Eau de Monsieur

Green, woody, amber and citrus facets carry equal weight in Eau de Monsieur, a 2013 masculine fragrance from Goutal created by Annick Goutal. Its short list of notes points to a classic, quietly elegant style rather than anything showy.

Lemon gives a clean, sharp opening, the kind of bright freshness associated with a traditional gentleman's cologne. Immortelle then brings an unusual warm, honeyed and slightly hay-like sweetness, with a faint savoury edge, that gives the scent its character. Oakmoss adds a damp, earthy, forest-floor greenness, while sandalwood and amber settle into a soft, creamy and gently warm base.

The balance of citrus, moss and soft woods suggests a refined, understated scent for daytime: the office, lunches, smart-casual weekends and the milder seasons of spring and autumn. It should appeal to men who like classic chypre-style fragrances with an old-school polish, and to anyone who prefers a scent that feels well dressed without being loud. Those who enjoy immortelle will find it used here in a measured, wearable way.

Eau de Monsieur — unisex fragrance by Goutal (released 1981). Notes: Oakmoss, Lemon, Amber, Sandalwood, Immortelle. — Parfica open fragrance database