Insense

Update: This has been in my top 5 for a few years now. I wrote about the florals and fruity accord. I want to say this is rich and woody also, with the amber and pine notes. That's what makes it so versatile, and nice any time of the year. It has weight and is very masculine. In my opinion is the #1 mens floral woody of the past 50 years. The Basil note is much stronger than shown in fragrantica pyramid. My two vintage (tester) bottles say Ambered. A wonderful chord is struck here, the earthy warmth of Basil and Amber, with the bright and realistic Lilly of the valley. My Mom was a florist and as kids she asked us to go in the woods and pick Lilly of the valley for her wedding personal bouquets. As kids we thought the Lilly of the valley flowers were the best smelling of them all. What I can say about the floral scent has not been said. I used to go with my Mom to the flower wholesalers in down town Manhattan. What you smelled inside were the green stems of the flowers as well as the floral smell, 50/50%. That's what Insense smells like mostly green floral notes, like the stems of cut flowers. Lush realistic florals with an undertone of a mossy/ basil accord. Pungently delicious. One reviewer discribed it as a blend of Paco Rabanne pour homme (vintage) and Chanel No 5. My first impression was, that description is quite accurate. I find it less feminine as many have discribed and more green than I expected from the reviews. The 4 flower notes used, give a more green floral scent, than traditional feminine florals. The olfactory floral arrangement is uniquely pleasant, just perfect. The black currant note is not so fruity but ammoniac like note, but with the mandarin orange and aldehydes make for a bright and pleasant fruity accord. There is a gloomy aldehydic tart/ greeness with a fruity, piney, lilly of the valley breez permiating. There is an important note here not listed, but in basenotes. It is the white resin from the mediteranian Lentiscus shrub. ( piney) Wearing this, I feel I'm on a nostalgic journey to a wonderfull place in a time gone by. "A tremendous balance between cleanness and mystery", alfarom. A classic masterpiece of perfumery, never feels dated in a negative way. Like a classic Porsche, with timeless lines. I was on a bike trip through the woods last week to York PA. Miles of honey suckle bushes just filling the air with wild flowers and greeness, it smelled so good and reminded me of " Insense'". Rating: 10/10. 1993 + 2000 editions. ( vintage) God bless you. John 3:16

I shit you not, my entire 6th grade class in middle school were each given bottles of this as a sort of "Growing up" starter pack by one of the kids' parents. I had no idea what Givenchy was until I brought it home and my mother told me. I had no idea what any sort of categories of fragrances were, notes, etc. I thought things just smelled like "cologne". Growing up I sprayed this on myself in middle/high school every now and then and identified *this* scent as my benchmark of what men's fragrances smelled like. I never used it much, but it was an indelible part of my scent memory. Fast forward to when I finally had more than a basic designer offering interest in fragrances and I went back to my parents' house to grab this out of the cupboard in my old bathroom. Needless to say I was shocked to read the modern opinions of this fragrance, its scarcity, and its desirability; and here I was with a 90% full bottle. The initial blast of citrus notes isn't long lived, rather it quickly gets into the aldehydes and the lily of the valley to me, with the fir playing a sharp undertone to the whole fragrance. I don't get much of the fir in the projection of it, but when you get close it is there, and it is pungent. The lavender softens things a little bit, but not to a large degree. I get decent projection, and better than average staying power - with the fragrance staying at least detectable on skin past 8 hours. To those who grew up with more classic oakmoss forward fougeres or chypres defining masculine fragrances, this was what defined it for me as I grew from an adolescent into a young adult. I thought this was what all older men smelled like when they put on "cologne" - so when I really got into fragrances and was told the 70s/80s idea of "masculine" fragrances was quite different, it was a bit of a shock to me and something I didn't quite understand as I smelled all of the classic fougeres of that time period which had nothing, or very little, to do with Insense. I only wish Insense's style caught on somewhere, because after this bottle is gone, I doubt I'll see something quite similar to it again.

Looking at Givenchy's current masculines, it's hard to believe that the same house gave us Insensé (fr. "insane"), one of the most creative and acclaimed perfumes of all time. Hell, I don't even particularly like how Insensé smells, but I can easily see why it is considered one of the best masculines ever made. People often describe it as "medieval", which is spot-on: A truly other-worldly concoction, constructed from modern synthetics, but following a recipe handed down from King Arthur's times. You could spend hours marvelling at how the alchemist shifted the boundaries of fougère and chypre, combining familiar elements into something unique and unsettling we haven't seen before or since. Insensé isn't just a towering creative accomplishment, but also a fascinating historical artifact. Its commercial failure is an indictment of how men relate to fragrance and, by extension, to their own masculinity. Givenchy's advertisers admirably tried to challenge the stupidity of conventional fragrance ads, but they failed to consider a central character trait of men: Insecurity. Insensé's ads featured a lovestruck young man running around in a gale of flower petals, a bouquet in his hand. No submissive bimbos gyrating in the background, no hunky guys fixating viewers with looks of anger and repressed constipation. Men's response was apprehensive: Flowers? Love? Chivalry? What kind of insane woman would want that from a man? Unsurprisingly, it flopped. Insensé, together with the equally brilliant Feu d'Issey, was the swan song of mainstream perfumery, handing the creative reins over to the emerging niche firms. There have been other novel mainstream fragrances since, but none have come even remotely close to Insensé's audacity. It's getting harder and harder to find the original edition at a reasonable price, but should you be so lucky, do yourself a favour and just buy it. Even if you end up disliking Insensé - smelling it will make you wiser, more open, and a better human being.

