Gentleman Cologne by Givenchy

Triumph of the ephemeral. Seems simple, but why doesn’t any other cologne smell like it? With all its success and the complaints about discontinuation, why didn’t they make something similar? And why the hell did they kill it? It’s not easy, gentlemen. There’s magic in its simplicity. But watch out, simple doesn’t mean it actually is, it just looks like it 🙂

A masculine fragrance, clean, serious, elegant, and classy. As for performance, I don’t call it a problem: it’s formal, so it has to be. It projects for the first hour and then stays close to you, without invading. You can feel it if you’re near, it’s not for showering and grabbing attention. I’d use it at weddings or elegant events where you need to smell good but subtly, without bothering anyone.

A true gem, a perfume marvel, and a blessed find. It feels fresh, elegant, subtle, clean… ideal for daily wear, work… very versatile for spring, summer, and autumn mornings. It doesn’t perform poorly for me; I catch it in bursts and it generates calm and confidence. Totally recommended.

Elegant, refined, exquisite, unisex, and comforting. It conveys class and sophistication. The blend of citrus and iris is sublime. It makes you feel clean and refined. As an eau de cologne, it doesn’t have great performance. The only flaw is that there are alternatives that are much cheaper and easier to find, though with a tiny bit less quality than this Givenchy.

I hope Givenchy discontinued it due to performance failure and not because of the scent or its success. I think in 2025 Gentleman will be a rework of this. For sure, something fresh needs to come out, since we’ve had two Society and Privée, plus there was no summer scent left. For the reformulation, I hope for a minimal touch of sweetness with tonka bean or amber mixed with a little cedar, more iris, maybe rose and violet. I think it would improve performance and suit my taste better. What I perceive now: the floral and sparkling citrus notes don’t last, they’re weak, the dry-down comes quickly and ends up slightly bitter and opaque.

Heading to Marrakech with 46-degree heat? This is a brutal choice for extreme temperatures if you like colognes. In my opinion, the best in the Gentleman line.

Exquisite aroma. I wear it for padel or soccer and it’s a delight. Also fantastic for flights or after a shower. Spectacular for summer and very comfortable for daily wear. If you’re looking for something similar but more elegant with a ‘cool’ sensation, I recommend Terre d’Hermès Eau Givre. Cheers!

Unimpeachable perfume: if you don’t like it, you’re just angry at life. It just needs a bit more performance to be perfect.

Summing up the previous reviews: SIMPLICITY, FRESHNESS, ELEGANCE, and CLEANLINESS. If its performance were better, it would be perfect. What a shame they discontinued it.

Probably the cleanest perfume in my designer collection (discontinued, I got a 2018 batch without ambroxan). It opens citrusy but not effervescent, more creamy thanks to the iris and petit grain. The scent barely changes; longevity is the shortest: about 45 minutes of projection and 60 more of life. It fades suddenly and barely fixes because it’s light; it smells expensive but behaves like a cheap cologne. I paid $60 and have a love-hate relationship because I have to reapply; it’s not for being outside for long. In the heat, needless to say, it’s subtle, better suited for moderate climates. I know when it runs out it will cease to exist; the first time I heard it, I imagined an old house with a garden, but it doesn’t smell old, just elegant. Impossible to reject, but it lasts me less than 3 hours. It lasts longer on paper than on skin, and on clothes there’s no way due to the low projection.

I love iris and colognes, and this Gentleman Cologne combines both. Does it deliver? Only partially. It’s a subtle, pleasant, innovative, and peculiar scent. It has a faint resemblance to Lalique White, just in case you haven’t tried it, but the Givenchy version clearly has a better composition. The citrus notes are restrained by the dryness and the light powdery touch of a clean iris, transforming what could have been a yellow Cologne into a white/yellowish one—not dense, but delicate. The vetiver adds an earthy touch, very similar to Acqua di Parma’s Colonia Futura. The scent is polarizing; you might love it or hate it, but Givenchy dared to do something that breaks from the ordinary. I don’t see it as a masterpiece, but it breaks with popular trends. It’s very exclusive and leaves a mark. If you’re looking for something similar, clean, elegant, and exclusive, but with infinitely better longevity and projection, try Molecule01 + Iris, a niche masterpiece with steroids. SCENT: 7 LONGEVITY: 4 PROJECTILE: 4 TRAIL: 4 EXCLUSIVITY: 8.5

Wow, wow, wow… what a delicious but so fleeting aroma; why did you have to torture us like this, Givenchy, huh? Well, whatever. This gem (discontinued) from the Gentleman line is one of the richest citrus-aromatic scents I’ve ever smelled; it truly smells good, although to my nose, it’s totally unisex. But come on, they balanced that iris with the citrus and aromatics so well; it’s a shame the longevity is a disaster. 6/10.

I barely detect your presence; you deliver all your essence. Embracing without touching, speaking without listening. How many citrus notes were sacrificed to die on my nose? For a noble opening that luckily has no end. Then comes the heart, the most insurgent phase, where everyone is laughter and joy; those who know it will understand. Without those vibrant citrus notes, it’s far from being energizing, showing a more versatile and discreet facet. That powdery iris, highlighted for being well-executed, is accused of being mature, not suitable for the insecure. I’m left speechless, what more can I say? Seeing this gem out of the market and discontinued, unfortunately, that target couldn’t get in. That audience, accustomed and very hard to conquer. However, I disagree with the young who get seduced; better to be a known veteran than new scents with nothing to say. Pale green, they described it, with vetiver touches, pure elegance they produced; it’s a sight to believe. That it’s fleeting, I don’t dispute, I can’t lie about that. It’s a tribute to quality; that’s all I can ask. If I close my eyes and get lost in my longing, hints of harvested love, memories of eternal love.

The hype deceived me; I think they removed it from the catalog because it’s not the brand’s best. It smells good, yes, but it’s only fresh at the beginning; an hour later, it’s just musk and spices. Seriously, it’s not a wonder or anything extraordinary; it’s a shower gel with pepper at a luxury price.

One of the most elegant fresh fragrances I own, a delight. I’m fascinated by its entire life cycle. Ideal for a sunny day with a linen suit, grenadine tie, and loafers.