Mont Blanc

Explorer Ultra Blue by Montblanc

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Explorer Ultra Blue is the follow up to the very popular Explorer from Montblanc. It was released in 2021, but I grabbed a sample more recently to test it out and see if it was actually worthwhile. How does Ultra Blue Smell? Does it last long? Is it better than the original Explorer?

What does Explorer Ultra Blue Smell Like?

Notes include: pink pepper, bergamot, sea notes, fruits, ambergris, wood, patchouli, leather

Click here to try: Explorer Ultra Blue

My Full Review

Here’s how Mont Blanc describes it: Explorer Ultra Blue celebrates the Blue found throughout nature. Intense, infinite, and fresh, the eau de parfum reveals a citrus woody marine fragrance. Embark on an epic journey.

The opening of Ultra Blue doesn’t come across like the original Explorer. Actually, the opening of this fragrance is a lot like Light Blue Living Stromboli with how it smells.

Citrus, pink pepper, aquatic notes, and vetiver are the overlaps between them. This one starts out blended more, with a less intense use of the pink pepper (heavily featured in the D&G cologne).

After about ten minutes, this will separate away from that comparison, and more towards being its own thing.

Ultra Blue does have its own overlap with the original Explorer, but the smell is different. Notes shared, include: bergamot, pink pepper, leather, vetiver, amber. Different weightings and you replace the cacao with sea notes (which is simply going to be different).

It’s fresh, with a hint of citrus, a salty marine accord, and woods. Actually, some smoothness in there from a touch of leather.

That’s my dry down. A light amber, mixing with a mix of the marine, woods, and some leather. Not super deep or complicated.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The first hour or so does have a nice punch to it. It’ll extend out to about a seven-ish foot radius from where you sprayed, at its peak. By the end of that hour, it’s come closer to the three foot range.

So, Explorer Ultra Blue does pretty quickly dissipate with its power and ability to leave a scent trail. Not a heavy scent, that’ll bog down on you. At it’s height, it does have a substantial heft for a fresh aquatic.

The longevity here isn’t all that great. It’s okay, on my skin, in the 5-6 hour range in total. The last couple of hours are pretty light and skin scent level.

Seasonally, this is a cologne that is more for the spring and summer months. But, honestly, I’d be fine with it anytime other than when it is really cold out. That fresh bite, might be too much.

It’s a clean and fresh daily wear. Not very formal, romantic, or a club beast. It’s one that you can wear to work (at most jobs), casually, or at school if you’re a student.

Ultra Blue is pleasant and probably not ever going to offend anyone.

Overall Impressions of Explorer Ultra Blue

Overall, do I like this cologne? It’s okay. I don’t hate it, but I’m sure that I’ll forget about this one in a short amount of time.

Ultra Blue isn’t unpleasant, but there’s not much going on here that really grabs my attention. The aquatic accord is pretty nice, the citrus isn’t that strong, and all of the other notes kind of end up blending together.

If you want an easy blue aquatic with a relatively pleasant woody base…this could fit the bill. Though, I’d want a massive discount for it. Ultra Blue is very serviceable, though never spectacular.

I do have a full bottle of Living Stromboli, which I purchased for review, and has a comparable opening. I prefer that Light Blue flanker to this and that was never cologne that I particularly loved.

Everything here is just fine. Smell is just fine, performance, quality, etc. The original had its somewhat different take on the Aventus style. Yet, it is a much better fragrance than this more unique Ultra Blue flanker.

9 Best Smelling Mont Blanc Colognes

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For my next entry into reviewing the best scents from the world’s top designers, I wanted to take a closer look at Mont Blanc. Mont Blanc can tend to get overlooked, however, it is a design house that has done some very nice things in terms of men’s fragrances and does so at an affordable price point.

Are all the scents they make the most amazing and unique things to hit the market? No. What they do well is to make a great and wearable scent for men that will attract and draw complements on a daily basis. With that in mind, here are my top 9 Mont Blanc colognes for men.

What are the Best Mont Blanc Perfumes for Him?

Top Overall Mont Blanc Men’s Fragrance

MONTBLANC Legend Night Eau De Parfum, 1.7 fl. oz.– Vanilla, citrus, and candied apple start off this wonderful scent, that has a fantastic blend of sweet and spice. There is also a great mint note, up top.

It dries down as a much warmer and masculine cologne with an undeniable freshness. This has quickly become my favorite fragrance from Mont Blanc and a good reason to amend this list.

