Givenchy Play (2008)
by Givenchy

Although it's a little too synthetic for me It's by no means a "bad scent" it's just very safe, nothing particularly interesting about it. As far as it's life goes there's very little projection and it lasts about an hour. maybe two.

5th January, 2012.

Givenchy Play is a very well packaged and marketed cologne implying digital sophistication in the 21st century and a 24/7 urban lifestyle where being in the know and having technology are one and the same. The bottle is sleek and stylish, replete with Ipod decor intended to appeal to the 20 something crowd in an attempt to persuade them a spritz of Givenchy´s disappearing act inside the beautiful bottle can offer an even more modern hipness if applied correctly.
Unfortunately for all those involved, Givenchy Play is nothing more than a well designed marketing ploy.
The opening accord is a well balanced and attractive blend of citrus and amyris wood that instantaneously collapses into a skin scent and begins to fade quickly without any substantive projection or longevity. One of the weaker fragrances on the market, 2-3 hours can even be overly ambitious during the rather bland patchouli and floral drydown that comes as a bit of let down given the unique opening blend and amyris wood note that promises something different. but ultimately ends up blending in to a rather staid and uninspiring standard release.
Inoffensive and lacking any real muscle, Givenchy Play under-performs in longevity and projection and ultimately fails to delivery anything really modern or innovative beyond the short lasting amyris wood note that manages to fade into the background rather quickly. Play is better suited for those who are easily convinced quality is a matter of packaging and perception rather than attention to detail. Massively overrated, push pause on this one, if you can manage before it fades out on its own.

3rd January, 2012.

I got this as a gift and I feel awful. I never wear it. I try and try, but I just feel like a really loathsome high-schooler when I put it on.

Citrus fading into the most generic fragrance notes I can imagine.

I won't say it smells bad, because it certainly doesn't. I own a good few scents that really do smell awful. This smells plain and very young.

Neutral, because there's really nothing positive or negative about it.

A waste of time.

13rd December, 2011.

Play by Givenchy - Citrus abounds in the opening, with bergamot, mandarin orange, bitter orange and grapefruit. This wonderful interplay of semi-sweet and semi-bitter flavors, with an undercurrent of woods, is refreshing. The wrestling of the citrus and wood tumbles to its middle. The spicy heart usurps the citrus opening with its pepper, amyris wood and coffee flower, forming a musky, spicy and woody radiance, arousing a sexy aura. The oft-seen patchouli and vetiver base blends with the heart nicely, mellowing the woods and spice, and leads to its alluring drydown. This is a well balanced composition, and has very good longevity and projection.

20th November, 2011.

Starts as aromatic, a bit sweet and somewhat synthetic/budget smelling.
Some of the sweetness burns off quickly and we have a functional, mildly spicy-aromatic scent. Has a vague, sort of generic appeal but nothing particularly noteworthy here. A somewhat odd, (or out of context) freshly-baked bread note.
Nothing wretched here so I give it a neutral.

20th July, 2011.

I'm trying this out for my summer fragrance this year. It isn't too loud, works with my skin, and that artificial edge (which can be cloying on its own) helps to play down the various kinds of sunblock I have to coat myself with in the summer months. Is it ridiculous to choose a scent that goes with sunblock? Maybe. Don't care. Doesn't come across as too 'I stole my boyfriend's cologne' on me, it does on some women. If you are a lady who routinely wears things in the tobacco family I think you should give it a try, you may be pleasantly surprised. It smells a bit "brand" which I don't usually like, but again, for a summer fragrance that's not the worst thing. Better staying power than I expected from some of the reviews.

16th May, 2011.