Minotaure Paloma Picasso for men

Two weeks later, I think it smells wonderful and I love the bottle design, but this has NO strength! After only a couple hours there is nothing left and I have to spray half a bottle on me for any projection. I would love to try Almairacs new version.

Opening for first few minutes is cloying and a bit chemical.
As it sits the notes really start to blossom.
After the initial chemical smell fades it opens to an amazing powdery vanilla amber scent. Dry down is more woody and musky, becomes much less unisex than in the beginning.
On the skin I can smell it for around 4-5 hours maybe. Projects for around 2-3.
Wish it would last a bit longer.

This stuff is everything bad about reformulation, it's so weak I can't pick out any of the notes except aldehydes, the longevity is poor and the bottle redesign is atrocious the atomizer doesn't fit the look of the bottle it makes it look super cheap. If you're looking for something similar I'd go for Nikos Sculpture Homme Parfum. It's very similar except it performs well and smells more refined.

Classic, timeless creation from Michel Almairac.
Woody, aromatic, powdery vanilla scent - I absolutely love it. New formulations are considerably weaker , and not so dense than the OG bottles and the plastic cap looks cheap.
The perfume " Wake Up World" from Parle Moi De Parfums ( Owned by Michel Almairac:) is a fresher, more modern version of Minotaure, worth trying.

So, some time in the nineties when this was brand new I got a sample of this from the nice lady at the fancy department store where I bought my cheap Cacharel.
It felt like my first real perfume and was too sweet/dense and heavy for me but it has haunted my dreams ever since. Though the original is long gone, it would be interesting to try the current version. I think I'll leave it in the past though.

Javier Bardem ( Raul ) in Jamón jamón 1992

Mancera Lemon Line (first formulation) is a copy of this with added lemon on top, Minotaure is just a tiny bit better smelling, but Mancera (first formulation only, don't buy the new one!) has much more projection and longevity.

8.5/10

This was my first ever fragrance, in the early 90's. It was also my first blind acquisition. I asked it as a gift from my parents for Sinterklaas (Dutch Santa Claus) because I liked the description in a folder from my local perfumery. If I could still buy it in the original formulation, I would do it, just for the sake of nostalgia. That is why this fragrance will never be less than a 10/10 for me.

Just an update to my older review where I tested batches of this (vintage Cosmair vs less vintage Cosmair vs newest, non Cosmair): I got a bottle of 1992 Minotaure and what shocked me was how animalistic it was compared to my mid-90s Cosmair. This early release was very musk forward! This and DHI are probably my favorite all time scents, so I have a few different batches of both and my favorite it probably this 1992. It’s super complex but smells mostly similar to the mid 90s Cosmair, with animal notes I don’t detect much in the later Cosmair (they must’ve toned down the animal notes to be more friendly to the “fresh” trend of the mid/late 90s?!).

I agree with @Echorich. I wore this for many years. It is beautiful but search out the Cosmair formulation (which I just purchased on eBay). I have that one and the newer formulation and there is no comparison. The Cosmair is richer, deeper and stronger.

Minotaure is my favorite scent of all time and for 15 yrs it was my signature scent. Moving from NYC to Florida, I have worn it less - it is a Fall/Winter scent that can be difficult to wear in really warm weather. Yes, today’s Minotaure is not as complex/animalistic as the Cosmair formulation, and perfumery has caught up with the influence the scent once had. But this designer fragrance still sits well against any niche scent I smell.
In a world where all the best scents and their flankers seem to disappear - I’m thinking of the Mugler A*Men line/flankers - Minotaure stands solidly and confidently ready to fill the gap.

İncredible. Multiple elements unite in this scent, balancing clean and dirty. Floral, soapy aldehydes and sandalwood, combined with an accord similar to Mugler's Pure Malt. A unique blend, versatile enough for all seasons. I continuously gravitate towards it, captivated by its ever-elusive complexity. Love it!

The original was very nice. Unfortunately, the re-do was not nice. Is there anything out there that is similar to the original? Please advise.

« Je suis une légende »

Retour vers le passé : vous avez sous les yeux LE parfum/ LA grande dame qui a

inspiré bien d’autres grands parfums des années 1990/ 2000 tels que : JPG le mâle, Allure chanel ou Boss embouteillé.

C’était vraiment incroyable et différent à l’époque de la vanille ambrée et une touche de fruits vibrants, c’était radieux, distinctif et très agréable à porter

Malheureusement la sorcière « Reformulation » est passée par là et a littéralement défiguré cette légende...

Vous pouvez cependant toujours le trouver à très bon prix, il faudra du overspay pour tenir 4h, mais pour la partie histoire de la parfumerie vous devriez vraiment vous concentrer dessus.

1992-2000: 11/10
2000-2023: 5,8/10

Foarte obiectiv. Știu că nu va fi pe placul celor care iubesc acest parfum.. Văd că unii îl aseamănă cu Roma, dar departe însă e creația lui Biagiotti de acest Minotaur. Locuiesc în Europa de Est, iar la noi, până de curând, atunci când cineva deceda, cadavrul era ținut în casă aproape două zile pentru priveghi. Așa era obiceiul, la ortodoxie, pentru ca cei apropiați să își ia la revedere de la cel mort. Ei. Aici intervine Minotaurul. După două zile, mai ales vara, cadavrul începea să emane un miros. Există acel miros dulceag as putea spune, de corp aflat în putrefacție. Când am cumpărat Minotaur, am avut un șoc. Parfumul este exact acel miros dulceag de corp decedat de câteva zile. Știu că este șocant, dar probabil, majoritatea de pe acest site, în special cei din occident, nu au trecut prin experiența aceasta. Așa că pentru mine a fost un coș reușit ca aruncare la gunoi. Ca precizare, obiceiul de a ține un decedat două zile acasă, nu mai este legal la noi. Se ține o seară la Capelă. Spre stupefacția iubitorilor de Minotaur, dar, acesta e adevărul. Și acum, fiecare alege cum vrea un parfum. Pentru mine este un mare NU. Poate dacă nu aș fi știut, probabil, aș fi ținut sticla ca și colecție, nefiind ceva senzațional. Aviz însă amatorilor.

@0ISmellBest "Minotaure" is "minotaur" in French

Minotaure, has never been a great love for me. Consider it a mix of "Roma Uomo" with a "Le Male" aftertaste (yes, Gaultier's mega hit was strongly influenced by Minotaure) with some of Joop!'s sweetness and complexity.
It is the strong animalic element of Minotaure (provided by a civet accord?) that always kept me away from wearing it more often - a common place approach by the perfumer I suppose, who must have been given the name of the perfume by Paloma Picasso before starting his work.
Newer reformulations are not as complex nor perform as well as older ones, but the perfume is not expensive and it is unique enough to actually get it and enjoy it from time to time.

It is a lovely scent but it has very disappointing longevity. It seems to be gone within the hour. Given the high cost I expected more.

Pretty weak on high heat, you have to be generous on your spray, too bad this is a lovely scent otherwise

Minotaure. Named after the Greek monster Minotaur - part man and part bull. Condemned to the depth of Daedalus' Labyrinth.

You'd think with a name like that and its association with a monster of myth, it would be extremely potent and overwhelming fragrance, that's where you'd be wrong. Minotaure, is a smooth, aromatic, fruity and vanilla fragrance which sits closely to your skin and lasts quite moderately - edging towards around 7 hours on skin, even longer on clothes.

It's a more masculine scent, akin to that of Roma Uomo by Laura Biagotti. Upon first spray you get the gentle fruits notes combined with Aldehydes and a slight tinge of Bergamot, upon settling down to the middle notes - it envelopes you in Rose and Geranium akin to that of Eau Rose by Diptyque - this is where it shines the most and is at its strongest and when you get the most compliments. Finally, the Base notes. Tonka, vanilla which smells akin to Le Male by JPG. That's not to say this fragrance just imitates them, it makes them its own and makes them stand out from the other frags with the same notes.

A lot of people have mentioned that there is an almost plastic smell upon first spraying within the newer reformulation, I can't tell for this cause I have the original formulation from the 90s. If you can get the original get it, if you can't then I would still recommend it because the dry down is where Minotaure really kicks off. The bottle is fantastic and would make a nice addition to any fragrance collector for the bottle alone.

