Pierre Cardin Pour Monsieur by Pierre Cardin

A truly unique EDT, unrivalled by anything before or now. Very complex; the current version differs only slightly from the original, save for a fleeting, slightly annoying vinyl-like stickiness. It may feel dated, but in my opinion, it’s a fine alternative for those who don’t seek easy-to-find molecules, radioactive trails, or eternal presence. Think of it as a classic that offends no one and suits whoever wears it. One of my favourites alongside Vetiver Essential Oil, Habit Rouge, Signor Ricci 1, Alvarez Gomez cologne, Puig’s Lavender Water, La Franco English cologne, Eau Sauvage, Givenchy Gentleman, Chanel Pour Monsieur, and… I’ll stop listing as I could go on (H24…). Yes, I know, my tastes are a bit old-fashioned 🙂

It is incredibly difficult for me to write this short review… This perfume was my father’s favourite. A few months after his passing, I still remember it so vividly, along with the particular way he would apply it to the back of his neck, his throat and chest before putting on his shirt. It is a very pleasant scent, full of character and elegance. The notes I detect most when wearing it are the cleanliness of the lavender, the constant presence of a subtle leather note and patchouli, closing with vanilla, amber, tonka bean and the resinous touch of benzoin, which crown the base of this fragrance. Seeing his perfume still on the wooden table in his room causes a small lump in my throat, yet it makes me smile when I lean in to smell the cap of the bottle. In short, it is a perfume for every accomplished man to keep in his collection.

Jerry Drake, wishing to introduce me to the vintage world, has taken me back in time with a sample of Cardin pour monsieur, which he kindly provided. It is a perfume where talc clearly dominates the composition, reminding me somewhat of Habit Rouge, though I find this Cardin slightly more aromatic. I detect a soft opening spiced with notes I cannot quite identify. I feel a soft, velvety wood in the base, which I believe must be sandalwood, accompanied by vanilla and benzoin that give it a small creamy touch. It is a soft, elegant fragrance with a short sillage, nothing strident. An old-school scent that can still be worn without issue in 2024. A smell of another time where spoken words weighed as much or more than written ones. A scent for an elegant gentleman. In fact, it reminded me of my grandfather, which is why I decided to wear it today, to remember him with affection on the day I am saying goodbye to his wife, my grandmother, who today surely embarks on her journey through time towards eternity.

Returning to this review: Pierre Cardin Pour Monsieur has been an interesting proposition. While I find it dated and highly temporal (which I consider strange even for me), it still deserves an impartial review and analysis like any fragrance. (With the exception of ADG Profumo and Le Male Le Parfum, which are disgusting.) It opens with citrus (mainly orange), aromatic herbs, highlighting lavender and basil. In its heart, I detect a predominant clove tone, slightly spiced. I also highlight a quite present thyme nuance, which is undeclared. The base predominantly features amber, derived from vanilla and benzoin, along with patchouli. While it is woody, I do not detect a predominance or aggression in its leather note. Regarding its gender, I find it to be one of the less ‘macho’ scents of this era; I would label it as masculine unisex or even totally unisex, considering it is not a moss bomb with smoke, leather, cigarette tobacco, wild herbs, and animalic musks like the true powerhouses, a denomination I do not find fitting for Pierre Cardin Pour Monsieur. Attire: business casual is best. I think it looks excellent with a slim black tie, a white short-sleeved shirt, grey dress trousers, and black or grey leather shoes. It also pairs well with Wayfarer-framed glasses. It would also look good with a formal suit and Bostonian shoes. I do not see it as particularly casual. I consider it suitable for both day and night, in rather fresh seasons: fresh spring, autumn, and winter. Final line: It is not a powerhouse, but as a vintage oriental and as an olfactory time machine, it is excellent. Very good price too. Blessings.

