Pi by Givenchy
Men 1998
Main accords
Description
Pi by Givenchy is a woody oriental fragrance for men. Launched in 1998, this composition was created by perfumer Alberto Morillas. The top notes unfold with mandarin, tarragon, rosemary, and basil; the heart reveals anise, neroli, geranium, and valley lily (lily of the valley); while the base notes complete the structure with vanilla, almond, tonka bean, benzoin, and cedar.
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The olfactory pyramid
A guide to the opening, heart and lasting trail of the fragrance.
The community speaks
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In the collection
Leading answer I own it
23,105 votes
What do you think?
Leading answer Love it
8,881 votes
Season
Choose severalLeading answer Winter
8,861 votes
Time of day
Choose severalLeading answer Night
5,523 votes
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Fragrance profile
About Pi
Pi by Givenchy is a woody oriental fragrance for men. Launched in 1998, this composition was created by perfumer Alberto Morillas. The top notes unfold with mandarin, tarragon, rosemary, and basil; the heart reveals anise, neroli, geranium, and valley lily (lily of the valley); while the base notes complete the structure with vanilla, almond, tonka bean, benzoin, and cedar.
Green, herbal and fougère Spices Flowers Fruits, vegetables and nuts Resins and balsams Woods and mosses
It may remind you of
Ranked by what the community voted.
More from Givenchy
Related editions
More from Alberto Morillas
How it wears
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Longevity
Leading answer Moderate
3,823 votes
Sillage
Leading answer Moderate
4,095 votes
Character
Leading answer Balanced
2,715 votes
Value perception
Leading answer Fair price
2,287 votes
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Community reviews
40 reviews
Share what you noticed: opening, drydown, sillage and the moments when it works for you.
Another hidden gem I snagged on sale and couldn’t resist. The opening is striking with mandarin and rosemary dominating for about half an hour before yielding to the anise and geranium heart. The base is pure bliss: vanilla, tonka bean, and almonds creating a super creamy effect, a true olfactory journey. Longevity hovers around 6-7 hours, but it’s quite intense; a mysterious, mature scent with charm, perfect for a white or blue shirt, not so much for a tuxedo. Totally worth it and deserves a spot in your collection.
My dad was an addict to perfumes, and everything smelled glorious on him. He wore this for years, and it reminds me of him. He always dressed in a suit and tie; when he’d come home from work or pick me up from school and hug me tight, he smelled like Pi, Fahrenheit, or Carolina Herrera. My dad was the man who smelled the richest; perfumes were part of his essence. Now he has dementia and doesn’t wear cologne anymore, but when I smell this and hug him, I feel like we’re back again. I miss you, pops.
Bitter almond liqueur with vanilla, a 90s classic. It’s a must-have piece you should experience at least once in your life. The current version is intense but has poor longevity, though I highly recommend it and it’s very unisex.
January 2024 batch. It’s incredible; it smells sweet yet clean at the same time. At 34, I doubted I’d like it because it’s a 90s scent, but nothing could be further from the truth; I feel it’s creamy, elegant, and not cloying. I know it’s gone downhill with every reformulation since its launch, but it remains fascinating and worth every penny.
It’s a beast, I used it a few years ago and it’s still a blast.
The scent is fantastic and very rich, but the projection is terrible; after 30 minutes, you can’t smell it unless someone gets really close. It starts citrusy and then becomes increasingly sweet. I think I should try wearing it in more situations. It lasts way too long on the skin (about 8 hours), but I wish it projected more.
A great discovery despite its age. I knew I was playing it safe seeing that the creator is master Alberto Morillas. That sweet opening that ends in vanilla with amaretto thanks to the almonds puts it in a privileged spot in my collection. I don’t know if it’s been reformulated, but I don’t care; I love it. Long live differences and tastes.
It just smells like soap; I expected more. Since it cost me $37, I guess it’s fine to keep as a decoration. And they told me if it’s for women, I shouldn’t recommend it; honestly.
