Gentlemen Only Absolute

Gentlemen Only Absolute was the first perfume of this pillar to be produced in an Eau de Parfum concentration and was inspired by the Haute Couture division of the brand. The bottle received a matte black painting, with some red details, in order to represent a tuxedo made to measure for those who walk on the red carpet on gala nights. But it is worth mentioning that, if viewed against the light, it allows you to visualize the volume of fragrance that remains inside. Gentlemen Only Absolute's fragrance is classified as oriental-spicy and carries notes of bergamot, on top; Saffron, cinnamon, and nutmeg, in the body; Vanilla, and sandalwood, in the base. What a beautiful creation! Beforehand, I am obliged to confirm the various comparisons with fragrances such as Spicebomb (2012) and even Bvlgari Man in Black (2014). However, I do not agree when comparing it with 1 Million (2008), as the latter has more juiciness in the output since it brings more than one citrus note, and the rose's note gives a more feminine and unique tone during the evolution. For me, Gentlemen Only Absolute brought together three of the most important spices in the composition of a good spicy and sensual perfume. Saffron always lends elegance and strength to fragrances, whether combined with rose as well as other spices. Cinnamon gives warm and slightly sweet nuances, gaining a more powdery effect when combined with other spices of the same pattern. And the nutmeg brings more intense facets and a daytime appearance, with more spiciness and aromatic content than the previous ones. A perfect combo! When touching the skin, Gentlemen Only Absolute tramples the senses and leaves behind any trace of bergamot. Immediately, high-quality cinnamon hits the nostrils and brings a powdery effect that was not expected so soon. Here, there's no such thing as “waiting for the fragrance to evolve”, as those who step on the red carpet need to make a great impression from the moment the car door opens. The saffron of this creation, in turn, transmits a scent of soft leather, which gains strength in contact with the sandalwood note, behaving as the link between the body and the base. And in a very subtle way, the drying loses a little of the powdery side and reveals itself creamier and sweeter. So, I need to talk about the vanilla from Gentlemen Only Absolute. It had been a long time since I felt such good raw materials in a fragrance from the Designer segment, as the cinnamon and vanilla of this composition. When it was launched, the market was already full of fragrances with artificial notes of cinnamon, which result in a syrupy smell. Likewise, the ones that had vanilla turned out to be too cloying and sweet, without the creamy and cozy effect of cookies being baked in the oven, which is exactly what the vanilla in this fragrance delivers. The Gentlemen Only Absolute perfume was launched, clearly, to try to capture some of that market share that had been enchanted by the fragrances mentioned at the beginning of this review. It didn't invent the wheel, but it kept it turning, which is a sign of intelligence. On my skin, it doesn't have a high projection, but the durability is very good. It's not intimate, but it doesn't leave a trace either. It's addictive, sensual, and perfect for more special occasions or days with lower temperatures (that’s why I do not understand the launching during the summer). And another thing: it is not exclusively male. I'm an avowed fan of the brand, but I don't understand why some fragrances from the Gentlemen Only line were discontinued so quickly.

ONLY AN ABSOLUTELY WORTHY GENTLEMAN! [short review] This designer fragrance does not deserve to be underrated the way it is. "Gentlemen Only Absolute | Givenchy" is very spicy and moderately sweet, with excellent notes of nutmeg, cinnamon and heavy vanilla. The sandalwood bottom is quite fantastic and endures all through the sweet vanilla dry down. And yes, it may well be the most well-classified Givenchy in any feminine head-turning contest. It's a twist on the much-loved Spicebomb and deserves to be on a pair with other praised spicy fragrances like Bvlgari Man In Black, Armani Code Profumo or PdM Herod. For a 2015 edition, the name turns out to be a poor choice as it becomes outshined by the 1974 Givenchy Gentleman and recent Givenchy Gentleman editions of 2017 and 2018. The name confusion caused by the other 5 Gentlemen Only also doesn't help. I have witnessed more than a couple of fragrance salespeople misleading customers with the abundance of Gentlemen and Gentlemen by Givenchy. Actually, this flask is the nicest one. Performance may be considered fair. My opinion: If you haven't done so yet, just try it in any perfume store. It's really worth it. Music: Radiohead - "Creep" (so f*ing special)

