Our take
What does Présence d'une Femme smell like?
Montblanc, better known for its pens, launched Présence d’une Femme in 2002 as a feminine partner to its men’s Présence. Michel Almairac composed it as a vanilla oriental eau de toilette. Franzrudolph Lehnert designed the bottle, clear amber glass on a silver base. The opening is greener than you might expect. Pineapple leaves, mandarin and pepper fizz more than they taste of fruit. The orchid and cyclamen heart is quiet and almost watery. It works mostly as a bridge. The base does the real work. Rosewood, sandalwood and patchouli surround a soft vanilla flower that never turns sticky. After an hour it smells of warm skin and pale wood. Lighter than Shalimar and far less sugary than Angel, it belongs to those early 2000s orientals that chose comfort over drama.
When to wear it
An office scent for autumn, polite enough for meetings. Plan on three sprays since the eau de toilette settles close to the skin fast.
It belongs to the Oriental / Amber family. Présence d'une Femme is one of 19 creations by Montblanc in our encyclopedia.
