Givenchy Play Intense

Im not a big gourmand fan but this scent is fantastic ! It opens up smelling kind of powdery,pleasant and slightly peppery and honestly when I smelled this at first I immediatly thought I wasnt going to like it. Not that it smelled bad but I just thought it was going to be boring and just another gourmand that I wasnt going to like. (Also I didnt and still dont like the pepper in the opening) But once it kind of meshes with your skin it gets really nice as the coffee and tonka bean take over leaving the orange and pepper in the background giving this some character and a bit of freshness. The drydown is pretty much the same except the heart except what your left with pretty much is a very sweet,yet not cloying scent thats pretty much all tonka bean at this stage. The drydown to me honestly smells like a chocalatey, coffee drink,with whipped cream you would get from Starbucks. My girlfriend actually likes this stuff which says a lot because she usually doesnt like sweet scents and goes more for freshies. Also she actually was the 1 that picked this out and its her favorite as far as Fall/Winter fragrances go. Performance on this is really good. The first hour be careful because this can project like a beast ! After that first hour it does sit closer to the skin but leaves a pretty nice bubble around you and a nice scent trail when you pass people. SIDENOTE: If you wear or wore AXE DARK TEMPTATION and want a less synthetic,better quality fragrance that will last all day you NEED to check this fragrance out as this is very similar. All in all id rate this an 8.5 out of 10 ! The only reason im not rating it higher because even though this performs well and smells great. Its only a fragrance that I like and not love but hey for me an 8 is a solid score. ---------------------------------------- SIDENOTE: Maybe its just me but I do believe this has been reforrmulated. I initially smelled this at an ULTA and at ULTA the opening was WAY stronger and projected like a BEAST. 2 weeks later I bought this online and it smelled pretty much the same except the opening wasnt as strong and it didnt project the way it did when I sprayed it that day at Ulta.

Fantastic coffee and patchouli-vetiver, with a boost of tonka sweetness and a hint of spicy pink pepper. Alluring and masculine. Close enough to the coffee note of brewing coffee or fresh ground beans that I've been craving. Unfortunately the sillage is very poor. After only two days, I've used a tenth of a 100ml bottle. Which by the way, the bottle design is a fantastic, though now dated, approximation of an mp3 player. I don't pick up on any bergamot or other citrus, but there is some woods, which on the bottle is listed as amyris wood. I compared test strips of this and Michael Jordan Legend. Legend is far "brighter", the citrus and florals in it really stand out in comparison to the "darker" notes in Play Intense. Legend is sweet, more vanilla than the tonka in Play Intense. Legend has way more projection, and three sprays of each have both endured on the strips for over 24hrs, though Play Intense became faint almost immediately and Legend projected for a few hours. Paired well with Givenchy Pi, Burberry Brit Rhythm, Bvlgari Man and Man Extreme, CK Shock One (though I can agree that maybe that is too intense a combo). I love the composition of this fragrance, but because of the sillage issues, I will likely opt to try Rochas Man when I run out of this. Will update if I notice sillage does better in warmer weather (writing this during the coldest bit of winter). Update: In less than a month, I've used 60% of the bottle. Apparently the sillage and longevity issues I noticed may be some nose problem I have because when I wore this to the store, all the ladies in the bakery could smell it from feet away over the bakery smells and they all loved it. Still plan to replace with Rochas Man when I run out. Adds a delicious clinging sweet tonka to sweaters and jackets that lingers for days after a spray.

I was looking for a fragrance with a chocolate/vanilla scent and from the information that I gathered from the internet (Thanks, Fragrantica!) Givenchy Play Intense has that element. It was a difficult task finding this fragrance. Most of the Givenchy counters at the department stores doesn't carry it anymore, and they said it has been discontinued. The local online and brick-and-mortar perfume shops also gave me the same answer. But then a miracle happened, I found it at a Givenchy counter at a department store. One last bottle! When I sprayed the tester on my wrist, I thought "Yes, this is it! I found my true love". Warm and sensual coffee/chocolate/vanilla notes, with a hint of something citrus-y and flower-y to balance it out. Sweet but not too sweet, just perfect! It was truly love at first sniff. The bottle is pretty cool too, black mp3-shaped with rubber sprayer. It feels just right on my grip. I decided to buy it right then and there, and I thought to myself "This must be my lucky day!", or is it? The next day I wore to it the office and I realized something: it's a really weak fragrance. The sillage is very low, I have to spray it at least 6 times to get any projection. And the longetivity is very poor too. It dissolves quickly especially since I perspire easily. I don't know whether it has been reformulated or past its the expiration date. I don't have any other reference as a comparison. But I'm very dissapointed because I love this fragrance so much. Anyway, Play Intense is perfect for guys in their 20s and 30s. It has a cool and sexy vibe but also dynamic and vibrant. I personally wear this during daytime, but it would be great for going to parties or clubs.

