Ange ou Demon by Givenchy

It’s a dark, complex jewel, a true personal masterpiece, but beware: never buy it blindly or gift it. It’s far too specific for others’ tastes.

What a beautiful, special fragrance, not for everyone. Its intensity and complexity are striking; it’s warm, super intense, and spiced, finishing with a powdery, almost angelic dry-down that matches its name. Perfect for a woman with character, nothing princess-like. The trail and longevity are brutal. I suspect they changed the original formula, but it still fascinates me after years of wearing it. Without a doubt, one of my favorites.

I wish I could agree with the good reviews, but this perfume is a resounding no.

I’m surprised that, unless you’re trained to recognize those vintage mom-and-grandma scents, it can sound clean but ”creamy”. Usually, vanilla notes bring caramel, but not here. On my skin, as it dries, it turns lactonic and metallic—what’s going on? Does this happen to others? I love how, in the dry-down, I get wet earth and night-blooming flowers that only open at night… it’s a masterpiece. I wear it at home to catch those nuances; outside, it smells like a clean, spiced floral, but if you pay attention, it’s a whole other story.

Another infamous reformulation!

Was my nighttime signature for 6 years, from 19 to 25. I switched to Alien, which is rich, but now at 35 I’ve brought it back and I love it. It smells vintage yet perfect, lasts forever, and is gorgeous. It suits my skin exquisitely; such beautiful memories.

Despite following the page for years, this is the first time I’m reviewing this because I don’t understand the negative reviews for this wonderful fragrance. It’s fascinating, long-lasting, enveloping, deep, and noticeable, just like they should be. Its name fits perfectly with its tender flowers and intense spices; a sensual scent that’s sometimes delicate. Made to seduce a few, as if he were charming you because you caught his eye. Its tonka bean, lily, spices, and flowers create a beautiful duality. The best part: it wasn’t made to please everyone, and that fascinates me.

I was very disappointed because the opening is too strong and lasts all day; I had to shower to get rid of it because I couldn’t stand it. It also gave me a vintage vibe, honestly I was expecting something else.

I bought it blindly based on a review describing it as vanilla, elegant, mysterious, and vibrant. But when I wear it, I feel the opposite; I feel like an older lady. Well, it’s a good fragrance; I can imagine an older, well-off lady meeting friends for tea at a nice café, eating sweet snacks, maybe a raspberry macaron or a lemon pie. I barely detect any vanilla, but it has a generally clean, floral-spicy aroma.

The scent is original, different, and striking. Longevity and sillage are a disaster. I can’t justify spending 70 euros on 50 ml that doesn’t last; it’s a scam. I don’t understand how a house like Givenchy could do this. I won’t buy it again and absolutely don’t recommend it.

In the olfactory pyramid, I only detect vanilla and rosewood due to its woody notes; I can’t identify the rest. This isn’t for everyone: it requires someone with a dominating personality and strong character because it’s dark, dense, and imposing. I bought it twice: first in 2012 after a breakup, seeking something aphrodisiac, nocturnal, that would turn me into a demon without that ‘good girl’ or watermelon scent. Once I scraped together the cash (which here doesn’t drop below $100), I got it. Applying it while drowning in sadness, I felt possessed. The notes gave me unimaginable confidence, a urge to explore the night, and left a trail that made people ask what I was wearing. It was mysterious to the opposite sex, soaked into clothes for 24 hours even after washing. As the name suggests, it became my favorite for months: a demon at night, an angel by day. With a new relationship, I left it behind. It hurt, but I had to move on. In 2023, I bought it again to feel that same 10-year-old security, but nothing was the same: it didn’t click, it felt boring and soulless. Did they reformulate it? Change the notes? Did I buy an expired batch? Or maybe I only connected back then because of the stage of life and a broken heart…

Delicious! I went hunting today to find it on sale because in my country it costs over $150 USD 😒😕—that’s the price tag for designer scents in South America. I checked two department stores and finally found it at the last one with a 40% discount 🥳. I finally have it. It’s special, unique, mysterious, creamy, vanilla, woody, and very spicy, especially elegant. It’s totally out of the ordinary. When I bought it, several girls stopped to ask what I was wearing because the scent filled the room. I’ll use it for evening events and cold days. Try it before buying because you might love it or hate it. For me, it’s a perfect 10/10. Tip: apply it to your skin and let it settle for a while.

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE? Few perfumes have given me that wow factor, and I terribly regret not knowing about it sooner, even though I’d seen it in fashion magazines since its launch. Still WOW: it’s a bottle full of powdered orchids in vanilla. It’s always hard for me to put words to the ones I love, and this is no exception. On first sniff, it smelled like brand-new plastic (sometimes I still get that vibe), but with wear, I discovered it’s like wearing Cori Passion (the dupe that beats Alien hands down) with a few drops of vanilla and tonka bean. A marvel! If the question is whether it’s an angel or a demon, with day or night wear, it becomes ideal for a formal meeting, something casual, or the crown jewel of a romantic night out. Thank you, Givenchy, for this beauty.

Ugh, what happened to this perfume, for the love of God? It’s a disaster. I had a few milliliters left of the original juice in an old bottle and decided to grab another one without realizing about the reformulation. Thank goodness I ordered it to test before buying: it’s a hard no. The scent isn’t terrible, but it has nothing to do with what I was looking for. I understand my bottle has mature (and beautiful) liquid, but how can it be like this? The original is a powdery cream of saffron and vanilla with touches of tangerine peel; this new version is a mess of citrus that doesn’t even fit the bill. Alas, when it dries down, it kind of resembles something. Do I have to buy it anyway? Is this my last hope? Will another reformulation happen to bring it closer? Or will they discontinue it forever? I understand those who like it. I repeat: it’s not bad, now more unisex than before, but for those who knew and loved the original, this is almost a crime.

Ange ou Démon surprised me, and the surprise was very pleasant. I tested it in a store a few months ago with warm weather; I don’t know if the tester was off or if the heat made it evaporate quickly, but I only caught a hint of lily of the valley and that’s it. That same day I also tested The Only One and was surprised to feel more of TOO than AoD 😩. This mysterious and striking bottle has always caught my eye; that black gradient gives me something, and that droplet shape 💧 seems like the bottle a witch from the world of King Arthur would hang at her waist… But time passed, I saw a good online deal, and combined with the moderate hype on social media as a perfume that lasts days, it became a ‘I must have it’. We’re in autumn 🍁 now, and with it in my hands, wow… the first spray is wonderful, finally I can smell that famous vanilla, that aromatic point I assume comes from the thyme and saffron… it really highlights the lily of the valley on my skin. To finish: it is NOT at all a vintage scent. I must emphasize this so more girls feel encouraged to try this wonderful aroma and worthy classic from Givenchy. It has elegance but also works for a date with your guy, going to the movies, or hanging out with friends. I see it for everything; less for work or grocery shopping, save it for less mundane things. I’ll keep testing this potion to see if the hype about its longevity and trail is real. Ciao mininos 🫶