Founded in 1908 by stationer Claus-Johannes Voss, banker Alfred Nehemias and engineer August Eberstein, the company started out as the Simplo Filler Pen company. Making upscale pens in Hamburg, a pen produced in 1910 would later give the company its new name: the Montblanc.

Fragrances became a part of the Montblanc offering starting in 2001 with women's Presence. 2005 men's scent Starwalker was introduced in conjunction with a Starwalker pen and corresponding Timewalker men's watch collection.