When this frag came out in 08, I have to agree with buysblind...it was also hard for me to take this fragrance serious. I understand why Givenchy was appealing to a younger age between 18-40yrs old. By using the lingo "play" instead of "pour homme" it doesn't gives the impression that it's an old man's cologne. Now about the fragrance...I was able to get my hands on a tester bottle and when I first srayed it on my skin it had just a hint of synthetic chemistry but after awhile it took on a much more unique and pleasant aroma giving a sweet blend. After it settled I was able to smell the pink pepper with coffee beans also labdanum giving it a real aromatic aroma. The base notes of tonka beans, patchouli and a touch of Vetiver making it a real attractive fragrance. This frag is really versatile good for both during the day and evening. It's a real playful scent which makes it cozy and appealing to a younger person. Thou I'm in a older age group I still appreciate the fragrance altogether. Both longevity and Silage are excellent...I found that it lasts for 8hrs. Overall opinion, This fragrance is excellent for casual and during work time. Every time I wear it I'm always getting compliment from co-workers which is nice. The aroma has a warm tone to it which makes it absolutely amazing. Lastly one thing that this fragrance isn't and that's generic...I've smelt a lot more expensive frag which didn't have the zip that this frag has. A very refreshing frag which could be used during the fall and winter days...it would go a long ways if spray it twice. Rating this fragrance is worth at least 8/10. :))

I bought this perfume for my BF's birthday. shocked him to death, as I asked him before to sniff some perfumes with the biggest lie ever: I'm going to wear men's perfume. this is the only one that appeals him. he unconsciously kept talking about it day and night, not even aware of what I planned behind. yay for a happy BF. somehow GPI smells even better on him than it was the best I can remember from the last time sniffing it on test paper. I love it so much from the first time sniffing it at dept store. it's warm, spicy, a bit sweet, but super sexy fragrance. the most important of all is, this one is kinda rare and haven't met even one man wearing this perfume but my BF! well, I DO think GPI deserves more attention. Its spiciness from pink pepper and patchouli is just in the right amount, vetiver adds perfect woody tinge, while tonka bean blends deliciously with the coffee note. longevity is awesome. 8 hours and more, and still can feel it in the air everytime he made small movement. I imagine a man, who's mature but still has strong youth vibes from his appearance, in shirt, walking down expensive bar on his own and makes young ladies turn their heads just to see who's just passed by. Seductive, but in an elegant way. Sexy, but not trashy. Strange enough, but I have to agree with the first review of this fragrance from Giv1952. Play Intense is a little like Ange ou Demon, my signature perfume, especially on both's dry down phase. It's the tonka! I found the Play Intense to pair very well with Ange ou Demon (original EDP version), if not just hormones acting up with our body chemistry...

There's something about Play Intense, it invites you in with warmth... mainly with the tonka, a marshmello vibe, and a slight hint of coffee. I've been wearing it since it first got released (08?), so I've owned the old formulation and new. I think I'm on my 3rd bottle right now and I acquired a backup bottle... I just love this juice. It used to be my signature scent when I had a collection of about 15.. now that the collection is sitting at around 80, I still find use for this amazing fragrance. I actually wore it on my first date with my g/f a few years back and whenever I wear it now, she instantly recognizes it and LOVES it on me. I've got most designers on all these top 10 YouTube lists... you name them, I've probably got them. Forget that noise... the g/f instantly recognizes Play Intense and goes GAGA over it. I get unsolicited compliments whenever I wear it out at night from the ladies... dudes too (lol)... and I always have done. Play Intense is versatile so you can wear it out at night year round but probably better suited to slightly colder weather, due to the warmth of the tonka that shines through. When I told the g/f that Givenchy had discontinued it, she actually wrote to Givenchy asking them to reconsider and shared the story of our first date LOL. Granted, it's not the most complex fragrance, I have many in my collection that tick that box, but Play Intense is so damn good and it will always have a special place in my heart. If the house is burning down and I can only take 3 fragrances... Play Intense is coming with me.

