Explorer
Montblanc (2019)

Mont Blanc Explorer EDT

It has taken me years to check this one out, and after sever sample wearings, I picked up a bottle.

For me, this one behaves in the same utilitarian fashion as Prada Luna Rossa Carbon. You could wear it in nearly any setting and in any climate. I like that!

A bit of freshness, some lavender, and some woods. Overall, Explorer is faithful to the note pyramid with good longevity at around 6 hours.

3 / 5 stars

If Pepsi is a Coke clone then I guess Explorer is an Aventus clone

It's just that Aventus set a trend and Mont Blanc [justifiably] followed it

This is much more fun and casual than Aventus, it's a nice, crisp summer time freshie imo

Sharp and dry, pineapple leaning citrus and a pleasant albeit linear woodsy dry down

Love it, wear it all of the time. Makes me feel alive and energized lol

This designer fragrance instantly reminded me of Aventus, and Montblanc doesn't even try to hide it. There are hundreds of reviews on Fragrantica that explain the scent, so I won't go into detail. However, I do want to point out the double standard when a reputable designer house releases a fragrance that smells similar to an expensive one. Maybe it's different now that this scent has been out for a while, but when it first came out, not many people were calling it a "clone." Other words such as "alternative," "substitute," and "cheaper option" were being used more frequently.

I just find it funny how a designer brand is blatantly copying Aventus. I suppose it's not the first time, as Atelier Cologne did it with Musc Imperial.

Montblanc Explorer does indeed tread a well beaten path originally cleared by Creed's Aventus. So the exploration is of areas just off the existing trail, so to speak.

Explorer starts with a tell-tale familiar pineapple-y top note, which strikes me as a good blend of sage and bergamot. It is not as bright nor smoky as Aventus and is slightly powdery and sweetened in comparison. Still it is a very pleasant beginning that I enjoy. From there it seems to just fade into an ambroxan base. Longevity is more like half of a workday and sillage is moderate at best as this does seem to cling closer to skin. I sprayed heavy to finish up a sample and it still didn't seem too overpowering. That does make Explorer a very safe choice for a young person's office fragrance. It does not matter whether you are wearing this to explore Spring/Summer or Fall/Winter it can be an all-season go-to. Especially in a climate controlled area. As part of a collection it would be more of a warm weather reach given other options and to be blunt Armaf's Club de Nuit Intense Man would be a better option for your collection if you were wanting the best exploration of the concept that isn't actual Aventus.

Because I genuinely feel that Explorer is a substantial notch below Aventus and CDNIM I am Neutral. I will mention that this is a Thumbs Up as a gift for a young person needing an upgrade or jumpstart in to the idea of personal fragrance as part of grooming and success.

If you like the pineapple note go for it: sweet, balsamic, powdery but lacks depth and complexity but it smells very good and sexy, I like it, is well crafted, nevertheless why Montblanc has to copy Creed's Adventus success by making a pineapple scent? The difference is abysmal: Adventus is more complex blending salty notes with musk and ambergris to the tropical caramelized pineapple, in Montblanc's Explorer the quality and complexity are not there, is just a blend of aroma chemicals . I get tired after a while, the pineapple goes on and on and on eternally. Monster projection and ideal for a hot summer day on the beach or a social event like a wedding. Unisex.

An enjoyable scent to wear, however it doesn't last long. About 3 hours after the dry down it becomes a very intimate scent. Montblanc Explorer opens with a nice fruity, sweet bergamot note and then settles to what I perceive as a masculine vanilla note. It projects reasonably well for the first couple of hours and longevity is moderate. This is a good signature fragrance and suits most casual occasions, such as going out to dinner, having drinks, or at work. I have received a few compliments and some positive attention while wearing it. It's obviously not a ground breaking fragrance but I'm happy with it and think for the price it is good value and worth having in my collection.