According to Givenchy, the notes are as follows- TOP: black currant, mandarin, basil HEART: magnolia, muguet, iris, lentiscus BASE: Fir balsam resin It was released as a male conterpart to Amarige, and was a bit unusual for the time as it was mostly floral. Being a big fan of this House, I was quite happy when a friend gave me a 7.5 ml mini of this (likely from the late 90s) that he thought had "turned"; luckily for me, it had not. One of the things I have noticed about "vintages" and older scents is aldehydes can often smell almost sour in the bottle, or even bitingly bitter; but after the juice hits the skin, the aldehydes disapate and all you have left is absolute lovliness... The opening is very aldehydic, but immediately transforms (in under a minute) to something tart and sweet and warmly green. Almost edible in its deliciousness, Insense transforms from something interesting to something divine when the flowers appear. Subtly sweet magnolia and cool iris and sheer green lily of the valley create a lovely floral green accord that becomes uniquely gorgeous when the lentiscus appears. Lentiscus is another name for mastic gum, an aromatic resin from an evergreen tree in the pistachio family. It was used as everything from medicine, to a breath freshener (when chewed) and (A Ha!) incense. An amazingly resinous sweet and non-camphorous resin...it really catches the idea of incense and smokiness without the heat of "burning". On me, the mastic note runs over the flowers, but you don't hear me complaining...this is AWESOME! The drydown stays resiny and gets a bit more aromatic and heavy with the balsam fir resin, but does NOT smell sappy or sticky; just aromatic. Amazing!! Sillage: very good Longevity: excellent Overall: 4.75/5 Givenchy always does things nicely, but this (along with many of their older perfumes) resonates quality, class and depth. Unlike anything on the market today, THIS is worth searching out, and investing in, for sure! Exceptional...

I wore this way back in 1993/1994, it was a christmas or a birthday gift (both are preaty close to each other). I was 16 going to 17. I start enjoying perfums because of my father. I ́m turning 49 next month and I ́m lucky to still have him with me. Never paid much attention to the fact brands discontinue perfums, because I think never a perfume reminded me so much of a time that I ́d like to return to and start my life all over again from there and undo so many things and do others so much more. Not even the great Photo by Lagerfeld, or all those that Aramis stop selling, not Fahrenheit 32 or Fahrenheit Absolute by Dior, not Jazz or Rive Gauche by YSL, not V from Valentino, nor Solo Absoluto from Loewe or T by Tommy Hilfiger and so many, many others. Today? Well, flankers, flankers and more flankers and elixirs. Poor in longevity and sillage. Dog crap, the lot of them. Perfums that I wouldn't with a barge pole. I was able to buy again Insensé. A guy (THANKS!!!!) read my previous comment and tip me off about a spanish site that still carries it. I bought a 50ml, paid almost € 100, but f.....it. Thank Lord I can afford it. I sprayed a little bit in my hand and right way the olfactory memory kicked in: floral, citrus, spicy. Heaven. Remarkable how the olfactory memory works. I think I ́m going to save this and I ́m only going the put the one time. Yes, I ́m going just to use one time and then I ́m going to put it way and wait another 30 years or so and when I ́m in my 80 ́s i can remember the lost opportunities, the missed chances, the fuck ups and think how wrong I was for being that guy. Be kind, be gentil, live well and but do live goddam! I ́m almost 49 and I missed out so much in my life because I was affraid, insecure and took refuge in a build up personality just to hide my insecurities. From Ferris Bueller's Day Off : "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it". So true, goddam!

