Reviews of Givenchy Gentleman (1974)
by Givenchy

Givenchy Gentleman

Gentleman seems such an out-dated word in the 21st century. I don't think it carries the same significance it used to. When the word gentleman was used back in 1974 when Paul Leger designed Givenchy Gentleman it connoted a sense of style and carriage. Which is just what the fragrance Givenchy Gentleman does, too. Gentleman starts with an herbal top of tarragon cut very slightly with cinnamon. The tarragon is the star of the show in the first act and the sharp herbal quality is quite nice. The cinnamon really is difficult to pick up and it is really only there in a very minor role. The heart is an earthy patchouli along with a slightly smoky vetiver. M. Leger gets the balance right as the patchouli never becomes too pronounced and the vetiver adds a contrasting bite. The base of this is an animalic scent lover's dream as civet and leather take this into the dark. The raw mix of these two notes are again delicately balanced and they both blend beautifully. The five notes in Gentleman are nothing new but in the hands of M. Leger they prove to be a well-composed piece of fragrance construction. Givenchy Gentleman has slightly below average longevity and above average sillage. I might wonder if we know how to use the word gentleman properly anymore but I definitely know what one smells like, now.

I've heard there's been a big change in the reformulation, so I should note that this review is for the current version.

The top notes of GG are almost coyly misleading - a bright, tangy-sweet, powdery lemon note dominates. If you've had those lemon drops with the tart powder inside, you'll know the effect. As the top notes wear off, however there is a distinct upwelling of exceedingly skanky, animalic patchouli, vetiver, and civet; very loud and almost "hot" in a bestial way. I find patchouli often gives me an uncomfortably unclean feeling, and GG lays on that sweaty patchouli with a trowel.

I like animalic fragrances, but this was too much for me, and I wound up trading my blind-bought bottle away. None the less, reformulation or not, this is very good, very bold, and unique.

After rolling my eyes at the oft-offered Pi Neo, I grabbed GG and gave my arm a spritz, the bright invigorating opening notes taking off like a citrus-scented rocket. A few minutes later the notes glided down smoothly to fine powdery woodsy notes reminiscent of Azzaro pour Homme's own amazing drydown. I had expected to sense an outdated miasma around a scent launched in 1974 but there was none. I think GG has been reformulated to give it a more updated feel but thankfully it retains enough of its vintage charm to remain a classic gentleman's fragrance.

When one has over 80+ scents and equal number of samples and minis, we would tend to forget some of those gems which gets obsured in between niche/cliche? i guess, it has to do with the kind of weather we have today in Bombay.. it's been raining heavily since yesterday..overcast weather with cool wind. in all, it's been a beautiful day and a pleasant climate. on day like this, i chose to wear my favorite, Givenchy Gentleman.
Opening accord demonstrates "scent dynamics" only seen in scents like Patou Ph, Habit Rouge EDC et al.... damp note of patchouli wrapped in wormwood (think Ungaro I) with mild wouch of spices. the combination on Patchouli+Wormwood is overwhelming to the extent, it's so realistic that one could touch it olfactorily. Touch of spices adds a hint of sweetness and the scent progresses into a "heavenly blend" of patchouli, woody accords & civet. one aspect which i absoultey adore about this scent is - all the way to the mids, Patchouli is covered by this distinct note of camphor/napthalene?...gives it a smoky, white, cool feel. This phase is simply divine, it lasts for nearly 3+ hours..after which, GG relaxes into a soft halo of patchouli, woods and aN irreplaceble accord of supple, saddle leather
what stands out is the master blend and the quality of ingredients. outside niche/clichedom, this would be one of those rare offerigns which such an explicit use of Patchouli and wormwood..with the kind of blend we experience in scents like Patou Ph, PDN New York, Guerlain Habit Rouge et al... i know this has been reviwed over 100 times on BN..but just cudnt resist posting about it one more time..
I have read the Vintage version is even better..im so curious to get my hands on that one too..Xmen..here i come :)

