Reviews of Gucci by Gucci pour Homme (2008)
by Gucci

Let me tell you; nobody will absolutely hate this scent yet many will find it to be extremely disappointing.

It doesn't feel like it should belong into the Gucci fragrance universe. It is utterly pleasant, yet it is also quite common. Incredibly marketable and should be considered as an 'easy-sell', Gucci by Gucci pour Homme doesn't remind me of any scent in particular: it reminds me of a lot of similar scents that I had the chance to experience throughout my years - one after the other.

Comfortable and safe, it feels like a scent that a 12 year old would buy, and a 55 year old would receive as a gift.

The opening -that I really enjoyed- is an elegant mix of violets, cypress, and bergamot. Everyone talks about the tobacco, yet along with it there is supposed to be a strong note of jasmine, as well as Olibanum in this. Those two are not easily detected. The base is the usual patchouli/amber mix that is carrying the tobacco abundance throughout.

When I first saw it notes before testing, I was incredibly intrigued by the violet, tobacco and jasmine combo. I thought it could be very edgy, for a mens scent, and kind of dangerous. People say that Gucci by Gucci (the womens version) feels a little too masculine for some. I had assumed some gender-bending qualities could -or should- be expected from this creation as well. That would be a bold 'first' for the Gucci scent offerings after all those extremely masculine male scents. Unfortunately, Gucci by Gucci pour Homme is not that creation.

This scent will receive a lot of mixed or low ratings from the basenotes community -I know it in my heart- yet it is not awful by any means. I am giving it a thumbs up, because it is better than the other new creations released this fall: Infusion d'Homme by Prada, Versace Pour Homme by Versace, and Diamonds for Men by Emporio Armani. If I had to buy one, this would be it among the four listed. Yet, the only way, that I would consider buying this scent, would be as a safe gift to someone. Ultimately, truthfully speaking it is not worthy of that much attention.

The bottle is whatever it is.

What you get from Gucci by GPH is a bit of the best from Acqua di Gio & Bond No. 9 Bleeker St mixed into a hybrid fresh chypre that fills a void in the Gucci line. A soft light green menthol chypre that is refreshing and very clean in presentation. The opening is fresh and a light crisp green menthol layered over dry violet wood that later feels a bit like a light tobacco/chypre. The violet gives it lift and sophistication while the bergamot/cypress punctuates the opening with a tart green short clipped, well groomed appearance that stays throughout the scent. At drydown it's a soft green chypre from the cypress/violet and pathcouli wood that is light and green but very nicely dry. The only negative is that it smells very traditional and properly put together and reminds me of so many others that have not done this as well - which is also what I like about it. Very easy to wear.

This is good. It is very good. Awesome scent, perfect launch time. This is in the family of that sweet, rum rasin cake, fall/christmasy, goodness. Think Varvatos Vintage, Burberry London, Banana Republic Black Walnut and Claiborne's Spark. The only difference is that Gucci comes in and delivers a knockout, enough to make you want to replace any of the aforementioned you might own, save for the Burberry, maybe. It goes to show that the house of Gucci is not koje when it come to their frags...just outstanding! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

A great new scent in a fantastic bottle to add to the collection!

My thoughts:

The first few minutes of the top notes are all about the cypress - you definitely get a great combination of the menthol like effect (think of a Vick's snuffer) and violet. The menthol from the cypress quickly tones down a notch fully revealing the lovely floral and the ever intriguing Elemi note (which gives it an almost smokey like feel accented by a pickled citrus brine effect- simply awesome, IMO) while still mingling with a very heavy violet - a very, VERY nice effect. This accord, still evident throughout, then gives way (ever so slightly) to the mid which is more heavily dominated by tobacco. This stage lasts for a very long time with the tobacco gaining prominence ever so slowly - a lot longer than I was expecting - and is just perfect. When it does start to fade, the tobacco moves into the base (the violet is still evident finally fades another notch, however, still evident throughout), a very wearable fine amber with a very slight hint of patchouli that lasts for hours. From start to finish it's a winner.

To put it simply - from start to finish it's a winner.

And last, but certainly not least, my final thought on the ad campaign featuring James Franco. IMHO, Gucci could not have picked someone better. James himself makes this gorgeous creation all the more spectacular with his gleaming personality and talent. Just knowing he is the face of it, makes it all the better! Thanks, James. ;-)

A HUGE THUMBS UP! 5 STARS!