I purchased a full bottle of Legend Night after sampling it in 2018, it quickly became a favorite of mine to wear this past winter. Concerns about its longevity are overrated, and I find it to be quite well suited; to last all evening. Legend Night Full Review

Pros

  • Great sweet smell with warmth and depth
  • Draws complements
  • Awesome for nights out

Cons

  • Limited to cold or moderate temperatures
  • Some have longevity problems using it (it works well for me)

Best Selling Cologne

MONTBLANC Legend Eau de Toilette 3.3 fl.oz.– The most popular of the scents from Mont Blanc. It is a very crisp and clean scent featuring notes of pineapple, sandalwood, tonka bean, and bergamot. It is a solid choice for an everyday wear, though it can be classified as a moderate in terms of longevity.

This often gets compared to Abercrombie Fierce, but I think the classic Fierce formulation was better. However, that one isn’t around anymore. I like the fruity notes up top, plenty of pineapple, apple, and bergamot.

Later, this gets much drier with the wood and significant use of lavender. For some guys, they still swear by Legend, but to me it’s the third best fragrance using the Legend name. My review

Pros

  • Clean and good for daily wear
  • Complements

Cons

  • Not unique. You can find cheaper scents just like this
  • Performance is good, not great

legend

Great Clean Woody Fragrance

MONTBLANC Star Walker Eau de Toilette, 2.5 fl. oz.– A lovely scent for warmer days and a multitude of events. Woodsy and citric cologne with somewhat of an aquatic feel and for the price, it’s quite unique and mesmerizing.

I’d say it’s projection and longevity are moderate, which is the only thing stopping this fragrance from becoming a must buy for anyone. Starwalker is still a nice bet, at the right price.

Notes include: mandarin, ginger, bergamot, sandalwood, bamboo, amber, nutmeg, and more. My full Starwalker Review

Pros

  • Easy to wear, good daily option
  • Fairly unique

Cons

  • Not very powerful, needs more intensity

Extreme Starwalker

Starwalker Extreme– This is a newer edition of the Starwalker name. It’s actually quite different overall, but has its own charms that give it a spot on the list.

The fruity top is full of crisp apple, pineapple, and citrus notes. It’s not super sugary or a massive tropical type of aroma, but they are there and quite noticeable. The tonka bean is also very noticeable at the start.

The tonka isn’t massive or overbearing, instead giving you a light closer to vanilla sort of scent versus some other colognes which use the note. The opening will transition into something spicier, yet still sweet, before becoming a woody/tonka/lavender cologne.

Only hints of a marine influence, that adds to the freshness.

It kind of flew under the radar and can be harder to come across at a lot of retailers. However, when you do find it, Extreme is usually sitting there for a pretty massive discount. It’s well worth picking up at that sub-40 dollar price point.

Best New Mont Blanc

Legend Red– Legend Red isn’t spectacular to me, but it’s a very nice release from Montblanc, better than the Eau de Parfum for sure.

What I do really enjoy are the citrus top notes. The grapefruit and blood orange notes are actually great and grab one’s attention from the start. But, it’s also joined by some great fresh notes like juniper and clary sage.

Mainly, this is going to be citrus and great woody notes, with cedar taking the lead.  The blend is great when it’s a bit chilly out or through moderate temperatures. East to wear with moderate performance. A crowd pleaser.

Becomes quite woody in the dry down, but the juniper is something that I still pick up on in the late stages. Legend Red Review

Top Scent for Autumn

MONTBLANC Individuel Eau de Toilette, 1.7 fl. oz.– This cologne has a sweet gourmand quality to it with a blend of cinnamon spice that is reminiscent of something like Joop! or Creed Santal.

The opening isn’t the best but it does dry down into something very nice and is a good and inexpensive bet for the Fall months.

I particularly like it when the juniper and mint, really start to kick in, and provide a cooling freshness to this scent. Individuel is clean and pairs nicely with the warmer spices, before you get a dry woodsy scent, during the final act.

This doesn’t project itself like a monster, but I get about 6-8 hours of wear from it, which is solid. Notes include: bergamot, mint, oakmoss, cinnamon, sandalwood, violet, and jasmine. My full Review

Pros

  • Very attractive scent
  • Nice for the colder months
  • Warm sandalwood and cinnamon

Cons

  • Not the most unique
  • Not great in warmer weather

indiv

Easy to Wear Spice

MONTBLANC Emblem Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.3 fl. oz.– A very nice everyday scent that excels in that role. It has a soft and sweet citrus opening, which isn’t feminine at all but rather, plays off the cinnamon and sage notes to create something that is attractive yet masculine.

