A true classic, and one that flies a little too far under the radar these days especially for me. I'm a big fan of these old school Chypre. Released back in 1955, & created by Henri Robert. If that name rings a bell, it should, he’s the guy behind some of Chanel’s most enduring work, and he crafted this to be the definitive masculine counterpart to the house’s feminine staples. It’s been reformulated over the years, but the DNA remains remarkably intact. Fun point of interest: this is widely considered one of the first truly modern men’s fragrances, before it, men’s scents were mostly heavy, dense colognes. Pour Monsieur was said to have changed that by being clean, structured, and sophisticated. Seems like it was a benchmark for gents scent ever since. It’s an Aromatic Chypre, its sharp, citrusy, herbaceous, and grounded in oakmoss. Nothing flashy, nothing screaming for attention. It opens bright and crisp: Sicilian lemon leads, supported by orange, verbena, and petitgrain, with Tunisian or Grasse neroli adding that distinct, refined citrus-floral lift. Zesty and airy, never sharp or soapy. As it settles, the aromatic spice comes through — cardamom and ginger provide a gentle warmth, while coriander and basil add a cool, herbal edge. It’s sophisticated, well-judged, and never shouts. But there is without a doubt, a lavender vibe lurking in the background. My nose is nowhere near attuned to distinguish, but I'm guessing it's something along the lines of Lavendin or Linalool. Then the base takes over, this is where it earns its reputation. Oakmoss is the undisputed star: earthy, slightly bitter, and deeply elegant, anchored by Virginian cedarwood and a Patchouli or Vetiver. Dry, woody, and perfectly balanced, zero sugar, zero synthetic sweetness, just proper, grown-up composition. It’s easy to see why it’s lasted 70 years. On skin, it’s polite. Longevity is roughly 5 hours on a good day, which is decent but not spectacular. Projection is moderate, it stays close enough that you’ll smell it, and others will notice you, but it won’t fill a room. That’s by design, though, this was never meant to be a beast. It’s a signature, not a show. Wear it to work, to meetings, on dates, anywhere you want to smell put-together without announcing yourself. It feels expensive, tailored, and timeless. The downside? Chanel’s pricing — you’re paying for the interlocking Cs as much as the juice. But if you want a piece of history that still smells modern, clean, and unquestionably classy? This is it.

I'm not sure if it's me, where I'm at in the hobby, or if it is just generally not a great release year, but I've been struggling to get excited about most of the new releases this year. Flankers for brands and lines that I'd been collecting up to this point seem boring and flat. Is anyone else finding this year's releases less than stellar? I'm just wondering if it's that or perhaps I've hit a saturation point in my collection. M aybe it's both? Curious as to others experiences this year, and as always, open to recommendations to things that might be more exciting that you've discovered this year.

Had a blast…. Or Spray