The coffee note in this is different than I am used to smelling in fragrance. As a woman, many of the fragrances with coffee notes I have tried, the coffee is sweet and creamy. That is not the case here. This is an aromatic spicy black coffee. This is not an overpriced Starbuck's concoction, this is bold, black espresso. Nothing sugery sweet or millky here.This is a dark, sexy masculine fragrance. It's perfect for an evening out on a cold night. I don't find it unisex at all. There are a number of men's fragrances I enjoy wearing myself, but this one is reseved for a man in my life. The performance is excellent with this fragrance. It lasts all day, at least 10+ hours on skin and forever on clothes. I notice it on clothes in the laundry until they are washed. The projection is quite strong. Not quite room filling, but easily beyond arms length. I would caution against overspraying. One because it doesn't need it and this fragrance is getting hard to find. But more importantly there is an off-putting plastic note that I only notice when this is oversprayed. It's too bad this has been discontined. It is a wonderful fragrance that doen't smell like a lot of what's out there, while still being easy to like. I'm not a fan of the bottle, though it's not nearly as tacky as the women's version. Even in 2008 an mp3 player inspired bottle was no longer cutting edge, they were at least 5 years too late. We had all ditched out mp3 players for phones by then.

I picked up this fragrance yesterday and I am so glad I did. After one evening of wearing for a night out of the town, I can attest that what is said is true: woman love Play Intense. Literally, after walking into the pub, I gave a female friend a hug, and she said, "Wow, you smell good!" and gave me another hug. I think the thing I am most pleased about is this is a very well-done and complex scent. I tend to like fragrances that have different characters juxtaposed such as the rose and patchouli in Lumiere Noire and the orange blossom/cinnamon/musk combo in L'Anarchiste. Where this stands out to me is you have the initial sweetness of coffee, mixed with smokey vetiver (gives an odor reminiscent of rubber) and patchouli. So to me this would be a "gourmand fougere". It is just so good and so da*n sexy. Makes me feel like a million bucks to wear. Finally, as many have said this Play Intense is also one of those rare fragrances that lasts forever (I woke up in the morning more than 12 hours after applying and could still smell it) but also sits very VERY close to the skin. As a person who normally goes light on the sprays, you need a good 6-8 sprays to make this bad boy have some decent projection. This is easily one of my Top 10 fragrances.

Purchased this fragrance after smelling it once at a local department store. Never looked back. Givenchy Play Intense is an amazing gourmand that opens with a sharp coffee note, and quickly dwindles down to more subtle notes underneath. When one thinks of coffee fragrances, one's mind might drift toward more of a Angel Men taste, but do not be fooled- GPI is in a class of its own. It brims with a coffee tone before transforming into a leathery aromatic that sits well on the skin for hours. The projection is nice, as it will creep a few feet around wherever you spray for the first couple hours, before surfacing afterward to say hello now and again. I very much enjoyed this cologne, and recommend it to any gourmand lovers. It is a much softer version of Angel Men, with a greater affinity toward caramel and the aromatic works. Buy, try or recommend? Definitely a BUY. Spray recommendations: one on the chest, one to the front base of the neck, and one to each arm (or spread from one to the other). Longevity: 8/10 (8+ hours- above average) Projection: 7/10 (It gets out there!) Versatility: 7/10 (Most occasions- great for fall/ winter) Smell: 8/10 (Sweet coffee, caramel, and aromatic goodness!)

After all this time this cologne is still a favorite of mine and is easily in my top 5 most complimented frags in a collection of 200 + .... also my gf LOVES this and it's 1 of her favorite on me in the fall and winter months. The smell on this is gorgeous ! It's a smooth,semi fresh,slightly gourmandish,slightly sweet smell that to my nose smells very similar to a coffee shop that also serves pastries! With that said it also has a very masculine edge to it making it appealing and quite sensual. This to my nose has a great balance of sweetness and freshness that it is also quite original and unique. Performance on this is great ! It has great projection that is easily noticeable to those around you without being too cloying or loud and this leaves a very nice scent trail. Longevity is 6-12 hours. ( generally in the 8-10 hour range) Overall rating --- 8.5 out of 10 ! Amazing scent that will always be in my collection and is a great intro fragrance for those looking to get into gourmands Sidenote: For those that love dark temptation by AXE and want to upgrade to something more grown up and classy this would be an excellent choice !!!