This fragrance does not deserve to be underrated the way it is. It's very spicy and moderately sweet with excellent notes of nutmeg, cinnamon and heavy vanilla. The sandalwood bottom is quite fantastic and endures all through the sweet vanilla dry down. And yes, it may well be the the most well classified Givenchy in any feminine head turning contest. For me it's a twist on the much praised and loved Spicebomb and deserves to be on a pair with other hits like Bvlgari Man In Black. For a 2015 edition, the name turns out to be a poor choice as it becomes outshined by the 1974 Givenchy Gentleman and recent Givenchy Gentleman recent editions of 2017 and 2018. The name confusion caused by the other 5 Gentlemen Only don't help as well. I have witnessed more than a couple of fragrance sales people misleading customers with the abondance of Gentlemen and Gentleman by Givenchy. Actually this flask is the nicest one. Performance may be considered fair. _________________________________________________________ If you haven't do so yet, just try it in any perfume store or blind buy it. It's really worthy. It's the "spicebomb" version of Givenchy. _________________________________________________________

You can't judge this in the first 5 minutes. It starts off quite peppery and spicy, pretty strong with the cinnamon, this is where it sits with the Bvlgari Man Black and Spicebomb. However the nutmeg and vanilla slowly transform this fragrance into something rich. That's the best way to put this, rich. It is cosy, warm and confident. I really like this scent. It's inoffensive, has a masculine undertone and dries down into something sweet with the vanilla but not cloying at all. If you were thinking about this, go to the store, spray it on your arm a couple times and smell it after 2 minutes and then smell it again after one hour and you won't want to stop. If I was being overly critical I'd say I wish the performance was a little better but it could be that my nose was getting used to it. I put it on 8am and could still smell it on my skin at 8pm Overall a great buy for the cooler nights (I tend to wear it to the office in the colder weather)

Er is een fles met een rood stoffen etiket en een uitvoering met een zwart met rood kader, ik heb van beiden een tester fles en heb de indruk dat die met stoffen etiket net wat sterker is en net een klein beetje frisser. Maar wat is deze ongelofelijk goed gemengd, perfect in balans, ik ben er iedere winter ondersteboven van. Er is voor mij niets wat irritatie opwekt in het dragen van deze parfum, en kom daar tegenwoordig maar eens om ! - There's a bottle with a red fabric label and a version with a black and red border. I have a tester bottle of both, and I think the one with the fabric label is a bit stronger and a little fresher. But this one is incredibly well-blended, perfectly balanced; I'm blown away by it every winter. I find nothing irritating about wearing this perfume, and that's hard to find these days!

The Red Carpet masculine fragrance. It was my first Givenchy 'Gentlemen Only' purchase back in 2017. It is a very high-quality unique scent. This is the smell of a famous actor at the MET Gala, or the tuxedo-wearing Oscars host. I haven't worn 'Gentlemen Only Absolute' much because it is totally made for those fancy, black tie formal occasions. I usually wear this for Christmas or New Years. It projects fiercely for hours; a hefty combination of saffron, cinnamon and nutmeg but with a creamy touch of vanilla. All four of these spices are used during the holidays for foods, desserts and decoration, therefore, you will blend in perfectly. The bottle design is not solid black, but iced black. I love the red textile front logo, a festive touch; like a Christmas gift. For me, this is an "Absolute" winner.

I love it. I smell all the notes and occasionally I get a mild Smokey vibe in my fragrance cloud, even tho it's not listed as a note. Now I don't smoke, but for the record I think this scent would be perfect to cover up cigarette smell. I'm sure Audrey Hepburn would approve. But would she approve of Simon Baker? Oh well, at least it's not Brad Pitt or Johnny Drop, James Franco ok well let that one slide, but Adam Lambert or P diddy? Give me a break. Obvious celebrity bribed endorsements come across so fake. Let your fragrance brand speak for itself. When you pay a celebrity, you give them the power to represent your brand. Its too much power and cheapens you. Makes you seem desperate. Let your brand hold the power to make new celebrities. They should be fans of you. Just like A.H. was of Givenchy.

