculpture for Nikos with an opening similar to Minotaur, but focusing more attention on the citrus and neroli, relegating the woods, with a less dirty Haba Tonka. There is something that also reminds me of Versace’s Dreamer but to a lesser extent. I like it very much; it’s a challenging perfume, not for everyone. I don’t know the current version; my review is based on the first formula. High/medium projection and impeccable duration.
Day 1: Definitely a conceptual fragrance. When I perceive the scent, it brings to mind a beast trying to domesticate itself and civilise. It’s not a perfume like Kouros that accepts its bestiality sincerely; it’s something bland, half-and-half. That’s why I consider it forced, trying to be something it isn’t. But precisely for that, it doesn’t let me be indifferent to it. It’s a masterpiece, not because of the beauty of the creation nor because it “smells good”, but because it tries to tame that being, half-human and half-beast.
DELICIOUS. A mainly sweet aroma where vanilla and fruitiness stand out, with a persistent amber that adds masculinity and a slight floral freshness. Together, they form a timeless, versatile, and easy-to-please fragrance; slightly unisex but with a masculine leaning and an addictive quality. For OCCASIONS, it’s excellent; I was surprised how much it pleased those around me: it doesn’t bother, harass, cloy, or feel too sporty. Personally, I find it cosy, noble, peaceful, and charming, even seductive to a point. For PERFORMANCE it was average: 6 hours duration and moderate projection; if you hug someone, they smell quite a bit because it doesn’t dissipate quickly. For USE in temperate climates, from casual to semi-formal; not for sport or elegant wear, but it looks good in the office and on Fridays. It’s not expensive and performs like more costly ones, so if the price isn’t aligned with its performance, it’s worth it. Occasions: 9, Duration: 6, Projection: 7, Price: 8. TOTAL: 7.5.
I used it in the late 90s and it was potent and very rich. Now, if at all, it lasts two hours with five sprays. The reformulation killed its longevity and trail, sadly.
I like it, but when I imagine a shop with an esoteric vibe, my taste slips a bit, hehe.
Super rich. Opens with a citrusy lime note, surely bergamot. Then comes the vanilla, and that rose reminds me of the one in Davidoff Zino (same perfumer), although I don’t know Sculpture, the vanilla is similar to Joop’s but less aggressive. The dry-down is spectacular: notes of wood, flowers, spices, and talc in every stage, becoming creamy. It’s not a complicated fragrance; on the contrary, very versatile in my opinion. It has something of The Dreamer, yes, as @Selene mentioned (I recommend all her reviews!). It sits between The Dreamer and Zino… So, if you have those two, buy this blind, old chap.
I share the same opinion: it’s a blend of The Dreamer and Zino, with a touch of Riflessio in the fresh vanilla of Trussardi. The fragrance is very rich; it shouldn’t be missing from your shelf. 9/10 and 7 hours of aromatic pleasure.
I’ve never been a fan of Paloma Picasso perfumes because they were excessively invasive (the women’s ones). I recall the launch of Minotaure in a store and didn’t want the promoter to apply it, as my go-to was Fahrenheit by Dior. But I couldn’t escape, and she sprayed my wrist. I immediately perceived a fruity-vanilla scent, strange for the time in men’s perfumery, and I loved it, especially the longevity. I asked for more sprays for clothes and shirts, and the scent remained intact after two washes. A masculine aroma with the duality of vanilla sweetness and tonka bean. Fruity opening, with a marked geranium base and vanilla-musk (attar-like) dry down. A good perfume, innovative for its time and still good today. Recommended for young adults over 30 who love personality-driven scents and don’t want to get lost among clones of 1 Million, Invictus, or flankers of Polo Blue and Acqua di Giò.
Minotaure, with its incredible name and suggestive bottle, is accompanied by a Picasso-esque halo of legend: What will it smell like? A muddy labyrinth? Earthy cubism? Animalistic and wild? A slap of musks and peppercorns, a Greek tale, an Andalusian mystery? Well, no. No tales or legends. This smells like an unfulfilled promise. It has a green opening that filled me with hope, briefly resembling Kiehl’s Forest Rain with its soap and herb touch. Did I find a twin? No. The magic is brief and gives way to a disappointing death, a sigh smelling of beeswax, Cristasol, and chemist-shop vanilla. Occasionally, a faint citrus caress is guessed at, but it fails to lift the whole. There is something familiar and tender, reminiscent of grandmothers and their rooms. In short, an innocuous daily cologne, lacking vigour, which contradicts that name and the energy it evokes. The association with Picasso, a torrent of beastliness, amounts to nothing. Non-existent trail and laughable longevity.
It’s curious that many people speak poorly of Avon’s Wild Country boot, yet they smell very similar. Of course, it was worn by peasants and cowgirls, so it invites mockery, but try it and you’ll see. Both feature vanilla notes, soft wood, and an attar-like scent.