I can say that this is a safe blind-buy, you'd be hard pressed to find an actual tester for this in your local fragrance shops. It is extremely versatile, so it can be used all year round, day and night.


Sillage: 8/10
Projection: 6/10
Scent: 9/10
Longevity:7/10
Price: 8/10
Overall: 8.5/10

I loved Minotaure in 1992. It defined me. Somehow, it drifted away during the 00s. I bought a new version a few years ago. I was disappointed. It didn’t immediately whisk me back to my early 20s as I had hoped it would.

But lately I’ve been living the now. This perfume rocks. It’s awesome. Today, I have no idea what Minotaure circa 1992 smelt like… but who cares? If it’s lost some edges here and there, Minotaure 2022 is still an immense scent. Go for it and spray hard.

The last ones I bought are disaster and have nothing to do with the OG Minotaure.
Try "Parle moi de Parfum - Wake up World". It is so close to it and made by Almareic

I have had a copycat called Abu Dhabi from LR Cosmetics back in 1995. Many years later i got the OG on Valenties day and I still love that unique smell. Bottle looks nice, only the transparent sprayer is cheap as hell. Nostalgia!

Thanks Andy, I took my post down since its veracity is mixed. I will say that the bottles with double-banded caps I got are definitely the Cosmair formulation and appear to have been either limited editions that were included with canvas travel bag and body wash kits from possibly the product launch or judging by the design of the sprayer may even have been the first-generation non-splash bottle which could explain why the cap had to mimic the top-rim of the bottle.

I'm so glad to have the Cosmair formula back in my collection.

@cvaile: I have a 2.5oz splash bottle with 1 black+1 plastic glass-like frosted ring, both part of the cap (exactly like the pic of Fragrantica). It's a Cosmair bottle, from 1992 (original year of release) according to batch code. It is very likely that it's the opposite, and that the double black ring is the re-release. Sorry but the youtuber you're referring to doesn't seem to know what he's talking about.

It is a little dated and soapy but wonderful. I have the set with the shaving bag---just need a vacation! 😎

Minotauro is the only male Paloma Picasso fragrance that I am aware of, launched in 1992, it was very groundbreaking in the 90s because it had a certain fruity and slightly vanilla sweetness, something uncharacteristic so far in men's perfumes (with exceptions such as Joop! Homme ) but this slight sweetness did not make it unisex, Minotauro is a perfume of character, with strong notes, and like almost all perfumes of the time (especially those before 90's) they were loaded with notes and it was not easy to make an analysis of them dissecting the fragrance.
Many try it today looking for its past glory and are surprised that it is not so complicated for our times, although it maintains a pleasant aroma, quite versatile and its drydown is wonderful.
Perhaps it was labyrinthine in its time due to its number of notes, such as that opening loaded with fruity synthetic notes with a certain bitterness from galbanum and a slight animalic touch reminiscent of the mythological creature locked in the labyrinth, also with notes of tonka, vanilla , aldehydes, precious woods such as sandalwood and cedar in addition to a sweet tobacco aftertaste that I perceive even if it does not contain it (perhaps some of its components make up this accord) in addition to having spicy notes such as tarragon and coriander, and some flowers(rose, jasmine) and a bitter muget that together with the geranium highlight his virility.
With the passage of time this fragrance has lost its potency a bit but it still feels valid, maybe to new generations it will not be so sweet or so complex, Perhaps in these times Theseus with the help of the string found his way in the labyrinth and defeated the much feared Minotaur.

I have an earlier Cosmair formulation as it has been stressed over and again that any that followed were inferior. If it's mentioned numerous times and with much conviction, I felt it made sense to just go for it, and I am pleased with this 90s fruity tooty, orange creamsicle, dreamy amber.

The opening is aldehydic and spacious; Minotaure isn't dense by any means, and for that, it creates an atmosphere around the wearer. I love that I am reminded of cherry Lik-M-Aid Fun Dip, Tang and Crystal Light powder, some dried apricot, Durkee vanilla extract; it's a bit like exploring my grandmother's pantry. That is not to say there isn't anything substantive here: beneath this is a warmth and woodiness that belies the candied fruit, and a floral accord with what my nose detects as a sheer lily of the valley washing over the sweetness, adding this alluring contrast.

Several hours in, I am left with a delightful sandalwood, cedar, and amber that occasionally extends its sillage with movement. It made sense that Bowie wore this; sort of a subtle counterpoint to his complex personality. The appeal is there, for sure.

The vintage Minotaure is a beautiful fruity fragrance. It share similarities with Nikos Sculpture (which is fresher) and Diesel Plus Plus (which is less fruity and more chemical). Minotaure is not a typical 90s fragrance. The vintage one is better than the years later released Le Male and One Million. The vintage Minotaure is a fruit basket with especially red fruits which would give the fragrance a red colour. Minotaure is the fragrance of red. Good staying power and sillage. A fragrance to remember. The reformulation is an absolutely different story of chemical mess.

The only real alternative for this fragrance was Maxim Basic Instinct, which was even better because of lesser used Aldehydes.

This used to be a wonderful fragrance but the reformulation is horrible. That plastic smell comes from that awful sprayer. The DNA is there somewhere but to smell it, it asks some imagination. This was a Mediterranean beauty with a perfect blend of citrus, flowers, spices and a wonderful powdery pottery note. And the performance is so bad. I’ll keep it for the bottle and the good memories.

I'm wondering if I got a bad batch because my frag smells like plastic. I wanted to like this but I can't smell anything. The bottle is really awesome looking none the less.

I used to see the ads for this and wondered why it was called "Minotaure" (other than because Paloma Picasso's father sometimes drew them). Now that I've tried this, I see why: this is an unusual hybrid fragrance that starts out as one thing at its top and then becomes something else below--and that hybridity is, in this case, both powerful and a bit monstrous.

This opens with wonderful fruity notes--it seems like cherry and tangerine are among them. There's also sweet vanillic notes buried in it (and also something animalic), and aldehydes to open it up. But as it develops, it becomes both greener and more floral, and then the drydown is quite musky and woody.

Fragrantica has called this an Amber fragrance, but you could also consider it an aromatic, a floral, a fruity fragrance, an animalic... I'm not altogether certain how well all this works together, and though I like it, I'm not sure yet whether I love it. But it certainly was not like much else when it debuted in 1992. To me this is unisex, and also quite versatile (although the animalic note may limit whether you can wear it to the office)

This is a fantastic fragrance. I've had 2 bottles of it.

To anyone who hesitates to buy this -- thinking that they missed out on the original and don't want a reformulated version -- I just want to say buy it it's very good! I'm a painter and own dozens of fragrances I keep a bottle of this in my studio for inspiration. Paloma really did capture the scent of her father's work. I can't really explain it but it works for me! The price is now are so modest I don't know why anyone would hesitate to pick up a bottle.
There is a dreamsicle aspect to this but that doesn't explain it all. It's fruity and spicy and grounded by a really nice musk. I noticed some people mentioned an animalic aspect to it and I agree with that -- it's very subtle and it works very well. There's nothing remotely stinky about it it's just a healthy masculine cloud that you can enjoy all day any season.
It's quality is apparent in the HD clarity of each ingredient.

I bought this signature fragrance 15 years ago. What struck me and what I have remembered is the floral spicy opening with some citrus. I soon experienced the distinct smell of orange earthenware pots. Found it very special and Mediterranean. In my mind I walked in a Spanish southern mountain village in the sun with people strolling and a stall with lots of colored cotton. This somewhat stony scent was a bit disappointing for me. Strangely enough, however, the impressions in my memory are positive. This is why I find the world of fragrances and well-crafted perfumes so fascinating. Maybe I'll buy a bottle soon after all.
--
Well, I finally did buy a bottle with the new formulation. And the smell was a bit disappointing and certainly not as good as the original. So many re-releases are often watered down version from the original. And this is no exception on that trend. The smell is there but not as potent and luxurieus and mediterranean Spanish like it used to be. But if I close my eyes and smell this on me the memories are coming back. So fortunately this turned out not to be a bad purchase. I love the unique bottle and cap but the cheap plastic sprayer is a pity.