Givenchy Pi, another victim of reformulation. I first smelled it at a small perfumery that had old stock; I even saw the Extreme and Neo versions, but I fell for the regular EDT. When I sprayed it on my hand, I felt one of the best clean, citrusy openings I’ve ever smelled; it had great sillage and lasted through my shower when I got home; it had to be an old batch. Years passed before I bought my bottle. Upon opening it, I smelled the same: an orange-vanilla, soapy opening that dries down to creamy, almond-like vanilla. It’s soft, not cloying, and evolves beautifully; longevity is 9.5/10. Ideal for temperate climates, versatile for day or night. But my bottle is from 2022, launched in 1998, and it smells a bit diluted; obviously, it’s been reformulated several times. It projects for about 90 minutes and then becomes skin-scent only, lasting 6-7 hours (8 if conditions are right). It still has amazing bursts, but no one notices unless they get close. I enjoy wearing it, but I wish it projected more. If there’s another scent in the room, forget about people smelling you. It’s a shame that reformulations destroy this classic. Would I buy it again? No, but it’s a pity that reformulations kill a classic. I’d only recommend it if you can find an old batch, though it’s discontinued and still relatively easy to find.
Tested with two sprays on skin. It’s creamy, sweet, elegant, and perfect for autumn or winter nights. I don’t see it for young people, and it feels more feminine than masculine, though the scent is really good.
I love the anise. That blend of anise, tarragon, vanilla, almond, and benzoin is pure gold.
What a wonderful fragrance, another great classic from Givenchy. I wear it right after a shower for a clean, masculine scent: it starts with a slightly sweetened orange, softened by vanilla but with an acidic touch wrapped in rosemary and basil. After 5-10 minutes, the acidity fades and gives way to a soapy, medicinal vibe alongside the orange (I assume from the tarragon and anise). Then it becomes more linear, highlighting the vanilla, cedar, and tonka, with that clean orange lingering. It’s not sweet or cloying; it’s fresh, clean, fruity, fougère, and sweet all at once. It’s a classic masculine scent but not heavy or old-fashioned; it was ahead of its time when clean aquatic notes with lavender, sea, vetiver, and rosemary were ruling. This has a sexy, sensual air without losing its cleanliness, warm yet fresh—ideal for a well-dressed night date. It’s for men with personality, 35 and up, and you won’t go unnoticed. It’s not overpowering; a couple of sprays won’t fill the room, just enough potency to be noticed up close without invading. It invites people to get closer, it’s pleasant, close, and performs well. Lasts about 5 hours on average with batches from 2025/24/23. Try it even if you don’t like classics because this breaks the mold. Aroma: 8.5/10 Longevity: 6.8/10 Sillage: 6.5/10 Versatility: 7.0/10 Compliments: 7.8/10 Originality: 8.8/10 (for its time) Rarity: 5.5/10 Average: 7.27
I tried this and fell in love at the first spray with that delicious, sweet vanilla, though I’m not sure if I like it or just enjoy it in the perfumery without wearing it. When I wear it, it smells incredible, but after 10 minutes it stops being so rewarding and becomes boring. The vanilla is wonderful until it dries down, then you notice the almond, tonka, and especially the benzoin mixed with anise, which gives it a special touch. The longevity isn’t very good, obviously, due to how much it’s been reformulated, like many art pieces. I love Givenchy perfumes and this was the first one I tried, but I wouldn’t buy it due to the short longevity and because I don’t identify with it 100%; no matter how much I like the opening, I don’t feel it’s ‘mine’.
Beautiful. Vanilla and almonds, it leaves a mark and brings back memories of past times.
That blend of tonka, vanilla, and almond makes it super comforting and addictive, plus it’s long-lasting. I see it as unisex; I wear it with a white shirt and it smells very much like Boucheron.
It’s sweet, but not cloying, very refined and very well executed😎
No longer worth it. Neither longevity nor sillage; they’ve ruined it.
I have a 2020 batch, it’s delicious, creamy, sweet, subtle, clean, and timeless. It smells unique. By the way, it’s the signature perfume of the all-powerful CR7.
Very rich, it reminds me a lot of Xerjoff’s Starlight…
Sweet, it evolves for hours, but for some it lacks depth. However, it has its followers.
