Our take
What does Parfum de Peau smell like?
Claude Montana launched his first perfume in 1986 under his own name. Jean Guichard composed it. It was later renamed Parfum de Peau, and Edouard Fléchier reformulated it in the 1990s. The opening hits hard. Bitter green marigold meets peach and plum. Black currant, pepper and cardamom fill out the picture. The heart piles on more with rose and tuberose. Jasmine, ylang-ylang and carnation follow. Then comes the base that made its reputation. Civet and castoreum, patchouli and sandalwood build a fruity chypre that is deeply animalic, almost leathery. Dior's Poison came out a year earlier and shares the same excess. Parfum de Peau swaps the sweet tuberose cloud for fruit and skin. This is not an easy perfume. It divides people, and it lasts for hours. Vintage bottles of the original Montana are the ones collectors chase.
When to wear it
A winter scent for evenings and any occasion where you want to be noticed. One spray or a dab on the wrist, no more.
It belongs to the Chypre, Fruity family. Parfum de Peau is one of 1 creations by Montana in our encyclopedia.