Envy for Men by Gucci

I own the legendary 1998 Gucci Envy, I’ve already tried CK One Shock by Calvin Klein, and today I sprayed a bottle a friend had. They’re incredibly similar; just look at the notes and you’ll see that almost everything Shock has, Envy has too. What a delightful surprise.

An absolute gem! Not niche at all. The totem of Gucci’s golden age. Elegant, sophisticated, sexy… Tom Ford in pure form. After almost 20 years without it, I have it back and I’m enjoying it. Gucci and their discontinuations: an altar to this masterpiece.

I remember Envy as if it were yesterday. I tried it in 2003 at the mall with my parents; my dad took Opium and Rive Gauche, but Envy was on the final shortlist, which we discarded just before Kouros. I was 17 and I loved it: it’s opulent, elegant, and has a brazen wink thanks to the ginger and spices, an adult pleasure that didn’t quite fit my mom, since she wanted me to take the perfume, not the other way around. My dad didn’t care, he’s already a full-blown old man. I enjoyed it for everything for a year: going out, going to class, or parties. No girl would come around because of that, but I felt as secure as Pierce Brosnan ordering a vodka Martini, anointed with a maturity oil inappropriate for a kid like my friends. But the day I turned 18, everything changed. We celebrated my birthday wildly, drank too much, and abused our luck, alcohol, and perfume. It ended up being a bitter night, and I spent my first day as an adult regretting it, kneeling in front of the toilet. A few days later, when I smelled my bottle again, my stomach turned. Fortunately, about 10% was left. I let it sit for a couple of years, then finished it alternating with Rive Gauche and Équipage. I’m glad I got to know and enjoy it, but ours ended abruptly that day. With more experience, I calmly say I’ve found scents that satisfy me just as much or more; I have a curious and unfaithful nose and shouldn’t obsess over discontinued perfumes that are almost impossible to find. That early morning morning, holding onto the toilet, I heard my mom say to my dad: “Tomorrow he’ll find out!” and him responding: let him, sin in the sin and penance in the penance.

As the good Svazquez said before, it’s a brutal fragrance from one of Gucci’s best eras. I don’t have the original, but I have a perfect clone that cost me $1.50 at Waldo’s; I took two bottles just in case… Tom Ford in one.

Call me crazy, but today I heard Gucci Envy at a friend’s collector’s house, and look, K by Dolce and Gabbana came to mind. I don’t know why, since the notes aren’t similar, but hey, if anyone has both, give it a sniff.

I picked up a tester at a great price. It’s a delightful scent and, certainly, different from what’s out there today. The composition feels more niche, but in my opinion, it lacks the ingredient quality of actual niche fragrances. Is it worth the outrageous prices? Depends on your wallet. I personally like it, but within the green, mysterious, and sophisticated category, I still prefer Memoir Man without a doubt.

Whatever Amouage, Creeds, MFK, Acqua di Parma, or any other niche house thinks. THIS, gentlemen, no one has ever surpassed this Gucci masterpiece. And Gucci offering us nothing but Guilty rainstorms or trinkets in 2020…

I might get a bit of a reputation for saying this, but… I have no doubt that Gucci was and has returned to being a house that seeks and continues to seek the difference in its fragrances. Envy is very distinct from everything I’ve heard so far, which makes it stand out. I’ve craved smelling Envy as much as the original Pour Homme. I’ve managed Envy and hope to try the Pour Homme soon. These are two fragrances that fascinate me enormously due to reviews and their astronomical prices; maybe that’s the problem because my expectations are huge. Envy right after application (for some strange reason) reminds me a lot of the old Opium EDP, but only for 10 seconds; afterwards, the scent turns into something I’ve never heard and don’t fully understand… spicy ginger, woods, something subtly vanilla, a very light balsamic base… It’s frankly different from everything. There is quality in it, but (fortunately for my wallet) it’s not a fragrance I’d want to wear; in fact, I’m not sure if I like it or find it horrifying. I understand why its devotees feel orphaned because I can’t find any resemblance to anything. For better or worse, it’s unique. I don’t understand why Gucci got rid of everything to stay with the scents they kept, which were, at the very least, mediocre, considering what they had before.

That’s what I think: the bottle might have been slightly damaged in the liquid, affecting the performance. As for the scent, I don’t believe it; it doesn’t feel affected or rancious at all. That’s why, setting aside its moderate performance, the aroma doesn’t convince me in the least to pay the prices currently demanded for it.

@ Juancar677, you say you knew it well, I recommend you try NOIR by Reminiscence to see what you think; I have both and I think it’s quite similar, just that the Reminiscence one feels better crafted, higher quality, and smells better. I think it’s a good alternative or substitute for those missing it.

In the late 90s, with Tom Ford at Gucci, this masterpiece hit the market. It was a mass perfume with excellent quality that today would be niche and cost a fortune. Why did Gucci discontinue it? The ginger is noticeable right after spraying, and so is the vanilla; as it evolves, they become smokier and earthier due to the tobacco and incense, giving it that unique imprint. Lavender and cardamomo play a minor role but add a classic touch. A spicy sandalwood blends perfectly with everything and elevates the fragrance to an interesting olfactive status. The woody side adds complexity without overshadowing anything. The leather is very subtle but well-crafted. The florals shine more at the end. What I like is the calibration of the notes: each one occupies its place without distorting the others, creating a harmony that stands out. It’s exotic, sensual, ambered, relies heavily on incense/tobacco, and is more narcotic compared to the fresh 90s perfumes. Gucci Envy could have come out in the 00s or today and still stand out. A Gucci gem worth it.

I love it. Green-spicy opening, with the ginger noticeable throughout the evolution, while sandalwood and a slight incense give it character and masculinity. Vanilla adds sweetness. Amber dry down with a touch of patchouli and leather. It’s a classic that doesn’t clash today. You can tell it’s high quality and versatile. Good performance, smells great throughout the evolution. For spring, autumn, and winter, day and night. Long-lasting longevity, moderate sillage.

Tom Ford Gucci Misses You! One of Gucci’s gems from the Tom Ford era. A spicy oriental full of ginger, incense, cedar, and sandalwood… and a gorgeous scent in full swing! This fragrance has everything you look for in an oriental for men: class, sophistication, an aura of mystery and seduction… this is more than most offer today! I believe without exaggerating that it’s one of my best vanilla and ginger-based fragrances. It’s one of the masterpieces in the world of perfume, not because of its discontinuation, but for its balanced, high-quality aroma that is definitely niche. It’s a spicy green oriental juice; at first you detect the ginger and, of course, the vanilla, giving you a smoky green spicy flavor.

Envy for Men is one of the most famous discontinued scents and I’ve been using it for days. I liked it more than Gucci Pour Homme I, so from that perspective its fame is more justified, without diminishing GPHI. It’s a spicy oriental fragrance; that nature gives it its personality. It’s hard to describe, but the opening is slightly smoky and incensey with a good load of spices: pepper, ginger, and tobacco, which at times give way to florals and sandalwood, finally leaving an amber, vanilla, and leather scent without losing its spicy nature, mainly the ginger. I think it’s ideal for romantic outings, as others say, the projection is medium-low. I think it looks better on cool or cold days. Launched in 1997, if it had come out last year it would be 20 years old and it doesn’t feel old, although I think it will appeal more to mature people than to the young, still it’s relatively easy to like. Its longevity is around 8 hours on the skin and another couple on clothes. Although I liked it, I wouldn’t justify paying the outrageous amounts asked at some sites, but if you find it at a fair price, it’s one you shouldn’t let go.