Even when it was released it split opinion, on everything from the juice to the bottle. I've never really had that many mainstream fragrances in my stash (no, not snobby disdain, just the way it's panned out) but this is a persistent exception. I'll confess: it was that Paloma Picasso had put her name to it that attracted my attention in the first place. My admiration for her has less to do with who her daddy was and more to do about how she brave-faced the hisses and boos wearing 1940s vintage to 1970s Paris catwalk shows long before "alternative" fashion was a comfortable choice.

Certainly, I loved - still love- the bottle that showed her signature as a jewellery designer, albeit mass produced. And when it came to the fragrance, I was very impressed. I have no idea why. It's not like I expected her to sign up to anything mediocre. I am far too lacking in technical knowledge as an enthusiast to claim I know what makes this juice stand out for me. Sure, it has those woody notes and geranium that I readily recognise resonate with me, but I suspect it's the transformed whiff of tarragon that makes it one of those I can recognise across a crowded room.

There are few fragrances that I personally think work in any season; day or night. This is one of them.

It is a nice fragrance ! Elegant, classy and sophisticated. It opens up with like fresh fruity and Galbanum then dry down is like sweet creamy vanilla. The Galbanum is dominant in this perfume and It reminds me of Must de Cartier Gold for women. It is perfect for the fall and winter. I really enjoy it and I like Minotaure Paloma Picasso
Rating : 7 / 10

Been fun of this since the introduction. To bad they didn’t work on longevity of it. But ita still classic and base for many inspirations and imitations

A galbanum-and-orange flavored creamsicle with the stick made of sandalwood. The older bottle has just barely something extra special, and it's definitely in the sandalwood accord, but I really only smell the difference directly on the spray nozzle -- there's a hint of melted butter.

Minotaure is gorgeous for forty minutes and then gone. (I don't have performance issues with many of the fragrances others seem to, like L'Artisan and Eau Sauvage etc, but this one I just can't get to last.)

That harmonious and bizarre kaleidoscope of fruity, green, and sweet notes is somehow quintessentially and heartbreakingly 90s to me.

Mixes beautifully with Premier Figuier and/or Philosykos! The tart green and milky notes, heaven. Eau Sauvage, too. Try it!

Minotaure is the cologne I use when I want to feel fresh and have others around me realize that I am clean and fresh. I use the soap and shaving cream also. This scent to me has just enough notes that the fresh smell is neither too sweet nor too powdery. I wear this to work and play as it is very versatile. If it were released now people would be buying it en mass.

I’ve been on a bit of a 90s vintage eBay kick lately, grabbing minis and partials of scents I remember from my teen years. I got a 75ml bottle of Minotaure from April, 2002 (Cosmair on label) that is about half full. Initially I bought this because I used to have a Minotaure after shave from the early 00s that I loved and always wanted the actual scent, so when I saw it under $20 I grabbed it.

The scent immediately reminded me of Sculpture by Nikos. Light, super synthetic, plasticy, floral. Very clean but off putting to my nose. It absolutely has that airy aldehydes thing going on. I’m not sure if it’s just aged poorly but a lot of the reviews here echo similar notes...just with positive connotations (for the record I also hate Sculpture).

I read some reviews that say the Cosmair is replete with loads of real ingredients and it’s a warm oriental full of sandalwood. The one I’m smelling is nothing like that (unless it got reformulated in the very early 00s). I’m getting synthetic floral sweet fragrance that reminds me of the after shave I had but I definitely feel this is better left in the 90s.

A 5.0/10 (2002 version) or a 7/10 (1993 version) for me. My wife said “it’s okay, fresh but kind of boring. Maybe good for an office.” Wacky how the reviews seem to depict such a different scent, even when discussing vintage batches.

Edit: I read below reviews and someone mentioned the sprayer/collar as black and clear on the new one. Mine has a clear sprayer/collar - possible that either this changed in the late 90s/early 00s under Cosmair or that the fragrance was reformulated under Cosmair and that could explain the differences in reviews/quality, even when discussing Cosmair bottles.

Edit 2: Bought myself a bottle of 1996 juice to compare. It's rounder, fuller/deeper, fruitier, less plastic-y, and a bit more pleasant. The basic essence is the same but the addition of the fruit notes that last makes it more tolerable and wearable. I might wear my '96 bottle. I won't wear the hollow, plastic '02 version.

I had a bad post-Cosmair experience with Minotaure, but my newest bottle came in, today, and it's a good time. Still thin, of course, but I prefer it to what I tested 5-7 years back, so I'm thankful for the reviews that built some trust. As a big picture thought on Minotaure, I would say it smells "of" Almairac but not necessarily of the '90s. There is a particularly subtle blend to it that just never oversteps and does not leave a "time stamp". Gotta give propers to the mad scientist, Michel Almairac, he is a gift to many. Minotaure can - and hopefully will - live on for years to come. Absolutely unisex, perhaps more of a Spring or nice, light office scent, now...for that, there is still some heartache because Minotaure was truly born for Fall. Lasts okay as a skin scent.

One side note, the matching shaving cream I ordered was from the Cosmair era, and while the fragrance is beyond faint, the cream itself is next level. It seems like if you rolled with Cosmair back in the day, quality came before all else. For all the incredible products they created/produced/distributed, I'd still put their Minotaure EDT in the #1 spot.

I have both a mini of this and a large vintage 125ml, acquired recently online and both used. The mini smells great, kind of a standard men's perfume if there is such a thing. Fresh, with an edge. The large one, however, smells different and not pleasant. It's much stronger, and perhaps it has gone bad. A very distinct difference. I wouldn't buy this again because it's not interesting enough for me among my many other fragrances I own. I would recommend the newer version of this for other people, because it smells nice and I'm having a negative experience with the vintage bottle.

There's something wild in the sweetness, not sure what but seems like the fabric dreams are made of. Inoffensive but energetic and although it doesn't stand out as a rare scent it's not generic either.

All rounder 10/10

Hey girls who love a fruit but not the syrup. Get a Minotaure. I am loving this to bits. Back in the 90’ s my bf wore this. I adored it on him but never thought of wearing a homme perfume on myself. Such a traditionalist. Those days are long gone but Minotaure remains. I would recommend getting a Cosmair bottle, although the reviews say the new one is good as well. No need to be snobbish. The perfume feels very modern in a respectful manner. Different from all the fruits out there. Beautiful combo of woods and sweets without never getting sugary. Go for it all of you!

Had a small sample which I never really gave a chance, but I returned to it like moth to lamp. And so it ran out fast.

The memory lingered for years so I recently ordered a 75 ml bottle. Opening is incredible like I remember - and made me almost weak in the knees.

Then I was midly displeased because it was less spicy and bold than what I remember. But, the longevity is still good since I can smell it the day after on skin. The sillage is just not huge.

I think this is an excellent choice for grown men who wants a different, mature, subtle date or night scent. It just smells playful, sensual, otherwordly and actually a little dirty somehow.

I like it a lot.

I wore this back in the 90s. I was always intrigued by this fragrance and it wasn't really love at first sniff, but I was drawn into the whole packaging and the name Picasso sold it to me. In time I grew to love it, that whole Mediterranean feel is gorgeous and at the time was unlike anything I’d ever smelled. I still have an original miniature bottle, but probably won’t wont buy the reformulated version as I have since discovered Fragonard’s “Desert” which is very similar to the original with great projection. Wouldn’t it be great if they brought out an Eau de Parfum?

Is in shops nowadays???? isn t in my country

I am reviewing a vintage Cosmair splash bottle: just amazing. This is a perfume that has a lot going on at once. It’s clean and dirty at the same time. Soapy aldehydes, florals, and sandalwood mixed with an accord that I swear Mugler copied exactly in Pure Malt- this fruity/vanilla slightly plasticky, boozy smell that is at the core of Minotaure. This combination is quite unique and works surprisingly well, contributing to its all-season versatility. Out of my collection, this is one that I keep returning to and truly enjoys because, honestly, I feel like I never quite have it figured out..And I love that in a fragrance!