Rather than waste everyone's time writing a long review about a formulation that no longer exists, let me just get this out of the way: yes, I've worn the vintage GG, and no, the new formulation is not as good as the vintage version, I know. That being out of the way, the new GG deserves to be reviewed on its own merits, and I'm happy to say that it is a very good fragrance. Formerly a woody oriental, the new GG is now more of a woody chypre, and It is a rather linear scent, not veering too far away from it's patchouli core. The woody notes really take a backseat to the patchouli here, and if it's a mildly spicy and formal patchouli scent you want, look no further. Patchouli fragrances are often either rich and heavy, or earthy and dirty - the new GG is clean and smooth, but the patchouli is still very much in the forefront and providing some nice mild spiciness. This is not headshop patchouli, this is more of a "club" scent for a mature man. What I like better about the new GG is the fact that it's not weighed down with amber and civet, and is therefore light enough to wear all year round. I've been wearing this all this summer (I'm wearing it as I write this in August), enjoying it the whole time, and I look forward to wearing it for the fall and winter. Perhaps Givenchy should have given this fragrance a different name, since there is very little resemblance to the vintage Givenchy Gentleman. It's almost a completely different fragrance, but a very good one at that.

This is one powerhouse powdery leather scent. This greatly reminds me of the smell of oriental "Red Packets" that I receive during Chinese New Year. I am still having a hard time detecting the vetiver. You would want to be careful with applying Gentleman, the sweetness can get overbearing. Remains one of my favorite formal scents.

The opening is a little too wet and dirty, but the drydown is stunning.

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.

Am I wrong when I say that perfume companies do not make scents like this any more? I mean... this thing is something else. Where I live, people tend not to give comments on how do you smell, weather you are smelling good or bad. But this is one of those rare scents that generates comments. And they are all positive, coming from both sexes. The Russian leather note in Gentleman is at the same time elegant, decadent and distinctive enough so that you instantly feel like one. I hope they never stop producing this scent. It is one of my signature scents from the moment I tried it. Big thumbs up.

This schent reminds me of my Father: world adventurer, fiancier, post WWII generation. Sophisticated in an old school type of way.

I would have to vote this as my favourite fragrance of all time. I cannot understand those who feel it is for older people. The patchouli is devine and the most prominent note throughout, however the leather and tarragon are close at its heels. Longevity fantastic. I know this is predominantly a male fragrance, but I do wear my husbands stock at any opportunity. I defie anyone not to feel sexy smelling this on their spouse. The patchouli does induce a calm, tranquil mood for me, followed closely by an intense desire to rip the wearers clothes off!! I do refine this symptom to my husband though!! Thumbs way up.

This smells to me like a more refined (read: more polite) version of Kouros. The civet pops to the forefront when first applied but recedes behind the leather and vetiver shortly. I actually like the civet in this context; it provokes but doesn't stick around for a long time. Lovely and powerful.

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.

A delightfully crisp and elegant production that sadly neglected to hang around very long. Very rich and floral from the opening it does settle quickly into something polished and masculine. The Patchouli and Vetiver give this a glorious, if brief drydown. I wore this in cold weather, and it lasted as long as a suicidal Mayfly. Had I been able to gain some quality time with it, no doubt I would have given this two thumbs up. Based solely on it's quality, it is superb and worthy of the name "Gentleman".

This reminds on some old granny & granpa apartment. On some old tik...-tak....tik....-tak clock, on some old
woden closets and chairs.... old .. old ... old...
This would be scent for some grany/granpa, or for someone who is always home and don't go out at all.
U must test this before you buy.

A classic, elegant chypre, with a patchouli dominant heart and a mossy base with a hint of leather. I get a bit of tarragon in the opening, which makes it interesting. I don’t detect any civet at all. A well executed masculine worthy of consideration.

I get a strong vetiver scent on first application, and although I love certain vetivers this can be surprising if your not prepared for it. The dry down is much more pleasing for me although the patchouli tends to be stronger at first. Much preferred for evening wear, but can be used during winter months as well.

I find Givenchy Gentleman to be complex and distinctively unique. This fragrance takes some getting used to but definitely rewarding.

This is a very powerful and complex fragrance. I am a newbie and bought this solely based on reviews here on Basenotes. Man what a wonderful product! The first day I got it, I was kinda shocked by the 'weird' smell as I was used to sweet/refresh generic fragrances from Macy's. After a few weeks, now I am totally hooked by it. It touches the emotions like no other. In late night when I working on computer and surfing the net, I kept sniffing it on my wrist and couldn't get enough of it. I really is a classic.

I don't have all the terminologies -- it has a uplifted tobacco hint, a very pleasant and intoxicate one. After a while it fads into a clean Guerlain Vetiver smell but with much more texture and layers. Very warm hearted feeling.

Two thumbs WAY UP!!!

