I am sure that for all fragrance lovers, there will have been some discussion regarding this momentous and, at the same time, criticized scent released by Montblanc Explorer EDP at some point during the last few years.
The question is whether it is really unique and groundbreaking as some say, or if it simply has a very good copy of Creed Aventus DNA at the same time. When Montblanc Explorer was released in 2019, one of the reasons for its popularity was the fact that some consumers found it to be offensively similar to Aventus, and even though Aventus has been the victim of a great deal of clones in the past, this case really took a wild turn and divided people into two opposing groups.
As you know, it is impossible for one to remain restrained when faced with situations like these, so if you are like me and have read all the different comments about Montblanc Explorer and still do not know if it is worth your time to try, then you have come to the right place. There is a reason why Explorer by Montblanc is worth your time because I have tested it multiple times or on multiple occasions as well as spent an entire bottle on it. I will discuss all the reasons why Explorer by Montblanc is well worth your time in this post.
I also want to mention that Montblanc Explorer made its way into our list of best spring fragrances for men in 2022, as well as our list of best summer fragrances for men in 2022, and it is still proudly holding its position today! I am certain that the fragrance industry will also make the list in 2022, depending on how things are going in the fragrance industry right now.
Do You Know How Montblanc Explorer Smells?
In my opinion, Montblanc Explorer is a very pleasant and accessible perfume, with a synthetic backbone that gives it a woody, leathery, and warm fragrance. When the fragrance dries down, it becomes more leathery and woody in character.
Top notes (1):
- Bergamot
- Pink Pepper
- Clary Sage
Heart notes:
- Haitian Vetiver
- Leather
Base notes:
- Ambroxan
- Akigalawood
- Indonesian Patchouli Leaf
- Cacao Pod
Montblanc Explorer’s opening is very fruity, with a recognizable note of bergamot that strikes you immediately. In addition to bergamot, the spiciness and warmth of pink pepper and clary sage can also be validated, but they are not very strong and easy to notice, but they add that quirky and humorous touch to the fruity opening composition.
The fragrance slowly dries down after approximately 10 to 15 minutes, and at that time, the transformation will take place. It seems that the fruity bergamot that was left in the bare opening of Explorer has faded away, and the heart is taking over the fragrance and taking us to a completely different sphere of exploration.
During the dry down of this fragrance, there is a strong ambroxan and wood note – mostly Akigalawood, but also Vetiver – that has a leathery, woody, ambery effect. It has been described as an aromatic-woody fragrance, which is pretty much what you get, despite the fact that I would describe it as smelling more like a woody-synthetic scent, and that is a very positive comment.
In my experience, one of the most frequent misconceptions about “synthetic” is that it is “lousy”, but that’s not the case at all.
There are many reasons why people tend to compare Explorer to Aventus, and one of the biggest reasons why is the fact that you can feel a soft touch of pineapple that is the victorious note of Aventus, but you cannot find it in Explorer’s note breakdown. There is no sign of massive pineapples in Montblanc Explorer, but there is a light but familiar pineapple touch that is apparent in it.
As I mentioned earlier, I’m not saying that Montblanc Explorer is similar to Aventus, but the first 30 to 45 minutes after applying it, I do notice a familiar scent, but it really has a unique touch of woody and earthy notes that completely set it apart from Creed’s golden winner as well.
There is no doubt that Montblanc Explorer C is a very pleasant fragrance that is likable, it is an excellent complementing fragrance, and what makes this fragrance so special is the fact that it doesn’t smell like a typical designer fragrance, at all. It is very pleasant, very likable, and it can be a great complement factor. The perfume has a secret aura about it, and it’s not pretending to be something that it isn’t – it’s just a great, sweet, spicy, and woody fragrance for men. Not groundbreaking, but definitely magical all on its own.
What is the shelf life of Montblanc Explorer?
It is estimated that the Montblanc Explorer will last approximately 5 to 6 hours, but it will project great in the first hour or two after it has been used.
As a matter of fact, the longevity and projection of Explorer can be a deciding factor for some people when they say “no” to it, but it is important that we keep in mind that this is not the niche, luxurious type of fragrance, and if we consider this in perspective, then the longevity can pretty much be justified.
