montana
PARFUM D’ELLE EDP

1990

bergamot
ginger
lemon
lime
mandarin
melon

hyacinth
lily-of-the-valley
tuberose
ylang-ylang
rosewood

oakmoss
cedarwood
tonka bean
amber
tobacco
vanilla

Montana Parfum D’Elle EDP was first released in 1990. It was reformulated in 2002.

Parfum D’Elle was a really nice surprise. I have a 2,5ml miniature (one of the coolest looking miniatures at that); I’m not sure what year it’s from, but I’m pretty confident it’s of this Parfum D’Elle and not the Parfum D’Elle 2 from 2002. I read up on the latter version initially and was stunned at how warm and different this scent-profile was to me, but looking at this original formulation, it makes a lot more sense.

It opens with a very floral and fruity profile, that has a soapy or shampoo-like quality to it. It’s green, but the fruitiness is slightly sweet (melon is prominent)

It doesn’t take long to ‘heat up’. While it still retains some of its fresher top notes, there’s a really honeyed ambery core, with a slightly skanky base from the white florals. I definitely get a sweet tobacco vibe from this as well.

It’s a bit of a mess at first to be honest. The fresher green, skanky florals mixed with the warmer sweetness, didn’t work well for me, but in the drydown, when the sweetness has overtaken, it’s very enjoyable and unique.

The opening feels more feminine leaning and fruity, but the dry down is far removed from it’s humble beginnings. Interesting in the very least.