This is an elegantly masculine fragrance. The masterful blend of patchouli, vetiver and Russian leather produce a scent unlike any other. The dry down is incredibly gorgeous. Whenever I wear this, I receive positive comments and feel sophisticated. It has great longevity and a wonderful sillage. This is one of my favorite fragrances of all time.

A winner....from A to Z.

Givenchy Gentelman is all in one bottle. Classic and modern times are sitted in the same table. Versatile, confortable and luxurious fragance.....About 50 usd a bottle. Feels like? 1 million dollars.
Chapeau Givenchy!

I am impressed. This is elegant and classy. Moreover, as a woman Chypre lover, I would wear it. What a lovely, well-balanced blend of spices and woods. Such finely tempered animalics. Gorgeous, subtle use of patchouli. Nice dry version of vetiver. Altogether, Givenchy Gentleman smells much greater than the sum of its parts. I can sympathize if some people think this stinks. Those same people probably think Yatagan stinks, too, so I forgive them. This is strange, yes, and alluring, and unique. It's not an everyday type of fragrance, but it definitely makes a statement--retro, bold, daring.

Very much an "Old School" men's fragrance, at least the stuff I have. It appears maybe the "new" Gentleman is toned down....the bottle I have is lusty stuff. If you've seen that Weatherman movie, set in the 70's, where the main character opens his "cologne cabinet" and talks about the cologne with the animalistic scent, you have a good idea what the Old Gentleman smells like.

this stuff starts strong, with heavy patchouly with a civet spike, huge sillage on the top notes, and its' certainly going to be scary for those who are used to fresh aquatics. But give this stuff an hour or so, and you'll find a great deal of complexity comes forward...leather, spice and some herbal notes as well as the background of woods.

I'm sure this is not everyone's cuppa, but there's nothing else like it, to me, and I enjoy wearing this in cooler weather, and maybe as more of an evening, more "formalish" scent...though I've been known to wear it around the house in the evening, hanging out in my robe and slippers and reading on the couch!

I find mrclmind's review spot on about Gentleman as to notes and overall composition and development. A word about the mysterious Paul Léger, a perfumer for Firmenich, to whose nose this scent is attributed. As far as I have ever been able to ascertain, he is only otherwise cited as a collaborator with Roger Pellegrino, Raymond Chaillan, and Robert Gonnon in the creation of Cacharel Anaïs Anaïs. Gentleman has a hint of chocolate and smoky woods in the beginning, both charming and elegant; the base is more old-school, not very fresh or modern, which some people consider a bit "old" or dated. But Gentleman remains a great classic chypre, not much worn any more, and so perhaps interesting for those who would seek a touch of class and originality for their urban dandy man-of-the world wardrobe of scents.

Gentleman is unquestionably the finest of Givenchy's male offerings, and the most traditionally and classically masculine as well, which I appreciate. Certainly, they have produced nothing else worthwhile for men; just look at the modern offerings: Xeryus Rouge, the abhorrently cloying Pi, Very Irresistible, the new Play, etc. I have not found an accurate listing of the notes in Gentleman, as they all vary on websites, but we can be sure that it contains some citrus up top with tarragon and cinnamon, heart notes of patchouli and vetiver, and a base with honey, moss, leather, civet and possibly some vanilla. It is not rugged because of the leather and civet, despite what some say. In fact, it is very refined and polished despite its potency and strength, and suited for mature gentlemen. The longevity is fairly decent; 1 to 2 sprays lasts around 8 hours on me. As I said before, a classic and truly beautiful men's fragrance, and the only one worth exploring from Givenchy.

A classic woody chypre. Bergamot top, patchouli heart and amber/moss base. It doesn't get more classic than this.
Along with the bergamot, the top notes have a honeyed rose hue to them with a hint of lemon; in the heart, there is an ever so slight jasmine/orris accord overlaying the patchouli with a reserved vetiver/cedar accord giving it it's woody brace. The drydown does show some leather components but there is a sweet mossiness to it that doesn't take it into a pure leather accord. The whole scent has a discreet musk backdrop that adds an extra bit of understated sensuality.

A fine eau de toilette indeed! I find it to be versatile, and not at all dated.

On my skin Gentleman begins with a blast of bergamot, which was almost enough to put me off. It is harsh, lasts for about twenty minutes, and completely overwhelms everything but the tarragon. Don’t leave the house until this calms down, or you will assault anyone you have to sit beside.

Once the bergamot dissipates, an accord of tarragon, cinnamon, and patchouli comes to the fore, and from this point onwards Gentleman behaves like a gentleman. This accord is warm and engaging, and there is nothing about this Gentleman to frighten the ladies or small children.