I have a 2011 bottle, old bottle design (with the notch bottom and missing the Givenchy writing). This is a sweet, tonka heavy scent, although I no coffee (the notes say "coffee wood" not coffee). As it settles I get woody vetiver, more tonka (which also reads vanilla-ish to me here) and remains pretty linear. If you love tonka, you’ll love this. I get extremely good longevity out of this (10-12+ hours) with moderate projection for 2-3 hours with only a few sprays. Sprayed on my hand before bed twice - it's still going strong with the tonka/vanilla/sweet base 10 hours later. This reminds me of Tom Ford’s Fucking Fabulous tonka. Play Intense is a bit more mild than FF (which screams off my skin and is even more plasticy) but that’s an immediate connection. I find more connection there than with Rochas Man, which to me is a coffee/caramel/vanilla vibe. A 7.75/10 for me. It’s fun to own a discontinued, vintage bottle and it’s got its place for night time use. It’s more associated with positive memories for me than it is an incredible scent...so I wouldn’t chase vintage unless you love the smell of tonka or you have good associations.

Captivating and intriguing... Givenchy’s Play Intense is a beautiful gourmand fragrance that should be added to any collection. This morning, I was reminded of the dominant patchouli and tonka bean notes that comprise this fragrance. Well done, Givenchy. There are many similarities to Bond No. 9’s New Harleem and Rochas Man – I have both of these alternatives and add that all three are great fragrances, with each adding a “different twist”, establishing uniqueness. The performance of Play Intense is above average, lasting 8+ hours on me, longer on clothing, and all at greater than arm’s length distance. Based on the warm and inviting note structure, Play Intense is well rounded and versatile for wear to any event and across seasons. While I am not sure I get the bottle design, it is unique and definitely a conversation piece. My final tally for Play Intense is 4.3 stars with a solid “love” for the fragrance community. Given the modest pricing, Play Intense is a “steal of a deal” for those looking for a solid tonka bean gourmand fragrance. Enjoy your day and happy fragrance hunting...

My wife loves this one, which is good because I put this one firmly in "date scent" category, meaning it projects moderately well within the first hour, but retreats to a skin scent from that point forward. As a skin scent it lasts about 3-4 more hours on me. The scent itself is pretty soft and sweet; my wife loves powdery and balsamic scents, so this is a cinch winner for our nights out together, or just for our nights together at home. I'd also recommend it for office wear, but be prepared to re-apply if you want it to last a full workday. I'd say it's pretty linear, and none of the notes outside of the Tonka steps over the others too much - I think the notes are well blended to present themselves as a cohesive accord - and I'd say it's very similar to that powdery accord that Givenchy also presents very well in the Pi series, so I tend to use this one in warm weather and Pi in cool weather for a more spiced take on that core Givenchy accord. I get a comforted vibe from this, so that's probably the coffee working on a subconscious level on me, as it's one of my favorite aromas.

For the longest time I avoided this cologne simply based on the fact that I hated the bottle it's in. I think it's immature looking and just plain ugly. A few weeks ago I went to a department store and was testing a lot of different colognes. The clerk was kind of pushy and was spraying a lot of samples on test strips that I didn't even ask to smell. None of them excited me until she sprayed this one. I can say that I was really shocked and surprised at how good the scent was compared to the bottle it was in. I just don't feel like the bottle is a good reflection of the delicious smelling cologne inside. I didn't buy it that day but the smell was good enough to make me think about the cologne until I decided I had to have it. I finally purchased it this week and all I can say is it's one of my favourites already. On the second day I wore it I had someone tell me how nice I smelled. I wish all of my colognes would get compliments like that but they don't. I can't stop sniffing myself when I have this one on. It just goes to show that you can never judge a book by it's cover!

Very nice, inoffensive sweet vanilla scent with a slight hint of coffee. Good warm woody base. I was expecting more coffee but it is present in the background and gives it an almost acidic note. Citrus notes gives it some extra presence and balances the sweetness. Considering this is a 2008 scent this is way ahead of its time. Not really an “intense” scent tho. It’s quite reserved and polite , the smokiness bottle and the intense moniker might make you think this is something more like One Million in the sense that it projects strongly. Very nice blend and lasts quite long , but is quite an intimate scent so don’t expect massive projection. It’s a skin scent starting from the beginning for me. Great looking, although obviously dated bottle and very nice sprayer. It makes more of a mist than a spray. Good buy but at the price it’s sitting at now in eBay / etc. (200-300 range!) totally not worth it unless this is special to you or you’re a collector. Up to 100 I would say definitely yes but it’s basically almost impossible to find under 200 now.

