Matador by Ramon Monegal

The first thing that hit me is the leather character, which reminds me of that eco-friendly ‘vegetable leather’ clothing. The passion fruit, which I doubted, gives a refreshing profile and harmonizes everything, acting as a bridge between the top and base notes. Jasmine and rose peek out innocently, giving body to a perfume that smells like a winning matador. The dry down shows that coconut is more versatile than we’ve been led to believe, effervescent thanks to the musk and creamy with sandalwood. I think it won’t be Monegal’s first leather scent, but probably the most ‘wild’. The experience is excellent and the story fits perfectly with the name, a reward for the bold.

Matador is a fragrance with a very dynamic pyramid that changes over time. It invites you to try it on skin because its progressive and sometimes unexpected evolution is its greatest virtue. If you like fruits like pear or passion fruit, and you’re not scared off by leather or incense, it could be a good bet. In its floral facet, the rose is what I notice the most, but contained and balanced with magnolia and jasmine. The coconut adds creaminess without being the star, and the sandalwood rounds everything out. It’s a refined harmony that balances contrast and softness. I would definitely add it to my collection because it challenges me to smell it again to understand its complexity without seeming pretentious. Every skin makes it different, adapting to both men and women. These are first impressions; I need to try it again. At the event, I applied it to my skin and was surprised by the longevity: even after a shower, it was still there. A risky, sophisticated proposal worth trying with attention.

Master Monegal has us used to perfumes that don’t leave people indifferent, and this is no exception. MATADOR hasn’t arrived in Argentina yet, so I only tested it on skin with two sprays. The opening felt super fruity, highlighting the pear with a slightly acidic rose due to the passion fruit. The dry down is another story: on my skin, it’s leather and more leather, a friendly leather, more like ‘suede’. It didn’t disgust me, although leather on my skin is usually invasive and few suit me. I want to try it more on cool days because it’s been over 30 degrees and the humidity doesn’t help enjoy this type of aroma.

The fragrance starts with a top note loaded with rose and fruits, passion fruit, and pear, which makes it seem a bit more feminine but very pleasant. The real power lies in the dry down where leather and coconut play; I feel it more like a sweet coconut cream that transforms the scent into something captivating and sexy, leaving a trail that’s more masculine. My expectations weren’t high, but what a pleasant surprise; I’ve liked it quite a bit and it seems super versatile. It’s another gem from Master Monegal’s list.

No jargon or showboating: it’s a perfumazo! It’s ultra sexy and very attractive. It’s a must. Many thanks, Master Monegal, for this incredible composition. I applied it yesterday and I can still smell it a day later. No nonsense, a blind buy.

I’m not a huge fan of clean leathers, but here everything is handled perfectly. The coconut-passion fruit balances beautifully with the flowers, creating a round, smooth harmony, almost creamy but composed. It’s like polished wood without varnish, cared for down to the millimeter. I thought Matador would be more passionate and dirty, but it’s just the opposite. At first, I was disappointed, but now I admire its magnificent balance.

I confess I’m not an expert in perfumes; I only buy what evokes nice things for me to ‘sniff’ and sleep with. I don’t understand ingredients, so I read here to learn and enjoy the poetry that is this art. I was surprised by the low rating of this perfume; I smelled it in a niche store without knowing it was Matador and thought, ‘my goodness, how good it smells.’ It’s balanced, rich, and particular, without any jarring notes. I know I’m anti-bullfighting and an animal rights advocate, and that bullfighting seems like something from the past to me, but I understand it’s part of our folklore. You can’t punish the quality of a perfume for its name or ethics; it’s unfair to evaluate something poorly based on principles.

Quality and good taste. You can smell the pear alongside the incense, with the rose peeking through and a leather that, with the coconut and creamy sandalwood, makes it super appetizing. It’s unisex, and its rating on Fragrantica is distorted by the controversy of the name and fine leathers. If you’re curious, try it in a decant, but don’t let the hype fool you; it doesn’t reflect the real quality.

I think it’s a very exquisite fragrance; the quality of the materials and the effort are noticeable. I wore it these hot summer days in Madrid and it lasted easily 10 hours on skin; the trail is moderate and slightly sharp at times, nothing cloying, very refined. In short, I liked it a lot, in my view a proper unisex. I recommend it!!

Vidar, with the utmost respect, we all have the right to express our opinions, whether you like them or not, without being called stupid. I can agree that in a perfume the liquid is most important, but if you think the image doesn’t matter when so much is spent on advertising and even actors… well… For me (personally), the Matador image could not be more abhorrent. I love Monegal’s creations; he’s one of the best perfumers in the world for me. I don’t understand if he wanted to create controversy with this name; if so, he’s indisputably succeeded. No comments on the responses they give to critics: about value and blah blah that seem AI-generated. Of course, the liquid is most important in a perfume, but for me, due to the associations it evokes, I wouldn’t want this one even as a gift. Please, I insist, it’s my personal opinion. I’d love to read opinions defending it, but always with respect. For me, bullfighting is a disgrace, even if others see art, but I am not stupid.

Vidar, with respect, we all have the right to opine without being called stubborn. I may agree that the liquid is what matters, but if you think image doesn’t matter when so much is spent on advertising and actors… For me, the image of Matador is deplorable. I love Monegal’s creations; he’s one of the best perfumers in the world. I don’t understand if he wanted to create controversy; undeniably, he has. I don’t understand his responses to the criticism, which seem AI-generated. Of course, the liquid is key, but due to the associations it carries, I wouldn’t want this perfume even as a gift. I insist, it’s my personal opinion. Bullfighting is a shame to me, even if others see it as art. I’m not stubborn.

Another perfume from the Monegal house that, if not for the Flamenco EDP and the extrait, would be a complete miss.

Ramón Monegal has always been on the edge of being tacky with his fragrances. ‘Siesta,’ ‘flamenco,’ ‘ole ole sangria at the beach,’ ‘Ibitha,’ as if he’s a tourist who just got sunburned while balcony diving, naming the house’s perfumes. We could say that if he didn’t take himself and the house so seriously, we’d be looking at purely camp, fun, and provocative products (more in the vein of Lorenzo Pazzaglia). But no, he’s dead serious, aiming for homage rather than a cute parody. Which makes it even more tragic. How do you create a perfume in 2025 based on the concept of a bullfighter? With its pink suit color and a cap that looks like a matador’s hat? The only explanation that crossed my mind is that this is rage bait on a cathedral scale, and we’re all picking at it like fools (especially when I read the brand’s responses to complaints on Instagram: ‘It’s not about torturing animals, it’s about being the best version of yourself, bold and daring.’ As if there aren’t dozens of better ways to exist in the world that don’t involve a gentleman stabbing bulls for fun). But even basing a marketing campaign on controversy is pure tackiness. There’s nothing to grab onto. The absolute tragedy is that Monegal’s perfumes are actually great; they have undeniable quality, last, project well, are beautiful, and some are very original. But I feel incapable of spending the hard-earned money I make on a bet so far from my principles.

I’m not sure what I feel when I smell this… I like it and dislike it equally. I smell an extremely fleshy pear plus leather. That’s about it. Searching hard, I find some floral and rose accords, but they don’t shine. The result is shrill, brash, synthetic… I don’t think I’ll buy it. It evokes things in me, and I like that; it’s different from everything I own, which I also like, but the scent doesn’t enchant me (not even a little). Quite versatile and very unisex.