What is with Givenchy and making flankers that smell nothing like the original fragrance? Pi Neo is an example of this. Pi Neo smells NOTHING like Pi, but they stuck Pi on it anyway. Givenchy needs to get over their fear of just calling unique colognes something new instead of slapping an existing name on it. Now on to what I actually think of this thing. I've explained my thoughts on Gentlemen Only on its page. Clearly, I'm not a fan of the original. This one, however, is pretty amazing. I saw this at Sephora the other day and I had no idea it existed up until this point. I was shocked when I smelled it. I did not expect a warm and spicy scent to come out considering the original is an earthy/green scent. I'm definitely going to preserve my sample and I hope to pick up a full bottle eventually.

EDIT: WHY WAS THIS DISCONTINUED :( It's perhaps the best perfume for men I've ever smelled. Such a shame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For the longest time, I've loved this on my boyfriend and I didn't understand why. The majority of men's perfumes smell very same-y to me, but this one stood out in his collection. Now that I'm learning more about perfumery, I realized why I like it so much: most of the fragrances I love are rich in vanilla and warm spice, and so is this one, apparently. Not what I would expect to find in a masculine perfume, in theory, but it smells amazing in reality! It's best on cold evenings, maybe while outside so you catch the scent in the blowing wind (because it's quite intense and long-lasting), but I personally liked it a lot even during hotter days or in indoor settings.

Office and work friendly Spicebomb. Slightly darker opening and more woods as it develops. Less syrupy than spicebomb and lower projection. Definitely not a beast mode fragrance but a fantastic work scent if the wearer wants a V&R Spicebomb or Bvlgari Man in Black scent without that clubbing feel. Huge difference between the air sillage and up close smell. Extensive sampling is definitely required....but worth it. Prices are dropping and 1.7oz is frequently around $30 online with 3.4oz close to $50. Histoires Parfum 1899 is creamier, Bvlgari Man Black is darker and has more leather, and of course Spicebomb is the loudest and sweetest. ....but this is definitely a likable release. Thumbs up!

This is a Gorgeous Fragrance, Elegant, Classy, Spicy, Refined and Warm. Unfortunately, It is hard to find and discontinued. Givenchy Gentleman Only Absolute along with Spicebomb and Bvlgari Man In Black are Suitable for the Cold Weather. All of them have a unique spicy Composition and Well-blended. It opens up with slightly sweet fresh spicy and spices notes in the background then dry down is creamy vanilla woody. This scent has High Quality in the dry down. The Cinnamon and The Vanilla notes are dominant in this perfume. I Really enjoy it and I'm so happy that I have it in my collection . Longevity is good. Highly Recommended. Two Thumbs Up. Rating : 8.5 / 10

This is one of my favorite winter fragrances. You get every bit of cinnamon and the bergamot top note compliments this very well. This is for day and night, and all winter long. The creamy ness that this has leaves a delicious and inviting sillage. I’ve had this now since the start of winter and am pleased to say that the longevity and general aroma has earned a top spot in my winter collection. The dry down is this creamy vanilla almost laté feel. It reminds me of spending cold days in a warm coffee house. This is really where the nutmeg shines. Mixed with the deep reichness of Sandlewood, it makes for an Inviting and warm winter wear.

Smell is so incredible, fan-frickin'-tastic. Spicies with a fresh and clean touch. The sillage is superb. Performance is good, 6+ Hours. I don't mind refreshing every 4-5 hours because the scent & opening are so delightfully amazing. This fragrance draws inspiration from Spicbomb EDT, but its doing its own thing with it. I would say its more similar to the style of Bvlgari Man in Black. The dry down is creamy, vanillic, and slightly spicy and smells so similar to Le Male Eua Fraiche Andre Edition which blows my mind. Truly a Gentleman would wear the s*** out of this. 9/10 best Gyros in town

