Gentleman (1974)

THE 1974 GENTLEMAN ENCENS In 2018 the fashion world lost a giant player, Hubert de Givenchy, when the French aristocrat who founded the Givenchy house, died at the age of 91. The friendship established between Count de Givenchy and Audrey Hepburn, whom he met on the filming of 'Sabrina' in 1953, endured through several decades and helped to turn them into society legends. The narrow-collared ensembles and wool dresses he created for the star of 'Funny Face' and 'How to Steal a Million', made them both true icons of fashion design. Also worthy of mention is the black dress that Hubert Givenchy designed for the first scenes of 'Breakfast at Tiffany's', where the perhaps most famous "little black dress" ever was first shown by Hepburn. Jacqueline Kennedy, former US first lady and stylistically much admired worldwide, also preferred the brand's creations during her years in the White House. In 1961, during a state visit to France, she made an unforgettable entrance by wearing a Givenchy silk dress at the Palace of Versailles. Pretty much every notable woman of the latter half of the 20th century like Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Marlene Dietrich, Marella Agnelli and Diana Vreeland were all clients. The Countess Mona von Bismarck has even specifically asked to be buried in one Givenchy gown. Count de Givenchy opened his first fashion house in Paris in 1952. In 1989 the company was bought by the world's largest luxury goods company, Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy, but the brand was kept alive and he continued to design for it until his retirement in 1995. His aristocratic full name, Count Hubert James Marcel Taffin de Givenchy, quickly became simply 'Givenchy' from the day his fashion label opened doors in 1952, dedicated to exquisite haute couture. Being an elegant and tall man (at 1.92m) as well as a profound connoisseur of the arts and lifestyle, Hubert de Givenchy used his charming personality to create a huge impact on the fashion world. He believed that the purpose of dressing a woman was to make her more beautiful and seductive, and perfumes represented an important segment of his creations. In 1957, the women's fragrance L'Interdit was launched, becoming the brand's first perfume. Hubert de Givenchy invited his actress friend Audrey Hepburn to be the star of the advertising campaign, the first time a movie star had ever appeared in a perfume advertisement. In the late 1950s, Givenchy launched the first male perfumes with Eau de Vetyver and Monsieur Givenchy. More than 60 years later, we are able to find a very wide offer addressing almost all preferences, within the current fragrance portfolio of the brand. In 1974, Givenchy Gentleman was presented, a perfume created for exactly who it was labelled, i.e. for gentlemen... like me for instance (!). This perfume quite rightly joins a hypothetical list of fragrances that can be considered unforgettable and timeless. Although its base with civet was fashionable, and all perfumes of the time were highly musky and mossy, the scent managed to surprise the industry at its launch. Besides the dominant note, patchouli, the introduction of vetiver and leather also in the base, turned out to be a treasured decision for the fragrance's history. The result of the blending is that of a lingering struggle between all the base notes which imposed this perfume as extremely appealing, high quality, unique and innovative in the mid-1970s. To current wearers, it may seem a somewhat heavy and complex perfume, with nuances ranging from herbaceous to smoky leathery, as well as containing strong woody tones from cedar and patchouli. Besides being extremely refined, it also proved comfortable, deliciously soft and discreet, and yet, at the same time, had an elusive, almost adventurous character. In my opinion, it is still an extremely captivating perfume. Givenchy launched recently other perfumes with the same name, but this version will forever be considered the eternal Gentleman that for decades has conquered its own public, transmitting elegance and masculine sensuality in an imposing way. In it, we find, in perfect balance and masterfully combined, the masculinity of the leather accords, the amber comfort of the olibanum, and the earthy and spicy patchouli. Although my passion remains intact over time, my current perception of the original version of this perfume is that of a restrained, serious and uncompromising fragrance. The soul of the perfume, perceptible throughout the various phases, is the chain composed of patchouli, vetiver, cedar and leather, also highlighting its spicy facets. At the top, I perceive a touch of lavender (note not listed) that refreshes a bit the whole evolution. It is a perception unique to the original vintage version. The current formulation (I really like it too), does not feature this lavender nuance, replacing that accord with an increment of the rose and aniseed tarragon notes. All in all, the top is complex presenting an intricate sweetness (honey, cinnamon, tarragon) combined with a light fresh touch (rose, lavender, bergamot and lemon). The initial sweetness proves persistent and the fragrance's heart maintains it but also reveals persistent patchouli dominance. The base of this perfume is divine and the natural "habitat" of the scent I associate with the fragrance. It gives us a strong patchouli background, where coriaceous facets and the pungency of a musky amber accord with vanilla stand out, toned with an animalistic civet note. The final result was quite rightly unveiled as a woody "Encens" for a true "Gentleman" in Hubert de Givenchy's boutiques of the '70s. Givenchy Gentleman is still today a wonderful fragrance although not very versatile given its wide competition. It is stuck in a formal olfactory composition, which may not appeal to younger noses. For me, it is an amazing creation and mandatory for any collector. I don't recommend it for ladies' use because I consider it a strictly masculine perfume. Likewise, I advise against being sniffed by nostrils exclusively enamoured of either fresh, fruity, floral or blue scents. It also features different demeanours and accords from the (already) seven Givenchy Gentlemen that were released in 2017. I don't mean to claim that these newer fragrances are worse or better than the original. But they are completely different, and one can never consider them flankers of the 1974 version. Quite rightly it is often said that "There is no love like the first!". Believe it or not, the most recent batches of the original edition are still possible to encounter in many perfume distributors. You have to make sure not to let your chance run away. Music: "Young and Beautiful" by Lana Del Rey, used in "The Great Gatsby" soundtrack. "Will you still love me when I'm no longer young and beautiful? Will you still love me when I got nothing but my aching soul? I know you will, I know you will, I know that you will."