I received a bottle of this as a gift exactly 22 years ago. As soon as I smelled it, I was overwhelmed; it was a fragrance bomb, and I could not stop smelling the bottle all the time. I truly loved it. The problem was that when it ran out, I never saw it again. About two years ago, by chance, I found it in an old perfumery and was about to buy it on impulse, but I did not take the risk; with all these reformulations, you never know. So I asked them to spray it on my arm, and truly it is a pity what has happened to it. The fragrance is the same, but without life, without that strength that characterised it. It has gone from having a heavy trail to a faint one, and from a six-hour longevity to just a couple of hours. It is a shame to see the decline of one of the jewels of perfumery.

Pierre Cardin Pour Monsieur is a warm spiced perfume but not overwhelming or heavy like current warm spiced ones. It has a certain sweetness of amber/vanilla and tonka, benzoin; it is resinous yet aromatic and sweetened, not wild like Drakkar Noir. I felt it had a very strong earthy tone, like wet earth and petrichor in my city, in a nearby vineyard. On the opening it has citrus brightness and aromatic notes, but in general it is stately and elegant (it is not a Givenchy Gentleman ’74, nor extremely casual, it is well balanced). As it dries, robust notes of spices, woods and leather appear, a warm spice that cannot hide that it is from the 1970s. Leaving temporalities aside, what a delightful perfume.

This fragrance arrived yesterday, bought blind, and what can I say? I love it! It transports me to another era: a father’s cologne, an uncle’s or the neighbour upstairs who left a trail on the stairs when coming down to school, a teacher’s scent. These scents of older men, now at 44 years of age, are ones I enjoy and delight in wearing; it is a warm scent that embraces.

I have such affinity that, lacking a bottle, I have three, from an era when perfumery was not so regulated. It starts with pale oranges, almost hesperidic colognes, but turns to woody notes, perhaps sandalwood and resins. It brings memories of my father on formal occasions. If alcohols trace analogies with the transience of life, here is added the brand’s decadence, which was a reference in luxury but is now nothing after the abuse of the franchise. What about current formulations? Not bad, though there is a slightly unpleasant plastic aftertaste, like poorly calibrated civet, and the top notes are not as clear. But apart from this, it is the same. It is available at a negligible price, so it is worth it, especially for those carrying nostalgia.

I have two Pierre Cardins: one with a brown box and red-blue lines (Eau De Toilette Pour Monsieur) and another with a green box (Pour Monsieur). They are different fragrances; I like the green one more with a dance of fine woods green touches and a playful but sober citrus base. The other the one reviewed here is dominated by citrus very masculine and elegant which I also love.

Fresh and classic soft with citrus and berry touches ideal for those who prefer traditional formal wear.

Fresh, classic and elegant aroma. The freshness comes from the citrus notes, the classic from oakmoss, leather and sandalwood, and that elegant touch from the florals. Moderate trail, not projecting strongly, but its longevity is about six hours; if more projection is desired, it can be moderately over-applied after a few hours. Its scent is very pleasant. It is very versatile, fitting any occasion and season; it is more a matter of the man’s taste than the perfume’s.

The one I have is of recent manufacture around 2010. At first clear notes of orange basil and bergamot. After three hours patchouli sandalwood and leather appear perhaps a little soft clove. After six and a half hours vanilla and patchouli. By twelve hours amber vanilla and very close to the skin. The sillage was heavy with overapplication (lasted about two or three hours) but the rest of the time was moderate and ended very close to the skin. Created in 1972 it shares many notes with Guerlain’s Habit Rouge. It also recalls Giorgio for Men from 1984 by Giorgio Beverly Hills although without the honey touch of the latter but with lots of patchouli. Perhaps in 1972 it had a more sustained sillage as it does now but the powerful base fades quickly. It is not expensive and is good for what it offers in the mentioned styles. I see it more for autumn and winter formal and only if you like the retro or old-school.

I am not so much in agreement that a fragrance is timeless or outdated; I believe that scents do not have an expiration date the same essential oils have been used forever. The problem is that we associate a smell with a specific group of people. I think it is a matter of mindset and not letting ourselves be carried away by the marketing of the big houses. Pierre Cardin is a classic scent perfect for the office in moderate quantities as it is strong. As my colleague says better in temperate or cold climates.