Filosykos, you seem to misunderstand the note of sandalwood. When a note is listed, it only means that they want you to think there is some sort of sandalwood presence (for example, there are different types of leather, so a leather note could mean very different smells, if it is even worth calling any kind of leather). "Real" sandalwood likely means that it came from a tree instead of a laboratory. However, they could just put a tiny amount of "real" sandalwood in there, and then use synthetics for the rest of the note, assuming it is a strong sandalwood note. Also, there are different grades of "real" sandalwood, and some are much more expensive than others, whereas some are just not used due to overharvesting, etc. So, when someone states that vintage Zino has "real" sandalwood that probably means the sandalwood note is rendered very nicely. Of course we can't know for sure what is in there! We have experience with many fragrances that possess clear sandalwood notes and over time develop a sense of what is good, what is too "synthetic" smelling, etc. You can buy "real" sandalwood and just add it to a fragrance, if you like, but the reason why people see out vintage in particular is because they often smell natural, complex, well blended, etc., and not necessarily because the ingredients are more "real" than a similar fragrance.

Seek out the Cosmair version. So good. Sunlight and dark mystery together for the first time again.

David Bowie wore this!

Opens with a sharp and spicy fizzy lime pop, then eases into fruit candy--the fancy jelly slices with sugared edges. The sweetness turns floral, then herbal, bubblegum slowly drying down to brooding cedar.
Sandalwood talc and tonka powder settle above the skin, shimmering for hours, both comforting and seductive, sexy Stardust indeed.

I love it.

if someone says a scent smells disgustive and truely revolting and old man and whatever - I just think it has to be good.
I havent tried this but I want to, I will at some point try it.
Paloma Picasso for women I have smellt, and that one is incredible, so I just wonder what the men's is like.
I see this is made by Michael Almairac, who I think also made Joop!, Zino, and Dunhill Red for men. all of those have a sweet candy scent in them though the scents are certainly different - well joop and red are more similar and zino is the adult version, and is very very nice.
but maybe this is sweet too. and sweet is fine, i like those other scents, zino the most, and joop is very cool, dunhill red is nice, but the least amazing of the 3 for me. I am really into orientals right now. Paloma Picasso for women is a real nice oriental scent.

What an opening! Minotaure opens herbaceous, screechy and slightly pissy. It is this chaotic opening that sets up the beauty of the fragrance, after the strong opening dissipates we are treated to a sweet fruity amber with aldehydes, vanilla and tonka swirling around.

As we hit the mid notes there is a certain warmth exuded by this fragrance; sandalwood and musk come through giving Minotaure warmer depth. As this composition evolves we are treated to some floral freshness with jasmine and rose and a bit more woods with some cedar. As the base of this scent hits we realize that Minotaure is as rich as it is complex. This is a statement fragrance, and it says; "Sophistication and class without trying too hard!".

Minotaure is great for late fall early spring and sings in a cooler climate. This can be worn by both sexes and does well in the office but would be better served during evenings or weekends. Minotaure is very chic and very French, so definitely use it when your attire has been carefully chosen and you are aiming to impress. Give Minotaure a few sprays when gallivanting with a special someone and getting lost and making memories is on the agenda.

I first got a sample of Minotaur a few years ago after I was told that it was similar to and a bit stronger than Niko's Sculpture. I do feel it was stronger back then, but I can't say for sure.

I finally baught a bottle of Minotaur this year as I really liked how much more woody it is in relation to Nikos Sculpture. It has a similar opening with less citrus and more fruit. Sometimes it opens up really well but there are days where the opening is a bit medicine like for some reason. The first few minutes don't blow me out of the water, but it's when it dries that this fragrance comes to life. The woody cedar and sandalwood notes merge with the sweet vanilla tonka notes into a well blended creamy scent that works really well on my skin. I even pick up a subtle more acidic, spicy, vinegary scent in there too.

Overall I really like this fragrance. I can definitely see the resemblance to Nikos Sculpture and it even last longer. But I must say, as much as I enjoy Minotaur, I still think Sculpture is a better fragrance.

Minotaur is definitely better blended but Sculpture is just much more versatile and more fun. Sculpture is more multifaceted where as Minotaur is a bit more monotonous. Nikos has better projection, especially in the opening but doesn't last that long. Ultimately the citrus and the metal notes in Sculpture give it that extra depth. Also Sculpture has a much better presentation(Minotaur feels a bit cheap) and price point.

None the less, this is definitely one of my favorites right now, and I can definitely see the differences to Sculpture.

3.75/5

This fragrance remains one of my favourites. Unlike Fahrenheit which has changed so much that I can't recognise it, Minotaure is still very true to the original. Not for everyone but for me it takes me back to when it was first released every time I smell it. Very unique and masculine.

Absolutely beautiful!!!
10 out of 10

Fruity, warm, creamy and uplifting.

The opening is slightly septic with lots of aldehydes and spices, most of all the tarragon shines through. When the heart kicks in after about 30 minutes you are rewarded with floral lavender and geranium and after about an hour comes the excellent great fruity, leathery and woody base – the creamy sandalwood and fruits is what’s most prominent. It's sweet and spicy at the same time – and also floral, leathery and woodsy at the same time and the composition is finally completed with oranges, vanilla and amber. Masculine yet sweet. Somewhere in between the layers I also get the scent of rain after a thunder storm. The bottle is awesome too.
This labyrinth is well worth investigating.

I was lucky enough to score an unopened vintage 1998 Tester bottle of Minotaur, and man, I'm glad I did. To my nose, it comes across as a pretty singular, well-blended scent. It is a warm, glowing, orange-amber with honeyed accents and a pleasant plasticky feel to it. A substantial muskiness envelopes the amber, holding it down in the base and lending a sensual feeling to the scent. The musk is warm, kind of dense or thick, but devoid of any animalic skank or unpleasant elements. Instead, it's blended with a tonka-infused sandalwood accord creating a creamy, fuzzy-woody texture. Overall, it's an alluring oriental reminiscent of certain olfactory trends of the 90's, however it avoids smelling dated due to the fact that it's a rather fresh, smooth composition, able to stand on its own as a quality release. In fact, I almost want to say that Minotaur is ahead of its time. The closest I've seen to it in recent years is Maison Francis Kurkdjian APOM Pour Homme (A Piece of Me), which presents a similarly glowing, orange amber. The difference is that APOM feels intentional and sort of forced--it wears conspicuously, with niche characteristics applied to what ought to be a designer perfume--while Minotaur seems more or less effortless--a quality release at ease in its era, and now something of a timeless cult-classic. Performance is above average on all fronts. This one projects very well and lasts a long time. While I have not tried the current version of Minotaur, I imagine it suffers the same pitfalls as all modern-day reformulations--i.e., it's thinner, less complex and less bold, and with a weaker performance all around. However, that's just a guess. Still, if you can manage to find a vintage bottle of Minotaur, go for it. While I can't speak for the modern iteration, I can tell you that the Vintage juice is definitely worth the trip back in time, and feels just as at-home now as it did in 1992.

I never wore Minotaure when it first came out, but I remember it being a loud spicy scent from my tests. Current offering is a far cry. A true shame.
That being said, the beauty of Minotaure is in the drydown and how different tonka beans and vanilla are used here. Nowadays both notes are used to suffocate you by piling the gourmand BS and making you smell like you are a freaking cupcake or an after dinner liqueur. Here, they are beautifully blended with herbs to provide a spicy, yet fresh juice. It's warm and simultaneously fresh. It's sweet but it is not wimpy. Try it out, it is extremely affordable.
Smell great, my friends.

I'm so sad by the death of this masterpiece. It deserved to be around for always. Such a shame...

I was fortunate to get a half full 2.5oz bottle of the vintage formula off eBay for $13. That alone is a steal of a treasure!

With that said, Minotaure definitely has a dated vibe about it even though the fruity aspect is very much modern. There's a dated musk I associate with my grandfather or "mature men" I remember from the 90s.

Even with that dated musky-leather vibe, the fruit melange accord is VERY modern... it smells like something you'd purchase on a designer level for men. It's a very sexy type of fruit that slants towards citrus, but there are definitely some berry fruits in there, too.

I'll have to keep wearing this to give a better review. I'm just very happy to secure a vintage bottle!

Xoxo,
Myke

When the original constituents aren't used, a good synthetic will 'trick' your olfactory senses. Neat idea, but with something so subjective as scent; the results can only be interpreted by the individual.

Describing colour and scent is only begging for comparison and existing examples.

I bought the re-formulated version blind; and although not to my taste, I can see how it might have appeal for lovers of all things obtuse and contrary.

