Explorer Platinum by Montblanc

Smells different from what we use daily: green, earthy, with a floral touch. I wouldn’t recommend it blindly; it’s a risky choice. Lasts 6-7 hours, not beastly projection but you definitely notice it. Had a funny story with a friend; at first she said she didn’t like it with a weird look, but half an hour later she got hit by some blasts and loved it. Very masculine, nothing youthful.

I have the same issue with violet as with iris: I like the aroma, but I’m not sure if I’d want to smell that, especially when the note is very prominent. Here, the violet is always present, which makes it delicate; you have to compensate with your clothes and character to avoid making a bad impression. It’s a sharp violet smell, more sharp violet, linear, no evolution; I don’t see anything novel. There were other perfumes with a similar smell before, but usually in men’s fragrances they are discontinued. To highlight the longevity: on my skin it lasted 7-8 hours, projecting 3-4 hours, and on the shirt it still smelled strong for days; after a week it was still detectable, though very faint. Still, I wouldn’t recommend it blindly, especially if you like very masculine scents; I don’t see it for romantic situations, more for a jovial vibe. If you already know the violet smell and like it, this is a good option.

I tried it and it dazzled me, so I took it. The box from batch 23 came with the cream and a 10ml sample, and the opening smells like cheese, like a leg of ham. Did this happen to anyone else? I think I got unlucky; I had read that it goes bad over time. Check that out just in case.

Batch 01/24, incredible smell. I have several perfumes for hot and cold weather, but none like this. At first it smells like vinegar or pickles in brine, but believe me, in 5 minutes it evolves into some incredibly rich woods. It’s 100% masculine; I imagine someone with everything solved in life. Smells like a cold cabin with the fireplace lit, that wood smell that dries before burning. It’s going to become my signature; something has me hooked. I’m not an expert, but I bought it blindly and have no regrets. The longevity is beastly: I put it on at 9pm, showered, and at 9am it was still smelling; on clothes it lasted until I washed it. If you want to smell it all day, this is for you. The trail is moderate, doesn’t flood but you’d sacrifice anything to smell it. I haven’t tried the others in the line, but this is the best of the three. I asked ChatGPT about layering and it said it goes well with the Explorer Black; since I don’t have it, I use the CDN Intense Man and ufff, if you have those two try them, it’s a delight. Suitable for any occasion, day or night.

2025 Update: I bought a batch from two years ago and it smells rich. Upon application, you first note a sweet herbal smell with a woody base, the statice predominates, and then it softens until you feel those non-dry woods. It’s creamy, nothing harsh, with a herbal, sweet, and woody development. Fresh and lasts 4 or 5 hours easily. It’s a rich magnet from Montblanc; worth the price if you want to try something new. I bought it recently and it’s one of the best investments I’ve made in perfumery.

A soft fragrance with floral, ozonic, and woody notes. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting this; at first, that ozonic note smells weird, almost bitter, but it passes quickly, leaving behind that rich violet and wood. It’s a bit subtle, seems like it doesn’t cling much, but hours go by and you always notice it. Lasts more than 6 or 8 hours, though the trail is just right. It’s serious, mature, ideal for the office or cold, formal settings; it might not fit in more relaxed spots. I’d give it an 8/10.

Greetings! This Montblanc is a hidden gem. A true marvel! Not many talk about it, but it hooks women 100%. It smells of violet leaves, mineral notes, a bit of rosemary (ozonic), and a flawless finish with cedar and maybe a touch of patchouli. Does it resemble Santal 33? Yes, it has the vibe, but Santal is very dry and woody; Explorer Platinum is rounder, floral, and sweet (not gourmand). Its woody dry down is of another caliber. It’s not linear; it has defined stages. I’ve had three bottles since 2023 and use it as a magnet to calm people down; it softens things and makes people treat you calmly. If your girlfriend or wife got mad at you for leaving without her, use this the next day and see how soft she becomes. The presentation is impeccable, better than many niche brands. The notes are superior quality, very well blended. It’s very pleasant. There’s a very similar one, Bravo Monsieur by El Ganso, but this has less cardamomo in the opening and they’re similar at the end without being identical. Blind buy? Yes, and repeat, women love it. Lasts more than 8 hours and projects well. Lasts days on clothes. Don’t hesitate to try it. The price is ridiculous for what it is. Watch out, buy from official sites.

Alert, fragrance lovers! I haven’t seen massive reviews and it has me curious because it has everything you’re looking for: longevity, trail, and lasts days on clothes. It’s not the same as Santal 33, it’s a slightly sweet wood, maybe due to the violet and rosemary, but it’s addictive. Perfect as a signature scent, can be used all year, even in formal moments. What a great perfume, congratulations to Montblanc!

At first it didn’t convince me, but once it dries it’s something else, simply rich and excellent. Projects too much for the first two hours.

You smell Explorer Platinum and you think: work, job situation. Normally I only use it for the office, meetings, chats… It projects an image of a professional, calm, and responsible man. Despite that use, it’s a very versatile fragrance. Excellent duration of 7 to 8 hours. Projects as it should and then stays in a perceptible bubble until the end without bothering anyone. Perfect for intermediate seasons. I have about 40 perfumes, several niche, and honestly this is the one that has given me the most compliments. I prefer detecting reactions and with this I’ve noticed several people approached to tell me I smell good. Excellent and quite original perfume. Edit: less than a year later, I think in my bottle (well kept) the opening is spoiling a bit.

Perfect for daily wear, casual dates, or semi-formal occasions. Opens metallic, ozonic, and floral with a sweet twist from the freesia; it stays consistent as it dries. The violet and freesia combo is rich—slightly sweet but not cloying. It’s floral, woody, and airy. If you pay attention, you’ll smell metal. The cedar and white woods provide cleanliness. I’ve received several compliments. Masculine, calm, clean, and neat, yet distinct. My girlfriend loved it too. Longevity: 6 hours. Projection: 2 hours moderate, reaching the elbow. Sillage: moderate at first, then soft for another hour. Discreet but rich up close. Batch from March 2024.

I gave it two chances and nothing. To me, it’s a synthetic sweet-metallic bomb. I love Explorer and UltraBlue, but I can’t do this one. I understand others might like it, but outside my opinion, it’s impossible to get compliments.

It smells like Santal 33 to me, which takes points off because that DNA smells like sweet Baygon to me, so I can’t say anything good about it.

Spectacular. Not a hint of Santal 33.

Good fragrance, noticeable but not invasive with decent longevity (about 5 hours), but it performs better on clothes. I bought the 50ml at a good price and it lasted until the end of 2023. It smells different, fresh, with a dominant metallic touch (I’m not sure where that comes from), but with a sweet floral that’s accentuated by the cedar. For me, it’s very good for work, but nothing else. Its price stands out, and it doesn’t smell generic. It projects little, only in small spaces. In four months, I only got one compliment, from a man in the car at work. I give it a 7/10 overall.