Gucci Guilty Absolute pour Homme (2017)
by Gucci

Not bad, but also not the best leather forward fragrance I've tried. I feel that this one is pretty linear, not much development or variation in the dry-down, mostly just leather. Not really worth the high price tag imho.

really like it - dominant suede, well balanced
- could be a little bit more subtile overall :-)

Fro mm the beginning this is a leather-centred fragrance. The leather is fairly dark and soft, quite restrained, and it is much less direct and strong than, for instance, Tom Ford’s Tuscan Leather.

There is additional depth added by a patchouli, with is again fairly dark, with some edge and crispness, but as scratchy as TF’s Purple Patchouli. At times there is a touch of gentle spiciness that is attached to the patchouli. I do not really detect any significant smokiness here, and no gasoline character like in Knize Ten. A supple leather this is, and less vivid than, for instance, D.S. & Durga’s leathers.

Later on and closer to the base, a vent over is added in. This is a dark, rich and very earthy vetiver, with a green tinge. The base adds a rich wood note, consisting mainly of a cypress impression.

I get moderate sillage, very good projection and eight hours of longevity on my skin.

This is a nice autumnal leather creation, quite subdued and good for the office, which is not a given with other leather frags. Less nuanced and sophisticated than Hermès’ Bel Ami or Helmut Lang’s Cuiron Pour Homme - it is overall crafted well of good-quality ingredients; and the blending is done quite nicely too. 3.25/5

A very wearable cosy leather fragrance - not ostentatious or attention seeking like Tuscan leather or Ombré Leather which can get a bit overpowering over time and are certainly too attention-seeking for more relaxed environments or the office. Even softer leathers like Heeley’s Cuir Pleine Fleur can get a bit noisy, especially in warmer weather. GApH on the other hand is more subtle, closer to AdP Colonia Leather, more universally wearable. It doesn’t smell radically new or innovative, but it perhaps has a place if you’re after warm, inoffensive subtle scent with the richness of leather but that’s not going to attract too much attention to itself. Like a smart v-neck merino sweater that you can wear to the office or with a t-shirt, that people notice but also don’t. Sometimes the art is in the subtlety. Don’t over spray it though!

Leather and wood together sounds good to me but this doesn't quite hit the mark. There is something synthetic about the leather note that comes off a bit rubbery or noxious. It's not terrible, but the end effect is something that smells less like wood and smells more like wood-sealant fumes.