I was stealing this one from my father in the mid 90’s. He got it from my mom when she came back from her business trip to London. My father is an old school man and he used to use only mass market after shaves. Because this edt was something very different, he used it very occasionally and the bottle was getting dusty in the bathroom. Since I was a teenager and I was not used to male fragrances I believed the real male modern and expensive fragrance should smell exactly like Insensé. The smell was so extraordinary that I used it every time I went out to a disco or for a date hoping some one will appreciate it the same way as I did. Now 30 years later, being 45 I decided to bring back some memories. I found it (a reformulation I assume - in the new box with smaller Givenchy logo that is advertised on eBay) in a local on-line store here in Sweden. I paid an equivalent of €125 for 50ml. The smell is similar to the fragrance as I remember it but it is weaker. Might be due to my memory but I recall the original was a bomb. It smelled so strong that I didn’t have to spray more than once to be able to feel it the entire evening. Since everyone says this fragrance is discontinued I am wondering if I bought some kind of reproduction. Anyway I would like to know if anyone has tried the “new” version of this edt and if it is close enough to the original from the 1993. Has anyone tried the vintage original together with the reissue? Is it comparable? 19/4/24 So the questions are answered. The small bottle that is currently available in retail / ebay is definitely a reformulation. The sillage and longevity are both way stronger with the original. I bought 100 ml unused bottle from a trustworthy seller and the difference is quite remarkable. The original is more settled (due to age?) but projects exactly as I remember it. The “new” bottle is more soapy and lasts less but it is definitely worth buying.

There was a very famous bank robber in Greece during the '70s, who used to enter the robbed-to-be bank with a sawed-off unloaded shotgun hidden inside a posy of sword lillies. And yes, bank robbers can achieve rock star status, cause banks, directed by vampires in expensive suits, are not exactly the most popular establishments. He also used to give the flowers to the ladies working in the bank, before running away with the money. He got caught, escaped prison, flew to another continent, got caught again, and during his deportation flight he gifted fragrances bought in the duty-free shop to every hostess on board, leaving them wondering whether he was a shipowner or an oilman. Or both. He died at the age of 35, following the "live fast, die young" motto to a tee. Every time I spray some of this short-lived quirky little gem on me, I feel like I'm ready to enter a bank along with him and run with the money. And on a sunny, yet frigid January morning some years ago, vintage Insensé on a paper strip was one of the two best things I've ever smelled in my life. Having the guts to do something just because you can, will always be a solid example of insolence yelled in the face of norms and poise. Insensé came and went unnoticed, scorned by the defenders of uber masculine fragrances, for it smelled like walking in a forest in early spring or late winter, while holding a bunch of blue flowers in one hand. The fact that a rifle was in the other didn't seem to be in its favour. All the more that it was not there for hunting. A brave little soul, which left its gentle mark by the pen, in a world echoing with the clang of swords and the roar of faddish waves. And despite its failure to smoothly conquer it, it will always be acknowledged for its gallantry and whim. For it did. And they didn't...

Fragrantica quite rightly lists this as an 'aromatic fougère' and not a floral. However, it's often discussed as being the best (or one of the few) 'masculine florals', which in my opinion is not right. The opening *is* floral - and divine! - but the majority of the scent is a fir-tree-led fougère, green and leafy - i.e. the bit of a plant *without* the petals. If it was a lavender-centric fougère (like many of the genre are) I might reconsider, but there are more prominent flowers in things like Dior Homme (itself a woody-floral-musk). Moreover, most other *non-floral fragrances have a flower or two hiding somewhere in set-up. Insensé is no different. Be that as it may, the opening is utterly mind-blowing - but it took me several years to get here...and several weeks before I stopped being alarmed by its feminine top notes. I'm glad I stayed the distance. Plus, the overall blending of the fragrance is masterful. The floral-aldehyde opening blends seamlessly into a blackcurrant (and blackcurrant leaf) pine-green support. But the flowers fade all too soon and it starts to move towards that simple pine-fougère. For me, sadly this is where it starts to resemble a run-of-the-mill men's showergel. (Maybe some of my dissapoinment is because my mum used to used pine toilet cleaner in the 80s.) Insensé is just slightly too air-freshenery as well. Anyway, if they could've sustained the opening forever, then this would have been ideal. I'm still on the hunt for the perfect male floral, and I haven't plucked up the courage to wear full-blown female florals yet. Time will tell. My next door neighbour tried taking the piss out of me earlier today for wearing pink shorts so we all still have some way to go.

This is possibly one of the most under-rated male fragrance (along with Feeling Man by Jil Sander) of all time. Launched at a time when fresh aquatic scents crowded the shelves, Insense was deemed to fail with its loud yellow box, odd surfboard looking bottle and further crippled by a man laughing in a field of yellow flowers campaign. Unable to set a tone that men can relate to, its marketing was a complete fiasco. The scent itself is unconventional (and still is) and amazing on skin - a combination of sharp citrus, basil and floral aldehydes. Sadly, back in the 90's, men were not prepared to smell like this. It bombed miserably, and quickly ended up in bargain bins selling at dismal prices within a few years. Fast forward to the 2000's, it became available again (in Switzerland of all places), in the same yellow box, but in a flat retangular shaped medicine bottle with a simple black round cap (taking cues from Chanel). It was undoubtedly a reformulation with less herbal intensity and projection, but still fairly close to the wonderful original nevertheless. Again, the 2000 edition came and went. Now comes the Mythical edition, which is tweaked and diluted yet again. Nice fancy bottle but more like a pale hommage to the original. In conclusion, think of the original as the eau de parfum (winter wear), the 2000 edition as the eau de toilette (spring and warm autumn) and the Mythical edition as eau de cologne (summer fragrance). Personally, I own multiples of all 3, since I know it will disappear again in the near future. I love it to bits - always have and always will. It is an unloved hidden gem that is so unique, yet still way ahead of its time.

