Givenchy
Givenchy
242 votes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
Bergamot and mandarin burst forth with genuine citric verve, clean and slightly tart. Within moments, however, that freshness begins dissolving into the sweet warmth waiting beneath—you're aware of the coffee blossom's presence already, adding an almost herbal-bitter undertone to the citrus.
The coffee blossom moves centre stage, its slightly burnt, earthy character playing beautifully against creamy tonka bean, whilst pink pepper adds intermittent spice that tingles on the skin. Amyris and patchouli emerge to create a soft, woody-sweet hug around the coffee notes, creating something almost confectionery in its sweetness yet still vaguely spiced and grounded.
The fragrance collapses inward, becoming increasingly wispy and powdery as labdanum and the vetiver base assert themselves softly—but there's precious little left to assert, as longevity rating suggests. What remains is a barely-there tonka-patchouli sweetness, warm but spectral, vanishing within moments.
Play Intense is a fragrance caught between impulses—caught, frustratingly, between what it wants to be and what its composition will actually allow it to be. There's genuine ambition here. Emilie Bevierre-Coppermann has crafted something sweetly gourmand with a deliberate spiced edge, where coffee blossom's bitter-floral character tries earnestly to cut through the tonka bean's creamy vanilla embrace. The bergamot and mandarin open with genuine brightness, but they're quickly subsumed into something warmer, more enveloping. Pink pepper adds a prickling sassiness to the heart, whilst amyris and patchouli provide a woody skeleton that prevents this from becoming purely confectionery.
The character here is decidedly youthful—less cologne, more accessible fragrance. It reads as someone's first exploration beyond mass-market territory, someone drawn to gourmand sensibilities but wanting a touch of sophistication. There's an almost cola-like quality to the coffee blossom-tonka interaction, sweet yet slightly bitter, vaguely peppery. The woody base (patchouli and vetiver) keeps it grounded rather than abstract.
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3.3/5 (88)