I found it very effective in the first hour after I applied it, maybe for a little bit longer, and I received many compliments from women during that period, mostly because of the projection. If you were wondering if Explorer is a compliment seeker, you are right – Montblanc Explorer is currently one of the most complimented designer fragrances out there.
This fragrance sits very close to the skin for a maximum of two hours and becomes a very intimate fragrance, so it becomes hard for others to smell it at that point. Is this a bad thing? I guess it depends on what you are looking for in a fragrance. In my opinion, I prefer my perfume to last and to be noticeable after at least a few hours, but if you like fragrances that are more personal, you will also feel comfortable with this one.
Can Montblanc Explorer be worn at any time?
A unique feature of Montblanc Explorer is that it is a fragrance that can be worn in any season and for any occasion, as well as in any environment. No matter if you are in the morning or late at night, you can never go wrong with this fragrance.
This is the first time that Mont Blanc perfumers have managed to make a fragrance that has such a universal appeal, something that many houses have tried to make, but have not been able to do.
Would you be interested in having a perfume that you can wear at any time, no matter what your heart desires? I must have. With Explorer, you don’t have to worry about whether or not you are suitable for a certain occasion or not, or whether or not the weather is too hot, or too cold, or if you are too young or too mature for it – this pleasant and sweet-spicy fragrance will always do the job.
Whether you wear it to the office, for a casual coffee break, or even on a date night dinner with your partner, this is a piece you can wear anywhere.
When it comes to day or night, as I said, both will do just fine, but if I really had to choose, I would say day. As Montblanc Explorer lacks the dustiness and darkness that one would expect from night fragrances, I believe that it would be much more suitable for wearing during the day. However, I did not have any problems wearing it during the night either.
Because of the fact that it’s not too fruity or spicy, as well as not being too earthy or herbal, this composition is universal in every aspect, so it is suitable for all generations due to the fact that it is not too sweet and spicy.
When it comes to Montblanc Explorer, how many sprays are enough?
The Montblanc Explorer fragrance requires only between 4 to 7 sprays in order to reach out to its full potential and to project as great as possible. This scent is pretty linear, so if you apply more than 7 sprays of the fragrance, you won’t gain any longevity or projection.
The Montblanc Explorer is a distinctly non-offensive scent, so it’s almost impossible to over-apply it and cause a negative result. However, there is no need to waste a good scent, as this perfume will stay fresh for a long time and project for many hours to come.
It has been my experience that four to seven sprays are more than enough to take the best out of Montblanc Explorer and to utilize this complementary composition to the fullest extent possible.
In order to apply any fragrance, the correct way to do so is to focus on your pulse points, which means: two sprays under your ears, one behind your head, and two in the dip of your collarbone, or for an even stronger effect, two sprays on your wrists.
You should always experiment a little bit on your skin and find out what works best for you, maybe 4 sprays will work well for you, and maybe you will need more than 7 sprays to achieve optimal projection on your face.
You should, however, make sure that you don’t apply multiple sprays on the same spot since it will take a longer time for the fragrance to open up if you do.
If you are interested in finding out how to properly apply fragrance for it to perform at its best and last as long as possible, you should definitely read this post!
What is the best place to buy Montblanc Explorer?
It is easy to find Montblanc Explorer in many local perfumeries throughout the region, but when it comes to online shops, you can find it on FragranceNet and quite a few other reliable sources, as well.
In terms of local perfumeries, Explorer is fairly accessible and I’m sure you’ll be able to find it somewhere near you if you search for it. It would be a good idea if you had some free time to go out for a short time and find Montblanc Explorer on the shelves of a local perfumery. It will be possible for you to test it out on your skin and make sure that you are truly in love with the woody scent before you purchase it.
If you’re shopping online, then I would suggest that you get it from FragranceNet, since they are one of the most trusted fragrance discounters in the world – I personally get all my fragrances from them and I have never had a single issue with them.
It used to be that Montblanc Explorer was available on Amazon as well, but as of this update (May 2022), it is no longer available. I recommend you wait a bit to see if it will pop up on Amazon again if you want to keep all of your purchases there. When I notice that it is available on Amazon, I will update this post to include the link to it.