It's a maddening series of peaks and troughs, exclusive to the wearer. Burnt vanilla and citrus ghosts; almost to the point of cloying until a musty leather smoke envelops the whole performance. Just when you think you can't take it anymore, the sweet acidic glow returns to take the edge off.

If the intention was to marry allegory with a sensual experience for the wearer, it works.

As a showpiece, it would need a very specific audience, and at close range.

I would be curious to experience the original formulation, and can only recommend testing before purchase to make sure you really want to play in the Labyrinth that they have created here.

Edit/Update:
Initially put aside as 'not my style', this scent certainly has an element of enchantment; and I find myself reaching for it more and more.
I think new pathways are formed with this scent; and once the synthetic smokiness has cleared, there is a complimentary element to the wearer's own chemistry.

Enigmatic is certainly a term that springs to mind.
There's a mysterious and very sensual aspect to this, which I have now warmed to after spending more time in the labyrinth housing this experience. It will love you, but it certainly doesn't need you, and that may not work the other way around.

Again, test before purchase, but do give this one a chance if there's a half-god, half-beast lurking inside your soul somewhere. Spend some time there and it might surprise your waking self.

Love it, one of my favorites, a great Michel Almairac creation, as good as Joop Homme. Long lasting with heavy to moderate sillage, it is creamy, caramelly, even a bit spicy, and main notes on my skin are tonka, amber, sandalwood, which makes the scent very creamy, as well as fruits, greens and coriander. Top notch.

Nothing memorable. Sweet floral until the drydown when it turns into a woody vanilla. Poor performance.

I have to apologize. This actually has decent performance,for some reason with the passage of time it was getting stronger. Weird huh?

This smells like Nikos Sculpture for men, and Roma by Laura Biggiotti. It is a decadent 90s smell. Fresh and very berry, juniper like. Beautiful smell. When ever I have worn it people are always is awe of it. Minotaur the original scent which this and laura Biggiotti is based on is touch better.

The opening is just superb. Really can get a blast of the smoothed down citrus. There is a unique edge to it, sweet herbal, a little odd but attractive. An ozone element is there, which was I think rather avant garde for the day. This is not an easy perfume, nor is it for all, but it holds many facets within it note upon note coming up.

Oh Minotaure - the first aftershave I ever loved. So different now they reformulated it without the genuine sandalwood. Wonder if they'll ever change it back to its superb 90's formulation. Here's hoping. . .

used it a long time ago when made by cosmair..discovered again after being informed it was one of Bowie's favourite scents, fruity oriental sandalwood which has lost its thickness and roundenss, it is still a good scent even after reform!

i don't know what the current version smells like but i bought the original 90s formula on ebay for 30 bucks and i love it. A nice clean fruity opening and a soft sandalwood drydown. Fruity sandalwood. At first i thought it was ok nothing special now i really love it and want to get more. Unique pleasant inexpensive frag.

Powdery sublime magic!

I just bought a 75cl bottle in the c/ San Miguel street of Torremolinos, near Malaga from the perfumery of the same name. They have 2 testers left at €30.

I got my last bottle of GPH 1 here two years ago before it disappeared forever. Good people.

David Bowie used to wear this, it should be magical

I still remember the first time I smelled this fragrance. It was a sample in one of my Mom's magazines (Cosmopolitan I think, haha) and omg, it was the first time I can remember feeling that special tingling sensation because of a scent. It's also the first time I bought a "men's" fragrance for myself. It's been years since I smelled it, so I can't really go into detail about the notes, but I vividly remember how amazing it was. To me the bergamot, sandalwood, vanilla, amber, and cedar are most prominent, but it is way more than the sum of its parts. It's warm, fresh, and extremely sensual, and it will always be one of my most favorite fragrances.

Whoever mentioned a comparison to the original Joop and Zino fragrances is on to something, because they are also two of my early favorites.

This fragrance from the early 90's was pure dirty, warm, lusty, sensuous, sex in a bottle. The deep, warm masculine scent had a very sexual appeal to me. I have never been excited over most men's colognes before but when I smelled this, it was instant lust! I immediately bought it for my mate then, and with the mixture of his body chemistry and this scent, it was nothing short of pure abandoned heat! lol
It's a woodsy, jasmine, vanilla heavy deep scent that has no notes that irritate my sinuses like many colognes affect me.
I don't think this would be a great scent for a woman..way too earthy and heavy I think. It's definitely a very male animalistic scent.
I've never smelled it on anyone else, so don't know how it would be on another person.
I had never seen this advertised, only saw it at the counter in the dept store.
It's certainly knocked out every men's scent in cologne I've ever smelled before or since. It's not something I think would be worn every day as a general all around cologne, but of other occasions, it would be most welcome.

How unusual. This opened with a smell of riding horses for me, leather saddle, fresh sweat, animalic. It is a certainly very rich cologne, warming, softly masculine.
I find it comforting, it's not a show stopper.
I imagine a self confident man wearing this, he has nothing to prove, and doesn't need to advertise his smell to everyone.

This is not how the labyrinth or the beast dwelling inside smelled like.

This is how ancient Knossos, after Theseus's sword and Ariadne's thread delivered it from its horned plight smelled like.

This is how a sandalwood ship, beaming her eyesome graciousness while sailing on an primordial sea smelled like.

This is how seven lads and seven maidens crowned with flower wreaths, dancing and falling in love on her deck, for their lives had just been spared, smelled like.

This is how the breath of ancient gods smelled like.

This is how the sidereal veils over Crete, bedecked by the beast's blood, whose real name was Asterion (starry), smelled like.

This is how Paloma Picasso's fragmented memories, in the morning after a febrile dream about a heroic antiquity smelled like.

This is how an unparalleled specimen of audacious perfumery smelled like.

This is how my reveries about early '90s trysts, adumbrated by the shadow of time smelled like.

Dare to be a modern Theseus and tame this beast of yore.

The Ariadnes of this world shall hold your hand for all time...

The original was one state of the art perfume! It was so masculine and sexy,pure lust and desire. Really when in the 90's I smell this in the air I was sexually excited..it was a magic poison,this scream:" Danger! Girls there is a true beastly handsome viril masculine prince of darkness around,who will come and seduce you with only one look and you will be lost in his trap" and my answer was "oh I can't wait!!!" This smell a very sensual tall and muscular hairy vampire with long hair,bear and kajal eyes. IT'S warm,rich,powerfull and aromatic oriental-woody-leather-flower-earthy,a trip in foreign,dangerous and far lands were women are not safe. I think that is not a perfume for all men,only true masculine confident and sensual men whom have not fear to seduce and wants show their sex appeal (not the egocentric style of some fitness enthusiast at all) and makes women happy . Casanova style.A barbarian, an arab prince ,a greek god. To me is very similar in feelings with Kouros. Minotaure is more oriental and mediterranean atmosphere.

The original was one state of the art perfume! It was so masculine and sexy,pure lust and desire. Really when in the 90's I smell this in the air I was sexually excited..it was a magic poison,this scream:" Danger! Girls there is a true beastly handsome viril masculine prince of darkness around,who still come and seduce you with only one look and you will be lost in his trap" and my answer was "oh I can't wait!!!" This smell a very sensual tall and muscular hairy vampire with long hair,bear and kajal eyes. IT'S warm,rich,powerfull and aromatic oriental-woody-leather-flower-earthy,a trip in foreign,dangerous and far lands were women are not safe. I think that is not a perfume for all men,only true masculine confident and sensual men whom have not fear to seduce and wants show their sex appeal (not the egocentric style of some fitness enthusiast at all) and makes women happy . Casanova style.A barbarian, an arab prince ,a greek god. To me is very similar in feelings with Kouros. Minotaure is more oriental and mediterranean atmosphere.

A shame that this gorgeous fruity woody oriental attracts so much hate. No doubt due to its emergence in the early 1990's amidst the shift from power scents to masculine fresh-cleans (CK's Eternity, CK's Escape, Davidoff's Cool Water, etc.).

Don't be distracted by its roots and related legacy. This mouth-watering scent is still at the top of my list, and every bit deserving of its ubiquitous presence upon release. Given the rarity of good fruity woody orientals, it's a decidedly good predecessor to YSL's L'Homme...but in no way eclipsed by it.