This was my first real perfume, with no prior experience and a poorly developed sense of smell. Now I have a decent collection and a very refined nose. If you don’t like sweet scents, it’s not worth it, but if you do, it’s a gem. On my skin, it lasts over 8 hours; at arm’s length, it projects for 3-4 hours, and my father asks me about it from the other room. It works well on skin and clothes with 5-6 sprays. It’s sweet and soft, the epitome of unisex, and it makes everyone fall in love. I bought it with my girlfriend because we both loved it; I wouldn’t mind smelling it on her. If you’re a passionate and bold man, this is THE option, something no one uses today. It’s the only one in my collection that smells so good I don’t hesitate to wear it; it’s exclusive, perfect for standing out like Cristiano Ronaldo on a Madrid bus.
It smells like pure coumarin to me. I used to like it, but testing it today resulted in a disaster. The coumarin and bitter almond notes are too prominent, ugh, it’s bad.
There are people who would kill for this level of sweetness. I used it a while ago; it’s rich, but it makes me feel sick, so I gifted it to a friend who considers it the best. It’s creamy, very sweet, vanilla-infused, oriental, seductive, perfect for nights and special occasions.
Very elegant and beautiful, just received, this is the 2024 version. I’m not sure if the original smelled better, but it was definitely more potent; this one is powerful but mellows out. It lasts 5-6 hours on clothes and 8-10 on skin. My nose places it between The Dreamer, Le Male, and Gaultier 2. It has a floral, herbal, and amber vibe. It opens with tangerine, rosemary, and basil; settles into neroli and anise for most of the wear, and closes with vanilla, tonka bean, and a touch of almond. I recommend it for autumn (right now it’s spring-summer in northern Mexico with 40-degree heat, and I think it would flow better in autumn).
Another masterpiece by Alberto Morillas, created in 1998. In the early 2000s, I had the luck to use it, and it was love at first sniff. It’s revolutionary, ahead of its time, fresh yet intense, where the power of the woody notes clashes with the sensuality of benzoin. At the start, you get tangerine, pine needle, and basil, followed by anise and floral touches. It evolves by darkening, becoming creamy with the vanilla-infused almond that defines its DNA, transforming it from citrus-floral to gourmand. The cedar base adds elegance and maturity. Ideal for autumn and winter, unisex with a slight masculine lean. Before, it was overwhelming, perfect for clubs; today, longevity and projection are moderate, and current batches are a summary of what they used to be.
Anyone who knew Givenchy’s Pi from 1998 knows it has nothing to do with the current version. The original formula was powerful, almost invasive, but incredibly seductive: warm, sweet, enveloping, with character, and impossible to ignore. The modern reformulation diluted all that specialness. Today, it barely projects, doesn’t last on skin, and lost the intensity that made it unmistakable. I remember wearing it at night and people asking what I was wearing; it sparked desire and curiosity, it was loved by many but not everyone dared to try it. Its launch was polarizing, which made it interesting. In an era of light scents, Pi broke the mold with a bold, oriental proposal, anticipating gourmand before it became popular. I don’t recall another fragrance that integrated almond so elegantly and prominently. It was a pioneer and left a mark. Unfortunately, an icon of the 90s has been reduced to a shadow. What a pity, because Pi didn’t just smell different; it made you feel different.
Smells like play-doh.
It smells rich, sweet, and soft, but there are two downsides: I’m not sure what gender it’s for; in my opinion, it smells unisex, and in the dry-down, it smells more like moisturizing cream than perfume.
I bought it two hours ago, and it’s been on my skin for two hours. At first, it smells like soap or shampoo, something I’ve heard before, which doesn’t make it interesting. However, as it dries down, vanilla, almond, and tonka bean take over, leaving a sweet and pleasant aroma. I consider it totally versatile, unisex leaning slightly feminine. Longevity and projection are moderate. The scent is soapy at the start and sweet-resinous in the dry-down. Would I buy it again? No.
It smells very delicious, but I must say that even though I like sweet scents, this leans unisex but is more focused on the feminine side. When I bought it, I thought it smelled great, and my girlfriend reacted the same way; in the end, I left it to her because, even though it smells good on me, I don’t see it fitting on me, and she agreed: great scent, but not something I’d see on a man. It feels floral, vanilla-infused, and in a certain way, radiates elegance.