Givenchy III

The prettiest aldehyde I've encountered. Truly lovely, better even than L'Interdit! G3 opens with the expected aldehyde clarion, but it is a softer accord than is generally found. Almost immediately, this begins to die down, leaving gentle, soapy oakmoss, the merest hint of carnation, and soft, warm, narcissus. The heart fades very quickly- too quickly! But the dry down is even better. Clear, clean jasmine, not at all indolic, LoV, a touch of hyacinth. I am not finding any rose, which is usually quite forward on my skin. Nor am I finding any fruit (but then, I rarely do). As gardenia absolu does not exist, tuberose is used as a substitute- but it is a faint, beautifully blended tuberose that gives the impression that a soft cool breeze is sighing intermittently through the warmer white flowers...this is a gentle, relaxing, and enjoyable scent. The dry down is a touch sweet, compared to many aldehydes. I find it refreshing, in the sense that this is, for me, a rejuvenating scent, one that charges the batteries, heralds the end of a period of tension, and allows me to feel like I can stop, breathe deeply, and relax. It is worth mentioning that I have to pretty much douse myself to get G3 to stick around long enough for me to enjoy the dry down. Even so, it remains soft. I am getting good sillage, within arms length, but I suspect it is faint enough that while it registers as a pleasant aura, it is unlikely to be identified as perfume. I'm okay with that! But a small sample might not provide one with enough of the perfume to really experience the full evolution. I have to apply a line of scent to my entire inner forearm, from wrist to elbow, to get the scent strong enough for me to perceive the dry down phase. I am using a splash, so this may be different for those who own a spray bottle. G3 is fresh, clean, gentle, and so very very pretty. It's also quite inexpensive online. My 4oz bottle ran $15 and appears to be in perfect condition. But please do be aware that the treatment of vintages affects how they breakdown, and notes and longevity can be affected. Avoid discolored jus, and anything missing more than 25% of the fluid. Discoloration indicates overheating of the jus- either sun damage or placement over a heating vent. The emptier a bottle is, the greater the air exposure the remaining liquid has. Think of it this way: If a bottle remains untouched for forty years, and is missing only a little fluid, then the top layer of the jus will evaporate into that air, moistening it, and preventing further degradation. The top quarter inch or so will be damaged, but when the bottle is jostled during a sale, it will mix back into the rest, and will only slightly lessen the quality of the jus overall. But the more air in the bottle, the greater the amount of jus that will have broken down, and the more noticeable the effect will be once the fluid is mixed. And if a bottle is jostled a lot over many years, even a small amount of air in the bottle can then affect the entire bottle. Obviously, a newer vintage will have less damage than an older vintage, and while considered less of a collector's item, if there has been no reformulation, the perfume itself will be of equal or better quality. Rather than going for the oldest bottle, try the newest, pre-reformulation. If you really crave the old bottle for itself, buy an empty! Also, decanting jus into a bottle with less air exposure can help to protect what remains. There are plenty of attractive atomizers available! Buying vintage is always a gamble, hopefully this will help.