Within an hour Gentleman develops a calm and comfortable accord of sweet amber, honey, fine leather, and old timber, and this lasts for between eight and ten hours on me. In its latter stages Gentleman has an air of timelessness about it: when you smell this good you really don’t have to concern yourself with what happens next. If you feel as if you are in the wrong time and place, then Gentleman might be the right fragrance to show you that time and place are a cultural studies and marketing illusion.

I don’t understand why anyone says that this fragrance is dated. The Gentleman I remember my Dad’s generation wearing in the 70s was a beast that could cut through cigarette smoke and sweat on nylon shirts. Gentleman was one of the things that gave the 70s some style. Today, Gentleman is largely a mild mannered masculine fragrance that stands as one of the bastions against metrosexual marine creature scents.

Enjoy being a Gentleman who can wear Gentleman no matter what the time or place.

Whoowhee this stuff stinks! It's that enchanting musk of old man. Not just any old man either. It's the scent of a millionaire that doesn't care. This is leather that's been used. This is actually most interesting and amazing. Again, this is stinky! Strong! Potent!

Yann Vasnier says of his creation L'Homme Sage that he called it L'Homme Sage because a wise man knows how to control his craziness. I like L'Homme Sage very much but it doesn't strike me as crazy. The idea seems apt of Gentleman, though.
It reminds me of a guy I knew in high school. Brilliant guy, not at all a sociopath to be clear, a kind and loyal friend. But almost entirely without physical fear, constantly seeking the ragged edge of destruction in whatever situation, in this cool, speculative, hmmm-bet-that-can-be-done sort of way: climbing out onto the luggage rack at highway speed, dangling from a cliff on an otherwise calm hike. He went on to become a Navy Seal for a time. So he was a great guy but there was always this good natured wildness behind the eyes that was not at all an affectation but just a bit of wiring that got assembled differently. The civet in Gentleman strikes me that way, and I like it.

There is no doubt that Givenchy Gentleman has been reformulated and that there is a significant difference between the old and the new formulae. To my nose, something has been lost in the new formulation and something has been gained.
What has been lost is the sparkling brilliancy of its opening notes (which were some of the most beautiful in perfumery). The opening notes of the new Gentleman formula are, in comparison, rather drab, toned down, and synthetic, not exactly a yawn, but hardly an invitation to poetry and magic. What has been gained is that that beautiful opening is no longer followed by the pungent aroma of civet which loomed large in the old formula and which I always found a trial rather than a pleasure. Instead, the new formula concentrates on a lingering fusion of woods and patchouli.
The old and the new formula really do seem to me to be two different scents - but there is a thread of identity between them. You would not, I think, mistake the new one for anything else.

This perfume scares the hell out of you for the first 5 minutes. It is too strong and beastly. But after a few minutes you get a good payoff, and a lovely combination of Patchouli and vetiver stands out, with a touch of leather. It is a sophisticated perfume, very manly, classic and conservative. Not for the young boys.

Hairy chested, grunting testosterone monster all dressed up in patchouli and a $500 cravat. A must have gem for any patchouli lover, yes, but try if you can to get the vintage juice (silver label, cheap looking bottle with silver lid). The new stuff has been tamed down and diluted for the hoi polloi, and (while nice enough) is a pale reflection of the hairy beast its predecessor was. Lots of civet in the old, so civet foes be forewarned.

Easily one of the best juices of the past centuries.

It took me about 4 weeks(!) to like Gentleman. I knew from beginning on that I have found something very,very special. The patchouli topnote is brutal at first and I got extreme headache at first(also due to an accidental first overdose´). After 1 hour the patchouli became more mellow and the vetivier and leathery notes slowly became more dominant in a perfect, perfect, very perfect mixture.
A very masculine, complexe scent which gets better and better and better. I prefer to use the after shave which is a little better for everyday wear and the patchouli start is not so intense.
Now after using it for 3 months I am in love with that scent, I get a lot of good feedback and it is now my favourite winter after shave.This smell separates the boys from the men- do not try it when you are under 35! And do not give up after the first try-you will get rewarded-Gentleman is a brilliant and unconventional scent!!!

A great discovery. When I ordered this fragrance I was a bit concerned that it would be too heavy, unwearable. However, I do not find that to be the case at all. I love the patchouli opening. This is the perfect scent for a night out on the town. Stylish, classy. Just don't tell the rest...