Really nice warm spicy cinnamon fragrance. I got this back in 2017 and wear it occasionally. Not entirely sure why it isn’t in my winter rotation more. It’s probably top five cold weather fragrances I have. Side note, it smells just like the new spice infrared edp once the spicebomb dries a bit and calms down. I tried the new spicebomb in dillards and really loved it but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I already had it. After about 30 minutes it hit me, it’s a less refined Givenchy Gentleman Only Absolute. Sucks this stuff is discontinued

My signature fragrance. The cinnamon and nutmeg coalesce together in the beginning on the top note like a crackling fire, it's almost impossible to describe any other way. It's warming, sweet yet not cloying. Yet, the sweetness and woodiness are perfectly balanced with this. It isn't exceptionally complex but it's a perfect little concoction that just happens to work perfectly for me. A gleaming campfire in the freezing cold with a warm cup of mulled wine - this is the Absolut. It's almost transportive in the way it evokes my nostalgia.

I'm personally not a fan of Spicebomb, but I like this. I think this is more similar to the syrupy cinnamon in 1 Million than it is Spicebomb. This is a bit more grown up than 1 Million, but I currently still prefer the latter. I'd buy this for the right price, but first I'd need to make it through my 6.7oz bottle of 1 Million, which may never happen... Honestly, the only real let down with this one is strength/projection, as this doesn't really project well enough at all.

This is a beautiful winter/fall scent! It smells nothing like spicebomb original, so not sure where people get that comparison, unless they mean spicebomb extreme? It is similar to SB xtreme, though GGO absolute is a sharper more cinnamon scent where as SB xtreme is more closer to skin vanilla scent..IMHO. Both are wonderful cold/cool weather scents. I have both and enjoy both, givenchy gentleman only absolute is a more projecting and classy occasion scent.

Deze is zo heerlijk, zo fijn op mij in de koude herfst en winter. Perfection in a bottle! Het is dat nummer 1 al vergeven is aan Gentlemen Only Intense, lees wel 'Only' ! Merci merci beaucoup Monsieur Jean Jacques. - This one is so wonderful, so lovely on me in the cold autumn and winter. Perfection in a bottle! It's a shame number 1 is already taken by Gentlemen Only Intense, but I do read "Only"! Thank you very much, Monsieur Jean Jacques.

I really dont know how can compared it to Bb London or One Million. One million is for newbie disco kids, London is for bored life middle aged's, but this one is for modern, exciting, demanding guys. Longevity is more than average, sillage is moderate but enough for compliments. Really underrated about the reviews. Sad cause far better than those opinions, I think.

I don't get the Spicebomb that so many seem to, the vibe of the fragrance is so different. I, unlike many, love the opening, it's so warm and delicious, definitely a blend of cinnamon and incense. Different to other fragrances in the range, but this is a definite winner for the winter/autumn seasons. I love the bottle design and feel. Excellent.

A co-worker once told me that this cologne made me smell "like a sexy little pumpkin spice latte." Like Starbucks' venerable autumn staple, this fragrance contains no pumpkin at all, but is sweet, cinnamon-heavy, maybe a little bit overpriced, and extremely popular among the women in my life. Recommend emphatically for fall/winter.

This is an absolute cracker from Givenchy, they really are treating us to some awesome fragrances, this possibly being the best of the bunch. The word 'Absolute suits it extremely well. It's a fusion of dark, sweet and spicy, a fabulous blend of ingredients. The bottle too, beautifully designed. Givenchy, credit to you!!

The best cinnamon fragrance ever, and far and away the best Givenchy fragrance. Everything about this is perfect. Unfortunately this is discontinued and the page does not list the perfumer, so I can't look up any decent follow ups to this sexy cinnamon that will get your neck eaten by your girl.

A well blended vanilla/cinnamon frag. However, there are a lot of the same genre like this out there. Not really like Spicebomb which has more character and lasts longer. This Givenchy seems to be an EDT potency. Having said all that, this is a nice and well executed perfume for Gentlemen.

Smelled this bad boy at an Ulta and loved it more than the original and the other flankers. Comes across more playful to me than the others and at times almost reminds me of a powdery, more grown up Armani Code Absolu. I think guys in their 20s can pull this off as well as the older gents.

