Givenchy
Givenchy
181 votes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
The grapefruit and mandarin burst forward with zippy aggression, their acidic brightness immediately softened by coriander's warmth—a spiced citrus that feels almost savoury rather than fruity. Your first instinct is freshness, but there's an unusual dryness lurking beneath, a hint that this won't be a conventional citrus fragrance.
Lavender emerges with surprising intensity, its green, peppery character dancing against vetiver's mineral, slightly earthy undertones. The composition settles into something almost austere—the spice fades, the citrus recedes, and you're left with a sophisticated dryness that feels almost herbal, like a high-end men's skincare product with unexpected depth.
Cedar and labdanum establish themselves faintly, never quite arriving with presence but rather suggesting themselves through faint resinous whispers. The fragrance becomes almost imperceptible, a skin scent that clings to your clothing rather than the air—a distant, refined memory rather than an actual olfactory experience.
Givenchy pour Homme (2002) arrives as a studied exercise in restraint—a fragrance that privileges clarity over projection, daring you to lean in rather than announce itself. Alberto Morillas constructs something deceptively simple: the grapefruit and mandarin open with a sharp, almost aggressive brightness, immediately tempered by coriander's warm spiciness, which prevents the citrus from becoming merely refreshing. This is not the aquatic-fruit cocktail of mass-market masculines. Instead, the coriander acts as a crucial bridge, introducing a subtle earthiness that grounds what could otherwise feel vapid.
The heart reveals the fragrance's true character: lavender and vetiver create an unexpectedly sophisticated conversation. The lavender isn't soapy or powdery—it's the green, slightly peppery lavender of a sun-baked Provençal field, whilst vetiver adds a mineral, almost tobacco-like undertone that anchors everything. There's a peculiar dryness here, a deliberate rejection of sweetness or warmth. This is a fragrance for someone who finds most modern masculines suffocating, who gravitates towards restrained elegance.
Add fragrances to your collection and unlock your personalised scent DNA, note map, and shareable identity card.
3.5/5 (155)