this is a stand alone fragrance, it doesnt follow any trend, like egoiste and fahreneit did before. i was prepared to find a floral scent, but this is VERY floral, in the current market there's nothing like this. insense is a good name for this edt, it has a sunny happy vibe with a strange masculinity inside. it's like running in a field with flowers in bloom. pro- it is one of the most unique fragrance i ever smelled, the juice is dense and rich and the performance is very good(the projection for the first hour is quite strong). the drydown is gorgeous, more masculine but still with the "insense" character. cons- insense is not your macho, super masculine fragrance. the opening is not my favourite part,there's a strong "gucci flora" vibe in the first 20-30min. is it unisex?yes, like many other fragrances. in my opionion it's not a safe scent, so be careful for a blind buy. overall- this is not in my favourite top 10 of all time, but im damn happy to have it in my little collection. it's super unique and one of the best spring fragrances ever. like i said, this is not the most masculine scent, it reminds me some movie characters a bit femminine with an evil side hided, like the collector in the guardians of galaxy or silva in 007 skyfall. un profumo non semplice, unico, da apprezzare col tempo. scent-8 long-8 sillage-8 bottle-8 uniqueness-9 versatility-7,5 compliment factor-6,5 my vote- 8,5 in one word- madness alternative- gucci flora

Insensé, just Insensé, it is a floral, yet masculine fragrance, some freshness and a dry floral, but also a little warm feeling. This is a perfect blended perfume, it was discountinued due probably to be ahead of it is own time. It was not normal to see back in 1993 a floral perfume for man. In today standarts this is a true masculine perfume, I am proud to have almost full my 100ml vintage Insensé, to use with caution because it is hard to find. The best time to wear it I think Spring or Fall, if you can try to check this, it is one masterpiece in my eyes. Smell: 9,5 (0-10) You will smell like no one else Compliments: 7 (0-10) You will be noticed in a positive way, ladies above 30 years old will love it on a confident man. Longevity: 8 (0-10) it will last 10h-12h in skin, after 24 hours if you not shower still be in the skin very faint. Projection: 9 (0-10) it will project very well, do not overdue it. Sillage: 9 (0-10) It will be arround you for a long time people arround you will smell it when you are moving arround. Overall: 9 (0-10) A great man scent, different and floral, due to the discontinuation you going to be the only one wearing it, also is an under radar fragrance, so you will always do a good impression. To wear with confident in a smart/casual to formal clothes. I can see this perfume in the same mood as Eau Sauvage Parfum 2012, simplistic, but very well made and with a different vibe from what all of the other perfumes.

Immaculately beautiful. I'm not really a big fan of fougeres, green fragrances, or even really fresh fragrances. I'm a heavy, spicy, oriental, woody kind of guy. But this is by far one of the most stunning fragrances I've ever smelled. The opening literally makes me break out into goosepimples every single time. It is sharp, even harsh, but pure, crystalline, glasslike. It's like transfixing a sunbeam in a shard of glass. It is bright, happy, incredibly uplifting and meditative. Bottled sunlight. When I smell this, my mind is immediately taken back to the time I spent living in Spain; there is something very Mediterranean about this. It makes me think of long spring days where the air is heavy with the drone of bees, the scent of young grass, new wild flowers, and the warm, sweet perfume of pine needles carried in the dry wind. It makes me have that overwhelming feeling that the world is beginning to warm up, but you still feel cold in the shade. The association of this scent with my memories is so intense, so visceral, that I almost can't believe that I've never smelled this before. Maybe I have, who knows. But the effect that this fragrance has on me is more than enough for me to classify it as a must-have and a masterpiece. What an incredible, pure creation. This is what designer perfumery was capable of just three decades ago? What happened, man? 10/10