(Comparison of the EdT and Extrait concentrations, both bottles pre-1990 from the Parfums Givenchy era) Celestial. Ethereal. Elysian. Diaphanous. I’m not going to run out of words to describe the experience that is Givenchy III. Every time I wear it I feel like my body and soul are floating through the world on a joyous breeze. It doesn’t start off that way, though. In both the EdT and the Extrait the galbanum opening is bracingly bitter. It’s not stiff or impenetrable, it feels featherweight, but it is very striking. Particularly in the Extrait, the bitterness is so much it can almost be felt in the back of the throat. But this opening feels cleansing, not uncomfortably scrubbing. Long before the Extrait has released me from the galbanum the EdT moves on to the rose, jasmine, and muguet heart that is simply divine. It is so rich, yet weightless and transparent it presents like the spirits of the flowers rather than a bouquet. Rosey, heady, musky, just a bit green still, a touch creamy and almost imperceptibly fruity. It’s so good. The Extrait gets there eventually, but its heart layer is more fruity floral than strictly floral like the EdT. Mists of mandarin and peach juices hang like a haze over beautiful green roses and a creamy muguet - ok, I need a break from smelling III otherwise I might just pass out in ecstasy. There have been some key differences so far between the EdT and Extrait, and in the final dry down they differ still. Additionally, it’s obvious but shouldn’t go unsaid that the Extrait is richer and more vibrant throughout its life than the EdT. In the dry down, the orris is the star of this layer in both concentrations. It is not cool or powdery like we would normally associate with orris, it’s a neutral temperature silk bathrobe that adds to the feeling of being freshly cleansed and weightless. This metaphor is very intentional because the oakmoss in both concentrations is dialed in perfectly, which evokes the “clean” and “of the earth” feeling while also coming across as damp and misty - stepping out of the shower - like real-deal oakmoss does so well. In the Extrait when the creamy sandalwood at long last makes its appearance, the final skin scent is an embrace of gentle and familiar comfort. It’s in this final stage that the Extrait has more woody warmth than the EdT, the latter opting to hold on to the cooler oakmoss a bit longer but push forward the dry, beige warmth of patchouli instead of sandalwood. Any day wearing III is a lovely day. Though I never forget it, every time I wear it I still balk at how well it suspends itself in the air. This ability to maintain richness without any physical texture or weight at all is a miracle of modern perfumery. III is a legendary classic of the floral chypre genre.

I bought a vintage miniature of Givenchy III, as I was keen to smell this classic green chypre, especially after Luca Turin's glowing review. My bottle is unboxed, and the liquid is very dark, but as it is the pure parfum, the intensity is to be expected. After the intense bitter smokiness of the opening subsides, the essence of this scent is still there - an old-fashioned (in the best way!) mossy green chypre, complete with its aldehydic opening and rich white floral accords. There is a hint of peach in the opening, but I feel that the fruity notes of my sample haven't remained intact. The wonderfully vintage floral heart is ladylike and elegant - rich hyacinth is the most prominent note, with non-indolic jasmine and a hint of narcissus rounding it out. As it dries down further, powdery rose emerges, grounded by soft sandalwood (beautiful quality here, unlike the sandalwood substitute in many modern fragrances). The base is earthy and dirty - giving a gorgeous leathery quality that complements the aldehydic florals beautifully. It is very green - rich and mossy, thanks to in part the now-restricted oakmoss note, as well as the vetiver, patchouli and amber. I am sensitive to patchouli, and often dislike it in modern scents (it is often used too liberally with too few other ingredients), but in a good old-fashioned classic chypre such as this, it plays its part and complements the other notes. The aldehydic-floral accords lasts for hours, complemented perfectly by the divine earthy base. It eventually fades to a warm, ambery skin scent by the end of the day. Sillage is moderate, and longevity is very impressive. This is a beautiful example of a chypre, and has the complexity and high quality typical of such scents from its vintage. A classic, elegant, feminine chypre, it could now be comfortably worn by men, given the changes in perfume trends and tastes, as Glyph below points out. A true beauty from another era. 5/5.

