Reviews of Givenchy Gentleman (1974)
by Givenchy

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 base. What leather there may be 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.

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!

First let me say that in my quiet contemplative moments I have to admit that I love Givenchy Gentleman. Second let me say that in my public persona, I am deeply concerned about even possibly wearing Givenchy Gentleman. This is a very potent fragrance, with a very upfront patchouli that really carries. I might consider wearing this in private, or in public after about five hours of development. I couldn't, however, put this on before dressing for work and expect that anyone would sit next to me on the comuter train with anything short of the disdain one might have for a fellow traveller smelling of insecticide or mothballs (not that this smells like either, that's not the point). My concern about being a NYC commuter and wearing this is based upon a true test application. When I was testing GG I sprayed some one evening before going to my 7:08 Express, the last express out of NYC on my line. A fellow commuter sitting on the other side of the train obviously noticed the GG, made a pronounced sniffing sound and gave me a look that was not subject to misinterpretation. That look said, "your stink is making it hard for me to concentrated on my laptop, you 'idiot'." I conclude that the public no longer accepts or understands these kinds of uber-masculine scents. We have to face that fact, and admire it in the privacy of our own domains. But that's not really what I buy fragrances for......... If it didn't smell so damnably fabulous, I would give it an unreserved thumbs down; but it smells so good! This would go very well with a sharply cut Savile Row suit, and hand made gloves-- the kind of things we hardly ever see anymore. To me the image of Dean Acheson comes up when I smell this. He was the last great Democrat bureaucrat. A liberal cold warrior from the late 40s and early 50s Acheson was a great dresser, but perhaps he pushed the envelope a bit with his obvious style. He had a dramatic face and sported a small slightly turned up moustache. GG would have been perfect for him in those early Truman years....

First, I was quite uninterested by the combination of minimal citrus opening, paired with a strong leathery drydown. I mean, I love leathery scents and I have great respect for Givenchy, but I expected more from a leathery creation. But...I discovered an undisclosed smoothness, a certain almost unexplained refinement in it. The fascination for this scent was love at many, almost countless sights, which didn't start right away for me, but rather it took time, re-testing and reapplying on repeated occasions. And suddenly, I was smitten by the animalic background, which has both a dirty, bad-boy side as well as dose of intoxicating, wasteful, indulgent luxuriousness about it. Strangely, both ( and apprently conflicting ) opinions i frequently read about this scent in other reviews seem to be confirmed to me- without any dissonance, I can smell in it both the clean-cut, even slightly overdressed Wall-Street millionaire as well as the rebellious hippie with a greater passion for incense and exotic essences rather than hygiene, by the plain means of soap and water ( I know both statements sound a bit like prejudice, but I guess this scent takes the liberty to play around a bit with our most common misconceptions, without however being too experimental, but rather remaining a conservative above these controversies ). I guess i was at first put off by the base notes of this scent, which at firts bothered me not as much trough their harsheness, by their in-your-face display of almost juggernautish manhood, but a first impression of- yes, it was a superficial opinion, which I revisited, I radically changed in the meantime- a quite generic impression, generic meaning in this scent erathy, neutral, slightly choking and powdery, opposite to the subtelties of a multilayered fragrance, but not exclusive or focused enough to be a " soliflore " either- just a few " dirty " herbs ( characterization which I found more accurate here then in YSL PH Concentree, often accused for this reason ) and an either too yuppie or too psychedelic, to earth-bound finale. How wrong I was - and in this process, I also undesrstood Boateng's ( whom i deeply respect ) fascination
for this fragrance. Yes, while the overtly leathery and animalic base might be loud, offputting, long-lasting in a disturbing way, even stuffy and unidimensional, it's the very same source that fully justifies the genius and stylish simplicity of this scent. Take your time, don't overapply, take more time and then... all or most unclean, unsavoury associations this strong-willed base, not for the weak-hearted generated, are turned ( at least on my skin ) in while a while not groundbreaking or bedazzling, still very sober, distinguished, slighly reserved and formal but nontheless warm, self-confident and genuinely elegant old-school chypre male beauty. This very chypre impression is what i like most about it, as it becomes so richly fulfilling, so poetic without being falshy or artificial, if I not only wear it, but I also take enough passion. I would almost call it slightly, quite remotely, reminescent of two other French classics- Eau Sauvage and Chanel PM- plus the extra edge. And this very edge is actually that very opposite of the genericness that i first sensed- in fact, it has a certain very slow ( even as developement on the skin ), but very smooth and steady way of reviving associations rather with the old-world, with a certain ancien regime nostalgia, way before both yuppies and hippies were an issue, it takes one ( or at least in my associations ) back to a time of opulent aristocratic residences and musty, slightly decaying fortress walls, dramatic, almost theatrical landscapes, collectible old books, a fondness for masculine pursuit, for cigars and brandy, and a certain taste for formal wear ( arguably including leather, in the form of various costly accessories ). And all these associations can hardly be forgotten by me- this is why I actually, altough terribly late learned to discover and love this underrated gem, whose strenghts and deligths are not so easily acessible as it seems, nor as linear and unsurprising, as this scent's simplicity is just an apparent pretext for many hidden and passionate lurking behind an appearantly uninspiring, equal and unilateral first impression.