Wow...for the first 15 minutes of this perfume, I get a LOT of patchouli and vetiver.

Then, in it's drydown, it become significantly softer, warmer, smoother and spicier.

I have always liked the smell of patchouli, but most patchouli perfumes, single-note or otherwise, are too strong on the stuff.

Sure, thhis starts out a bit strong on the patchouli, but warms down to somethinh much nicer.

I like it. Ok, I really like it, but I don't absolutely love it.

Very nice stuff - be careful on the applications - can know people out!

Definitely modern but classic, absolutely anti commercial (it almost stinks within 15 minutes untill it warms on your skin), this eau de toilette is completely gorgeous : masculine, woody, spicy and soooooo chic(if you like patchouli) ! A real must have !

I rarely wear this anymore, but for a long, late night party, this is a great fragrance

The fragrance on this one is taking me a while to get used to. Was a blind buy based on all the great reviews it got. Personally I don't like the smell when you first spray it on, seems overly strong and smells weird. After I let it sit for a while it starts to smell good. Very masculine smell and lasts a long time.

Hubert de Givenchy one of the great , distuinguished and elegant couturiers of all times-have you ever seen what he did for his muse Audrey Hepburn?Okay and his edt reflects all this: classy, elegant, superbe, sublime and sophisticated.It will last forever-another outstanding and intelligent svent for the hall of fame!These were still the times when people were still able to think -launching interesting perfumes you would recognize among thousands because they had class and were unique!And Givenchy for men is a gebntlemen´s cologne-really a great work by Monsieur de Givenchy!!!Yo will never and ever forget this perfume-not like the trash of 2006......

An accidental find...after spending an hour at the counter and not being able to find anything decent, the bored sales man brought this out and it stood out and above the croud...wow! Now thats something different and interesting, I thought.
Unfortunately my wife and none of the people around me like it at all. And after a while, for some reason it has started giving me a headache, although I still like it and don't mind annoying the crowd around me.

Some fragrances I love from the moment I fist put them on, where as with others it takes me a bit of time to get my head wrapped around them. Gentleman is very definitely a fragrance which took me some time. Some others have commented that it smells of urine. Yes, I can see that, but only for about the first 15 minutes or so. Gentleman, in my experience anyway, does not make a good first impression, but once you get past the first 15 minutes or so it turns into one of the most pleasingly masculine fragrances I’ve ever used. For me it is more of a daytime fragrance, great for the office, but it would also be acceptable as an evening fragrance.

A reviewer here suggested wearing this one for three days straight. This I’ve done, and I must say I’m a real convert. Civet, leather and patchouli, done as a beautiful homage to a by-gone era (even in 1974), and masculine in a way that many modern scents could not conceive. But a small amount of this goes a long way, and whereas with many modern scents one can spray and spray to little discernible effect, with this more than one spray can have you smelling dandified in a way that modern women would not find attractive—and hey, they probably wouldn’t even have found attractive in 1974. But this fragrance is evocative of style and substance and in small doses is probably a better choice now than it would have been in, say, 1980. Because whereas 25 years ago it might have evoked images of bling-riddled Eurotrash cruising Monte Carlo, it now brilliantly offsets the modern tendency toward weak “office” fragrances that are so bland, inoffensive and forgettable.

I am a lover of patchouli so I may be biased but I am a fan of this gorgeous scent. I only wear it in winter though because I find it a little too strong for my taste in sumer months. It is very long lasting ; very noticeable without hammering people in the head. The leather note is particularly strong with my body chemistry. A very bold and masculine scent.

Why can't they bring this one back. It is a real crime that it has been discontinued. I remember wearing this one as a teenager a long time ago and it was definitely a favourit of mine. A real classic. Bring it back!!!
benb

I noticed this fragrance was a favourite of Ozwald Boateng. I thought I'd give it a try to see why. A very sophisticated smell that changes throughout the course of wearing it, perhaps not the typical scent a 20 year old would wear, but I'm enjoying it. Very masculine, I think this style of fragrance is enjoying a revival from younger wearers.

Why does Ozwald like this so much? Well he's actually creative director at Givenchy...

Very refined fragrance with leather notes.

I'm a huge fan of Givenchy, and I bought this one sight unseen ( and without having smelled it ) based upon reviews here, and upon my obsession with civet based scents. My initial impression was not that good - I was smelling it directly from the sprayer and not on my skin and it absolutely REEKED of patchouli. However, after a light spray on my skin, this magnificent fragrance opened up and fully revealed itself. Warm and rather like honey at times, with the hint of leather and civet coming and going. Thoroughly masculine and quite long lasting but not overbearing. Not too easy to find in my neck of the woods, but I got a great deal on a bottle through a mail order service. This is a new favorite.

