The set of four scents gives an olfactory identity to the century-old Meisterstück that smells like ink—in a good way

I remember my first Meisterstück. OK, so it was just a couple years ago, a pen celebrating the opening of Montblanc’s own museum in Hamburg. But it was my first dip into the inky legacy, and it is safely stowed in my home, the first of what I hope is a growing collection. Of equal significance is the ink vessel in which you dunk the pen: That hefty glass brick is as much a picturesque paperweight as a way to store ink. Montblanc has a lot of iconic offerings, but the Meisterstück, celebrating its centennial in 2024, is perhaps number one. And to celebrate, the Maison has launched a quartet of unisex legacy-honouring EDPs, known as the Montblanc Collection.

At first glance, you’ll note the obvious nod to the ink bottles, with its six-pointed emblem upon a black lacquer cap. Each upright vessel totes 125 ml of juice, their names printed in “handwritten” fountain-esque font up their beveled spines. Overall, it’s a knockout assortment; I’ll note that the one I like least seems to be the best-reviewed around the web, although frag heads have generally liked all of them. Which of them are most likely to earn eventual icon status in the Hamburg hall of fame? Here are my takes, in ascending order.

Montblanc Black Meisterstück EDP

First and foremost is this incense-heavy ode to the brand’s iconic ink dippers. If you’ve ever owned one of Montblanc’s Meisterstück pens, you’ve likely had one of the company’s ink vessels on your desk. It’s only appropriate that this is the clear frontrunner of the roster. It’s a cold-season scent, with broody, spicy and woody base notes. And it’s dark colour makes it handsome enough to display on your desk—just don’t confuse it for the ink. (8.5/10)

Montblanc Extreme Leather EDP

Speaking of rapturous winter wearables, this delicious EDP recalls leather-bound notebooks as well as the label’s own luxe luggage. It teeters into shoulder-season wear with its mood-boostingly fresh iris and musk notes. Extreme Leather warms like a hug but breathes like the summertime mountainscapes; despite its name, it’s a pretty versatile fragrance, which is a nice surprise to anyone who wants extra mileage from a single bottle. (8/10)

Montblanc Vetiver Glacier EDP

On the topic of mind-clearing freshness, enter Vetiver Glacier, a nod to the Maison’s namesake mountain. This woody-juniper tippled juice, which the brand has called “frozen santal,” is the best perennial player of the quartet. You could do a lot worse than this approachable, aromatic scent, ideal for daily wear. I don’t find it particularly complex, but if you don’t want to rock the boat, maybe that’s a good thing. (7/10)

Montblanc Patchouli Ink EDP

This was the scent I was most curious to try from the batch, an ode to ink on paper. And maybe my expectations are what deflated the experience. It still outpaces most new launches in the cologne game—hey, of all four, it seems to be the best rated among online reviewers, so I don’t want my opinion to count as the end-all be-all—but in my humble opinion, I think Patchouli Ink is the least memorable of the set. This one lacks the levity and nuance I want from a scent, but if you like straightforward patchouli, this is a good way to get it. (6.5/10)

This story was first published on Robb Report USA