Our take
What does Homme Exceptionnel smell like?
Montblanc launched Homme Exceptionnel in 2008, as the pen maker was building out its men's fragrance range. The perfumer is not named in the sources we rely on. The opening is a surprise. Mandarin meets roasted coffee and aromatic lavender, a trio that is more common now than it was back then. The heart stays aromatic. Ginger, mint and sage bring a peppery freshness that lifts the coffee. The base settles into amber, patchouli and musk, warm but not sweet. The coffee never quite disappears and leaves a trace of an empty cup on skin. It is far more discreet than Mugler's A*Men, which pushes coffee toward tar and caramel, and it keeps a sensible office manner. That is both its strength and its limit. It seems to have left the catalogue and now turns up mostly at discounters.
When to wear it
An autumn masculine for the office or a quiet dinner. Three sprays on the shirt and neck.
It belongs to the Oriental / Amber, Fougère family. Homme Exceptionnel is one of 19 creations by Montblanc in our encyclopedia.