This is the shit. I love the smell of this fragrance. It smells like Rochas Man...A lighter version of it...This is perfect for the spring time & summer. While Rochas Man is more for the fall and winter..Rochas man is a beast and this is it's little kid brother. I LIKE IT! Would buy another bottle if I finish this before the summer ends. If you Rochas Man, La Nuit de l`Homme, Jaguar Classic Gold, Uomo Salvatore Ferragamo, Joop! or Superdry Dry Oil...This is a Must buy people, must buy! I bought a 150 ML bottle for $30.00, Worth it. Great blind buy. I used seven sprays...both wrist, behind my ears, back & front of my neck and chest. SKU Number: Don't have the box. Batch Number: 4W01 (Production Date: 2014-09) Age: Any Scent: 7/10 (Great) Value: 7/10 (Only cost $30.00 for a 150 ML) Sillage: 6/10 (Arm's length at best) Longevity: 8/10 (About eight plus hours) Creativity: 7/10 (Sweet citrus) Projection: 5/10 (An hour tops) Versatility: 10/10 (Anytime during the spring and summer & anywhere) Compliments: 4/10 (4 Comments thus far)

Play Intense starts with this nice dark feeling along some fruityness. Mandarin, amyris, pink pepper and some tonka is what I get, unfortunately the coffee is something I really don't get. Overall the scent goes from slightly fruity beginning to resinois sweetness of middle and lastly for peppery warmness with some sweetness. The pepper lays underneath everything in every phase, but it is the drydown when it truely shines. Sillage and projection are great on my skin, this feels one of those fragrances that are made for my skin type. Lasts all day and it doesn't fill the whole room instantly but it can be noticed easily. This was one the first must have scent that I got when starting with this whole fragrance journey. I do adore this scent for that, but would I get a new bottle when the old one has been emptied? No I don't think I will, I have grown older and got my nose around many interesting scents. I can always look back with bit of a rose tinted glasses and remember how I used to love this one.

I cannot speak to warmer seasons, but this truly does shine on a cold day with a thick fog - it permeates the air around you and lingers in your sinuses like having your own flavored air. It may sound strange but it was quite wonderful! To open, I find a fruity note, that isn't quite citric, that melds with the dry, nutty tonka and faux sandalwood in this fume. The scent does a fantastic job of creating the scent trail of a freshly brewed black coffee without smelling like actual coffee...there is the nuttiness and a dry bitterness that permeates the air. If you inhale closely and deeply, it does evoke a dry cacao note as well. All in all, it is another designer fume that is oddly alluring and quite enjoyable to wear. May you all have more success with your life's quandries than I and may we all smell like we own the world! Day 15 - Coiled in question Listening to: Agnes Obel - September Song

Beautiful simple designer from that just recently bygone era of fifteen years ago. Play Intense and Play, along with the Mugler Amens and Armani Attitude (and Extreme), were the standout stars from that time and were pretty far ahead of their time with the reliance on vanilla and tonka to create hyper sweet but still overtly masculine fragrances. Play intense to me was always slightly better than the original; not only the addition of coffee but the added dustiness in the overall profile made it a fragrance that was great for dates but also passible for weekend errands. Like it's fellow discontinued contemporaries, it fetches an inflated price on the grey market these days. But if you have the disposable income and the desire to travel back in time just a hair, then splurge and grab a bottle!

This is kind of a hidden gem, that is in plain sight. Reviewers never really bring this one up, it never makes top 10 lists or favorite fall/winter/spring lists. I never even thought to try this one, as it didn't seem to be that great if nobody is talking about it. Boy, was I wrong to ignore this fragrance. This is an amazing fragrance. It smells fantastic, has above average longevity and projection and can be found for cheap online. This is one of my best purchases, I am glad I finally bought this. The spicy, manly coffee smell is pretty unique and is just plain delicious! It may be a little synthetic, but don't let that discourage you. Trust me guys, you need to at least try this fragrance, but try it on your skin and give it a few minutes to dry down, you won't be sorry!

