Amarige by Givenchy

A colleague used this back in the 90s and hated it. When I tried it now, it smells different: on my skin, it releases a strong, unpleasant leather note that isn’t listed on the description, along with flowers that don’t quite fit. The overall effect doesn’t attract me, and it doesn’t last; after an hour, there’s no trace left.

It’s a spectacle: a dream garden, fairy tales, and romantic literature. It smells like long-haired princesses in silk dresses. When I want to cheer up or get out of a bad mood, I reach for my Amarige; by magic, I’m flooded with happiness and transported back to those stories from my childhood.

A true relic. I first encountered it with a sample a month ago and haven’t been able to get it out of my head. Today, I finally bought it. It breaks gender stereotypes; I’m a man, and I’ll use it daily until winter ends. Pros: floral, sweet, evokes the elegance and class of the 90s, and it’s very long-lasting. Cons: none. Maybe I didn’t choose Amarige, but rather she chose me to be my signature.

It smells delicious. I gifted it to my mom, one of her favorites, and she was thrilled. I love how it settles on her; even though it’s vintage, it has excellent longevity.

I’ve been repurchasing my Amarige for over 30 years, again and again. I can’t believe how much time has passed since the first time I smelled it. Since then, I’ve felt it can’t be missing from my wardrobe. I’ve read it’s a love-hate fragrance… and I can’t be objective about Amarige: I love it. There’s nothing more to add. The rest has already been said.

The quintessential yellow floral: intense, powerful, and unique. Love it or hate it, no middle ground. For me, Amarige is pure elegance and distinction. A floral scent with a woody base; mimosa, ylang-ylang, and neroli stand out. The woody part is strong yet fresh, almost green. It never smells like roses at any point. An unmatched classic. Eternal longevity, brutal projection, and opulent aroma. Don’t buy blindly, test it first. One of the best in history, a must-have in my collection.

I just received the 2023 reformulation, and it has nothing to do with what I read before buying it. It smells good, but the longevity and projection are a whisper; in other words, nothing, not even close to the skin. I think they killed this famous and praised perfume. What a shame; I had high expectations for a fragrance everyone talked about.

It’s a true classic, a great floral. I love its power and performance; few match it now. It’s a mature and timeless fragrance, those sparkling florals that fill you with energy, leave marks, and flood spaces. Although it’s far from current trends, it has its own charm. Ideal for transition seasons and winter; on my skin, it lasts more than 8 hours.

Amarige was my grandmother’s signature fragrance for years. I remember that strong, intense, very distinguished, and extremely durable scent on her. Without seeing her, we knew she was close just by smelling it. Her wardrobe was soaked with that smell. As one of my first perfumes, I didn’t mind wearing it from elementary to high school when everyone else smelled fruity; there I was with my super-intense aroma that needed no touch-up, although I did use my grandmother’s bottle with that cap that never came off. Mandarin and jasmine are key, felt with that intensity in several perfumes I love, but with its unique seal and, in my opinion, the driest of all. Brutal longevity, lasting on the skin until the next day, a trail of up to 10 hours. An elegant perfume for women who distinguish themselves and leave a mark. For me, Amarige is always linked to my grandmother’s name and her undeniable memory.

Amarige is a must-have in my collection. This is bottled spring; I feel like I’m sitting in a field surrounded by flowers. It’s the perfume I cherish the most, as it was one of the first gifts from my boyfriend and now husband back in 1995. Beautiful memories and a beautiful scent. Clearly, it’s not for beginners; it doesn’t smell like a three-note cupcake like modern perfumes (which are all the same); it’s made of many notes, making it unique and immortal, as it has been on the market for over 30 years and has many more to go. 10/10.

My mother’s perfume of choice. At first, it smells like a vintage, stately bombshell—the kind that used to bother me when I was a little girl. Once it dries down, however, it becomes rich and warm, like a touch of cinnamon, subtle and elegant. I smelled it again recently: it’s tobacco with white flowers and a fine wood note. It’s her olfactory signature, and it will always have a place in my heart.

I first smelled it as a child, accompanying my mother on shopping trips. I was looking for a perfume for my grandmothers’ doctor, and I think that’s when my interest in perfumery woke up. I remember several scents, including Amarige, which I would recognize a thousand miles away. It was etched into my sense of smell. It’s a garden of flowers, exquisite in every stage of its evolution. Very elegant with a great sillage. A perfume of excellent quality, it’s on my wish list.

Intense, complicated opening, and perhaps a bit overwhelming if you get caught off guard. It’s a worthy prelude to white and yellow flowers so well combined that they exude class, style, elegance, and a hint of hidden sensuality. I really like the woody base that supports the floral ensemble, which highlights it beautifully. Of course, I can imagine it being for a bride on her wedding day, but those flowers say more than they seem: an innocent smile on a strong, determined woman with clear words and no drama. It’s very rare to find young users wearing Amarige today, and it’s a shame because it’s a great complement. Durability and projection are quite good, so I advise moderation with the sprays. I highly recommend trying it.

This fragrance was originally a toilet water that performed like a perfume before its reformulation. When I first used it (about 15 years ago), its longevity and projection were overwhelming. It was defined as ‘the bride’s perfume’ because its name is an anagram of marriage. The opening achieves an adequate combination of fruity and floral accords. In the dry down, flowers like neroli, ylang-ylang, mimosa, and jasmine take center stage, beautifully accompanied by woods and amber. In 2007, I bought my first bottle, which had a gradient on the front. But in November 2021, I acquired another bottle without a gradient, meaning the presentation and contents changed, as is the case with most reformulations. Amarige is no longer what it used to be.

I tried it and didn’t like it. It smells super acidic and bitter on my skin, which is quite sensitive. Plus, I think it’s too heavy; it reminds me of a blonde-dyed lady with red lipstick and tons of hairspray, trying hard to look rich and judging everyone. Nothing light. I wouldn’t wear it even though I like heavy perfumes; I feel it lacks sophistication. Sure, it seems to last forever, unlike today’s short-lived sprays. It has character, but it’s not for everyone.