Givenchy III (1970)
by Givenchy

Grown up delicious refined dry truly like a breath of the mediterannean in a Parisian Boulevard. I would give my right arm or this to be back in production in it's original formulation

3rd December, 2011. (Last Edited: 18th December, 2011.)

Given the sheer quality produced by Givenchy III, it would seem rather churlish to categorise it as being gender specific. Frankly, anything or anyone subjected to a misting of this will smell beautiful.

From the outset it is lightly aldehydic, blossom sweet and as crisply green as a freshly snapped flower stem. It does have an undercurrent of light soapiness, but it is in no way intrusive, more like the vestiges of a previous ablution. Performing consistently with balance and poise, the vintage version has the added bonus of being long-lived and projecting generously.

It’s a masterpiece, but behaves as though it were commonplace to be this good.

11th April, 2011.

My grandmother was wearing Givenchy III, even in her eighties - what has nothing dissuading for me, since she was an elegant and self-assured person, and in fact, after her death, I "inherited" the perfume from her and really liked it, even if, at that time, I was maybe a little too young for its slightly austere elegance.
Subsequently I have been missing it in the perfumer's shops, and it is difficult to find comparable fragrances as fresh and sophisticated. So I am pleased to hear there is a re-issue. I will try and recover somewhere the scent...

25th March, 2011.

Very smooth and balanced, no notes leap out of the composition, though the florals in the heart definitely tend toward white -- definitely jasmine and lily of the valley. Not a strong fragrance and without overt silage, but it puts an ambience around the wear that is crisp, impeccable and rather unapproachable. Comes off very clean at first, but some moss and indolic quality of the jasmine contradict the first impression.

9th April, 2010.

I loved the first brief top notes of this, all aldehyde and bubbling freshness. It reminded me of Chanel 5. After a few minutes, though, I get a dirty-sweet aggressive flower, that I'm not sure I like. I do get bergamot, but not enough for my liking. Poor longevity on me.

I tried the re-issue, which the salesgirl insisted was the same as the original EDP, but I don't believe her. They changed the Indecence with the Mythic re-release too.

7th April, 2010.

I was lucky enough to pick up a small bottle of original Givenchy III parfum on eBay for not a lot of money, so I was very smily indeed that day!

The superficial similarity to Miss Dior is obvious, but on me Miss Dior develops a sweetness which is not apparent on others, but Givenchy III stays true to its woody and dry base even 12 hours after application. Alongside the woodiness is a roundedness and a whiff of warm earth and not an ounce of dischord. This has to rate as one of the most wonderful things I've ever smelled, on me or anyone else.

I know that at some point I'll run out of this little bottle of gold and will have to instead buy the reformulated version, but I'm not looking forward to it considering others' opinions.

20th December, 2009.