As it dries down, Emblem becomes warmer and has a bit of spice that adds character to the composition. This is a wear from the winter months, it can be worn formally or professionally.

Not the sexiest fragrance ever, but it does have quite a nice scent, overall. It’s warm, sweet, and creamy. Read My Emblem Full Review

Pros

  • Balanced scent
  • Low key and won’t overwhelm

Cons

  • Not very exciting, probably the sixth best smelling on the list

emblem

Top Mont Blanc Scent for Summer

MONTBLANC Legend Spirit Eau de Toilette, 3.3 Fl Oz– This is the newest edition to the list, Legend Spirit. To me, it’s the second best of the Legend line that has been released, after Night. It’s a blend of citrus notes, warm cardamom, and an aquatic accord.

The cardamom and pink pepper notes, give it a bit of a spice, and it sits on a woody base that is surrounded by a watery aroma. This is a moderately sillaged perfume with decent longevity, that is a good choice for warmer weather.

The citrus is mainly in the beginning, but the aquatic notes give Legend Spirit a light freshness throughout. If I had to pick two scents from the list, it’d be Spirit and Legend Night, to have all seasons covered. Legend Spirit Review

Pros

  • Great summer aquatic
  • Attractive citrus notes
  • Fresh

Cons

  • Not necessarily a wintertime wear

Best Explorer Cologne

MONTBLANC Explorer Eau de Parfum, 3.3 fl. oz.– Explorer has gotten a lot of attention due to its close resemblance to Creed Aventus. However, I think that it also has plenty of merit on it’s own and is definitely one of the better Mont Blanc fragrances for men.

You get citrus, sage, ambroxan, and pink pepper for a fresh and bright composition. Later, the wood, leather, and cacao will allow for a bit of separation from the Aventus comparisons.

So far, this is my favorite of the Explorer line. Ultra Blue wasn’t too exciting and I have yet to try Platinum, as of this update.

The performance is good at around 7-8 hours of wear and Explorer is just an all-around pleasant scent to wear. Explorer Review

Starwalker by Mont Blanc

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Having already done a few other Mont Blanc cologne reviews (see: Individuel) and a best of list from the brand, I thought that it was time to put up a review of Starwalker.  The name is what initially had me wanting to give this a try, as I found it to be a rather unique and interesting moniker. Turns out, it is named after one of the pens which the company also produces.

Nonetheless, this was still a review that I was looking forward to doing and seeing how Starwalker stacks up versus the rest of the Mont Blanc line. Please continue below for my full impressions on how it smells, its performance, and if it is a good bet to buy.

What does Starwalker Smell Like?

starwalker

Notes include: amber, mandarin, musk, bamboo, bergamot, sandalwood, ginger, and more.

Click here to try Starwalker: Mont Blanc Starwalker Edt Spray 1.7 Oz By Mont Blanc [Misc.]

My Full Review

Starwalker isn’t one of the most well known fragrances out there. In fact, it isn’t even the most popular cologne for men by Mont Blanc (see: Legend). However, this under the radar scent is rather unique and that is one of the reasons that I wanted to give this one a closer look.

The opening of Starwalker is mostly dominated by the citrus notes, but, it isn’t a bold and overwhelming citrus like some other colognes. This one is more subdued and surrounded by woodsy and floral aromas.

Enough juiciness, but more of a fresh and somewhat sweet aroma coming through.

The wood in this case, is bamboo, which is what I think gives Starwalker its unique sort of vibe; as bamboo isn’t a frequent ingredient found in most colognes. The orange and bergamot, aren’t really allowed to become overly sharp, as the wood keeps it in check.

There is a very slight spice with nutmeg and ginger, but that’s more of a temporary experience, even if it were bolder in how each note presents.

As it dries down, this cologne smells very smooth and refined. In many citrus fragrances, you’d expect it to really come to the forefront. Instead, what you’re left with is something that is very light, clean, and beautiful.

Sandalwood, bamboo, and a muskiness floating in the background alongside the fading citrus in these latter stages. Even the sandalwood, doesn’t last for that long it seems. Musky bamboo with cedar and citrus highlights, in the end.

Quite freshly clean and low key.