One of the few vintage perfumes that I can't find a decent price. I found a 7 ml mignon at a good price but they are absolutely too few for how good this perfume is. Disappeared too soon from the shelves due to poor sales, it will be the ugly bottle, that yellow of the box, the fact is that (as it happened for m7) it was not understood by the public and unfortunately I was late too to revalue it. Floral is the first adjective that comes to mind, it's the most floral masculine scent I've ever heard that makes it absolutely unisex. The center of insensè vaguely reminds me of the floral chanel of selfish platinum, reminds me, because it is totally different, the platinum is clear and crystalline, the yellow scent is very "soapy" but fortunately it evolves with time. You can feel so much nature, so many herbs, fresh flowers, fruit and pine that contrast perfectly with a dark and smoky base. Slightly powdery, you can feel the aldehydes, the smoke, the soap, the flowery, the green and the balsamic / woody. This is the contrast is very mysterious and Gothic, nostalgic in the positive sense. Absolutely not for everyone Refreshing and melancholy, for me the best flower in the world. If it were a person, it would be Mother Nature Rating: 9/10

I remember my first time around with this one. It was the Christmas of 94 and I recieved it as a gift from my aunt. She also got my cousin a fragrance, CK one. At the time I was dismayed. CK one and those type of freshies were all the rage and this floral beauty was lost on me. At the time I thought it was too feminine. My girlfriend at the time called it a "gay" cologne. Gotta love the 90s. Needless to say I didn't wear it out much, but I still wore it for myself and eventually finished the bottle. I recently acquired a bottle and even though I haven't smelt it in nearly 25 years it's exactly as I remember but more! It's amazing how these masterpieces are often lost because they went against the current trend, didn't sell, and became discontinued. The opening is a bit harsh but once it's settled it's just amazing. Slightly soapy, floral, green and a hint of sweetness. Any formal event in the spring, this will be the go to, no question. Great longevity and projection. My wife doesn't think it's "gay" at all and thinks it actually smells quite manly. Looks like a ended up with the right girl as well lol. I'm also glad I ended up with this instead of CK one all those years ago even if at first I didn't appreciate it. 10/10

One of my most memorable fragrance from Givenchy, this is the best aromatic fougere that I know. I heard this was discontinued and I'm glad I still have a 7ml original bottle with box and still full. As long as I have the juice, no matter if its just a drop I would keep this and smell it every now and then for it evokes great memories. I remember it was December '94 when I first bought a 7ML bottle same time my wifey bought me a pair of boat shoes. I also purchased 50 or 75ml afterwards. Maybe the last time I wore this was in 2010 and unfortunately, I misplaced that last bottle of mine that was 98% full. I could no longer find a very similar scent nowadays, so to my nose, this scent is still unique. The 3.4ml is now being sold at almost $400 in Amazon. Wow, I cant believe that. I find this scent very unique and very manly. It has a different vibe that's why I'm glad I still have my 7ML decant. Performance and projection is pretty decent. I would rate this rare magnificent creation a 10/10 “Let us spread the scents of peace and kindness. The two most beautiful fragrance in the world that will cost you nothing and will get you a totally different kind of compliments” 🙏

Those were the days when these funny yellow boxes/bottles were everywhere, even in the kiosks on the street (and I was much younger :) ! The box was funny-colored but its content was very serious. Aldehyde-flowery (still masculine), clean-fresh, sensuous and uplifting scent of Insensé was different from any other and far-far ahead of its time!! In the 90's Insensé was my first real perfume and absolutely the favourite for many years. Unfortunately around the 2nd Millenium it was discontinued in my country. The new "mythical edition" from 2007 is a little bit different. 2 months ago I've got the Mythical relaunch from U.K. and I was so excited that I can't tell you. Now I have both version, I have a lighter Splash (oblique shaped) and 2 bottles of edt from this yellow boxed (rectangular shaped with black cap). The first sniff from the newest Mythical version was a little bit suprising... The new Insensé more herbal (and still lighter than the original) although it stayed strongly flowery and different from any other. Either of them you choose you'll be noticed and asked what this pleasant,unusual scent is ;-)

I thought I wrote something of one of my super favorite fragrance, but maybe because I have not worn it in so long that I thought I did last time I wore it, but anyhow here are some thoughts about it, and I think this is the actual example of how a fragrance brings back memories in your mind that you will never forget, like the special date or family party, and you remember comments and situations that happened when you were wearing that special cologne, in my case this happened to me with Givenchy Insense, IMO a master piece. I just recently bought a shower gel, and is just an amazing experience to start your day with it in the shower and continue with the cologne when you get dressed, totally awesome in this cool spring days. I have not ever found a fragrance that smelled similar to this otherwise I would have bought it already since this is discontinued and hard to find, I only own a 50ml bottle and the shower gel but well for the same reason I only wear it during this season but is so nice every time I do and I really enjoy it, this is one of the colognes I wear just for my own pleasure, I love it.