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.

This review is under revision.

When I look at my bottle of Givenchy Gentleman I see how some ingredients, such as leather and civet, “float” in patchouli. This is the patchouliest (I don’t know whether this word really exist, my English isn’t that good) scent I’ve ever smelled. Its start is pretty alcoholic.
The most often comment for this one is “it smells like the very old eau de colognes/after shaves”. The weirdest comment (more precisely, the most stupid) I’ve ever heard about some scent it was just for Givenchy Gentleman “it smells like burned ping-pong balls”. One of my male colleagues said that, but he is not a good example for a normal person, anyway.
In sum, if you love “old-school” type of scents and adore patchouli, with this one your satisfaction is guaranteed.

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!!!

The Patchouli in this really lasts and lasts. In fact, patchouli and a little moss is the only thing I remember getting from this. I might not have the skin chemistry for this (my skin is not at all dry). A one-note patchouli makes me think of hippies. Though I do like that one note, quite a lot, I would rather smell it on incense than on a flannel shirt. Not unrefined, and also not general purpose. Gentlemen would be well-suited for a dinner party in the Antilles maybe, but not so much for everyday winter use.

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...

I want to like this one so much but everytime I wear it, lurking underneath that intoxicating smell is something that wafts of burning rubber! I don't know what the note is but I do know without it, this would be a stunner. Sadly, this will be the first thumbs down I've ever given on this site.

I do not like this. At first application it smells very strongly of civet, which smells much like urine. After an hour or so, it dies down to a powder that smells just like wick's "powder fresh." I don't mind strong scents, but the opening is strong and vile.

The jury is out on this one for me. I like the initial topnotes, but as it dries down, there is something about this scent that reminds me of the original Polo Green. Although I didn't hate Polo, it didn't do much for me either. Similarly Gentleman has the same connotations for me. So, I don't mind it, but certainly wouldn't buy it or wear it regularly.

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!

Gentleman was very ahead of its time when launched. Unfortunately it doesn't hold up so well today. Much like Joe Frances said, you simply could not put this fragrance on for the office. It is much too sharp and cloying. But as he also said, it smells wonderful after a few hours of evolution. It reminds you of a smoking a fine cigar, or the smell of luxurious leather. I don't think many younger women could appreciate this unfortunately, or males for that matter. I can only recommend it for the 40+ age bracket.

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.

This one works very bad with my own chemistry. It's the only Givenchy cologne I can't use. Too bad, the title is very elegant and promising.

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...

To me something turns me off about this 1 it may be the patchouli in it. Its too much. There are soo many other scents out there that I put before this 1 and I would rather wear. Would I buy this? Noo

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.

The name says it all Givenchy Gentlemen. To me, it's an older man's fragrance. I'm not at all a fan of leather scents. Needless to say I don't think that it's not a quality fragrance. Definitely not for me.

I bought this one coz of the givency label, but frankly I find it too strong and I think it might be off putting to ladies. It smells yucky.

Like many of it's 70's peers, Gentleman suffers from the patchouli OD so typical for this decade. On me it's sour and nasty, very strong too. The base reeks of civet, which is fecal by nature, and doesn't improve the overall impression one bit... Stay away!

Gentleman is interesting. At first it smells like Patchouli and urine, but as it evolves, it starts to smell like urine and civet. What a striking combination. This one is just gross. H.O.T Always by Bond No. 9 is along the same lines, but much nicer.

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

I don't normally do patchouli, but it works very well in this. However, i dont like the drydown as it is a little to vanilla like for me.

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 will certainly get attention all right. But you could also get attention by, for example, rubbing dog urine all over yourself. Extremely unpleasant, and I can't think of anyone for whom this cologne would be appropriate -- not even the "old men" to whom we usually relegate scents we don't like.

I thought this scent would be a strong fragrance like Bogart, for example...But for me it's soapy and subtle. Maybe It's only me nose... It's Ok, but that's a strange note in it that makes me give a "neutral".It's not the kind of fragrance to get compliments.

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.