GIVENCHY III (Vintage formula) 1970 An exquisite Chypre-floral-green creation, from the golden era. GIVENCHY III, Opens in a beautiful symphony of harmonious herbal, fresh and green accords of galbanum and gardenia under a veil of refined, slightly soapy aldehydes that intertwine with citrus notes of mandarin and the florality of bergamot. Other fruity and floral notes also accompany in a subtle way, and flirt with the elegance of this sophisticated Chypre; quickly giving way to an absolutely floral-white-green heart, of exquisite opulence, evoking an aura of sensuality and femininity. Within the large bouquet are the sweet non-indolic jasmines, a green touch of Hyacinth, the intoxicating narcissus intertwined with the bright and spicy carnation, creating the sensation of a living and vibrant nature. However, small fresh, soft, watery and slightly soapy tones of the lilies of the valley, leave something lighter and more sophisticated to that opulent weight of the flowers; evoking cleanliness and purity, while soft powdery nuances of iris and rose emerge that are perfectly interwoven, emanating the sublime beauty of a bygone era. As the perfume evolves, the oakmoss/absolute begins to emerge with more prominence, this moss is of very good quality!accompanied by other woods such as earthy, sweet patchouli, which merge with a somewhat dry and powdery vetiver, extending into perfect amber and leathery accords (ambergris and castoreum), soft but very present, anchoring in a warm and balsamic halo of Myrrh. Imparting depth, intensity, character and refinement to the composition. The substantivity on my skin reaches 8 hours. Diffusion is moderate with mild sillage. Givenchy III is an absolutely sublime creation! Perfumes like GIII are what keep me faithful to perfumery as an art. This wonderful emblematic of the house of Givenchy, was considered one of the best exponents of the Chypre-verde olfactory family.

Give this emerald back to me! Let me tell you, I HATE coconut and I absolutely HATE aldehyde, STILL I love this! You know why? Because I don't feel any of this too , because is very good blend. I think this perfume was the first feminist perfume made by RC. I don't know how much FL participated in this jewelry but I feel the powerful thunder of RC. It has the same power and determination as Arrogance, but it's lighter it doesn't freeze you, it doesn't scare you, it's just there to smell and admire it.In his time it was evening perfume, by the way I hate Marketing pictures have nothing to do with perfume,so when I went to the concerts of the EU Feminist League back in the 80's, you could smell Givenchy three by three blocks away at that time we didn't wear it, even though I loved it, because it seemed ultra used in my circles, and that's where my social life revolved, so I used to enjoy it at home or when I went out to the movies or in public places. When it started disappearing in the 90's from everyone's throat, I wore it like crazy. I can't describe the smell to you because it's hard to decompose and it doesn't smell like anything I know, someone said Prada d Iris .... hmm not really they may have been inspired by Givenchy III but it's not the same. What can I say, if you catch it try it! It is a fine perfume, sophisticated but green and strong, it is a perfume for a feminist cattle lady, who respects himself, who imposes respect and who when she steps in a room arouses a stream of:she is? Wow is younger that I expected! So much power and authority at her age huh! Nooo I heard she eat bimbos for breakfast and drinks the envy and disperation of her enemies.

What a beautiful fragrance III is. I am enraptured...so many vintage fragrances are heavenly, and the more I smell and wear the more I turn my nose up at mass market releases! Why could I have not been born in the 50s? Then I could have FBs of all these wonderous juices... When I first smelled the partial mini my Mother gave me, since Action swappwed her two (Thanks Mari!), I thought maybe it had "turned"~it was so bitter and sharp. Once applied to skin, it changes to a bright citrus zestiness. The aldehydes here are deceptive, almost too much; after that though it is magical! Then, as if the dark clouds had passed from the face of the sun; I was greeted with the most spectacular floral aura of hyacinth (gorgeous), muguet(transparent green) and full roses and sultry jasmine...I began to salivate it smelled so very heavenly!! I felt as if I had rolled naked in fresh flowers. Made in 1970, it is still a stunner in 2010-that is quality, that is Givenchy! The drydown does another somersault from floral paradise to warm, mossy and woody. It is like wearing three different scents and only having to spray one on, miraculous! Perhaps this smelled a lot like everything else (back then), but now it is an icon... Sillage: very good Longevity: great Overall: 4.25/5 I used to think I had many great scents, but you ladies and your vintages have opened my eyes (and nostrils!), thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the gifts, minis and samples! You have made me a rich man, in fragrances and friends... :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