I can only concur with "KRMARICH" review. I am proud owner of a won ebay bid of one of the 2nd release phased (ugly bottle) ones that I have received just today at work. Nothing can beat an olfactory time-warp of a scent you have missed for so long (I have not smelled it in over 10 years) and sniffing the first sharp, sour, aldehydic whiff immediately catapulted me back to the early to mid 90ies clubbing days, when life was young and fun! This is eternal youth in a bottle, a never ending fountain of crisp cold water, drunk on white morning flowers, that ooze their juices and scents into the ether yearning to let loose like wild horses. I love the soapy, sour, peppery, floral tang. Ironically it is not a sweet fragrance, or just when you are about to smell a sweet floral that sour note catches you away and throws you like a "jongleur" into the air, confusing you like a Harlekin-Caspar, laughing, as you are now smelling sour, soapy, peppery something so unique!! Best for use in winter turning to spring (when the weather is crazy). A TRUE MASTERPIECE (and arguably the male answer to AMARIGE)

Finally...!!!!!...I own this bauty again ! Back in the early 90's I owned a bottle of Insense'......and loved it....finished it. Was during the times that I only owned and used 5-10 different scents. Always was in search of another bottle...but did not want to spend big bucks for it....until now...I found a 1.7 oz edt spray for about $66. ....brand new. Yes, it has the rumour that it WAS reformulated. At first sniff, I was taken back in time...and was soothed...calmed...and wowed all at the same time. In some ways it dos remind me of Nino Cerruti Pour Homme 1979...which will be forever on my top 10 list of favorite fragrances...and sadly, I no longer have Nino Cerruti !!! I have seen it on eBay for $$$$$$...maybe one day, i will pull the trigger and pay the high price !?...(Just like vintage Jean Patou Pour Un Homme). Until then...I am so pleased and happy to own Givenchy Insense' again. Insense' was never a "great" performer...but no matter...the smell of it is divine to me. Especially the dry down !! I went ahead and just ordered a back up bottle as well. Happy !!

A gorgeous male floral that was unfortunately way ahead of its time. Released in the early 90's when male fragrance was moving in a different, homogenized direction of woods, spices and aquatics, and also woefully let down by a bizzare marketing campaign, Insensé never stood a chance. It has been re formulated and I for one, think the folk at Givenchy have done a nice job with the remake. I have both, and I do prefer the original, but I'd take either at a pinch. You'll find older bottles of this on eBay without great difficulty, you just need to have deeper pockets... Insensé is kind of a floral/green chypre, shimmering with aldehydes and bedded down on a beautifully warm aura of woods and incense at the base. Staying power and projection are also fantastic, especially in the original release. Elegant, mysterious, contemplative and unusual. It was a totally original 'masculine' in its day and I'd have to say, nothing's changed. Other than the gradual squashing of gender derivation. It would suit the ladies of today as well, no question. Love with a capital L!

This is my Easter scent. The most masculine floral ever created and certainly a male fragrance. Very green and bright but neither fresh or aquatic... a very complex composition that takes you on a journey as it develops on your skin or clothes.It's definitely more of a spring and early summer fragrance, and best for special occasions when you want to create memories for yourself and loved ones on special days. It's one of my wife's favorites on me and she finds it extremely masculine and not unisex at all. An ideal Easter scent because of its greenish and floral vibe... like the early spring of grass returning to the lawns and flowers blossoming. Ideal for a middle age Gentlemen confident enough to pull off such a fragrance. It kind of reminds me of a little Aramis Devin mixed with a bit of Bowling Green with some added carefully placed masculine floral notes of superior quality. Pure class. Undeniably memorable. Masterpiece!

Insensè (original) Insensè is beautiful. An incredibly compelling and quite complex masculine floral that's so well executed and perfect to always leave me stunned whenever I smell it / wear it. It's a shame that they discontinued it but I understand why. In fact this was one of the most niche-like perfumes in the mass market / designer range and it didn't have the commercial feedback it surely deserved. Unique, complex, refined and sophisticated yet not affected. In my opinion Insensè represents a sort of apotheosis of the floral masculines with it's tremendous balance between mystery and cleanness, depth and lightness, elegance and versality. Clean and soft florals and aldehydes on a misterious resinous/balsamic base. One of the best drydown ever. A perfect composition and possibly one of the best masculine floral around together with Caron's Le Troisieme Homme. Recently reformulated and reissued. Rating: 10/10

I came by an old bottle with about one third left in it and, though I'm a woman, I'm wearing it right now. It starts sparkling herbal fresh like a most lovely combination of a conifer forest on a chilly early morning and some cinnamon, then moves to a mix of smooth flowers with just a tad of iris-powder. And yes, there is black currant to detect but this not any fruit juice, just think of an elegant berry aroma without any sweet- or sourness. But the actual point is - all the way through the other notes rest on a bed of a noble conifer aroma with a tiny hint of fresh peppermint leaves, warmed by cinnamon. I like every phase of this fragrance but the oldschool balsamic base is a highlight by itself. What a refined and well blended fragrance. I feel good wearing it but still wouldn't call it unisex. To me this a real distinguished gentleman fragrance.

