Top Notes 
Bergamot
Ginger
Heart Notes 
Vervain
Geranium
Nutmeg
Base Notes 
Cedar
Vetiver
PNewman
2 Reviews
Translated · Show original
PNewman
Very helpful Review
18
Monsieur
After the brand "Bienaimé" fell into a kind of hibernation in 1960, Cécilia Mergui revived it in 2021 and has since breathed new life into some old creations. "Monsieur" is the first new fragrance from the brand.
For me, the presentation of the brand evokes memories of a venerable tradition of artisanal strong scents that are meant to survive many decades and find a loyal following. Thus, I was immediately curious about this fragrance. In 2024, a decade characterized by sweet and heavy scents, with various new releases every day followed by the first dupes a few days later, this new release feels almost calming and reduced to the essentials. Simple fragrance pyramids simply attract me like a magnet.
My first impression of the scent was that of my beloved Eau Sauvage Eau de Toilette. Fresh lemon (here bergamot) with a fortunately bitter note, which only evokes slight memories of Acqua Viva. However, I don't find the feeling of smelling candied lemon here quite as pleasant, as it often leads many people to confuse it with various cleaning products. Unfortunately, I can already sense this here, albeit only subtly.
The scent of lemon (or bergamot, I unfortunately don't notice significant differences between the two) lingers in the air for a long time, slightly bitter and somewhat "fizzy".
I would have wished for a stronger note of vetiver and cedar to allow for a subtle woodiness to resonate. Instead, I only perceive a very subtle change in the scent progression, which can always be described as "citrusy". I also had a different scent image in mind. With "Monsieur", I think of a gentleman in fine attire with a book in a café - a fresh scent fits here, but the lemon feels almost a tad too authentic for me.
As a fan of simple and fresh fragrances, I am generally satisfied with the purchase, although 160€ + shipping from France does demand quite a lot from a major lemon lover. In the refill, it is then "only" 120€ + shipping.
The bottle is an absolute feast for the eyes. Very simple, totally elegant, and with a vintage-chic cap. It could lie on the passenger seat of a classic car with brown leather seats. Unfortunately, I still lack that, so it finds its place in the bathroom this time and not in the closet. Because I want to see this fragrance regularly, right next to Eau Sauvage.
The packaging and the little extras indicate a lot of love for the product. This is usually irrelevant to me with a perfume, as you wear the scent and not the packaging. But here, I want to highlight it and wish this old yet new brand much success and a large following.
For me, the presentation of the brand evokes memories of a venerable tradition of artisanal strong scents that are meant to survive many decades and find a loyal following. Thus, I was immediately curious about this fragrance. In 2024, a decade characterized by sweet and heavy scents, with various new releases every day followed by the first dupes a few days later, this new release feels almost calming and reduced to the essentials. Simple fragrance pyramids simply attract me like a magnet.
My first impression of the scent was that of my beloved Eau Sauvage Eau de Toilette. Fresh lemon (here bergamot) with a fortunately bitter note, which only evokes slight memories of Acqua Viva. However, I don't find the feeling of smelling candied lemon here quite as pleasant, as it often leads many people to confuse it with various cleaning products. Unfortunately, I can already sense this here, albeit only subtly.
The scent of lemon (or bergamot, I unfortunately don't notice significant differences between the two) lingers in the air for a long time, slightly bitter and somewhat "fizzy".
I would have wished for a stronger note of vetiver and cedar to allow for a subtle woodiness to resonate. Instead, I only perceive a very subtle change in the scent progression, which can always be described as "citrusy". I also had a different scent image in mind. With "Monsieur", I think of a gentleman in fine attire with a book in a café - a fresh scent fits here, but the lemon feels almost a tad too authentic for me.
As a fan of simple and fresh fragrances, I am generally satisfied with the purchase, although 160€ + shipping from France does demand quite a lot from a major lemon lover. In the refill, it is then "only" 120€ + shipping.
The bottle is an absolute feast for the eyes. Very simple, totally elegant, and with a vintage-chic cap. It could lie on the passenger seat of a classic car with brown leather seats. Unfortunately, I still lack that, so it finds its place in the bathroom this time and not in the closet. Because I want to see this fragrance regularly, right next to Eau Sauvage.
The packaging and the little extras indicate a lot of love for the product. This is usually irrelevant to me with a perfume, as you wear the scent and not the packaging. But here, I want to highlight it and wish this old yet new brand much success and a large following.
8 Comments
Ch03np
MiNikhila
Axiomatic
Yatagan
Ergoproxy
Rivegauche
Chnokfir
Dan93
MuckiMango
SoerenParfum