Trying to review Gentleman is like trying to review the Guernica, the 9th Symphony, or the Velvet Underground. A waste of time. Walking in my fifties I am one of the lucky ones who was "there" in the men's perfumes of the 70s and 80s in their original formulation and of course the Gentleman was by far the crown and the pioneer of all. The perfume station that changed the map and the view of men's perfumes breaking the stereotype fougere-fresh-barbershop (paco rabanne, eau sauvage, pour monsieur) and the aromatic-oriental (habit rouge, aramis), presenting something so "gentle" and at the same time "dirty" something so "manly" and "gentleman" that those who tried to copy it could not even approach it. I will not go on with other pointless descriptions as plenty of ink has been spilled over the decades to describe it. Longevity and projection were from another world. I'm not talking about 8 or 10 hours but for days (after 2 days it was easily detectable on the skin) and its projection is huge for 5-6 hours and more discreet for another 5 at least and I'm talking about 2 sprays. Bitter honey poured on oakmoss and patchouli, "marked" by the smell of felines, created an explosive mix that gripped everyone around him at a time when men smelled like men and women like women rather than competing over who would smell more fruity and sweeter. Even now after 4 decades of being together (still have 2 bottles form 80s/90s) there are moments that I do not dare to wear it not for what others will say (I never cared) but because I feel "small" in front of him and out of respect for the time he represented and it is gone forever. I recently tried the current formulation under the name originale. It is not bad, actually is very good and wearable to today's standards and tries to pay homage to the giant of the past with respect and is much better and more masculine than most of the chemical blue-sugar-transsexual garbages that has been circulating for at least the last decade but unfortunately can not capture the "smell" the "feel"and the "sense" of the vintage, as it happens with all the modern reformulations of old perfumes. Honey, patchouli, a suspicion of leather and a small touch of gentle dirtyness at the dry down as long as it does not disturb the modern sensitive sugary noses, with moderate longevity and sillage. The difference is the complete absence of the banned civet and oakmoss which give this feast of earthy and animalic authentic smells. Νevertheless, I highly recommend it to young men who want to dare and smell different from the masses. Αfter all, you can not miss something you never had, and we must support reformulations that try to keep the legends of the past alive. And because many "experts" have tried to describe how Gentleman smells and feels, the best description was given by an old female friend, who so simply told me "this perfume smells like SOVEREIGNTY, it smells like TESTOSTERONE".

