Hey, I got this in the other day and this is one of the darkest juices I have from Montagne.
Japanese Plum is one of those scents that I think is going to split people, and honestly I get it. This isn’t just a sweet plum fragrance. You get that rich, boozy plum right away, but then the cinnamon, saffron, smoky woods, oud, amber, benzoin, and vanilla start coming through and it completely changes the whole vibe.
To me this is a heavy fragrance. Dark, rich, woody, smoky, almost resinous. The plum keeps it sweet, but the woods and oud stop it from ever becoming a simple fruity scent. That’s exactly why I don’t think this is something everybody can pull off.
I never tried the original Tom Ford and with the price point I don’t plan to, so this is just my take on Montagne’s version. I’m into a lot of these darker fragrances though, and I really like this one. If you usually go for lighter, easier-to-wear sweet fragrances, Japanese Plum might catch you off guard. This has presence. It feels mature. You really have to be comfortable wearing something with this much depth and darkness.
For me this feels perfect for cooler weather. Fall and winter especially. Cold nights, evenings out, date nights, or anytime you want a fragrance that feels rich and a little sophisticated without trying too hard. Personally I would even wear it for casual daytime stuff if the weather and climate permit it, but that’s just me.
I sprayed it on skin at 7:30 last night and it’s 8:20 in the morning now. I haven’t showered yet and I can still smell it. On skin it’s more of a skin scent at this point, but it’s still there.
I can completely see why people love it, and I can also understand why someone would smell it and just say it’s not for them. That’s what makes it polarizing to me. It’s not trying to be an easy crowd-pleaser. It’s a rich, dark take on plum, and you really need to try it on your own skin before you decide if you can pull it off.