I love it when a fragrance stands out in my collection. This blend of fruity notes with ozonic aldehydes smells like a fresh air freshener, like clouds or immaculate white sheets. It is a unique scent, nothing like current perfumery. If I had to compare it, I would say it is the brother of Azzaro Wanted by Night, raised in another country. It has decent performance, though projection and longevity are weak, although I was modest with the sprays as I only tested it once. What I can assure is that it has one of the most beautiful and wonderful dry-downs I have ever smelled. I used to sleep smelling it and smile in my dreams. It is worth trying with more quantity. It is for day and night, super versatile.
Not even a shadow of what it once was. A pity.
A true work of art. If it lasted longer, it would be the best citrus and fresh scent alongside Sculture by Nikos. Ideal for extreme heat. Many compare it to the boring orange ice-cream and bitter chalk smell of Laura Biagiotti’s Roma, which is dull and superficial. Minotaure is a thousand times better: creamy, complex, sensual, aldehydic, elegant, and suitable for all year round. The bottle is lovely, the scent is citrusy, floral, slightly woody, soft and addictive. The longevity isn’t what it was in the 90s, but all perfumes are reformulated due to market demands. Michel Almairac created this for Paloma Picasso in 1992, and in 31 years they only released one. Couldn’t they manage more? Do not buy it if you are looking for longevity today; go for a CK, a Paco Rabanne or an Armani instead. Although marketed as masculine, I think it is perfect for women, just like CK One. I don’t believe it lasted 9 hours back in 1992 as claimed nowadays. Without nostalgia, enjoy the present; life is short. For under 30 euros, the 75ml will give you pleasant moments.
Summed up in three chords: fruity, talc-like, and vanilla. The opening is a strong but timeless fruity scent, with that 90s charm that’s no longer seen. By the hour, it becomes almost powdery, always keeping the vanilla touch. It works best in mild weather; in extreme heat, it fades quickly. The performance is variable: it smells strong to some but intimate to others. My mother said it filled an office, but on me it’s discreet yet rich. For the price, it’s worth trying and I’d recommend buying it.
A fruity and citrus opening that yields to an intense middle of coriander and tarragon, with a very marked animal note. As it dries, this character softens thanks to the sandalwood and musk, leaving a creamy and clean finish. It projects for about two hours and lasts around six. It’s a complex fragrance at first due to that old-school animal side, but very distinctive and pleasant once it settles. It lives up to its name, evoking that initial Minotaur labyrinth and the final escape with the musks.
It strikes me as curious. It’s one of the few where I detect the citrus notes right to the end, which doesn’t happen often. Sandalwood, amber, aldehydes… everything listed in the notes, and I suppose there’s more they don’t tell us. Fruity… which is the least I perceive. Longevity and sillage… very little. Which I see plays to its advantage. It doesn’t shout ‘here I am’ and I see it as perfect for users who don’t need that. No, it’s not a bomb, but don’t be confused; it’s certainly not a firework. It’s… hard for me to define. It reminds me of the smell of old houses, where floors and furniture were waxed. (Limonene? Geraniol?) Clean, acidic, sweet, bright. A nonsense, I know. Don’t worry, you won’t smell like an old person or a 17th-century still life. Not for everyone, especially for those who use fragrances as a calling card. Rather, it’s for individual enjoyment, and for select people at close range if at all. I disagree that it’s exclusively for men. Before, it was a ‘must’ to define it as for men or women. Nowadays, many (too many) are for both. Presumably to sell more? The point is, I see it as perfectly usable for women. In fact, it looks great. Minotaure. You know? I like you quite a bit.
I bought it yesterday and am currently testing it. At least on blotter and on my skin, it lasts at most three hours. The scent is rich, not wow, but discreet. It’s definitely not a signature fragrance. Perhaps the first hour leaves a trail and projects, but very closely. This is a perfume to enjoy for oneself, not an ‘I’m here’ statement. Point in its favour: it’s not linear; it changes constantly.
I’ve been testing it for barely three weeks and it’s generated many sensations. One is the blend of aldehydes, fruits, and tarragon (I like it). The fact that it has vanilla doesn’t make it sweet; it feels creamy, not cloying. It goes with any weather, but it’s perfect for spring/summer nights and autumn/winter days. I managed to get 75ml for 498 Mexican pesos. It’s a scent you won’t find around you; rather, it’s an overlooked gem worth trying.
Nothing more. It smells like insect repellent once it dries. That said, I think it’s unisex.
Moderate tones, debatable longevity, original and natural. Many people find it reminiscent of 90s notes. If you like it, enjoy it; it has substance.
I was looking for Jackeline Carol’s Taurine and Minotaure is the same fragrance. I adore it.
Delicious!! Different!! I really love it; it’s one of my favourites.
It’s unisex; men and women both wear it. The truth is, it doesn’t stand out in terms of longevity or projection; after a few hours, it’s barely skin-scent and clings to clothes. It doesn’t last nearly long enough, and you have to apply many sprays for people to notice it, like with other fragrances. That said, it smells deliciously rich, like fresh vanilla. My wife and I finish a bottle in just a couple of months.
