Montblanc Explorer & Legend Review

Last year, I started hunting for a new signature scent. My old cologne was great, but I'd had it since high school. 

Suffice to say, I haven't been in high school for some time. 

So, I wanted something more suited for a grown man than a teenager.

That's when I stumbled across Montblanc colognes. As you'll see from my Montblanc Legend review and Montblanc Explorer review, I had a tough choice because both smell fantastic. 

So, considering my difficulties, I wrote up a Montblanc cologne review covering both to make choosing a bit easier for you.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Men's Cologne 

The main reason a guy wears cologne is to smell great. The right cologne achieves that while also creating a scent that's specifically "you." So, when you're looking for a new cologne, you'll need to find one that suits your natural scent.

Montblanc Explorer and Montblanc Legend both suit a guy in his prime. If you're looking for crisp, clean, and woodsy, with a grown-man flair, these are for you. On the other hand, if you want a scent that more closely resembles perfume, you might want to look elsewhere. 

Before I dig into my Montblanc cologne reviews, I wanted to touch on a few things you should think about before purchasing your signature scent.

1. Understand how long different scents last. Each cologne has top, medium, and bottom notes that take varying times to wear off, causing a scent to change over the course of your day.
   
   
2. When in doubt, choose designer fragrances over niche ones. Niche fragrances are highly specialized, while designer fragrances are more universally appealing.
   
   
3. Test out fragrances for at least 24 hours before buying. So, head into the department store and spritz a bit of cologne on either arm. Then, let them sit for a day and see which one appeals to you most. 
   
   
4. Don't base your decision on how cologne smells on paper. Your pH will change how the cologne smells, so putting it on your skin is the only way to tell how it'll affect your signature scent. 
   
   
5. Don't go big if you don't have to. If you don't wear cologne often or if you only use a dab or two, go for the smaller bottle. Even the best colognes lose their potency over time, and you don't want to risk that happening to you.

Now that we have the basics covered, read on to read my Montblanc Explorer review and Montblanc Legend review.

Montblanc Explorer Review 

Jórdi Fernandez, Antoine Maisondieu, and Olivier Pescheux created Explorer in 2019. This woodsy fragrance offers notes of bergamot, sage, patchouli, and cacao. Read through this Montblanc cologne review to learn more about this woodsy fragrance.

The Notes

A single spray of this cologne gives you scents reminiscent of exotic locales. The fruity, floral, and earthy aromas form a complete picture of worldly travels. From India to Haiti, you'll get notes from all over. 

Explorer's scent starts with bergamot, clary sage, and pink pepper notes. These sweeter scents give way to the earthy aromas of Haitian vetiver and leather as you go through your day. Then, as your day comes to a close, you'll get the final notes of ambroxan, akigalawood, patchouli, and cacao. 

Who's it For?

Montblanc Explorer is for a man who enjoys doing just that–exploring. Traveling the world gives you insight into new and exciting smells that you might not get at home. 

The varied notes in Explorer provide a scent as unique as it is comforting. If your classic cologne is more fruity or floral, this cologne will take your scent to a different level.

My Two Cents

I wanted to include my own two cents in this Montblanc Explorer review. When I first took a whiff of this one, I was surprised at how appealing it was. 

I'm generally not a fan of patchouli, but it rounded out the aromas surprisingly well. Combining that with the citrus and floral top notes makes this cologne genuinely intriguing. 

Packaging

Any good Montblanc cologne review wouldn't be complete without a description of its packaging. Explorer's packaging is as robust as its aroma. 

A leather-wrapped glass bottle topped with a metal lid makes a striking addition to your personal care products. You'll also find Montblanc's star emblem emblazoned on the front. 

Explorer is only available as an Eau de Parfum. You can choose from either a 2 or 3.3 oz spray option. However, it has a companion scent, Explorer Ultra Blue, that you can check out if you're not sure whether the classic version is right for you.

Comparisons

Another thing I wanted to cover in my Montblanc Explorer review was how it holds up to the top-selling colognes. With its wood, sage, and bergamot notes, it's a solid competitor for Y by Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel's Platinum.

Of the top-selling colognes, I think Explorer stands best against Prada's Luna Rossa Ocean. The hints of vetiver, bergamot, and wood make them very similar. However, Explorer stands out with its warm touches of patchouli and cacao.

Scent Breakdown

As with any cologne, you'll find several notes that combine in Explorer to give you the warm, earthy atoms you'll spritz on. But, first, take a look at a breakdown of the top, middle, and base notes.

Montblanc Explorer Review Scents
Top Notes	Middle Notes	Base Notes
Bergamot	Haitian Vetiver	Ambroxan
Pink Pepper	Leather	Akigalawood
Clary Sage		Indonesian Patchouli Leaf
		Cacao Pod

Pros and Cons

Although this Montblanc Explorer review probably tells you this is one of my favorite scents, it might not be for everyone. Here are a few pros and cons of this cologne to consider. 

