Gentleman (2017) by Givenchy

An aroma that breaks the mold. The EDT from Gentlechy by Givenchy opens with freshly cut pear and evolves into a marked iris with a hint of lavender that fits perfectly. It’s a fragrance few talk about, but the scent is excellent, and in my opinion, it’s one of the best in the entire Gentleman line.

I loved it, but it didn’t last long. It’s exquisite for daytime. Perhaps there are better options if performance is your priority.

I apologize for saying it this way, but I don’t understand some reviews. I think the bare minimum before sharing an opinion is to inform yourself, even if you’ve tested the perfume and even if it seems like everyone here is an expert. I like it quite a bit. Perfumes with iris or violet usually appeal to me, and this one has both notes, especially the iris. I don’t find it as cloying as other Prada or Dior scents; I sense it’s fresher, probably due to citrus, lavender, or geranium notes. As it dries down, vanilla becomes slightly more noticeable, though not too sweet, which I also enjoy. It performs very well for me—I have skin that doesn’t hold fragrance well, and it lasts about 5-6 solid hours, then a bit longer closer to the skin, totaling around 8 hours. It doesn’t have much projection, but people nearby can still detect it without issue. Overall, the Gentleman collection is one of the ones worth it for me. I recommend Boisée and Reserve Privée.

Love at first sniff. That’s exactly what I felt when I tried it for the first time in a department store; I said I needed that scent, that it was my personality bottled up, but everything fell apart when I realized the show is a one-act wonder. Disappointed, I looked at its sisters who also made me fall in love, but none gave me what this one did, even if just for a moment, so I decided to stick with this ephemeral poem. Setting aside the poems that get recycled here, it opens with pear, pineapple, iris, and leather, where the first two are fleeting and the rest is what will accompany you for 90% of the fragrance’s life. In short, none of its sisters resemble it too much except for that iris note, which you’ll find here in a much subtler way. It’s clear this comes closer to the style of its cousin Gentleman Only because it’s the first, and with the rest of the flankers, they decided to go down a different path with way more iris. Personally, I’ve loved it despite its short lifespan, but I wouldn’t recommend it to the masses since it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. My ratings: Scent 9.5, Longevity 6, Projection 3, Quality 10.

Let me start with the obvious: Givenchy Gentleman (2017) is a fragrance that doesn’t go unnoticed. It’s intense, spicy, and decidedly masculine. Its scent is, in effect, a true iris bomb complemented by strong fruits and spices. It’s like the bad boy, sexy side of Prada L’Homme.

The iris is noticeable from the very first spray and dominates the entire life of the fragrance. It smells fresh and clean, perfect for hot days or going to the gym. It lasts about 4 to 5 hours on the skin, and its trail doesn’t go beyond an outstretched arm. If you like iris, you’ll find plenty here.

My boyfriend wore it today, and I didn’t recognize it (something I love to do, though with so many perfumes it’s getting complicated). It seemed strong, especially the leather note, at 30 degrees. The touch of pineapple and pear adds juiciness, but from the start, you can tell there’s lavender and leather; it’s not a light citrus EDT as the color suggests—the iris is more earthy. I think it’s masculine; it’s not easygoing cleanliness but rather for a white shirt, especially in spring and autumn for informal events or the office. The dry down is woody and dry, without sweetness, featuring that fruity leather that makes it interesting. It lasts 1-2 hours with a trail and another 2 hours on the skin. It’s not my favorite in the Gentleman line, but try it if the others don’t suit you, as it steps away from the olfactory profile.

Let’s start. I would define Gentleman as a clean fragrance. Its fruity top notes stand out and make the perfume pleasant from the start, enjoyable without being cloying. As it progresses, the iris stands out, and in my opinion, I sense the leather but not as dominant as others say. It has a special charm on mild autumn and spring days, where the weather isn’t extreme; it’s in these scenarios that it loses its spark, as the ambient smell can mask it since it’s not very potent compared to other derivatives like the EDT Intense or my favorite, the EDP. It’s pleasant, smells clean, perfect for the office because it doesn’t invade or overwhelm, although I agree with those who denounce its low longevity; nothing a decant can’t solve. I recommend it for those who want to smell clean and like soft iris. I’m more than satisfied with the purchase for the versatility it brings to the Gentleman collection.