As well as FragranceNet and Amazon, you can also purchase the original bottle of Explorer on Montblanc’s official website, Sephora, FragranceX, and Notino, as well as other places.
My recommendation is always to buy it from FragranceNet because I personally have experience with them, but you can also get it from other sources above that will keep you safe from scams and fake perfumes.
The Montblanc Explorer will face off against the Armaf Club De Nuit Intense
When I think about alternatives to Creed Aventus, I have been asked this question many times over the years, and the two fragrances have been waging a dangerous battle against each other, and it is once more causing people to be divided when it comes to what to choose.
There is a rough, bright, citrusy, and fruity opening to the Club De Nuit Intense that many people found too strong for their taste, but after approximately half an hour, it dries down to something much more pleasant, somewhat smoky, even sexy, and yes, it is very close to the scent of Aventus in the sense that it has a distinct smoky aroma.
I would like to say that Armaf magicians aimed to make a clone of Aventus, something that will have a similar DNA structure as Aventus and should serve as a cheaper alternative to Aventus in the future.
On the other hand, Montblanc Explorer is a perfume that has a slight similarity to Aventus, but it is definitely more unique and different than the fragrances of most other designers, which is one of the reasons why it has many devotees.
There is one main difference between Montblanc Explorer and Club De Nuit Intense and that is their longevity and projection.
In comparison to Montblanc Explorer, Club De Nuit Intense has a much better projection and will serve you for a much longer period of time.
The Club De Nuit Intense is an incredible attention seeker, with an excellent complement factor, and a striking liquid that will speak without a doubt before you. It has Aventus DNA, but obviously its scent is synthetic.
Packing products
This Montblanc Explorer comes in a box that has a black and grey theme, with a leathery label that contains the name and type of the fragrance as well as the name of the brand. It is simple and straightforward, but also elegant and classy at the same time.
Listed at the bottom of the box are all the integrands that you can use and the batch code that you can use as well.
There is a dark, transparent bottle containing the liquid. It is also wrapped with a leathery label with a Montblanc logo that looks like a little button on the side of the label – really interesting if you ask me.
Aside from being found on the cap of the fragrance, the Montblanc logo can also be found on the bottom of the fragrance, as well as on the atomizer of the fragrance. They did not save on anything.
As a whole, the presentation looks very clean and elegant, dark and masculine, and if anything, it will look very cool and mysterious when it comes to decorating your room in the future.
A summary of Montblanc Explorer – Is it worth the money?
The question is, does Montblanc Explorer deserve the title of being the “King of the designer’s fragrances”? For my part, I would say that it does.
I consider Explorer to be a great fragrance, with a fresh and spicy opening and woody aromas that envelop the heart of the fragrance and add the missing piece to the mystery of this unique fragrance that is Explorer.
Aside from its sweet, warm, woody, and aromatic aroma, Club De Nuit Intense has that sweet, warm, woody, and aromatic aroma that will catch the attention of both men and women. Is it a great compliment factor? Sure, but it does not beat Club De Nuit Intense.
It is what I like the most about this fragrance because it is so universal, so well-rounded, and so masculine that I can easily apply it whenever I feel like it without worrying if I am misjudging the occasion or not.
As far as projection and longevity are concerned, I believe they could have improved it, but they did a wonderful job with versatility and crafting these remarkable notes into one distinctive “poison”.
It is the perfect blend of spiciness, woodiness, and warmth, combined in an aromatic bomb that is sure to leave you breathless and give you the confidence that you may have been missing. It is an aromatic bomb that combines textures and scents that are like no other.
While I am passionate about perfume, I live in a rural area of the Bronx, New York, far from any perfume stores that are close by. It is straightforward: I do not have any credentials to provide as the author of this blog. I just love perfume, that’s all I have to offer.
In addition to wearing male, female, and unisex fragrances, I also enjoy wearing perfumes containing woods, incense, citrus, flowers, spices, vetiver, and green notes. As well as chypre perfumes, I enjoy fragrances with oakmoss, especially chypres. Patchouli and amber are not particularly appealing to me, and with some notable exceptions, perfumes that smell very clean, oceanic, or are too sweet are not particularly appealing to me.
I also have an addiction to expensive chocolates and teas, and I spend a great deal of time browsing the Internet, reading blogs primarily written by others.