Pros

• Crisp natural scent
• Combines many of the most popular notes
• Lasts all-day
• A great alternative to Chanel's Platinum
• Competitively priced

Cons

• Scents of patchouli and lavender can be off-putting for some
• Unique notes, but still a bit "tried and true" 
• Has a sea of worthy competitors

Social Proof

If you're still not sure how you feel after reading my Montblanc Explorer review, that's understandable. Choosing a new cologne can be a challenging task. Here are a few happy customers who can give a little more insight into this cologne.

Nasnousa's Montblanc Explorer review claims it's the sexiest cologne in the universe. She also considers it a must-buy.

Paul James claims he gets compliments left and right whenever he wears it. He tends to go heavy when he wears cologne, and he said it's never become overwhelming. 

Kurz considers Explorer a cologne with modern masculinity and a dash of sweetness. As a frequent allergy-sufferer, he claims Explorer doesn't aggravate his sinuses at all.

Montblanc Legend Review 

Olivier Pescheux crafted Legend for Montblanc in 2011, so this one has been around for a while. It's an aromatic fragrance that includes notes of lavender, Italian bergamot, pineapple, and tonka beans. 

This Montblanc cologne review gives more information on how these notes work together to create a unique scent.

The Notes

Once you spritz a bit of this cologne onto your skin, you'll smell the different notes unfold. The varying scents contradict and complement each other as they develop throughout the day.

First, you'll smell the floral and fruity notes, including lavender, pineapple, and lemon verbena. 

Then, the sweeter scents will subside as the day wears on, taken over by oakmoss, rose, and apple. Finally, when your evening winds down, you'll get the final notes of sandalwood and tonka bean. 

Who's it For?

The bright, lively scents are perfect for the guy who wants to show off his seductive and charismatic side. Its sexy yet masculine notes hint at both youth and maturity, making this a good choice for a man coasting through the best years of his life. 

My Two Cents

A good Montblanc Legend review wouldn't be complete without my own experience when I first smelled it. 

When I touched this one to my nose, I sensed a timeless mystery that was enough to have me taking a second sniff. It's masculine with just the right amount of softness that'll make you seem approachable and open.

Packaging

Legend's Eau de Parfum packaging is as striking as its scent. The black glass and metal container is more reminiscent of a high-end flask than a cologne bottle, making it look great sitting on your shelf. It evokes luxury and sophistication. 

The gold accenting on the emblem highlights the Montblanc name and perfectly suits the powerful scent inside.

For this Montblanc Legend review, I focused on the eau de parfum. You'll get an equally impressive package if you opt for the less-concentrated eau de toilette. 

The sleek black glass bottle is topped off with silver, giving it a bit of a black-tie look. It doesn't quite hold the same air of mystery as the perfume bottle, but it looks just as great.

Legend comes in an eau de parfum and eau de toilette. The perfume is available in 1.7 and 3.3-ounce sprays. The eau de toilette has a bit more variety. You can purchase it in the following sizes:

• .5 ounce travel spray
• 1.7 ounce
• 3.3 ounce
• 6.7 ounce 

Comparisons

Legend holds similar woodsy and clean aromas as many market leaders, including Bleu by Chanel and Dior's Sauvage. It mixes some of the best notes of both, such as sandalwood, tonka bean, and bergamot, to give you a great-smelling cologne that's the best of the best.

Personally, I think Legend gives one of my old standbys, Acqua di Giò, a run for its money. The Armani classic has been a top seller for decades, but Legend's notes of lavender and crisp overall scent make it a true competitor. 

If you're interested in other versions of Montblanc's Legend, you can check out the companion scents, Legend Spirit and Legend Night.  

Scent Breakdown

Colognes have a lot of scents that combine to give you a great, earthy aroma. Here's a breakdown of what to expect with Montblanc Legend.

Montblanc Legend Review Scents
Top Notes	Middle Notes	Base Notes
Lavender	Red Apple	Tonka Bean
Pineapple	Dried Fruits	Sandalwood
Bergamot	Oak Moss
Lemon Verbena	Geranium
	Coumarin
	Rose

Pros and Cons

Although Legend is a pretty well-rounded cologne choice, it might not be for everyone. If you still need more to consider after reading through my Montblanc Legend review, here are some pros and cons that break down the good and the bad of this scent.

Pros

• Perfect blend of woodsy notes
• Bottle looks great on your shelf or counter
• Subtle, bold scent

Cons

• Scent might be a bit light for some guys
• A little strong on first application
• A bit more floral than other colognes 

Social proof

To round out this Montblanc Legend review, I want to touch on some real-world proof from other Legend wearers. 

Many women love the way this one smells on their boyfriends and claim it lasts all day. They call Legend's scent "mature" but not overpowering. They say it's a great choice for someone who doesn't want their cologne to overpower them.

Another female opinion, which might be the number one reason making us buy something, the Montblanc cologne review claims she loves that this scent is manly but not overpowering. Instead, she praises its clean scent, letting her boyfriend smell both masculine and fresh. 

Montblanc Cologne Review

So, to recap both of my Montblanc cologne reviews, you've got two woodsy, aromatic fragrances that offer a mature scent that's warm but not overpowering. 

Based on both my Montblanc Legend review and Montblanc Explorer review, I'd say my favorite option is Legend. It has a freshness that complements the woodsy notes well. I recommend giving it a sniff.