The first formulation in the darker bottle without the bottle is a love for me. A lovely Aromatic fragrance with airy coffee note with tonka and some patchouli. Oddly, I find this smoother and not really more dense than the first version. I find the difference is that this one is a has more sweetness in the base from vanilla that helps the fragrance last longer. I do not find this a fall only fragrance, especially not a winter fragrance. Comes off sophisticated, yet modern ! Better for spring and fall. I think this would work on summer nights and winter days, but it wouldn't be the best. Love this and a real sleeper for me. last 5 hours with fair to poor projection, but we all don't have to shout. I use it when I travel or am going to be close to people in cool weather.

A scentimental favorite of mine. I was homeless, had only lived in Seattle for 8 months and missed Maui, where I came from. I wanted something to bring me some comfort in my trials...The gal at Sephora, where I went to get out of the rain, suggested this new scent from Givenchy, I told her I was living in a shelter and couldn't afford a bottle. She said "go take a walk, get an Orange Julius and then come back" So I did and when I got back to the store, she had a 30ml decant for me. It was till tight on the money but doable...I got sooo many comps from that, it's warm, cozy, I have been told I smell like apple pie, gingerbread cookies, spiced latte...It will always have a place in my rotation....ALWAYS...I love it, it loves me, the chicks love it on me....

If your into gourmand/semi gourmand scents...IMHO this is one of the best.(along with Valentino Uomo, Bond NY For All and the incredibly cheap-but great Choco musk) Also I definitely find it more masculine than the others I mentioned.(with the exception of the Bond perhaps because of it's strong "roasted" nut accord) I've got a older bottle and while it does give me very good longevity, I don't get very good projection from it at all.(which is contrary to what some others say for the older formulation) Come to think of it, it might be down right poor after the first few hours. Unless someone was right next to you, I wouldn't think they would be able to get into your "scent bubble". Still, projection issues aside...the smell itself is terrific IMHO:)

Funny now discontinued and is now selling for a gold price. In regards to the scent nothing groundbreaking in my opinion your typical gourmand, sweet scent. Start off fresh on initial spray then quickly becomes sweet, there’s a hint of woodiness at the base, but highlighted with sweetness (tonka bean) I don’t really get much of coffee here really. So patchouli, vetyver on the background and a lot of tonka bean in the base that’s about it. (Not that interesting imo.) projection moderate, performance about 6 max for me. I recommend pure coffee, intense cafe, noir de noir, black phantom if you’re into this genre (more coffee highlights). Please don’t pay gold price for this.........happy sniffing ✌️

I go head over heels over the smell of this fragrance. This is one of the best smelling fragrances in my honest opinion. Such a gorgeous coffee, tonka bean, and pink pepper fragrance. Very sweet and opulent with this very nice freshness from the pink pepper. This also lasts for 8-9 hours with a great 2-3 hours projection. I am so glad that this fragrance performs off of me. I say this because I get to smell it on my self for the whole day haha. Extremely well-done fragrance, also very different from other mainstream designer fragrances. I am not sure if you will love it as much as I do. But, I do hope that you appreciate this fragrance for what it is. A semi-fresh gourmand. How crazy haha.

Starbux toffee-nut latte in a bottle. This, though without a doubt synthetic, is actually a really nice smelling fragrance. It is definitely gourmand and playful, but has this unique smell that i think would compliment a nice leather jacket in the fall. It starts off sweet, but not in your face cloying, it also has this bit of a green note balancing the sweetness of the opening. Then as it starts to dry down you get this delicious coffee house smell, though it remains fairly linear and doesnt get to that cloying level other sweet frags tend to get to. I think givenchy did good with this one, to me it really does smell like a capuccino or a coffee house fresh made latte. Good stuff! 8/10

Although I enjoy the original Play better, this is a very appealing fragrance. The coffee aspect is subdued and it gives the bouquet a mellow, autumn-like air. The DNA of the original Play is present, but absent is the creamy luxury and hint of citrus. But very nice indeed! I bought the bottle from a couple who have a stand in the outlying streets of downtown Mexico City. They have excellent prices and original products. Whenever I visit CDMX, I purchase fragrances from them. There is no address since it is behind a mercado, in a flea-market-like ambience. They say their supplier has a few bottles left, and they realize it is discontinued. I paid around $38 USD total.