Okay… the opening is delicious, super fresh, a pear scent mixed with an iris that slightly reminds me of Prada L’Homme and a barely perceptible acidic pineapple, plus a hint of vanilla that adds sweetness. If the perfume smelled like the opening the whole time, it would be a 10/10… however, that’s not the case at all. After 30 minutes, it starts to smell like leather, but not a pleasant one; a bitter, petroleum-like leather, almost burnt leather. It goes from that unique, fresh, and rich aroma to something that’s nothing special. Moreover, its longevity and projection are very poor; maybe it doesn’t react well on my skin, but I feel there are better iris options on the market. I felt this perfume wanted to be Prada L’Homme or the Gentleman EDP Intense version without reaching the heels of either. At first, I didn’t want to sell it because I loved its opening, but that burnt leather aroma repulsed me so much that I sold it. It’s worth noting that I personally hate perfumes with leather; I prefer sweet, citrus, or unisex scents. So if you like leather, this is perfect for you… but even in that case, perfumes like Montblanc Explorer have a much more pleasant fresh leather; I don’t recommend this Gentleman at all.

This was one of my first designer perfumes, and I really loved it. I wore it to a special event that I have very fond memories of. One of the things I like most is the pear note, which doesn’t dissipate over time and stays continuous. In my opinion, it’s an excellent option to start exploring iris fragrances.

You can really tell how the scent evolves over time. I love the opening and heart, but the dry down leaves a powerful leather note that, while not bad, doesn’t quite win me over. When I smell my clothes, I only detect that leather, with no pear or iris left. It’s a great fragrance overall, but this shift from fruity to strong leather is its weak point for me.

They say all the past is better, but not always. At a certain age, I see people emphasizing that to the point of making it their life, just like their parents, yet curiously, that same crowd hates being called ‘old’ or ‘sir’. Plus, they practice permanent complaining: the music is bad, the patio is crowded, the grass isn’t green… Gentleman 2017 is Givenchy’s vision of how a gentleman would wear it today. It’s not a bad fragrance. Although the sweet opening of cardamom, pear, and pineapple isn’t my thing, the blend of iris and lavender gives the leather a subtle, elegant body, adding that masculine touch. Does it compare to the 1974? No, it’s a different kind of gentleman: younger and adapted to current elegance. I don’t fully share that impression, but I understand it. Longevity and projection are acceptable. I advise trying both versions.

Here we have something safe and inoffensive, like ‘record and play’. I bought it for my collection; the Gentleman line is one of my favorites and I own several, but this EDT is my least preferred. What I like most is the opening, which rounds out a delicious fruity leather that quickly settles and softens the slightly sweet iris and patchouli thanks to the vanilla. Everything is in homeopathic doses, very soft, except for the scarce minutes of the opening. The trail and longevity are low; you’ll have to apply a lot. I insist, the longevity rating on Fragrantica groups bad perfumes with regular performers. Three hours isn’t the same as five. This EDT sticks very close to the skin after three hours, and I can’t say its longevity is moderate. It’s rich, safe, and versatile; you can use it almost for any weather or occasion, but I’m not sure if I should have bought it.

Wow! What a beautiful scent. It’s not aggressive, nothing delicate but with that masculine touch. Like a retro aroma but it’s a true gentleman, as its name indicates. That pear and that pineapple give it a unique touch, and that leather makes it masculine. I think it’s a scent for personal taste, a delight for the senses. The pear is felt throughout the journey, but its dry down is glorious.

I must say this perfume was a disappointment at first, but then it wasn’t. I went to a retail store (first mistake) asking for perfumes with a leather accord and they sold me this Gentleman. I tried it and, not knowing the accord well and having more desire than knowledge, I bought it (second mistake). There was the disappointment: it’s not a perfume with leather as the protagonist or noticeable. Rather, the leather note gives it body and is accompanied by vanilla. I started to like it when I stopped seeing it as the leather fragrance (which I knew later was what I was looking for) and began to appreciate its other facets: the ripe, sweet, and watery pear, along with the pineapple, form the opening that sweetens the lavender and that dusty touch of iris. Finally, the sweet and lavender trails fall into the vanilla-leather I mentioned. A whole journey. Despite the density, its longevity goes somewhat against the grain, being scarce.