How on earth did I go from candy-gourmands like Fantasy and Pink Sugar to vintage greens?? I have no idea... but once I fell down that rabbit hole, I have no intention of going back up! ;) I've always been a fan of Old Hollywood and Art Deco, so vintage perfumes make sense. But why do I crave the beautiful, old, dark, green, animalic, leather, aldehyde/soapy ones? I have no idea, but vintage scents comfort me, make me feel elegant-- even in sweat pants in the middle of winter while I'm reading a Jean Harlow bio. I have several GIII bottles of EDT in vintage form. One sprays continuously (2oz), two darker splashes (2 oz and 4 oz), and a lighter juice EDT (100ml) spray... and I even have the Mythos whatever of the recent formula. (The Mythos captures only the drydown of vintage GIII-- which I still like, but the first 10 minutes of vintage GIII is amaze-balls) This is so woody, it can come across as maple-syrupy and very thick, esp if sprayed heavy. GIII is full of aldehydes, vintage funk-dust, moss, greenery (I love galbanium), and it's DRY. It's cold, but there is something comforting (warm-ish) IMO. I'm obsessed with this... it's the perfect green aldehyde vintage scent. Sits right there with Madame Rochas, Miss Dior vintage EDT and parfum, Bandit, Vol de Nuit, Caleche, etc... Ohhh.... the lightest colored juice in a 100ml EDT bottle I just got today is less heavy/green (light yellow liquid as opposed to a dark tan/brown) and I get much more citrus & peach! Very Mitsouko-like, but a happy brighter moss.

Oh my goodness. What can I say or add to the many eloquent reviewers who've already posted? Well, firstly, I'm old. Maybe I don't look or feel old and maybe I don't want to admit that I'm old, but I'm vintage 1954, so there you have it. Secondly, my collection is stupid-large, which means I've spent way too much money and have so many bottles/ounces that they will exist for years after I'm gone. (How I'll disburse them before or bequeath them after has yet to be decided). So I've sniffed, own(ed) and worn more fragrances than most of y'all ever have or will. OK. That said, Givenchy III is a chypre masterpiece, a glorious, deep and venerable woody green that, in (my bottle of) parfum concentration, honors, defines and provides an extraordinary glimpse of a time before most of our experience or memory. Givenchy III exemplifies a time when the scent of green freshness was not only symbolic of springtime, it was also hugely symbolic of rebirth, of continuity, of victory over the hated wartime oppressor; a proud symbol of hope and regeneration. After WWII, Grace Kelly became a princess and Audrey Hepburn's childhood WWII experience as a young, starved Belgian ballet student became public knowledge. Givenchy III isn't just a beautifully contemporary and definitive chypre fragrance, it's a piece of history deserving of both honor and respect.

I purchased a vintage edt of this and a mini perfume. On initial application, of either strength, the galbanum is so strong it is almost overwhelming. Fortunately, within a few minutes that calms down and it becomes very green, mossy, and earthy. Then the most beautiful, honeyed florals come through. The dry down is a wonderful woody, slight patchouli, ambery scent with a lovely incense note from the vetiver. It's really beautiful. This is a strong fragrance, in either strength, that is long lasting with good silage. I think this is a great fragrance that can be worn anytime, anywhere, though I prefer to wear it in the early spring or fall. I find that the florals are more prominent then. Edit - I just purchased a Mystiques version of this scent at a great price, but while it smells like a slightly less rich version of this scent, it's still very good. It just doesn't have the silage or longevity of the original blend. Still, for those who want to try this scent, and can't seem to find it at a reasonable price, that might be a good alternative. Of course, there are still plenty of mini parfums available out there to try.

I wish everyone could just give their opinion of a fragrance without disputing other reviews. The "reminds me" choices are not supposed to be "exact duplications". They are "reminders". And people wouldn't say it reminds them of something if it didn't. We have to keep in mind that noses all work differently. We all smell different things. Certain notes are more amplified to some and less to others. Some may be anosmic or hyposmic to certain notes so it makes it smell differently. Scent is very subjective and unless we can jump into someone else's body, we don't know how it smells to them. But if you don't agree with the "reminds me of" just click no. That is why it is there. Everything doesn't have to be a battle of who is right. Sorry, I just needed to get this off my chest. Anyway, Givenchy III is a perfectly orchestrated and balanced chypre and one of the great aldehydic chypres of the 70s. If you are a fan of this style fragrance and haven't tried it, you're really missing out.