Absolutely beautiful fragrance, a really nice spicy cinnamon smell along with the warmth and comfort of things I can't really explain. Lasts all day long, stayed on my shirt even after a wash. Multiple compliments guaranteed every time I wear it. It's a shame it got discontinued

Thisnis great, I remember smelling it back in 2019 but never got a bottle. Just found a full 50ml bottle and it's very good. 2019 batch, super smooth. If you find a bottle just buy it! Great stuff! 9/10 - only losing a point fir versatility (summer etc)

One of the best spicy perfumes I have ever smelt, it bites out of the bottle and keeps you coming for more. As others have noticed it is has similar notes to spicebomb, however I believe this one is more refined and prefer it to the other options.

A copy fragrance like Viktor&Rolf Spicebomb extreme!! Givenchy Gentlemen Only Absolute is classic it has cinnamon, vanilla and bergamot it is spicy and fresh but also it is very metallic, clean, ozonic...Can put it in winter, fall seasons only.

This does not smell like any of the fragrances in the reminds me of section. Don’t listen to that. This fragrance is a awesome woody and cinnamon scent. And stands out. Definitely the best flanker out of this line! Ashamed it’s discontinued

Spicy opening with freshness from the cardamom. The dry down is sweet and woody but the spiciness lingers Poor performance so I’m having to use it like expensive febreeze even tho it’s discontinued.

Cinnamon + Vanilla + Bergamot make so gorgeous scent together here! Elegantly sweet and spicy, awesome for cool nights and evenings. Scent: 9/10 Perfomance: 8/10 Compliments: 8/10 Overall 8,5/10

Just had a spritz of this in Boots (U.K. Store). This is very sweet, spicy, long lasting and really nice. A bit like Spicebomb. I wouldn't mind getting this one for sure.

A smooth, sweet nutmeg/vanilla perfume. Really nice and great for Christmas. Quite sweet too which I like. This has a lovely character and it's a "love" from me.

Similar to spicebomb in the fact that it’s, well, spicy. But much more refined and way better performance. Leaps and bounds better than spicebomb OG and extreme.

Reminds me of spicebomb extrem tho i would not have bought this over spicebomb, it is an oki scent a bit soft spicy but boringly safe, try before you buy.

One of the best things I have ever smelled in my life, unfortunately, it got discontinued. I love it more, and I think it is better than Spicebomb.

It's lovely fregranc smooth, warm, friendly... Works on my skin on silence way and make my mood better I like it.

it reminds me of Joop Wild and Spicebomb but i think it is a much better version. My female friends love it

It's woody. It's spicy. It's oriental. It's perfection in a bottle. ...and it's discontinued 🤬 11/10

One of my winter favourites. Now discontinued, but I prefer this to the current Givenchy line up.

Definitely get the spicebomb EDT similarity. But that's no bad thing. Very very nice

@Endymion Thats my opinion. Not more not less.

Got this from Notino literally 5 mins ago. So on the opening very similar to Givenchy only but abit smokey and sweeter, don't get much spiciness, maybe alittle woodiness far. Definitely get the 1million vibe but not enough to make me regret buying this as of now. Has that slight soapy and powder smell as the Givenchy gentleman only does. As its settling that sweetness is coming through more and soap dissipating, the spicebomb esq reference is coming through more than anything else, and that's actually in a good way. Smells better and more refined, sophisticated and a good divergence on common designer frags. Doesn't appear to be very strong, did quite a few sprays and though I can smell it on myself it's not alot, feels more like a decent edp's dry down level rather than I sprayed it a few minutes ago. Feel like it'll give you decent projection if you spray enough but doesn't feel like it'll last long. Overall need more time with this one i am alittle disappointed being an absolute and edp I was hoping for something more, i own gentleman only which is Givenchy's Prada L'homme type to me and also the Givenchy gentleman edp which is very different,really nice, strong stuff and pretty unique. Despite lack luster projection and not being anything particularly unique I could see this as a nice everyday and if people can smell it you should get compliments. Givenchy's 1million/Spicebomb entry into the market, around £40 for 50ml isn't terrible but there's better for that price out there.

