Garçon Manqué by Givenchy

I tried it once over a month ago while traveling. I kept the blotter intact in a ‘safe place’, alongside the brochure for Givenchy’s exclusive collection. Since I couldn’t buy anything, I only sampled a ‘few’ from that exclusive line to avoid taking advantage of the salesperson’s good vibes. Out of all of them, this one really hooked me. It was the only one that made me say ‘Wow’. It stood out completely. Since I only have the memory and a dry-down left, I’ll share a few sensations I hope are useful. It’s super special, refined, distinguished, impactful, and unisex. A very crisp leather softened by a floral side, slightly talcum-powdery and faintly soapy (at least that’s how I feel it, with that little bit of soap that tickles your nose a tiny bit). It’s not a heavy, dense, or aggressive leather, nor is it strictly masculine. However, that doesn’t stop it from being quite dark. I see it for super special occasions, to impose presence and character with sophistication, without being out of place. As a woman, that’s how I imagine it. If I owned it (bless the one who can!) I’d be brave enough to wear it, despite its grandiose and original airs. It steps out of the ordinary, out of the comfort zone, but fits perfectly in the indicated context. It denotes very good taste, right from the start. Although it’s unisex, I can’t stop feeling it’s feminine; it has a touch of fresh floral that pulls me that way. I can’t help but think of an executive woman in a suit and high heels (maybe because of the salesperson who wore it?). Smelling the dry-down, I definitely imagine it more on me than on my husband. Still, I remember the fresh splash was more potent… Memory can fail. Highly recommended. I think this one is worth it, a perfume worthy of an exclusive collection. The others I tried… Meh.

Maybe it’s my top 3 so far. If you know Ombre Leather, you’ll notice a nod in the blend, but don’t mistake it for a clone; this has its own sublime personality. It’s not the most evolved, but the balance between florals and leather is luxurious: it starts floral with an oily leather, dries into resinous oily notes (I’m a fan of making up words), and that’s probably how its life ends. It’s not very long, but it’s so memorable it deserves a pretentious review. It was love at first sight, even though many colleagues and people without a passion for perfumes reject it as something ‘rich’ or unappealing. My friends, to whom I tell all the crazy stuff about perfumery, truly love it.