Givenchy Gentleman is a refined, elegant, and gentlemanly French old-school perfumery at its finest—launched in 1974 but still equally relevant today. You see, elegance never goes out of style. Bad style, on the other hand, does. A beautiful floral, slightly sweet, woodsy, leathery, and soapy concoction that in my mind absolutely leans old school and mature. The leathery and woodsy notes are definitely detectable to my nose, but it's the patchouli/floral note and the soapy note that dominate my olfactory experience, and it's the soapy, floral, and woodsy combination that makes it vaguely similar to something like Floris No. 89 (from 1951), albeit Givenchy Gentleman (1974) is head and shoulders above Floris No. 89 and offers complexity and deeper and richer woodsy notes that Floris No. 89 doesn't have. Definitely manly and gentlemanly, but I get no "macho vibes," "crude animalic behavior," or "hairy chest" association in my mind. This is no Aramis Classic, Fahrenheit, or Polo Green. Dated? Not at all. If you think class, style, and refined gentlemanly elegance are "dated," then I guess they're "dated." In my mind it's a timeless elixir for a well-dressed and well-groomed gentleman clothed in an expensive suit, who needs to make an impression at a black-tie event. Very French. Very refined. Very elegant. Very mature. Very gentlemanly—hence its name. Very classic, timeless, and old school—but definitely not dated. Sillage and projection on my skin are, in all fairness, quite limited, and longevity is probably in the 3-6 hour range, but while Givenchy Gentleman lasts on my skin, it's a refined and elegant experience that leaves an impression on me that I won't forget anytime soon. Occasions to wear this beautiful scent: Definitely ideal for black-tie events (like I stated earlier) and definitely more formal than casual (more appropriate for a business suit/formal attire than a pair of jeans and a t-shirt), but you could potentially wear Givenchy Gentleman for semi-formal or semi-casual occasions as well. Given the scent profile, I'd say this scent probably shines in fall and winter, but I guess you could wear it in early spring as well. Appropriate for day and night, but in my mind this leans more to the night hours. Since it's quite mature, you need to be most likely 35 years old or older to really appreciate this, but if you're in your twenties and you're an old soul, you could most likely pull this off. My only complaint with this scent is the lacking performance, and sometimes it gets too soapy for my personal taste. My overall impression is positive, and I'm glad that I have Givenchy Gentleman in my collection. It's one of the most subtle and refined men's fragrances out there. It's an absolute joy to wear it. Final score: 10/10.

I received my three little miniatures of GENTLEMAN in the EDT today. I am pretty confident that I am smelling the original juice...they have the silver cap. My nose also doesn't detect any Millennial trendy/linear synthetics, either... What I'm getting smells eminently natural throughout. I bought these miniatures blind, based solely on reviews I saw here on Fragrantica. I've had a generous application going on on my wrist for less than 30min, and already I am bowled over: Yes, this is a monstrously gorgeous, expert, innovative, magisterial perfume, with a dance of many sophisticated notes in the French style. Firstly, it goes on much sweeter than I had anticipated it would, based upon user comments here. I had thought it might emerge as a flinty chypre approaching something like BANDIT or CABOCHARD or maybe even YATAGAN..? Mais non-- this perfume has a rich, rewarding amber/tonka sweetness beneath its swoony, expressive herbs and tart citrus. In fact, I would call this an "ambered chypre". I love the way the tarragon keeps the scent buoyant with its delicate quasi-fennel quality, infused with a cool menthol. Then in far drydown you are left with a suave, transparent, 70's-style musk. GENTLEMAN does seem to anticipate the "metrosexual" mood of the 90's... some 20 years beforehand. For it certainly doesn't smell barbershoppy or 1960's BRUT-like at all. Indeed, I am reminded not only of KOUROS, but also of Mugler A*MEN and Balenciaga POUR HOMME. The powerful patchouly-oakmoss-lime accord reminds me some of EAU DE ROCHAS and of Ungaro DIVA. GENTLEMAN even has echoes for me of vintage Schiaparelli SHOCKING. Must be the honey note. Something, I know not what, is bestowing a wonderful "waxen candle" quality some 3/4 into its development... what could it be? ARAMIS, in 1966 had unleashed a whopping amount of non-hippie-ish patchouly, daringly sensuous and departing from masculine cologne orthodoxy; but then GENTLEMAN, in 1974, comes along and says "Hold my beer..." The patchouly in this scent does everything but get up and walk. I am rating this scent as unisex... as there's nothing (to me) swaggeringly macho about it at all; it just smells like finest French perfumery to me. A lady could easily wear this, and should, wearing it as a kind of intense MISS DIOR or SHOCKING or MISS BALMAIN. What a great addition to my perfume education. It's a total knock right outta the park. Coco Chanel said "Style is the absence of vulgarity." And that's the aesthetic going on on my skin here today. I may have to spring for a full flacon of the vintage jus.