So yesterday I was in a big Sephora here in Paris and I was delighted to see that this one actually had Givenchy III (EdT). I have a mini vintage sample of the EdT and I love it, very 70s, very galbanum-rich and wonderfully fresh. I was stunned by the "new" Givenchy III (I think it was reformulated in 2007?). The opening wasn't green at all - intense, yes, but in a different way than the original. I'm not that good at describing notes yet, but to me it smelled almost like it was the notes of the original in reverse. It started very growly and animalic and eventually dried down to beautiful floral with a very light amount of galbanum. It was shocking and actually beautiful in its own way, but what a strange surprise! When I got home, I tested my vintage one again, to make sure I hadn't been mis-remembering it. I hadn't. My sample is super green, and smells related to, but quite different, than the new one. Is this just my nose being weird or has anyone else noticed this?

My first purchase at an fragrance auction ended two days ago and today the vintage bottle of GIII, a 100ml splash EdC, came in the mail. I could not wait to try it and it was even better than I hoped for. I have a new one too but, and I am glad ofcourse for this purchase, but also a bit sadened of what has happened to all the remakes of some of these classic brands. As I now have the vintage one on my left arm and the new on the right I can now compare after waiting 15-20 minutes for both of them to get warmed up by my skin. The vintage one is so warm, there is nothing harsh, I do not know how to describe it other than it ́s "seamless". I love this! The new one is sharper and more in your face. Even as it warms up it takes much longer time to get to the pleasent stages of the composition. I am glad to have both but I will keep this vintage for those "rainy days and mondays" when I it ́s just me, my dog and the open fire.

I wore this to my first "party" when I was 13, my aunt let me try a few spritzes and off I went. I had so much fun and danced so much that, many years later, I sought one bottle. I was dismayed to learn it had been discontinued and worse yet, reformulated. You know, oakmoss can cause emphysema, brain damage, etc. I was extremely lucky to score 1 oz of the pure parfum at a local kiosk and could not contain my excitement. A month later the same guy calls me with a bottle of EDT, snatched it up too. The difference between the two is astonishing, they are two very different frags. The parfum goes green, but evolves darkly, smells damp and not leathery, I cannot detect any separate notes, just a feeling of momentary peace before something calamitous. You can feel the tension, the forest is getting dark... The EDT is as lovely as I remember it, a golden and light green halo of expectations and hopes. Both are beautiful

This is my absolute favourite perfume and it has been my signature scent since I was 21. I discovered it by accident - a friend of mine was going on holiday and I asked her to bring me back a bottle of 'Eau de Givenchy'. When she returned 2 weeks later, she gave me a bottle of Givenchy III and apologised, explaining she'd forgotten what I'd asked for. I had a quick spray, not expecting to like it and immediately fell in love, thanking her for her mistake. I was heartbroken when Givenchy stopped making this perfume about 10 years ago but they apparently listened to its many fans and reintroduced it about 3 years ago, but only available in Harrods (I believe it is now more widely available?). I now have a brand new bottle and use it for special occasions, or when I need cheering up - it never fails to lift my spirits and make me feel totally wrapped up in a luxurious veil of scent. Thank you Givenchy!

I bought one of the original bottles of this famous floral/green chypre on ebay. The initial blast of this seemed somewhat bitter for about the first five seconds, but then it settles down to a very pleasant peachy and floral accord, and then even later it dries down in typical (heavenly) chypre fashion, with oakmoss and patchouli and vetiver. Overall I like this very much, and it lasts quite a long time. The thick golden cap on this bottle from the early 1970s made me immediately think of the perfumes on my grandmother's dresser, but the fragrance is actually not heavily feminine. It leans a little that way, but it's easily wearable by a man (though it's very much a day scent for shoulder seasons for whomever wears it). As Luca Turin has noted, most of the great designer feminine scents from mid-century are now pretty wearable by men, given how tastes in fragrances have changed.