I'd personally say the journey on this goes from citrus to vanilla to leather, though others perceive it very differently. Very few fragrances are so prolific as to stand out as fresh-cleans while doubling successfully as woody orientals, but this one really does, and is about as diverse as it gets. Good for all occasions, but perhaps best as casual temperate evening wear.

The current formulation in circulation by Luxury Products LLC may be a tad lighter than the original by Cosmair, but still offers above average longevity and average projection for me. While the larger 125ml flacon is currently discontinued, the 75ml is still affordably available as are several accessories.

★★★½ (out of ★★★★).

Honestly I wasn't really interested in Minotaure until I read nero77's review. What a gorgeous description! I like to think of myself as a passionate, "bon vivant" sort of guy, so of course I had to try it.

The fragrance starts off with somewhat screechy aldehydes and galbanum, but quickly mellows out into a lightly spicy, fruity-vanilla scent. I feel weird describing Minotaure as fruity-vanilla, since our current fragrance market is absolutely overloaded with these bland fruity-sweet scents that I'm sure we're all familiar with. But we must consider what men's fragrances were like in 1992 -- Le Male and A*Men weren't around yet. 1992 is still releasing 80s-style powerhouses like Safari by Ralph Lauren and Pasha de Cartier. With that in mind, Minotaure is a very different and bold take on a mens fragrance.

Minotaure's advertisements and bottle design are stylish and compelling. It is an EdT but performs more like an EdC as far as longevity. It also came in an unusually wide variety of ancillary products - shaving cream, shower gel, aftershave balm, and even a circular bar of soap that came with cool plastic case. I enjoyed getting to experience Minotaure and wouldn't mind owning it if I happen to stumble upon a bottle.

Blind bought this, due to the good reviews and I always have a soft spot for orientals. Glad I did, this is a warm, sweet and wonderful fruit salad combined with vanilla and some early alcohol. There is also an earthy note in the recipe. To bad the projection and duration is so poor. I never got to try the original version which apparently had some better stamina. However, I like Minotaure a lot and will place it on my favorite fragrances shelf. Update: This stuff is so addicting, I could just sit and sniff it all day long. Wish it had more power...
Update2: I had the good fortune to find myself a bottle of the original Cosmair-branded Minotaure. I'm no grand master of notes but I would describe the new version as sweeter, brighter, more booze and the original is more complex, a tad spicier and dirtier, also a soapy, smoky vibe that's missing in the new formula. Could that come from genuine sandalwood? Drydown makes me think of JPG Le Mâle. I'm not saying that one of them is the better smelling, à chacun son goût. I actally appreciate the freshness of the new Minotaure, a little like a sport-flanker. But, and most important, what makes the original Minotaure the clear winner is quality. It has decent projection and longevity while the new has nothing of that. It is terribly weak, 6 sprays on the chest are all gone in no time. Let's hope L'Oreal will release the Intense Minotaure in a near future!

Hi Guys,

If you want to try an identical fragrance from this perfume try Lois Varel Secret Style. It's dramatically identical in smell and customers who buy this perfume don't even know it smells like minotaure but it's just incredibly similar. In my opinion the smell it's a powdery fresh scent to be use well dressed for example with dress at least with a dress shirt and a dress pants, i don't recommend for a casual wear even though it's not forbidden just not recommended. I have worked on the perfume industry for over 10 years and i have experience perfumes since my first year in the business. Till this day i know people who work in the industry but don't know much because they don't smell and experience every perfume, on the other hand i can say i have rated many perfumes even though I might not like them i rate them by couple of things like quality if they last long, uniqueness, and of course the presentation. This perfume it's unique and if you think it's too expensive I would defenitely recommend to try the Secret Style by Lois Varel.

This is my signature scent and TRUST ME WHEN I SAY.... If the bottle doesn't sY COSMAIR. On the bottom or on the box it is a re formulation missing several key notes that will not last long at all and smells putrid. On the other hand u get the Cosmair one and WOW. You'll be a bit dizzy from all the sniffing you'll be doing!!!

Unforgettable... one sexy beast!

Pablo Picasso was a passionate man. He lived according to his passions, emotions and desires... life, art, women, he enjoyed everything (he was also a controversial and difficult type of man). Throughout his work he featured the theme of a "Minotaure", a mythical beast half-man and half-bull. It was often said that to Picasso this was his alter-ego. His "inner" persona, the animalic "beast" inside every man. Nearly 20 years after his death, his daughter Paloma released a fragrance inspired by this very personal theme of her father's work. The "inner" personality of her father.

Minotaure is quite a unique fragrance to me. It's a heady cocktail of vanilla, musk, fruits and citrus... with strange notes for a male fragrance, like lily-of-the-valley, aldehydes, galbanum. It's such a mythical beast!

I cannot describe every single note here but it is blended really well. I get a "vibe", of sweetness, warmth, sensuality, and human sweat. It's sweet and candy-like, but also somehow masculine. I think this perfume represents the loving, caring, sexy nature inside every man. Like male sexuality under a strong, physical exterior. You can imagine a man who has just been swimming in the Mediterranean, coming out of the water, embracing a girl. They lie down on the beach, in the hot sun... there is a basket of fruit beside them. The smell of flowers and her perfume mixed with his warm body still wet from the sea. This really is a classic fragrance for men and it's one I enjoy wearing.

I have found that this works better in cooler weather, as I once sprayed too much of this in the high heat and it was overwhelming. I think the salty, musky mix of amber & vanilla, fruits and sweat is very intoxicating. I also think that (due to the wide range of notes) this could be worn by a woman - in the same way Habit Rouge could. This reminds me of a mix between Habit Rouge and Aqua di Gio by Armani. But it's so nice! Wonderful use of vanilla in a very sexy, raw, Mediterranean & masculine way. Try it out if you get the chance to!

Reading notes and reviews I was naively supposing that it would be simple fruity masculine frag with no pretences as such.
Well, I was wrong
Minotaure is not sweet boy-next-door. Its mostly galbanum, tarragon, coriander, with a fair amount of aldehydes, BUT , what makes a difference, all these sour ingredients served to you with very cunning vanilla-musky smile by a waiter with face of Dorian Gray..

Its a beast, with face of charmer, don't be fooled. Its very dangerous, very unique fragrance for men and women, who prefer a walk across a cemetery, discussing Greek mythology during date, rather than going to zoo or watching a comedy.

Yes, this is very similar to Roma Uomo. Same sweetness but this one is a little bit manlier due to added light leather note. I would prefer this one over L. Biagiotti's perfume because Minotaure was created 3 years earlier - it is the more original one. If you like vanilla-based sweet scents like Le Male try this

The original formulation relied heavily on natural sandalwood, which today is almost as endangered as rhinoceros horn or tiger bones. Insisting on natural sandalwood just to smell great cannot be justified. But don't besmirch Minotaure's memory with that horrible re-issue* either. That, as well, cannot be justified.

So, let us bid adieu to Minotaure. It was one of the greats. I still have a tiny, tiny bit left in a bottle, a remnant of my college days, probably no more than 2ml. I'm saving it for Christmas this year, and then it shall be no more.

Farewell, old friend. Maybe someday I'll see you again at the Osmotheque...between two other greats, Zino Davidoff and YSL pour homme.

***********************
* - The synthetic sandalwood (I'm guessing it's either bacdanol or ebanol or sandalore or both) employed gives me a headache and is much too sweet with no depth.

10/11/2014: LOL! I spoke too soon. Nobody else was bidding on a full vintage Minotaure from Cosmair on eBay. So, I won it for a few pennies short of $40, shipping included. True story! Happy days :) :) :) :)

I'd describe this as a "fresh winter fragrance." Although there are much heavier winter scents that I would wear in the summer, this just seems so out of place in the heat. It's fruity, and linen-cloth crisp, but there's one note that really classifies this as winter only. It's so strange to me. Boozy, fruity, crisp, and slightly leathery, this cacophony of notes simply doesn't fit the bill for a wearable fragrance. This review is based on a sample that I received recently.

I like this one, top to bottom, not that expensive either.
Floral, woody, sweet, pretty good.