It does seem to have some similarities with other citrus/woodsy fragrances out there, mainly, Versace Man Eau Fraiche. I do enjoy the Versace cologne more than Starwalker but this fragrance is really nice as well.

However, I don’t think that it smells exactly like that cologne. After all, the lemon and star fruit in Eau Fraiche, are very strong and dominate the scent. It has a cedar note, but the wood in that fragrance, aren’t nearly to the same extent as it is in Starwalker.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Starwalker is light and non-intrusive, you’ll smell it but you won’t be enveloped in its aroma. It starts off decently strong, but quickly settles into having a 3-4 foot radius, around the wearer. It is pretty steady, for the entirety of the wear, at least until the 4th or 5th hour.

The longevity is pretty moderate in my opinion and it’s usually good for about 4-5 hours and sometimes longer. It’s definitely not a top notch performer, in that regard. Many Mont Blanc scents, seem to have this longevity issue. Many of them are decent, but few are truly outstanding.

Starwalker isn’t one of them. But, if you can get past needing to have an all-day wear, this could be a scent that you enjoy.

It’s really a spring/summer type of fragrance, the light citrus aspect of it, draws it into that category. I like it as a versatile daily wear, during these months.

Starwalker can be worn to work, casually, or for semi-formal events. It’s a well put together scent, but not completely stuffy or anything like that. It’s attractive, rather than being super sexy and begging for attention.

Overall Impression of Starwalker

Overall, is Starwalker worth a purchase? I’d say yes, if you’re looking for something light, casual, and relatively inexpensive, then this one could be right up your alley. It’s by no means the greatest cologne on the market but it’s very good for what it is.

I like the bamboo and citrus mix. Later, the woody notes of sandalwood and cedar, give it a nice finish. There is also a great addition of ginger, in there as well, even if it is ephemeral.

The performance isn’t all that great, so, I’d say definitely pick up a discounted bottle if you can. I wouldn’t go full price for this. It’s actually not a very complex fragrance, just nice and simple with how it develops.

The style itself is pretty common, but Starwalker is a unique take on this sort of simple citrus and woods cologne. The smell is among my favorites from Montblanc, if the performance was beefed up, this would’ve been borderline great.

Legend Red by Montblanc

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Legend Red is the latest release from the popular Montblanc series, introduced in 2022. Based on the notes, it seems to take the line in more of a unique direction than just being another complete ‘re-imagining’ of the original EDT. How does Red Smell? Is it worth a try?

What does Legend Red Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, blood orange, sage, cedar, juniper berries, tonka bean, mahogany, cardamom

Click here to try: Legend Red by Montblanc

legend red review

My Full Review

Let’s see how Montblanc describes this: A charismatic woody fragrance that evokes the thrill of speed and makes the heart beat a little faster.

Tried this scent? Leave your rating and review in the comment section below.

The grapefruit note shares the duties about equally with the blood orange, upon first spraying. It’s a juicy and energetic citrus duo, that reminds me of The One Gold. But, I think this is a better fragrance.

There is a cardamom note early, it’s honestly pretty weak, especially compared to the one in Legend Night. Instead, you get more of the clary sage and juniper freshness.

The sage and juniper have their run at the top, but you can already pick up strongly on the woods coming from the base, even at the very start. Cedar, for sure, but the mahogany starts to really come through in the middle act, on my skin.

That aspect really brings to mind the note in Euphoria for Women, also this has an element of the men’s version, as well. Mahogany strength isn’t something you get too often in fragrances, even in this limited capacity.

So, Legend Red goes from citrus herbal to citrus woods. The only other real aspect is the tonka bean, adding a sweetish aroma to the dry down with its vanilla-like profile.

For me, the juniper actually stays around more than the sage, in the late stage.

Not too complicated of a scent.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This one is pretty moderate in terms of sillage. At its peak, it’s probably a little better than average. On the whole, it is about middle of the road.

It’ll create a nice scent bubble of 3-5 feet, depending on your sprays. Then, move closer into being a skin scent.

On my skin, it can last up to about 6.5 hours. More in the 5-6.5 hour range, with multiple tests going towards the lower end of that range.

Seasonally, this is mostly for spring and summer. Though, it really works whenever the temperature is moderate to warmer. I like wearing it outdoors and catching some of it coming off of the breeze.

It’s versatile enough to be worn almost whenever during the spring or summer. Maybe not the most formal scent, but semi-formal or office wear should be fine. It’s got a nice maturity to it, but isn’t at all stuffy.