I immediately very much prefer the current formulation of this to that of the Giorgio, and to some extent my perception of the differences between the two corresponds to the difference between their colours. Giorgio mostly smells mossy green to me, though in almost a kind of abstracted/extracted or essential way that it is hard for me to comprehend, let alone explain. The moss etc. aside, it's almost as if someone had candied some sliced patchouli leaves or something. Not to say that the smell is sweet, but the patchouli aspect has a kind of 'translucent' quality that makes me think of boiled-sugar candy, or (probably light-greenish) stained glass. Others might perceive it to be medicinal, herbaceous, and so on. The patchouli in Gentleman has a similar quality but, at least in today's formulation, the overall effect is much leaner, more refined, classier, and probably ghostlier, more atmospheric. Gentleman does smell more kind of--I don't know--straw-coloured or yellow-grey to me somehow, and paler, probably purer, though also more sophisticated. The main thing about Giorgio that has never quite jibed with me is the obvious use of aldehydes. They give Giorgio a kind of coarse, three-dimensional, cottony texture that, given the strength of the patchouli and moss, I find unappealing. There is a certain grace about it but to me it smells dated and abrasive. There is little or none of that here, though I wouldn't dream of riding my luck and that of everyone around me by using more than about three sprays of this or wearing it in warm weather. If you took this Gentleman, rolled it around in damp mossy earth for a few minutes till it was good and soggy, threw in some citrus, a flower or two, and so on, then took some cotton swabbing to the whole thing and gave it a brisk wipe so the Gentleman ended up half covered in cotton fibres, and then you maybe left it out in the sun to dry for a bit, what came out might be something like the Giorgio. Or maybe Seth Brundle tried to teleport some Gentleman and there was some kind of mini explosion in one of the pods so that what came out at the other end was half Gentleman, half noxious, powdery miasma of some kind of explosion in a moss-heavy, patchouli-heavy perfume factory. The far dry-down of this is something like the smell of my greasy hair at the end of a four-day hippie music festival but I Iike it.

One of me office mates stumbled into the office leaving behind a trail of a distinguished gentleman, a scent debonair, an air of royalty around him. Naturally being a fragrance aficionado, I ventured to ask him how on earth did he manage to strike luck with such a magnificent concoction (as this guy is into vintage scents also). Unbelievable as to how this has managed to slip under my radar, I've tried Chanel Antaeus, YSL Kouros, Polo Green, VCA Tsar, Givenchy Xeryus, D&G pour Homme and a lot of other discontinued gems, but GG manages to stand apart primarily due to the heavenly patchouli blend. As the dude below me rightly says "HOF Patchouli fragrance". The Patchouli note can be overbearing if not blended well with the other notes and this is one of the reasons why Givenchy Gentleman maintains its credibility as a definitive "old-school" but still somewhat modernistic scent. Unfortunately I was only able to find the newer batches (2019), with the term "Eau De Toilette Originale" printed in the front lower side of the box. The scent is still divine, but the performance is bollocks. Lasts around 4 to 5 hours with strong sillage however. At the start it is quite overwhelmingly a mix of lemon bergamot, rose and honey, after 15 minutes in, the patchouli show takes over, blending exceedingly well with the leather, musk and amber notes. The "Civet" note is subdued and hence essentially restricts the perfume from spilling over into "animalic" jurisdiction. I have managed to procure a 2009 batch with the black box, with "Paris" emblazoned on the lower end of the front of the box. Fingers crossed that performance is good albeit likely that it won't be able to match the vintage due to obvious IFRA restrictions. All seasonal scent? Yes an all-round season veteran Unisex? Masculine, a Gentleman's scent indeed Blind buy worthy? If you want to smell like the elusive Gentleman Club,yes! Performance? Longevity is 5 hours, projection is minimal, however the sillage is strong. Price? Vintage overpriced as always (white and black box), the newer batches are quite cheap