Love at 1st sniff. Wonderful orange/vanilla/woody blend. Reminds me of Burberry Brit but more refined. Projects well and sillage is good. I have bought this several times as it is great for everyday wear. I have gotten plenty of compliments as well.

The new formulation can be compared to Theseus: it killed the Minotaure! The ugly plastic spray valve symbolizes the degradation: cheap, low ambition, common. The original was a beautiful, original and memorable perfume. It is, sadly, only a memory for me now.

It's already in production already, available only in 75ml EDT spray.

A nice woody oriental with a bit of fruit and some booze, almost like our friend Zino skipped his sour topnotes and then got drunk. It has a little of the cherry aura that I get from Dunhill (2003) and a few others. Unfortunately it's weak, and my vial is tiny so I don't feel like going for broke with it. Still, I can tell that the wood is the licorecey, aged, thickly varnished sort that you get from things like Tommy Bahama; it's just not as unpleasantly resinous to me as TB. The basenotes on my fingers are a lot more vanilla-focused, which is nice, leading to a closer kinship with Zino. What's strange, though, is I could have sworn I was blown away by this stuff when I tried it before, that it was exactly how I like my spiced woods to be done, but I may just be confusing it with Nemo. I could do without the cherry and licorice, but since they recede a bit in the base, I'll begrudgingly give this a thumbs up.

My first review, I do not get the hype of this fragrance at all, after reading many reviews of how similar this is to Roma Uomo I had to buy it. Big dissapointment YES it has a similar scent to Roma Uomo but more like a watered down version the longevity is very poor and sillage very weak, I could not smell this an hour after spraying it on. In my opinion a poor mans Roma Uomo.

The orig 1990's formula of Minotaure by Paloma Picasso had a magnificent dry down of orange/fruity notes, vanilla, & leather ... my most fav scent of all time. Unfortunately, Mino lost its mojo when it was discontinued & then brought back in limited production with artificial sandalwood.

Call my nose blind but I smell this warm vanilla even to say chocolate feel to it gotta be the tonka bean and amber combination and vanilla and musk

nice perfume, should get more respect.

This is the best fragrance for men EVER!!
It is so soft and warm. It´s hard to find it, so when by chance we found it at any store, we buy it.
This fragrance has its own personality and it´s muy husband signature fragrance.

Galbanum and aldehydes—one of my favorite fragrances (Imari) shares these and other notes with Minotaur, so I was excited to try this fragrance. Of course, saying that is like saying “ooh, he has blonde hair and blue eyes; I’m sure he’ll be hot.” Plenty of us get into blind-buy trouble with that line of thought! Fortunately, this was a gift, so a risk-free trial.

Minotaur starts with a sharp note of pine followed quickly by lemon zest; very crisp and tart, it escapes smelling like cleaning fluid only by some miracle. Within the first 10 minutes, that zesty start blends into a more fruity-lemon scent, followed quickly by sweet mixed fruit notes, very heavy in the melon (musky, fleshy, earthy) and a bit of pineapple. I smell tonka bean and vanilla, that coumarin heavy fragrance lending a bit of the tropics, along with the smell of pine that is returning and smells more resinous and deep that it did initially; I think what I’m smelling is the pine. It is quite a sweet smell to my nose, but not in a traditionally candy-coated-gourmand sort of way; it is balanced by the woody notes. There is almost a pepperiness that comes out after about 4 hours (is that coriander and tarragon? I’m not sure).

An interesting fragrance, to be sure. Yes, Theseus may have followed a “clue” of thread to reach the Minotaur, but this is far from a linear scent; it develops nicely for several hours, making it an olfactory adventure. I’m a woman wearing a men’s fragrance, but the balance of sweet and wood really makes this a strong unisex fragrance. Sillage is low-modest on me, longevity at least 5 hours.

Although I am not normally a fan of aldehydes or galbanum, I like them in Minotaure. This is because without them Minotaure would be cloyingly sweet.
Minotaure, to me, has a fruity scent very similar to that of a cantaloupe. Complete with the musky outer rind and syrupy fruit. I also get a pronounced tarragon note.
I find this fragrance to be unisex, and it does not come across dated in any way.
Long lasting and moderate projection. Best for summer evenings and into early fall.

It smells like the most attractive poison to me.
Sexy, seductive, killing fragrance that reaches the deepest feelings of your mind

Blind bought this yesterday as they didnt have a tester to check it out.
Opening is like sculpture aromatic and fresh and then it dries down to an AWSOMNESSS i cant even describe.Hands down this thing is addicting.Too bad longetivity and sillage isnt good.Too soft and it doesnt last.I understand that it might be the concept of the frag,being a skin scent,but i wanted it stronger...
The good:The drydown OMG THE DRYDOWN is out of this world soooo sexy.
It can easily be a niche scent as it smells like having great quality ingredients.
The bad: I found that it isnt that well blended.There is a note in the opening that tingles my nose and doesnt correspond with the other notes in balance...
Weak projection and longetivity is 4 hours max

Overall score:8.5/10
This thing could easily be a masterpiece and a signature scent of mine but that minuses prevent it from being a pure 10.Overall im more than satisfied with my buy!!!

PS.Maybe im getting crazy but i get an animalic tone in this frag

El mejor perfume, una obra maestra. Lo tuve en 1992...hasta ahora 2013 que lo encontré. Todos estos años descontinuado, pero lo encontré, aqui en Chile es carísimo, pero feliz con mi adquisición.

I have the original formulation (if there were more than one), by Cosmair, and I think of it as the warm weather version of vintage Egoiste. It's that good! The notes seem to really come together in a kind of olfactory harmony that is rare. The drydown seems like one big accord but nothing blobs together, likely due to high quality ingredients and an intelligent composition. The wood notes in particular are very well rendered, with great richness for a summer scent. However, this is more for someone who can appreciate such an accomplishment, though many non-aficionados may enjoy it too, especially if they give themselves time to get used to it.

UPDATE: I recently sampled a non-original version and it doesn't seem to have the sandalwood note (or it's a lot weaker). It begins similarly but has a bit of a "fuzzy" quality that I've come across with scents that were reformulated without sandalwood (such as Zino), so I suggest looking at the label on the bottom of the bottle to make sure the label says Paloma Piccaso and Cosmair on it.

Smells like a warm and creamy Orange Cupcake with vanilla extract. UUUUMMMM! This is so delicious! I cant stop smelling this juice.

In case you were wondering, this is not a fresh citrus scent as some believe.

This is a warm, creamy, sweet orange vanilla/leathery scent (with hits of lavender and jasmine in the background). I wore this one on a New Year's Eve 2012 party and people around me said I smelled like a yummy dessert. The women there did not stop giving me hugs just to get close to my neck. This is a very enjoyable aroma, it's not too strong or too cloying and for being a 1992 scent, this does not smell old or dated.

Like other people here said, this is a great men's cologne but it can easily be suited for women as well. I am surprise this is not labeled UNISEX.

Fragrantica is using an old and "low resolution" picture here, the bottle does in fact looks better in real life as krmarich commented.

Minotaure can be wearable all year long but I will be cautious to use it in hot summers, specially if you live in a hot humid area. Other than this is a versatile cologne and a masterpiece by Paloma Picasso.

It was so many years ago and I still remember, never forget :-)
Minotaure always brings me back a lot of memories
It`s the most sensual fragrance ever made ...
It`s timeless, sophisticated, classy and very stylish.
Love it.

The leather note as the basso continuo of Minotaure is what most impresses me and no other fragrance has ever succeeded to recreate it in such perfection. Minotaure is sexy and carnal, consistent and careless, for men or women, paradox, a total surprise...

very similar to Revlon Fire & Ice for men.

I finally found a nice BIG bottle on e-bay. I am amazed by the brilliant production of the bottle and box. The photos cannot bring this wonder to life. It reminds me of the maze where the minotaure lives. Someplace dark and primal. The contents are anything but.

Light and refreshing florals recall those carefree days of 1995. The floral for men had developed into a romantic and comfortable walk in the garden. Its right up there with Green Water, Facconable, Ulysse and Dune for warm weather friends. The rosey sandalwood is pure bliss.

It is unisex, like so many offerings in the 1990s, 'tho marketed for men. Its pretty avant garde by today syrupy candy standard. There is plenty of vanilla and exotic fruits-I get apple, pear and mango with some citrus-mandarine and big juicy orange. There is a remote bitterness probably coming from the lily of the valley-I love that! Its big, yet never overcrowds you.