Givenchy Insense (1993) - floral fougere - I first encountered this #danielmoliere creation, as a sample vial after purchasing Cool Water back in the 90s, as a kid. It was so different from the clean and aquatic fragrances of the time, but it’s packaging and scent forever seared in memory. I’m ecstatic to be able to get a bottle. Starts with a traditional citrus Fougere mixed with a 70s green chypre: Lavender, Coumarin, Citruses and herbs, with a surprisingly fizzy & cut grass top, an echo to Givenchy III. But that transitions quickly to this floral accord: Soft & dry Iris and dewy Lily of the Valley. I also get this woody, pine and terpenic accord, not smokey, but almost sweet and oriental. It’s balance, beautiful transitions and surprising developments make it indeed, one of the greats.

Aldehydic, transparent, leather fragrance, feels 'dated' in that oh so brilliant way, like I want to date it/want to wear it on a date. It's soapy, snappy opening is wierdly floral, fresh but masculine, I suppose it's a sort of green leather. I actually love it. I don't get classic fougere warmth from it but it but there's a certain pine/fuel quality and it's twangy too like a saffron leather but nothing like it at the same time. haha. Yeah it's a classic, I'm sure there's other fragrances which smell this way, there's a familiarity about it but I can't say I'd ever tried this before the last year or so. I'd seek out a bottle but I know it will be outrageously expensive, for like a pretty good, discontinued fragrance, It's no Kouros or anything but it's satisfying.

Believe it or not, I have found a Givenchy Insense Clone and I am a very happy man. I still have an Original Givenchy Insense bottle from the 1993 Formulation, so when I got my clone, I was able to compare it. I have always loved this frangrance so much from the time it was released that shortly after its release, I invested in buying a couple of bottles, and would only use it on very special occassions. Anyway the clone has a way better projection than the orginal, or it could be that I have my OG bottle since 1993. 😆 The sillage is very good. The clone is called #Emotional and it's by Dua Frangrances. If you are a true fan of Givenchy Insense and haven't been able to find something similar, give this clone a try. You will not be disappointed. You're welcome! 😎

The best men's fragrance of all time! I use it for more than 19 years. I realy loved it. And I'm really sad because he is no longer sold. "Such a shame it's been discontinued. GIVENCHY, PLEASE BRING IT BACK!" by blueberry Es el mejor perfume masculino de todos los tiempos!! Lo uso a mas de 19 anos. Yo realmente amaba este perfume. Estoy realmente triste porque no lo venden mas. " Es una vergüenza no ser mas fabricado. POR FAVOR GIVENCHY, TRAGA-LO DE VUELTA!" por blueberry E o melhor perfume masculino de todos os tempos! Eu uso ele a mais de 19 anos. Eu realmente amava esse perfume. Estou realmente triste porque nao o vendem mais. "E uma vergonha na ser mais fabricado. POR FAVOR GIVENCHY, TRAZ ELE DE VOLTA." por blueberry

I recently purchased a 50ml of this. I wore it fresh in the 90s. This was never a mainstream scent, not even at it's release campaign, and I think it never caught much interest commercially even though back then masculine florals were less rare (Nikos Sculpture, Soldano White, D by Dunhill, some CK's and Grey Flannel and others from previous years that were still in full effect). The bottle I got still has it's knack intact except for the citruses eo's which are naturally long gone. I have never smelled anything like this except Ajmal Neutron which immediately reminded me of it, albeit with major differences regarding primarily the ionone and musks usage. I think of Insensé as a Grey Flannel with flowers.

My introduction to Insense provided me with one of those rare and welcome occurrences - a perfumed Wow! moment. I'm not sure which year the fragrance I have is from. Its contained in the rounded edge bottle so I'm guessing its the older formula. A complex floral that reminds me mostly of geranium – although that note isn't listed on fragrantica's “main accord” listing. The dry down is still floral but with a gentle smoky musk hovering about the periphery. Insense is quite different to anything else I own. But, I can honestly say its one of the best masculine fragrances I have tried; not surprising, then, that Givenchy have stopped making it ;).

Floral masculines are not usually my jam, but this one is fantastic. Next to Le 3eme Homme de Caron, Insensé is a standout in the genre, and for good reason. Mine is an original 1993 bottle, not the rerelease of 2007 under Les Parfums Mythiques (also discontinued). This is a clean, complex fougère that contrasts bright aldehydes and citrusy green florals at the top, with dark, urinous fruit and crisp, shadowy coniferous woods at the base. It’s arrestingly radiant: you can feel a sunshine-like aura emanating from your skin, as the chorus of Vivaldi’s Gloria rises to the heavens. An outstanding, one of a kind mood lifter. Hallelujah!