By the way, talking on reformulations: Naturally, the best ones are the OG's. Natural roses, cinnamon, a much rougher leather and pachouli, much more organic, classic, natural and "french baroque" creamy notes like the amber and vanilla, a much rounder honey, less booze from the aldehydes that were added to it, a sharper tarragon. This formula remained pretty much unchanged until the early to mid 2000's, and the bottle was similar as the modern line, with round shoulders, a silver label around the whole bottle, much darker liquid because of the phenol contents and a silver cap. There are both EDT's and aftershaves available, both splash and spray presented. The box was white and black. There was a middle formula of higher naturality and performance than the latest one, with the modern bottle. (Sharp shoulders, small, front only silver label and a silver cap) It was the one known by the 2K enthusiasts, and was available between the late 2000's and the mid 2010's. The box of this was silver and black. Around '17, thy presentation was retired and they took out the current formulation on the market. Same bottle, now with a black cap, making it look like it is wearing a top hat. This is heavily filtered, much weaker, the liquid is much lighter coloured, the tannins, phenols and the earth from the patchouli were mostly removed, as the civet funk, the amber notes became much more synthetic, the powder was increased, the rose and cinnamon were replaced by IFRA compliant accords which do not exactly resemble a "natural" rose nor cinnamon, and the top was enhanced by adding aldehydes, which give the illusion of liquor. If you want this as an easygoing scent and enjoy the smell of rain (Which was also probably enhanced by earth tincture or straight geosmin) the current formula is proper. If you, on the other side, are a true enthusiast and would enjoy a more natural feel, the vintage (Or a clone of it, in the form of oil) is totally worth it.

It all started with Givenchy Gentleman back then when I was 12 yrs. old and therefore I am starting my very first review with this gem. It is my signature scent which fallows me all this time and which opened me the doors of world of fragrances. It is my comfort zone and my reset mode. Whole this time (and it has been ages - I am 44 yrs. now ) I am keep trying to find better, more intoxicating fragrance which would replace my favorite scent. In this journey I smelled many fragrances but still Givenchy Gentleman remains my favorite one. I am still faithful to G. Gentleman! When I said many, believe me that I poses big collection of fragrances-over 300, and I smelled much more then that! I am big fragrance lover and fragrances are kinda my obsession. Patchouli and leather are my favorite notes. Gentleman has it both in perfect balance within animalistic/medicinal vibe, sweeten with honey just enough to make this gem intoxicating. I love wearing it especially when it’s rain. It is never out of date and style-this fragrance is simply all time classic and it is for real gentleman’s only! I must mention that Mr. Bruno Jovovic created also beautiful fragrance for Frederick Malle house called Monsieur which reminds on G.Gentlemen but for me those are completely different fragrances which you need to have it both since both are masterpieces! During the years, edition of this gem was changing slightly enough to be noticed by those noses who have been knowing this fragrance’s soul, but still it is same old Givenchy Gentlemen with a bit shorter longevity ( around 6 hours on me ) and silage (moderate for me) then before. I am talking now about the latest edition with black cup on top and black box. I am very grateful to Givenchy house keeping this fragrance still on market. I hope that they will never ever discounted this masterpiece! Long live King!

This is what the grown ups smelled like when I was a Kid! I finally got this because a coworker was looking for polo sport and couldn't find it in stores. So he MADE ME go on a perfume shopping site. That Forced me to round out the order to not pay shipping....lucky coincidence. So spraying this on this morning was very immediately a medically clean scent. Much like Givenchy Insense Ultramarine has that clean medical soapy note. It's always when I am wearing my Givenchy scents that I always feel like "This is why I pay a little more for this stuff" The blend is so complex and together as one harmonious outfit. Like The Allman Brothers Band at the Fillmore. On the way to work inside my winter coat and scarf the patchouli would waft out sometimes making it really old school. This was made when I was 3 years old. This was totally barbershop clean and still is. I'm huffing it on my wrist but don't get the patchouli like when it creeps up on me . On my wrist it's shave cream at Vito's barber shop where my dad would take me for a haircut. He was my barber until my late teens when the same do would no longer do. I'm a kid when I smell this. It takes me back to when cars were huge and built like tanks and saturday morning cartoons were a saturday morning religious ceremony. It kind of feels wrong to wear this for me. A lot like YSL Opium. It's what the old guys wore the adults. Its so nostaligic to wear this because it almost seems irrelevant and antiquated yet really comforting and clean. I'm not disappointed to own and wear this. I've reached the age that the guys who wore it had when I smelled it on them. I wear hats when I go out like a geezer. Why not just be and not give a crap about what anyone says or thinks. that's another thread. I am wondering what it will be like when it matures. The patchouli I suspect will get stronger.