Legend Red is a likeable fragrance that should have plenty of mass appeal. It’s an easy to reach for cologne, that is fresh, and not overly complicated with more difficult notes to pull off.

More of a daytime wear, but wouldn’t be totally out of place in some nightlife situations.

Overall Impressions of Legend Red

Overall, do I like Legend Red? I do. It’s not my favorite thing ever, but I think it’s a very nice and highly wearable freshie for the spring and summer months. Legend Night and Spirit are still my favorites from the line, but this is quite good.

I like the blood orange note and the use of mahogany. That’s what helps to give this one some distinction, even while it doesn’t have too much in common with the other Montblanc Legend colognes.

This gives you a clean, appealing, and rather versatile fragrance to wear. It’s not going to offend, it should get a decent amount of complements, and covers a lot of bases.

The performance is decent enough. Not a complete beast or workhorse. Though, it should get the job done in most respects. A couple more hours of wear would be great.

Not a mind-blowing experience, but I think most people would at least find this to be okay, if not something the really enjoy.

Mont Blanc Legend EDT vs EDP

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Legend from Mont Blanc is still being used to inspire new flankers for the brand. The latest is an eau de parfum version of the famous Legend formula. I recently got a hold of a sample of Legend EDP to test it out and wanted to do another comparison post, with the original. Which of these is better? Lasts longer? Is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Mont Blanc Legend vs. Legend Eau de Parfum

Mont Blanc Legend

Notes include: Bergamot, Pineapple Leaf, Sandalwood, Apple, rose, oak moss, lemon verbena, geranium, lavender,  And Tonka Bean

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Legend Eau de Toilette 3.3 fl.oz.

Read my review: Mont Blanc Legend

Legend EDP

Notes include: violet leaf, leather, jasmine, moss, bergamot, woods

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Legend eau de parfum 3.3 fl oz, 3.3 fl. oz.

Read my full review: Legend EDP

 

Opening

Legend opens with a blend of pineapple, bergamot, and apple. It is clean, but doesn’t have the same type of sharpness, as it is calmed by lavender and tonka bean. It also has a dry underlying aroma from the base, that will become more prominent later on.

Legend eau de parfum starts off with a pretty strong violet leaf note, some bergamot, and leather. It’s fresh and somewhat green, with what I’m guessing is their synthetic oakmoss substitute. There’s really not much going on here, it feels pretty flat.

Which is better? I’m not a huge fan of the original Legend, but I like the opening act more so than the EDP. It has way more personality. The EDP just sits there as a giant dose of violet leaf on my skin, with some additional notes lurking around, but not really standing out.

Edge: Legend

Projection

I’d say that both of these are moderate. I know EDP has the higher concentration, but it doesn’t feel any stronger when I compare it to the original. The sillage is about the same at its peak. Maybe EDP goes a little longer with its strength, but that’s about it. 

Not giving it an edge.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Legend EDT gives me 5-6 hours of solid wear. During testing, I’ve gotten between 6.5-8 hours of wear from the EDP version. Neither one is going to give a marathon type of wear, but the EDP has the clear edge here.

Edge: EDP

 

Versatility

Mont Blanc Legend is a very versatile scent and that’s definitely one of its strengths. It can be worn year round and fits in, within all environments. It is attractive enough for dates, can go out for an evening, but doesn’t have that massive club beast persona.

Legend EDP is about the same. The violet leaf and leather doesn’t really change when it can be worn compared to the EDT version. The leather isn’t that intense and the violet leaf works pretty much year round.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Legend EDP is a similar take on the original, but with some slight differences. Less of the top fruity notes, upping the violet leaf, and a leather/woody base coming through. The opening act isn’t all that great, but the dry down gets better for me.

I wish the leather was given more of a role versus the violet leaf. That would have given it more distinction and a bit more personality than it has. The performance is solid, just not incredible.

Honestly, the fragrance strikes me as just fine. If you liked the original, you’ll probably like the eau de parfum, even if you don’t necessarily need a bottle for yourself.

Between these two? I’d rather wear the EDT. Again, I’m not even much of a fan of Legend, but it at least has some more personality. The EDP is closer to A&F Fierce or Egoiste Platinum, than is the EDT, but isn’t as good as either of those fragrances.

There’s nothing all that new with the eau de parfum, to make it a must have versus the original. I don’t think it smells any better and the performance, isn’t that much better.

Winner: Legend EDT