I would consider myself a Caron fan. I like all of the masculines excluding the horrible Yuzu Man. I enjoy wearing many of the feminines. However, there is one that I can’t stand to wear. And that’s Montaigne.
Montaigne opens as a spicy and “fatty” mimosa. It has a thickness very “Caron”. Usually I enjoy a Caron mimosa, but there is more. I also get dusty rose like a dozen roses left in a waterless vase for too long. There’s jasmine and it wears unpleasant on me. The dry-down is a waxy vanilla.
Many people say that Montaigne is “brilliant”. On me it wears very dusty, musty and dull. That’s my problem with it. It reminds me of a dusty house with windows that are never opened. The thick drapes are dusty. There are vases of dead, dried up rose bouquets. All of the candles are burnt down to useless little stubs. Ugh, it’s just too depressing to wear. I don’t even want to talk about it anymore.
Notes listed include coriander, mimosa and vanilla. Launched 1986. PERFUMER – Richard Fraysse
Try Montaigne if you like dry florals or want to try all the Carons.
I’m reviewing the modern EDP. It has average projection and longevity.
Caron Montaigne retails from $95-$130 depending on its size at Nordstrom.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Dusty, musty floral that I find too depressing to wear. Hey, I can’t love all of the Carons!
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Coriander, mimosa, and vanilla sound great to me. Not a rose fan however!
Technically, I should love this perfume. But, I don’t. I need to add that Farnesiana is much, much better to my nose.
I own Montaigne and never reach for it. On those rare occasions when I do, I always wonder why I don’t wear it more often. Then I remember. You’re absolutely right, it’s extremely “fatty” in feel in its opening, and then it just…. I don’t know. It’s more than mere dullness. It flattens and something happens to it. I can’t figure out why I have such difficulty with it. I did a mini-review once a long while ago, and just 2 weeks ago was contemplating the subject again as I decanted samples for some friends.
You know what it is? It has no soul. It’s lifeless and a little claustrophobically over-whelming in all that yellow rich fattiness.
No, it’s not really that either, because I do like the mimosa’s opulence at times. See, I swear, I can’t make heads nor tails of Montaigne, and my reaction to it. One thing is certain: I never wear it. LOL.
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I love mimosa but I admit that I’m very picky with mimosas. Technically I should love Montaigne but I don’t.
One time we bought a house and fixed it up. It was previously occupied by a hoarder who left most of their things. Montaigne smells like the house when we first got the keys and had to tackle the mess. This is why I can’t wear it. It’s stale, lifeless and well, messy.
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