It has long gone out of production. This batch has lots of ingredients listed yet smells pretty original-especially with real sandalwood. There are some missing notes from the above tree. Lavender, neroli, cedar and leather are really prominent. Musk gives it an animalic touch-hence the "bull" association. Its not unpleasant in the least. I consider this one of the finest creations from the 1990s.

All Paloma Picasso products have been purchased by L'Oreal Paris. I bet one of their robots is already preparing a batch while I write this. Its heart note will proably be nail polish remover. The noses should sue these renegade reformulators for ruining such art! Now thats a thought...

Celebrity=Pablo Picasso

update 3/22/2013 Here are a few clues for a vintage search. The current version is distributed by Luxury Products LLC. The original is from Cosmair, Inc. The new bottle has a clear plastic collar. The original is black. The current formula is full of synthetics. The original has real sandalwood in it and last for days. The are packaged identical. Good luck!

Fantastic fragrance but unfortunately discontinued....

A big thank you to Kraxa. Just ordered mine. I went through many bottles of this and then they just dissapeared. So glad I managed to get hold of one again.

Dear Kraxa,

thanks for the tip! Minotaure used to be my signature fragrance before it became so elusiv :) Just stocked up. It's a steal for the price

INITIAL REVIEW: I tried a sample vial of this. It's really not my style, as it has a few too many food notes in it (specifically chocolate). It's definitely masculine enough and its florals are overwhelmed by spice and chocolate. Longevity is 6+ hours on my deadening skin.

I found it similar to M7. To me the latter is superior as it's less sweet and "foody." I think many folks would find Mino a fine, cheaper alternative.

EDIT: Scores...
Scent: 5/10
Sillage: 6/10
Longevity: 7/10

To all the Minotaure devotees out there. Right now it is available online at fragrancedirect as a 75 ml EDT, at an unbelievable bargain price. Just got mine, tadam ;-)))

Thos one has got character, very spicy but in a nice way, very well balanced. Not too vanilla sweet and not too spicy, just the right balance. Find it too weak though. I wish it were much stronger.

Minotaure is fresh and aromatic. I smell berrie's flowers at the beginning, almost greedy. Then you get something like tobacco leaves, masculine but sweet. The problem is : it lacks very much longevity. So I spray it again after an hour, and top notes melt with heart notes from the previous spray, and finally that kills the frag. Very sad because it is not very popular for a mainstream fragrance, and you can wear something rather confidential for an average price. I smelled it only two times in my life on somebody else.

Lasting : poor
Singularity : good
Wearability : very good
Hot days : definitely yes

I bought for the first time Minotaure when I was 22 years old (in 1992). It was love at first sight. Very special smells. A little sweet, warm en flowering smell. Yes, I love it very much. Since nothing can compare with Minotaure.

Epic. Absolute superb.
Thx Paloma.

Nice fragrance, but a little powdery for me. Good longevity, but a bit too feminine.

the best possible use of vanilla in a mens scent,smelling strongly without being too feminine,this is a charming elegant parfum although last not that long in dry skins like mine, anyway, I love it

Paloma Picasso Minotaure is a very chic fragrance and luxurious, I met her through the pages of a magazine ... you know those folded sheets that enclose the fragrance inside .... Well it was suddenly a lightning strike, even if I have to say that the newspaper I had bought for the calendar (1991) Cindy Crawford, in short, the picture of the calendar page and the smell was something wonderful at full power.
But returning to the Minotaure, the grand opening is where the spice blend with hot jasmine fragrant woods and slowly give way to a fund of sensual vanilla, I still remember that time ... the review is Minotaure
a sunset where the walls of the Alhambra gardens stand out in his notes of jasmine and tarragon Cordovan leather.
Minotaure is the epitome of elegance, I would call it Opium for men.

I smelled this perfume in a friend and thought FANTASTIC, THE BEST MALE PERFUME I've ever felt in my life.

Then, I bought for my boyfriend, who did not get the same smell.

But it's still one of my favorite men's fragrance. The man who wears this scent makes any woman crazy. lol

Minotaure is warm, mildly sweet and very masculine with a unique and definite elegance. The sweet citrus and aldehydes reveal a floral/aromatic heart that has an almost magical quality and develops into the warm, sensual base of vanilla and woods.
Unlike anything else I've ever encountered, it's a very comforting scent that seems to induce a sense of euphoria on those exposed to it. A friend of mine described it as "a beautiful sunset in a bottle".
Always picks me up and get complimented every time.

This used to be my signature scent, unfortunately like many of my faves it's hard to find...
Still have a bit left and save it for special occasions, my last bottle is about 15 yrs old.

For years I wanted do buy Monotaure but not for husband but for me. I just bought 2 bottles because is very expensive to buy it in my country. It´s very difficulty to describe Minotaure in words but it´s it to say that I loved and I find it the best one i have knoun.

It is rare but available yes! and very expensive. I just bought one for 100 USD :oP But it is one of my FAVORITE men's perfume so it was worth it

I have L'INIZO by carlo corinto , and is extremely similar to this one , altought sweeter ( is more in line with roma uomo by biagotti ) but if you cant find minotaure anymore , l'inizo is a good option...

Some scents just bite your nose. You'd expect Minotaure to bite. Nose, or anywhere else, and savagely and cruelly. It doesn't. It's very elegantly fresh and fruity, but not in a citrusy manner, if you get my drift. If you don't you need to find and try it. I thought production was stopped, but I read here it is still available, which is very good news for me!

Great!

Minotaure is a warm unique oriental fragrance for men.

I used to have this - I usually don't like vanilla frags but this is so well blended. Warm, sweet, long lasting and memorable. A lovely man's smell. Similar to Roma Uomo by Laura Biagiotti, but I think this has the edge.
Update.....I am going to get this again.

One of my tops, and it hasn't been discontinued like other masterpieces...

Great fragrance

This perfume is one of my favorites fragrances ever. Very hard to find.

This was one of my firsts and I loved it then, I haven't smelled it in years but I am sure it is just as good. Great memories of the 90's and you tend to always remember your first.

A unique perfume, amazing!
I have wonderful memories of when I wore it, Minotaure met a few years before and started using it in 1995.
It's a male or unisex perfume? For me it's because I use unisex quietly, I love your scent, I love strong perfumes and outstanding. It has a good dose citrus but is engaging, dense. Will forever be among my favorites.

I bought it because the opening and midnotes reminded me so much of Axe Africa (Lynx Kilo). Axe Africa was my favorite deo and aftershave smell when I was in highschool. It got me often complimented. I was looking for something similar but more unique and mature smelling. I thought I found it with this one but when I arrived at home the beautiful opening and midnotes were gone, being replaced with a stale and musty drydown. Such a disappointment. I'd recommend Axe Africa over this!

7/10 for the opening and midnotes while they last
3/10 for the base.

Este perfume é inesquecível condimentado,
doce, quente, amadeirado e muito sensual
me traz boas memórias !!

It was 1992, a winter in western part of Turkey. I was young. didn't have strong feelings towards any of scents. walking down the street I saw the sparkling shelf of the perfume store where some spot just got me. I got inside and asked to show me this scent with such a magnetic name Minotaure. Since that exactly moment I never parted with Minotaure.
Paloma Picasso did a really great job creating those perfumes of her. there are 3. two for women and one for men. and the one for men is the greatest creations of L'Oreal and Paloma.
Considering how L'Oreal loves to bring out the different kinds of the scent such as eau fraiche, legeree, intense, L'eau de.. etc, why this perfume does not have the same thing? well I was very grateful when I learned that the manufacrurers have decides to keep it in production after the announcement that the Palome Picasso Parfums was closed.

My signature scent. Thanks

For me - one of the best men's perfume ever....Unfortunately it is very rare in these days.
I feel bergamot and coriander as a top notes which give a kind of cold note to this scent, and the middle and base notes are warm because of the sandal, musk and vanila -and this dualism is constant all the time.
There are a lot of flowers inside - and therefore it could be very nice unisex perfume too.
I think that this is a first perfume, which I bought to my brother as a present, and I know that he loved it very much (has at least 10 years since then).