Givenchy Gentleman (1974)
by Givenchy

Well, it's a great fragrance but just not for me. Unfortunately, not only am I a refugee from Cuba, I am also a refugee from the 60's--and this is a PATCHOULI time warp!
Holy love beads! Anybody score some good acid? Need to listen to Woodstock again . . .

Completely agree that it's a most unusual scent in today's bland acquatic world. Ironically, though it's perceived as 'mature and masculine' TONS of women like to wear this as well. ( psst . . I know, I checked out The Female Fragrance Forum)

What I didn't know is that the new formulation is supposed to have even less of a civet note and MORE patchouli---Yikes!
This review is for the old formula (black and white box with Givenvchy Labels) which can't be that ancient, as I bought and used mine up only last winter.
Anyway, if you want to stand out at a formal event--and lava lamps are not conjured up in your psychedelic mind, this one's for you!

I had the opportunity to sample wear this months ago, but sniffing it from the bottle deterred me from doing just that. I didn't like it and tossed the tiny bottle in my sample box. The mini in question is of the original version.

For some reason ( boredom maybe) I decided to try it yesterday. Since I figured I was going to dislike it, I applied a microscopic amount on my wrist. I remember thinking "How can ALL THAT SMELL come from such a tiny amount"??? An instantaneous assault of patchouli,vetiver and civet that was IMPRESSIVE to say the least and made me say "DAMN!!!' out loud.

These are the 3 notes I get from Gentlemen and as the wearing continued ( I applied more after the first few minutes), it didn't seem to change except to become a bit more subdued ( but not much!!!) and remained linear.

I like it. I actually like it, but this must be applied carefully in small amounts or else you will become accustomed to being by yourself. To those folks having a hard time finding longevity in the scents they own, you will never have that problem with vintage Gentlemen. The newer formulation however is a real snoozer compared to this.

Thumbs up for the stinker.....er...I mean Gentlemen.

I find this to be very powdery and herbal. It doesn't really dry down into something much different, just a little sweeter at the end. Definitely a masculine scent. Personally find this best for formal wear.

The cinnamon-bergamot topnotes don’t scare me off at all, and I particularly like the way the tarragon spikes the opening accord before segueing into the sweet patchouli that follows. After that, I experience Gentleman as a largely conventional woods and patchouli fragrance on a powdery sweet amber foundation. What leather there may be here isn’t terribly assertive, and if there’s any civet in this blend I’m missing it entirely. Carnation surfaces from time to time, but not with the panache it showed in the late and lamented Patou pour Homme.

I’m inclined to believe the rumors that this was once a bolder and more animalic scent. The Gentleman I’ve tried is ever so polite and undistinguished, not the dangerous, if sophisticated, rake I’ve heard described. I might have enjoyed that one’s company, but the new guy’s just a yawn.

Givenchy Gentleman was my introduction to French after shave lotions back in the late 1970s. The metallic label on my current bottle is dented, tattered and scratched from all of the packing and unpacking in my travel bag because it always goes with me. Scents evoke emotions and memories; GG reminds me of my time of personal discovery in the 1970s and I will never let it go.

Hmm. Kind of tricky one. I’d say this is one of those fragrances where amount of application is way above average important. Really, you have to be careful with this one if you don’t want to smell like a cologne-joke to the nose of Mr.PigeonMurderer :)

When sprayed well (1-3 times) it can make a classy and almost an intoxicating scent. Patchouli leaves moisturized with civet predominates, so it has a strong animalic vibe to it. The edge is nicely sliced off by honeyed lemony freshness.

Wonderful longevity.

I don’t think this is a leather fragrance.

I think of an old wooden attic that has somewhere in the room an ancient, long-time ago dried and soaked-in-wood, yet still very detectible; acidy cat pee.

Oddly compelling, ancient and very mature.