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Givenchy Gentleman or Van Cleef & Arpel's Pour Homme

post #1 of 20
10/18/10 at 9:25am
Thread Starter 
I am leaning toward one of these two for my next purchase.

I have been reading up on Givenchy Gentleman Van Cleef & Arpel's Pour Homme. Both 1970's fragrances, they seem to have some similarities both in the occasions they are suitable for and the class of fragrance that they are.

Givenchy Gentleman appears to be more animalic with its civet note in the base. I get the impression VC&A PH is a little more spicy. It seems like VC&A PH is more likely to be more wearble overall.

Which one is better? Any opinions?
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post #2 of 20
10/18/10 at 9:31am
In my opinion, Van Cleef & Arpel's Pour Homme is the smoother, more suave and more complex of the two, yet retaining a strong suggestion of powerful yet classy manhood
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post #3 of 20
10/18/10 at 9:35am
They are both worth owning IMO. VCA is probably my next purchase.
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post #4 of 20
10/18/10 at 9:43am
I get a lot of leather in the GG, which is a note I find myself not really desiring to wear all that often these days. VC&A on the other hand smells like a very deep, rich and luxurious soap. So, I'd go for the VC&A. More versatile.
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post #5 of 20
10/18/10 at 10:01am
vc&a is perfect, imo. the givenchy's a bit ott for my taste.
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post #6 of 20
10/18/10 at 10:16am
They are really quite different, so you could easily own both.

VC&A contains minimal leathery notes, and it more of a spicy green fougere, with just a few hints of animalism in the base. Very versatile, clean and surprisingly subtle.

GG is, as others have said, is more of a spicy, powdery leather. More unique, but still a rather traditional smell. I wouldn't call it dirty per se, just "seasoned" with civet...just gives the whole thing a kick of warmth and romance.

Personally, I prefer GG by a hair, but I love them both and can't tell you to get one or the other...just depends on what you're after.
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post #7 of 20
10/18/10 at 10:45am
Different, yet similar in several aspects. If I were to boil it down to a one-note face-off, I'd say that GG is patchouli prominent, whereas VC&A is lavender prominent. I prefer GG because I prefer patch over lavender, but both are fine fragrances. They're both definitely in the powerhouse category - either one will enter a room well before you do if you overapply.

Later: Funny, the Basenotes directory doesn't list lavender as a note in VC&A, but Fragrantica does, along with juniper. Anyone else pick up lavender in VC&A?
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post #8 of 20
10/18/10 at 11:04am
I prefer Van Cleef & Arpels. It is also animalic, as it has an appreciable level of castoreum.
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post #9 of 20
10/18/10 at 11:13am
Givenchy Gentleman (vintage)
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post #10 of 20
10/18/10 at 11:25am
I prefer VCA.....is more manly.
I think GG have a little bit a feminin touch.
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post #11 of 20
10/18/10 at 12:22pm
I own both.The VCA is the one I prefer.Both have excellent sillage and longevity .I don't like the topnotes of the Gentleman,when they're gone its ok,but very lineair.The VCA is nice from top till basenotes.A rich scent,especially nice in colder months.
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post #12 of 20
10/18/10 at 1:08pm
Thread Starter 
This place is awsome. Thanks for all the comments!

I was leaning toward VC&A, and went ahead with this one.
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post #13 of 20
10/18/10 at 1:26pm
By coincidence, I'm wearing VC & A pour homme today, I can only echo what's been said above...

If you're looking for something with a very serious edge to it, then VC & A pour homme should be your choice, it speaks of old world charm, if I may add - old money. Givenchy Gentleman is also refined but much more relaxed.

In my own opinion, it's worth getting the two, your choice should reflect its intended purpose...
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post #14 of 20
10/18/10 at 7:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tonysoprano100 View Post

I think GG have a little bit a feminin touch.

Really? I don't get that at all. It's all leather, civet and patchouli
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post #15 of 20
10/18/10 at 8:07pm
Both are worth getting, but I prefer Van Cleef because it's darker smelling, much more powerful, more complex, and just exudes more authoritarian aura than just about any other Power Scent.
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post #16 of 20
10/18/10 at 8:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by vonMises View Post

This place is awsome. Thanks for all the comments!

I was leaning toward VC&A, and went ahead with this one.

Cool, good luck with it! I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on it. I owned a bottle of GG about 12 years ago. I love it, but I couldn't really find a good time to wear it (I was 23, 24 at the time). Not sure what happened to it, but now I wish I still had it.

I got a bottle of VC&A a couple months ago, and I just can't get into it. To me it's a dark, weird fragrance. Smells of quality, just strikes me as odd. It'll get its fair shake again over the upcoming cooler months, though.
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post #17 of 20
10/18/10 at 8:16pm
Own both, but prefer Van Cleef Pour Homme
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post #18 of 20
10/18/10 at 9:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by shamu1 View Post

Both are worth getting, but I prefer Van Cleef because it's darker smelling, much more powerful, more complex, and just exudes more authoritarian aura than just about any other Power Scent.

Damn Shamu, you're making me want to pick this one up
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post #19 of 20
10/28/10 at 10:01am
Thread Starter 
I have worn VC&A PH once now, and I am very impressed. A really extraordinary fragrance.

First tried on the wrists, right out of the box, and it was somewhat intimidating due to its strength. A few days later, with a full application to the chest and arms, it really opened up with a very different effect. Just amazing. Quite a sympony of notes, very well done.
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post #20 of 20
10/28/10 at 10:03am
Thread Starter 
P.S. The VC&A PH bottle is also very classy. All the photos I saw online do not do it justice at all.
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