This fragrance is beautiful. I do understand the comparisons to spicebomb. There is something about the opening that is very similar. But its at the drydown where these two take different paths. The cinnamon is very apparent throughout wearing GOA. The vanilla and Sandlewood make this so smooth and creamy with a hint of smokiness at the base. It is comforting. The full drydown of the O.G. SpiceBomb takes a more leathery tobacco turn. In all, one of my favorite scents hands down. Definite cooler weather formal attire scent. I was lucky enough to go to the 2020 Grammy awards. And I thought about buying a new more expensive scent to wear with my outfit. Instead, I just decided to go with this one because it is that good to me. And it did not disappoint. Definitely a cold weather underappreciated scent. Does not get enough love. Projects maybe 2 feet of scent bubble. Sillage is gorgeous. The wafts I get through a wearing makes my eyes almost roll back in my head. IMO the only draw back is the longevity. Becomes a skin scent after about 5-6hrs. Must reapply but I don't mind due to this scent being heavenly. 8.5/10

I was given this one as a present by a friend who knows I like a good "woody-spicy" perfume. Givenchy Gentlemen Only Absolute is rather nice. I think it has a soft projection and I found it lasted about 6 hours on me - a reasonable length of time. It's certainly woody-spicy and definitely on the sweet side. It opens with a lovely aroma of nutmeg and cinnamon with a hint of bergamot on top, which soon fades and is replaced mostly by a nice, warm vanilla. A little sandalwood creeps in later on but it remains broadly the same throughout once the bergamot has faded. I can't honestly say I smell any saffron but perhaps that's just my nose letting me down. This is a nice perfume and I might buy myself a replacement bottle but I think that I will have to let one or two of my current bottles expire first before I can justify it for myself. But it's probably the best new Givenchy perfume since Pour Homme Blue Label in 2004 and I'm certainly happy to recommend it to anyone looking for a woody-spicy perfume that's on the sweet side.

Gorgeous fragrance - starts with an almost bitter orange/cinnamon opening combo then transitions ever-so-slightly into a more cinnamon/nutmeg warm woodsy scent. Not a whole lot of evolution with it however (pretty linear). Just wish it lasted longer because after about 2hrs I can barely detect it unless I am smelling my own skin directly. I was able to secure a 3.4oz (100mL) bottle on a 3rd party site for half the price and I am glad I did because I could not justify the $80+ it costs elsewhere, not to mention the performance and sillage is not the best for this price. I believe it would be better suited in the $40-60 range. Still a great scent regardless - warm, cozy, and reminiscent of the holiday season.

Tried it two times on my skin from a sample spray at a department store. A pleasant top that's very spicy, sweet, and a little citrusy - reminding me of high quality fruit cake with a ton of ginger and cinnamon, or gummy bears, in a good way. After drying, the sweetness dies down a tiny bit to let the pungently spicy of nutmeg and cinnamon. Don't get me wrong, this stays sweet as a gummy bear throughout. After about five hours, I still catch whiffs of it, though I oddly get reminded of Irish Spring soap. Not a bad fragrance; quite pleasant, in fact. Though I'm 30 and I don't think I can pull this off. I feel like I should wait a few more years before trying again.

Over the Summer this costs $150 on Ebay. Now you can find a 3.3 oz tester at $40 which is more like it. I get the comparison to scents that have been mentioned but I will take a different approach on it. It's basically a light scent that is meant for romantic encounters and not for the club. It's an alternative to The One by D&G and other frags that get bashed by beast mode lovers but are favored by most women. You don't have to "stick out" to be noticed. This scent justifies that to the fullest. Longevity and sillage is average which is appropriate for this scent and if you can find it at $50 and below then go for it!

100ml batch 7T01 (2017) i like it despite its being not very special. on me, it leans toward an "english" fragrance and somewhat spicey. all the listed notes are detected: bergamot, warm spices, sandalwood, vanilla. soapy and clean. could be a good business fragrance for management or business owner. a bit assertive at first, then retreats nicely. hard for me to think this is an evening out. well, maybe a business dinner or cocktails (hmmm whenever those things happen again in a post covid world.) it does not seduce me, nor do i think it will seduce many others. but, it is decent given its limitations