Finally, we’re together after 25 years 😍
Minotaure promises a potent mythological experience, but in reality, it feels sweeter and dustier. The lavender and citrus top notes flatten out quickly, while the base vanilla smells synthetic and tiring. It tries to be oriental but ends up half-hearted: neither sensual nor deep. It feels dated, a weak echo of the 90s without its former charisma. On my skin, it lasts decently but projects very little, almost timidly. The worst is that it doesn’t decide what it wants to be: oriental, fougère, or gourmand? It lingers in confusing territory and, ultimately, becomes a forgettable scent. Longevity: 6-7 hours. Sillage: soft, skin-only. Best for: winter or cold weather. Rating: 5.5/10. Impressive name, poor execution. More nostalgia than substance.
Minotaure by Paloma Picasso: the perfume of the man who is myth and conscience. It’s not just a fragrance; it’s a declaration of masculine identity in the form of a scent. Born in 1992 under Paloma Picasso’s vision, it’s a tribute to the man who doesn’t need to boast to be unforgettable. From the first whiff, it’s a walk along the Mediterranean coast at dawn: the bergamot sparkles with elegance, the lavender adds a virile freshness, and the tarragon gives it that green, almost mystical touch that evokes natural power. But behind the shine lies depth: in the floral heart of geranium and jasmine lives the sensitivity of the man who isn’t afraid to feel, who observes and connects. When it matures on the skin, its true essence appears: warm amber, leather aged by experience, seductive musk, cedar wood, and a sober vanilla that doesn’t seek to sweeten but to embrace. It’s the scent of quiet strength, of one who masters their instinct without renouncing it. It’s the scent of a warrior who meditates, of a free soul who loves art, and of a man who knows his worth without imposing it. A fragrance that doesn’t follow trends but challenges them. In an era of imitations and artifices, Minotaure is genuine, mythical, and provocatively human. It’s the scent of the man Paloma Picasso admired, and that many would wish to be.
Come on! I’ve just finished reviewing Loewe Pour Homme (a terrible reformulation), so I felt like writing something positive. This Minotaure by Paloma Picasso is a breath of fresh air: it’s sweet without being cloying, floral, the aldehydes are present, and the ozone notes, I suppose, are that fresh air, cloud-like sensation… I don’t know, but it evokes clouds. Please forgive me, but it smells like sex; those of us who grew up in the 80s and whose youth was forged in the 90s know what sex smelled like (if we liked fragrances) back then. This perfume is for the 50-somethings, possibly a twist on youthful memories. To me, it smells like Saturday and Sunday mornings, sweaty, in the bedroom with the girlfriend. Anyway, I’m just putting it on to make up for the blow from the new Loewe review. It’s good that some fragrances still retain the DNA from when they were created. P.S. Very bad Loewe, thanks Paloma Picasso.
I’m not entirely sure what it resembles, but I’d say it belongs to that set of aromatic fragrances that transition between the late 80s and early 90s, in the style of Burberry For Men or Carolina Herrera For Men. They have that old-school air without being a proper fougère. It’s a great choice for mid-seasons, more specifically late autumn and early spring. It’s mature and timeless.
I love and adore this perfume. I’m a woman, and I remember not being able to resist putting on a bit of the one my dad and brother wore in the 90s. I’m tempted to buy it for myself; it’s a delight, one of those masculine fragrances I can’t forget.
A pleasant surprise—I should clarify that this isn’t a review of the product, but how it made me feel. It’s my third vintage acquisition, and I felt terrible for not knowing something like this before. This sunset distillation opens with citrus that isn’t astringent or soapy; it evokes a citrus of noble lineage and severity, not strictly Mediterranean. Could it be bergamot with galbanum? I’m not sure, but I did later. Various fruity and floral notes round out that citrus, which I’d say is somewhat dry, evolving with very harmonious transitions, like an allegro from a highly organic classic. At the end, like a sunset on the coast, a sweet vanilla adds a peaceful warmth that makes you feel safer than a retirement plan at 40. Despite its age, I don’t feel it’s identifiably vintage. I would certainly buy it again several times.
The scent of this perfume is simply delicious.
I’m a woman and have worn Minotauro; it’s a fragrance I absolutely love.
What a fitting name. I see it as masculine, not feminine, to start with. It’s a woody, herbal, citrus, and vanilla fragrance, a real delight. Nowadays everything smells generic and similar, but this stands out. You need a trained nose and to appreciate perfumes outside the commercial hype. It’s elegant, though I find it quite versatile. I liked its performance in the heat, though they say it shines better in the cold, so I’ll have to try it in the fridge.
Bought it to expand my vintage collection. Initially let me down, but it soon redeemed itself. The trail is moderate; the opening goes from imperceptible to potent with wear (after about 20 sprays at different times). At first, the fruity, aromatic, slightly bitter notes are strong. Then it shifts to floral with a light, skin-like scent. The dry-down feels subtly woody and vanilla-like (that kind of makeup or plastic doll vanilla, which I noticed on skin after eight hours, neither unpleasant nor overpowering). Projects moderately for an hour and clings gradually to the skin. Lasts eight hours on skin and clothes, but it’s intimate.
I’ve never thought it was a good idea to smell like a well-used plastic toy with greasy, cookie-stained hands.