Givenchy Gentleman is a fragrance that I personally can’t review objectively. This was my first fragrance ever. This is my father’s signature scent, and I first remember smelling it when I was about 10 years old. I loved it right off the bat, so much so that my father gave me his half bottle along with a bottle of ‘The Irresistible Givenchy for men’. That particular bottle had a silver cap, and I remember wearing this very masculine to school. I must’ve easily been the classiest smelling 10-YO in the city, lmao. This fragrance will always hold a special place in my heart. It is when I first smelt this that I thought to myself “wow, I had no idea anything could smell so fantastic”, and that is where I got into fragrances. Wherever I am now with regard to my fragrance journey, it is thanks to this. Anyhow, I’m currently on my fourth bottle of it bearing the batch number 3H01. I originally had the silver cap version, and I remember it having a lot more civet than the current formulation, which seems to be focused more on the honey aspect. Regardless, the scent profile more or less remains true to the original, and I absolutely love this fragrance. It’s classy, elegant, upscale, and reserved. The performance is decent and lasts on my skin for about 5-6 hours, and it’s got great projection up until the two-hour mark and then dies down to a moderate projector. I think this fragrance is very masculine and is meant for the mature gentleman. It’s got a very formal vibe to it and goes very well when one is dressed up. It can be worn throughout the year, though the sprays must be limited during peak summers.

I guess this parfum is not much of the american taste since it is purely french, but it indeed is 70's funk in one of its purest forms to this day. Does not contain natural oakmoss as several of the others (Paco Rabanne Pour Homme, Furyo, Quorum, Agua Brava, all have a sort of natural moss to this day, since oakmoss / Evernia Prunastri and Treemoss / Evernia Furfuracea are not banned, but rather restricted) but it is a much more polished version of the classic. I think it indeed has a very good dose of civette, even when being synthetic, to me it indeed is vomit, urine and feces forward, a very old and smoky russian leather still, and a raw patchouli as well, along that animalic liquorous honey, which is now enhanced with certain molecules. Rose, now a base with several ingredients such as geraniol, ionones, citronellol, phenylethyl alcohol, such. Overall, the fragrance is a somewhat acid patchouli with vomit nuances in the opening, dries down into powdery honey with leathery and very earthy undertones. Either way, i deeply enjoy the current formulation. I consider it one of the greatest ever men's fragrances of all time along stuff like Azzaro Pour Homme, Paco Rabanne, Oscar Pour Lui, Chanel Egoiste, Kouros, Antaeus, Bel Ami and fragrances to thy extent. A very solid reformulation to this day. One of the very few fragrances that i'd happily backup, (Wasn't for the fact that you can get Lapidus Pour Homme, funkier and more potent, with a rather close scent, for much less, and get almost three bottles for the cost of a single Gentleman.) Greetings.

I've never reviewed this fragrance - cited as my signature scent - because it has always just been there, as warm and familiar as my skin. It was one of my earliest forays into the world of perfume and I settled on it simply because it made me feel special and different. I didn't know it was 'vintage', just that it felt classy. I didn't know it was 'barbershop', just that it felt masculine. For years I didn't even know it was patchouli-based, just that it propelled me from my drab little world towards something more exotic and colourful. This is a useful reminder that labels are odious. Just go with what you love! To me it has always been a familiar and comforting statement of personal identity (even though this statement is replicated thousands of time very day by people all over the world!) What we share is a delight in the perfumer's skill, marrying the surface sweetness of flowers and honey with that drier grassy/woody deeper down and that lingering camphorous core. Thanks to the confidence Givenchy Gentleman has given me, I can now successfully identify patchouli-led beauties (cue Nishane's deliciously-honeyed Pachuli Kozha), from vetiver-based ones (Farmacia SS. Annunziata's Vetiver Incenso, one of my latest discoveries) and I am only just beginning to explore the branch-lines marked 'Amber/Vanilla' and 'Incense'. All of these elements are present in Givenchy Gentleman, which for such a long time I have considered the Mother Lode. Though I may excavate far and wide elsewhere, I will always return here with gratitude.