I have the 2 that this is being compared with, namely MJ Legend and Rochas Man. With MJL, there is a striking similarity on top notes, but with RM, the middle is quite similar and they differ on the dry down. RM has that coffee-powdery scent, this has coffee spicy, more manly scent than RM. MJL can't be compared with these 2 with regards to projection and longevity as that lasts on me for 3 hours tops with 2 sprays, while RM and GPI are both beasts in that regard. This is one of my top scents and my go to bottle when I want that spicy gourmand sweetness, otherwise my RM is alpha. (2 sprays) Longevity: 8/10 Silage: 8/10

Not one for the boys, smells mature yet in a good way. Dark, deep enough with a lot of staying power. Opening is a tad rough making you think of plum liqueur but a beautiful blend where base notes really shine. Coffee is backseat driver on this one. Chocolatey patchouli. If someone said this had tobacco without looking at the notes, I'd believe it. Suit and tie fragrance for date or business, but this is the one you use to close deals, hence: special occasions but it could be daily driver for the CEO type, only fall/winter though. Yeah it's a 5/5 for me. Juice has a yellowish color and box declares Yellow #5 dye.

If this fragrance is reformulated then i am very lucky : i bought GPI one week ago (on fragrancex) and i received a november 2009 batch. But i don't think it has been reformulated because when we read the currents reviews a lot of people talks about the great longevity. I love this fragrance (caramel spicy). Probably my top 3. Longevity : 12 hours. Projection : ok. It's a perfect intense version of Givenchy Play (than i love too). Finaly, i find GPI versatile : day, evening, diner, work, etc. Altought, i am not sure about this fragrance in the heat of the summer.

Givenchy Play Intense has gotten me compliments from women who would never compliment me on other perfumes I wear. I would not say that I am the biggest fan of this and I think I am yet to understand this fragrance fully. I get a marshmallow and a bit of rubbery note from this and don't get the coffee note that much. I only wear this during winter nights and keep this as my prized possession since it is discontinued now. I can't believe I once tried to sell it off after I just bought if but couldn't since I got no buyer lol.

A very unique and powerful scent heavy on coffee yet a tad sweet and seductive. Lasts incredibly long on skin 10 hrs plus for me and projects well. I was given this in the early 2010s by my bestfriend who didn’t like it then, a Christmas present from his mom. Heck we were young teens. Little did I know this would be an expensive hard to find discontinued fragrance. This is perfect for a classy night in a suit or even just a dressed down on a cooler night regardless of season. 10/10 my 3rd favorite scent.

I don't care what anyone says as far as this being an immature fragrance. Whenever I wear this I get an INSTANT compliment, it never fails and it always makes me giggle like a little school girl, unbelievable! This, besdes YSL's L'homme parfum intense, is one of my most complimented fragrances!A Masterpiece! Yes it is sweet, yes it is a bit synthetic (ok, a lot) but who cares, it smells so good! I am trying to horde thsi stuff before the dreaded reformulation strikes! I can guarantee you it will!!

This is my signature fragrance. I recently shelled OUT for an unopened 150ml bottle and I'm treating it like gold dust. I'm gay, but I must agree that women love this fragrance. I think men do too they're just too chicken to say, "wow you smell great" haha. Anyway yeah, this is the scent I want people to associate with me. I just got a little Salvatore Ferragamo Uomo on a UK fragrance subscription program and it's nice - but it doesn't compare to my darling Justi-, sorry, I mean Play Intense haha

So glad I found a bottle of this. I’m in love all over again. Such a disappointment that it was discontinued. One of the most beautiful and delicious fragrances I’ve ever encountered. Brings back so many memories. I get so many compliments. This fragrance is indeed the Dark Horse of all Dark Horses. Perfect for dates and if you’re trying to impress that special someone. Wearing this fragrance is like being made of chocolate and leaving a trail of money everywhere you go. Wear with caution.

I repeatedly buy this for my husband and have for years. It's one of my absolute favorites, along with Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male and D&G Light Blue. This is definitely a more heavy, gourmand type fragrance - a sexy blend of coffee, tonka bean and slight vanilla. The lasting power is fantastic and it's the perfect cologne to wear in the evening. If you tend to gravitate towards fragrances with citrus notes, this may not be a hit, but I suggest at least giving it a try!