Firstly and most importantly, a note to Fragrantica staff. I have always wondered what the hell happened in the process of you copying these pyramids from the late Scentdirect.com. I mean, there are so many fragrances here, in which the original castoreum note is translated into coconut. LOL. Just like with this one! What the fu*k? Explanation, please!! :-) This is a great site in it's own right, but this castoreum-coconut mix up has always taken the toll when it comes to credibility. -------- Givenchy III is a gorgeous, fertile green, soapy chypre, also very suitable for men, too. In modest dozes, of course. On a woman, this is a knockout punch and goodnight, at least for a chap like myself. Let me make this clear one more time: this scent has no coconut whatsoever. Castoreum, probably. At least Scentdirect.com thought so, when it was still alive. (approximately 10 years ago)

Givenchy lll is my all time favourite fragrance and was my "one and only" until it was discontinued. I have been in perfume limbo ever since, vainly searching for a replacement and finding the re-issued version a pale imitation without the depth and warmth of the original. Having just discovered this site I have been inspired by the outpourings of love and nostalgia and the beautiful and evocative descriptions of this wonderful scent. I have a tiny bottle of the perfume which I was afraid to use in case I could never find a supply and that I would lose the memory of it forever.I put some on yesterday and could not stop sniffing my wrists, it was still present 10 hours later! I have decided I must have a new supply and have just successfully bid for 50ml EDT on eBAY , plus a lovely little travel coffret which I remember from the eighties. Can't wait to have a good spray!!

I found a full 100 ml eau de toilette in a bag of vintage perfumes I got from a friend at work. On my skin I can initially sense a bit of green citrus notes and some gardenia, but the galbanum definitely dominates. After around 30 minutes hyacinth and lily-of-the-valley emerges, together with a strong oakmoss. The drydown is a very beautiful transition towards warm, amber woodiness. This is a beautiful, green 70s chypre. To me it is quite amazing how distinct the notes I can detect are, and also the III (!) stages in the structure, which it shares with the other vintage chypres I have tried so far. It makes me feel more drawn to vintage perfumes, now. The sillage on my skin is moderate, not in your face, but distinctly there, and longevity is long, almost 10hrs. I am so thankful to M. at work for giving me the possibility to own this Beauty!

The perfume opens with a strong dose of citrus and galbanum that give a slight 'green' feeling, III would quickly toned down into elegance with more floral added - but still controlled by the citrus and galbanum, which is good to hold the floral from becoming too excessive - think about mass-destruction floral; and after an hour or two, the basenotes of sandalwood and oakmoss starts to appeared and gives a little 'masculine' flavor into this III (but also gives somehow 'cosmetic' smells, almost like a lipstick), which is good since that makes me very sure that III is leaning more into unisex rather than pure feminine, and still retain a pure elegance of the old Givenchy's - which I rarely seen nowadays in mainstream perfumes. a true masterpiece that an avid collectors need at least a bottle in their collection

If one would compare the re-iteration with the original, then the differences would be so great as naming the reformulation the same would do so much injustice. Galbanum was the pride of the 70s but disappointingly the reformulation elevates the facets of hyacinth and peach which, even in tremendous amounts, would not surpass the beauty of the resin. The original doesn't have the brashness of the new one, rather it announces itself stealthily although assuredly and beautifully through the song of the galbanum together with the impeccable nuances of hyacinth, peach and myrrh. Givenchy III's verdancy does not emulate a harshness found peculiar in green perfumes, this one is preferably noble, moderation-at-best and style inimitable. I can't wait to get my hands on vintage Y, such beauties lost in time.