When I was a kid my mom cleaned the Place Ville Marie in downtown montreal. She would often bring home various discarded items from offices that closed in the building. We also never bought pens pencils or liquid paper because Mom had tons of supplies that were trashed by corporate waste. One of those things was a tiny Vial of Givenchy gentleman in a cardboard wallet. The cardboard had the signature Givenchy Logo that still evokes great memories. To be honest it's probably the first fragrance I ever got. As a preteen I recall putting some on from the vial just rubbing it on my neck. I felt all grown up and cool . Even today i can remember it being Patchouli leather and some root like spiciness. The memory itself is delicious in my mind. I've been meaning to get a bottle forever but something laways intervenes. I will one day purchase this and enjoy it again. It is definitely old school and unique. A signature for many of the reviewers who had a loved one use it. It's yesterday's Gentleman but it's THAT Gentleman every time. I love my Givenchy scents and I feel this is their staple and signature Gent. I tip my hat to all those who have fond memories of this scent as I do... P.S. If you're trying to compare this to anything new just don't....it's an excercise in futility to try to diminish this stately Gent by comparing it to just anything. This is in an old school hall of fame class by itself. Can't be tarnished can't be dethroned. Since 1974 ...before I went to kindergarden...nuff said guvnuh!!

Review for a Vintage 1982 I have owned my 1982 vintage bottle for about ten years. It was the fragrance that changed my mind about animalic notes. Before discovering it, I thought I generally disliked this kind of accord. The structure is built around a rich combination of patchouli, leather, and honey, creating a polished yet distinctly old-fashioned texture. The honey adds warmth and a slightly luminous, almost crystalline texture, while the patchouli and leather provide the dark, earthy backbone. Then comes the civet. It is not a discreet touch in the modern sense, but a full animalic surge that gives the fragrance considerable presence. This is the kind of pre-1990 masculine perfumery in which animalic materials were allowed to occupy the foreground rather than being carefully softened for universal appeal. Despite its density, the composition feels remarkably coherent. The animalic facet does not seem pasted onto the structure; it is woven into the patchouli-leather accord and gives the whole fragrance an unmistakable sense of character and history. I have smelled many modern interpretations of patchouli and leather, but few possess this combination of depth, texture, and confidence. This is not merely a vintage curiosity. It is a beautifully constructed masculine fragrance with a personality that modern perfumery rarely attempts to reproduce. Rating: 9.5/10 (vintage)

This perfume is of a class without common measure. I went through poles of attraction and repulsion (because of a miniature whose altered juice breathed in so much civet it was unbearable)..but beyond that, the attraction was such that she made me buy the edt then the 'edt originale' and finally some vintage ones (from the 90s to the 70s) The impact of this perfume on others is invaluable because I have never had any positive or negative feedback. But on me the impact is such that it has become a signature fragrance without me even realizing it. I admired it without even naming it, I felt my wrist as one would smell the most loved and adored skin there is.. it was however only mine but that this perfume knew how to change such that I remained subjugated. What to say ? yes it may seem dated, so what? nothing will make me more modern or older than I am.. but this perfume gives me a share of insurance, an anchoring in this human and earthly soil with a dimension that magnifies the smell of my skin. I don't ask much more of a perfume than to make me smell good. This far exceeds all my expectations, it transports me to the beauty of things well done, in a classicism without distorting me, in a relationship where I am neither submissive nor dominated, I smell good, well and I remain me. Gentleman vintage is hands down the best of all perfumes for me.

The 1980's produced some of the most amazing fragrances in existence. Sadly, there has been such a drastic change in taste these last twenty plus years, that it seems no one is talking about these fragrance anymore. Whenever fragrances are discussed, it seems it's all about the blue scents or sickly sweet scents. It feels like the worlds needs a "fragication". As part of this fragrance education, everyone must smell certain fragrances that you can call reference scents. Scents like this would include Jicky, Mitsouko, Shalimar...and something like Givenchy Gentleman (1974). Scents take you on an adventure, and tie you up in memory. When I smell this, it makes me think of riding the subway going to sports events with my father. It makes me think of running around the neighborhood with friends, riding bikes and doing dumb tricks. It makes me think of family get togethers with the Uncles. I highly recommend this scent for anyone who like fragrances like Giorgio Beverly Hill for Men, Hugo Boss Number 1 or Krizia Mood Uomo. Though these fragrances have similarities, they each wear different and deserve to be owned. This fragrances is still in production, but there are vintage bottles available for reasonable prices if you look. Happy Hunting!