I love this stuff, perfectly avant garde. An incredible blend of leather, cinnamon, civet and patchouli. Better than the Bond (HOT Always) copy...but not as powerful. A classic.

Because the scent is so heady and because the patchouli (and some would say the civet) is so recognizable, Givenchy Gentleman seems to be all about patchouli, but it isn’t. True, the patchouli dominates, but backing up that domination is a beautifully rounded and balanced support cast, which makes this a fine quality, multidimensional fragrance. The tarragon, cinnamon, rose, and leather give depth, character, and mellowness to the patchouli (which is rather thin by itself), while the citrus, honey, and cedar add the needed sparkle. It is a high quality scent but it should be approached with care because the healthy doses of patchouli and civet might be off putting to some.

Givenchy Gentleman is without doubt an absolute classic. I love this; unashamedly masculine and though a 70's fragrance: strangely nostalgic, rather like conjuring a Pullman carriage from the air around you. We shouldn't forget that this was also the era of various revivals: velvet Victoriana, flapper dresses, 30's gangster chic and fantasy world medievalism. Though like a viscose frock coat, purple “Edwardian” suit or Robert Plant in the Song Remains The Same it's not really like anything from the past, Gentleman was an conscious anachronism, it was meant to evoke the past at its creation – to criticise its lack of modernity seems to entirely miss the point. As far as its machismo goes, whereas Kouros is a Greek Warrior coming back from sea and doing something inexcusable with a slave, Gentleman is a vital well-groomed rake taking a fine filly for a spin in the Aston Martin International and telling tales of daring do in the Hindu Kush. Surely everyone must find it at least endearing as the slightly harsh but exhilarating roar of the herb and spice top notes settles down into a warm throb of patchouli before heading of into a calf smooth leather sunset, keeping that hint of civet to keep the ladies excited. First Class!

This is my Dad's signature scent and I love it. It is kinda stuffy and conservative/country club, but it works for him. Never smelt like urine to me, always a very clean scent

I am 23 and love this, I don't get it with all the Negative reviews, this stuff is really smells nice and manly, its a break from all the fresh sweet fragrances of today.

Wow, this is not boring stuff. On me it goes from soapy/honey notes to civet and leather. This is a very refined fragrance that I can only pull off in a theatre/opera type environment.

A CLASSIC.... if you wanna smell like a millionaire in wallstreet carryin an alligator skin briefcase...then this is for you...

I really like Gentleman. I also like patchouli with some restraint. Patchouli reminds me of that old He-Man figure "Moss Man." I think Gentleman is mainly appreciated by a particular generation or two right now. To my generation Y nose, it smells like what I imagined (pardon the repetition) a gentlemen smelled like when I was younger. When I do the math, that makes sense. I grew up in the 80's and all the distiguished men I met were probably still wearing this from their 70's party days.
Anyways, Gentleman smells pungent, herby, deep, and leatherey to me. I love it, though the first 10 minutes can be a bit too "Eau de Deep Woods Off." Givenchy Gentleman demands a wearer with experience, confidence, carriage, and a fine cashmere scarf to rub off on.

Regardless of my personal taste, this fragrance is one of the greatest ever created. This along with monsieur givenchy are the highlights of givenchy company. This is a classic formal cologne that is never heavy. Its name gentleman could not be more appropritate. I just simply can not understand how anyone could dislike this.

This is another one of those manly-man fragrances that always makes me look to see who is wearing it. A real attention getter (in a positive way), not meant for the timid or shy.

Patchouli is the dominant scent...Taos and Santa Fe, New Mexico and the hippies from the East come to mind here (hmmm they didn't take baths though).Anyhow, this is a great scent and I recommend wearing it three days straight with a shower each day and a change of clothes too!
A mans scent yet I know women who wear this.

A sophisticated blend of patchouli, leather and spice. Not very subtle, but very masculine and alluring. The patchouli comes of very strong at first but quickly recedes into the blend so don't be too alarmed. Reminds me a bit of Bond No. 9 HOT Always. A classic no lover of strong masculine fragrances should be without.

Wow! This scent is a truly heady and sophisticated classic that should be in any man's scent library. The patchouli and leather notes blend almost magically to create an aura of confidence and sensuality. A certain time-honored classic.