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Monsieur Balmain Balmain 1990

Version from 1990

7.8 / 10 183 Ratings

A popular perfume by Balmain for men, released in 1990. The scent is citrusy-fresh. It was last marketed by Interparfums.
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Main accords

Citrus

Fresh

Spicy

Green

Woody

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Lemon

Bergamot

Mint

Heart Notes

Ginger

Caraway

Pepper

Rosemary

Base Notes

Clary sage Vetiver

Vetiver

Amber

Musk

Perfumer

Calice Becker

Ratings

Scent

7.8183 Ratings

Longevity

6.6134 Ratings

Sillage

6.1117 Ratings

Bottle

7.1126 Ratings

Value for money

7.110 Ratings

Submitted by DonVanVliet, last update on 05/19/2025.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

Monsieur Balmain (1964) Eau de Toilette

Whip (2014)

Diesel Eau de Toilette

Eau Fraîche Madera de Naranjo

Acqua Classica

Strand

Reviews

4 in-depth fragrance descriptions

02/24/2015

5
Bottle 5
Sillage 5
Longevity 8.5
Scent

Gold
541 Reviews

Gold

Helpful Review 1

Monsieur B.'s drastic face-lift

The current version of Balmain's classic "Monsier Balmain" (my bottle is from 2013) is very elegantly presented, but it is no longer the exhilarating, full-bodied lemon-scent it used to be. In the beginning, "Monsieur Balmain" is a sparkling mix of bergamot and lemon oils, but when the initial citrus-notes fade away, you are left with a boring base of artificial woody notes and vetiver and this result is not very inspiring. Right now, thinking of the old version from 1964, those bitter-resinious base notes evoke an enormous sense of nostalgia..."those were the days" (sigh).

The new "Monsieur Balmain" has no power to make a point about its wearer, when the top-notes have faded away, the scent becomes nonedescript. Corrective surgery ruined the face of this handsome Monsieur. Nevertheless, if you love strong lemon and bergamot, the first minutes of "Monsieur Balmain" are full of vivacity. But bear in mind that face-lifts can be drastic.

12/14/2012

7.5
Bottle 2.5
Sillage 7.5
Longevity 7
Scent

Drseid
821 Reviews

Drseid

Very helpful Review 4

Lemon Pledge Anyone?...

Monsieur Balmain opens with a sharp blast of semi-sour lemon that is quite like the real juice. The fragrance soon combines the lemon with a sandalwood undertone that grows as the lemon slightly recedes over time. Very modest hints of amber and bergamot are the only other detectable notes of recognition to my nose. Projection is minimal and longevity is above average.

Monsieur Balmain is a very simplistic scent to my nose, at least. While the official list of notes is quite long, it really is all about a natural lemon on a semi-synthetic smelling sandalwood base; nothing more, nothing less. I have heard the scent described by some as "Lemon Pledge," and I confess I too have that same association too. I very much think of a fine lemon wood furniture polish when I smell this one. Lemon Pledge association and formula simplicity aside, the recent formulation of Monsieur Balmain does smell good, and is a superb value at its current street price of around $30 for a 100 ml bottle. I give Monsieur Balmain a "good" 3 to 3.5 stars out of 5 rating.

06/15/2024

6
Pricing 7
Bottle 8
Sillage 7
Longevity 10
Scent

Dionysos2022
731 Reviews

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Dionysos2022

4

A jungle of lemon trees...

...and the lake in the middle is freshly squeezed lemon juice. Sweaty headfirst into the lake. Out of the lake again and you are completely refreshed. And the hike through the lemon jungle can continue. Back at your accommodation in the evening, you are still fresh and alert.

Unfortunately, the fragrance is currently not available. Since it was launched on the market in 1964, it has been taken off the market from time to time and then reappeared a few years later. The first time I got to know it was in the early 90s, when it was in this beautiful round yellow bottle (yes, I lied). Currently it's in a square bottle which looks much better. But what the heck, that's not the most important thing, it's the content.

Here we have a super fresh citrusy minty scent that later surrounds a certain spiciness with pepper, ginger and rosemary. At the end there is a little musk with vetiver and amber.

The longevity is not too bad for a fresh fragrance. The silage is satisfying.

Since I am a perfume freak, I still own the old bottle and can compare it and have to admit that the last version has been changed. It is no longer quite as citrusy and sour. Too bad. But still makes it easy to wear.

I love this fragrance on hot days, it just makes you feel fresh and alert in the morning.

Fortunately, I bought a second bottle in good time, which is waiting to be used when the other one is empty.

But for all those who like super super fresh fragrances, if you can get hold of a bottle somewhere you should snatch it up or what I hope will soon be on the market again.

05/01/2019

9
Bottle 7
Sillage 8
Longevity 10
Scent

Monsignore
2 Reviews

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Monsignore

Helpful Review 10

The lemon fragrance par excellence.

I have known Monsieur Balmain for many years. At that time it was still available in a slim yellow bottle with a lemon yellow cap. I smelled the scent on someone else and asked what kind of scent it was.

Monsieur Balmain was not so easy to buy in every perfumery. That was something special. And this lemon scent is uniquely fresh and yellow, and not just flown away. Lemon and lemon again. My favorite fragrance.

This fragrance is something for men with pure soul who like light and sun. It stands for cleanliness and freshness. An excellent fragrance, which unfortunately is no longer produced