"Gentleman" was the perfect name for the original version of this much loved masculine fragrance: the honeyed top notes with rose blends beautifully with the heavy use of patchouli and the leather and oakmoss as the base. To me this is like a leather chypre with elegant sweet notes on top of it. This fragrance was apparently reformulated multiple times since its introduction in th early 70s until finally Givenchy completely re-did it in 2017 with pear and pineapple replacing the sweet honey and rose, and a much heavier use of iris to make up for the use of the dense patchouli. You can smell the similarity of the structure, but it's so different in the end that it should have been given an entirely different name. The disappointment of fans over this change meant the fragrance was then re-formulated yet again (with yet another confusing bottle re-design). But this version I am reviewing here is the Givenchy Gentleman pre-2017 formulation that made such a huge impact among American and European consumers. I'm sure I do not have the very first formulation of the fragrance (I have the black cap, so I must have a later re-structuring), so perhaps it doesn't last as long as it should or once did. It's sophisticated and beautiful all the same.

A man finishes a long day, weary, he places his tools in the boot of the car and begins his drive home. On the way he stops and picks up a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of wine. Once home he surprises his wife by saying he booked a table and his sister is coming over to watch the kids. He has a shower, puts on his best clothes then sprays on a little 'Gentleman by Givenchy'. He tells his wife the bathroom is all free then sits with his daughter helping her with the homework while she gets ready. When she comes downstairs in her new dress he whispers to her that she is the most beautiful woman in the world, she blushes as she knows he's sincere, she is the center of his world. At the restaurant he does not direct the conversation but listens, she has his complete attention, there may be other beautiful women there but they are of no interest to him. In the taxi home she wraps his jacket around her and lays her head on his shoulders. At home they share the bottle of wine, she feels giddy and at peace. She falls asleep in his arms, his loving smile the last thing she remembers of the night. He is the father of their children, her partner, her lover, her confidant, her protector. He is her man. He is a gentleman.

To the reviewer “below me”: You go on a rant saying that the notes listed on Fragrantica are wrong and don’t match up to what’s on the manufacturer's list. You add: “The sad thing is that people read the notes and then falsely believe they are smelling something is actually non-existent! Just like the reviewer below me, who is merely repeating the notes he has read in the above false-note listing.” Well, I am the reviewer “below you”. I don’t falsely believe I smell things that are non-existent. I don’t “merely repeat notes I have read” when I write reviews. I write them based on my honest interpretation. I understand that different people observe and sense things differently. The sad thing is I think it’s rich that (in the same breath) you agree and believe that Honey “is there” even though it’s not listed as an ingredient by Givenchy. If that’s the case, then it’s possible that other notes are there as well. My nose what it knows. It is not perfect but neither is yours nor anyone else’s for that matter. I hope that my reviews help people in their pursuit of happiness. Peace be upon you brother and may your journey down this road of passion be a fun and exciting one.

Smells of the person, not the shirt. This perfume is 5 years older than me, and I can just about wear it without it being too dated. If i was 10 years older or more, it could give the impression that I’d simply slept since the 70s... Nobody will know this and you’ll smell more modern wearing this than the new-fangled gentleman series. I can only recommend this, since I find it really very good and deep enough. Elegance with some rudeness, hits the nail on the head, as Carlos said below. If you come across as too forceful, maybe go for something else, this has the same ‘problem’ as you. This man is not gentle without a reason. He is not fussy like a Tom Ford. He is not trendy like a Dior. He is certainly not bourgeois or bohemian, like Chanels. He is easy going and broad-shouldered, but you cross him at your own peril. If you love the opening but don’t care for the oakmossy-civety drydown, you could try Nasomatto Hindu Grass, for me it passes as Gentleman's brother and they probably meet up every now and then for a few friendly shots of bisongrass vodka.