Very good designer frag had for cheap. Don't get any coffee notes in this like a lot of people do. I do get a warm/spicy leathery vibe like a high end leather upholstery in a car. Good longevity and sillage. Similar scents include Prada Luna rossa extreme (the very end of dry down) Rochas Man but this is less sweet and sugary MJ Legend which is more creamy/gourmandish than this. Scent 9/10 Sillage 7/10 Longevity 7/10 Overall 8/10 Can be had on most sites for under $50

Dufour is right, the projection isn’t as good as Uomo, it’s definitely on the weaker side but the scent itself is really good. Very versatile and not too sweet, can be worn anytime. It actually reminds me of A*Men Pure Tonka but this is softer and less in your face. The citrus in this also adds a nice little twist to it. One weird observation, I’m getting rubber mostly in the top notes and even lasts to the dry down. Is anyone else getting this rubber note too?

This was one of my first "expensive" scents that I ever owned after buying a sample online. It's a great fragrance and I truly love the sweet opening and wished that the opening lasted thru out the entire life of the scent. But on the dry down it gets a little darker tone than I prefer. It still smells good I just prefer the opening to the dry down. I still have it and wear it and would highly recommend it to anyone. Sweet, vanilla/chocolate, coffee scent.

This along with the regular Play were always among my all time favourite fragrances but unfortunately I ran out of both around 7-8 years ago. I just came across a very similar smelling fragrance called Tempo by City Rhythm and it’s insanely close to this. If you too are heartbroken that Givenchy Play has gone away I highly recommend getting yourself a sample to try it for yourself and get a reminder of this amazing discontinued gem.

@openingday, yes it's similar on skin. There are always some subtle differences with respect to skin chemistry and so on, but if you smelled it on paper then you have a decent idea of how it'll smell on skin. The only difference is that this frag goes through a nice, subtle evolution as it dries down, transitioning seamlessly from a sweet, almost edible coffee/cotton candy vibe to a warm, spicy, slightly woody scent.

I absolutely love this fragrance here. I got it way back in 2010 and I fell in love with it,unfortunately I've found out it's long since been continued and you've gotta shell out top dollar to get a bottle. The question I have, and maybe you fragrance pros can help lead me in the right direction..I'm curious to know what fragrances are similar, because it really is my absolute favorite scent ever.

Managed to find an old bottle I had back then and wore it religiously (circa 2021 me). I should've used it more sparingly and enjoyed it more. I recall sillage and projection being beasts despite it being an EDT. Playful cologne that was refreshing and different. I have yet to smell another cologne that is close to it to this day. If I could, I'd buy another in a heartbeat

Best intense version of any men's fragrance to ever exist. This is how it's done! When I smell this, I don't smell any particular note..I just smell something dark, masculine and sexy. It is not a loud fragrance, it is intimate...A whisper of seduction that always gets the job done. This really needs to make a comeback. As well as the original, Which was also truly great.

Simply one of the best smells in the history of perfume. And the longevity is great. But it doesn't project at all after 30 mins or so, it hugs the skin tightly. No one could smell it on me. Regrettably I sold my bottle after using about 10% of it. So, so sad......hopefully they can reformulate to give better projection. Or maybe its just my skin.

The secret player here is Amyris. The secret behind the MFK Amyris success as well.... Amyris and labdanum at the drydown makes elegant version of tonka/coffee notes combination(which is really rare). What keeps this perfume average is pink pepper....if only could be replaced with a little saffron in the opening..

Much better than Play, Play intense is still one of my going out / clubbing fragrance. Always got a lot of compliments with that one, it projects well and lasts a while on me. I get coffee and tonka mostly. Not a groundbreaking fragrance, but I enjoy it a lot. Scent: 7/10 Projection: 8/10 Sillage: 7/10

Just a wonderful fragrance. Not overly sweet, the scent knows just when to turn on the green notes to avoid the Cloying "Gourmand" New Haarlem vibe. The cologne Ive reached for the most this winter, I'm always confortable wearing this one. I hereby nominate this for the Fragrance Hall of Fame.

Anyone worried about performance issues with the new "Oversized" bottles of GPI shouldn't be, imo. Surprisingly, the new bottles do not signal a reformulation. I get the same 12+ hours of longevity and moderate/large projection as before, and it still smells the same. Anyone disagree?

I really love this one! Simple elegant and sexy! Definitely going to continue to baby my vintage discontinued bottle forever.. especially since they are going for more than a new bottle of creed.. Irs a million times better than Rochas clone. I really wish they would bring this back.