Happy Easter! Since 2015 Givenchy Insense has been my Easter scent. It's an old school floral masculine and absolutely perfect for those first days of Spring when cherry blossoms and lilac trees begin to bud. Insense was not a big hit in 1993 because boring synthetic blue and citrus scents replaced the masterpieces of the 80s. Well, some day Insense will be sought after big time as people get bored of today's bubblegum, candy, shower gel and cupcakes. Bring back the natural smelling masculine florals P.S. The perfumer made it for men and I respect artist that make fragrances for a gender rather than the money grab unisex BS.

INSENSE is indeed a rare beauty. A perfect Sunday fragrance - suitable for church and spiritual moods. This is a very true rendition of the insense mixture that you can smell during church piety. It does not contain the "incense" note per se, ad despite its name it's not "nonsensical" at all, but a perfectly blended composition to produce the church incense aroma in which herbs play a major role. Absolutely UNISEX in my book. I would perceive it even as floral chypre, cause I am pretty sure I can detect oakmoss in it. Fantastic longevity and sillage. Such a shame it's been discontinued. GIVENCHY, PLEASE BRING IT BACK!

I have had a sample of vintage Insense for quite a while. I never really got to wear it as it smelled a bit to leathery and kind of bitter for my taste. It is possible my sample has gone bad. Still there has been something special about this fragrance and I wanted to give Dua's version a try. I loved #Emotional from first spray. It is more flowery, more fir and less leathery compared to my old sample. At the same time it is more natural and radiant and it lasts forever. I find it simple more wearable. Not exactly an office scent as it is kind of unique but perfect for weekends.

This has been on my "wishlist" forever and can't believe my luck in scoring a 90% full bottle at a thrift store for peanuts!!! There are so many things to be said about this dynamic masterpiece that I will only share this strange observation: Coca Cola. Yes, I somehow got an odd feeling of the inexplicable citrusy sweet effervescent freshness of a cold clean old-school glass bottle of Coke with a lime. Call me crazy, but there it is. SOOooo happy to now have this in my collection!!! Update: Add basil & mint to the above Coca-Cola with a lime and you have the wonderful Insense!

Another one of the "discontinued gems from the past". It's good, definitely ahead of it's time. There is however one thing that bothers me, it's got a plasticky/synthetic note that can really come off as cheap. Luckily, this is not really perceptible when smelled from a distance. Performance is nothing to be amazed with either. To sum it up, I don't think it's worth what they are asking for nowadays but it's still a very good fragrance, reminds me of Chanel Allure Homme line. I haven't smelled Le parfum mystique's version but I hope they took care of that aldehyde note.

I wanted to try Insensé after first trying a clone of it, which I genuinely liked. As I might have expected, the original is even better--there's a kind of depth and richness especially to the fruit notes in this fragrance that just cannot be recaptured. The aldehydes make the whole thing soar--it's one of the most beautiful male fragrances I've ever sampled. Given how many flankers this spawned from Givenchy, it breaks my heart the company discontinued this gorgeous original. It is the rare floral-fruity fragrance that still seems mostly masculine.

Uplifting and green floral that is certainly unisex, not a classic fougere in my books. The fir makes it a tad masculine, I agree, but it has nothing of the after shave vibe some fumes of this type can have. Floral and sweet scent for men was obviously ahead its time in '93. It somehow still is. I strongly recommend trying to get a drop of this for your collection, just to get to know it. There is something breezy in it, could be the basil herbal touch. A scent much more complicated than it looks, and in a great way.

Specifically floral, fruity fragrance man! The biggest problem is not at all available .... It may also be unrealistic price on eBay ... Indeed, it is incomprehensible that such a highly sought after and unique scent withdrawn from service ....... I hate the barrier marketing !! Ingenious composition which is edited perfection !! Full harmony, wonderful ingredients, intelligent design ..... Is it that you do not need right ........ Is there a way that you do not need more ...... Only Insensé! 10/10

It's unique. floral, masculine, elegant and distinguished aroma with excellent longevity and projection. It's a real shame it's discontinued. It is actually a masterpiece and not like any fragrance that is called a masterpiece. Believe me it is. Es único. floral, masculino, elegante y distinguido aroma con una longevidad y proyección excelentes. Es una verdadera pena que esté descontinuado. En realidad es una obra maestra y no como a cualquier fragancia que le dicen obra maestra. Créanme que lo es.

I hate to disagree with TheLastSon1976 but i have Givenchy Insense, Alexandria Fragrances Hysteria, and Dua Fragrances Emotional. Of the two clones, Dua's Emotional is at best 60-70 percent like the original. Hysteria (Extrait de Parfum is better performing than theother two and nearly indistinguishable from the original Insense. When I called Dua the best they could say is it needs to sit for a few weeks. Why sell a product that you know is not ready?? and is not refundable or replaceable??

I love this men's fragrance. In life, along these years, I am fascinated by some men's perfume. Fahrenheit by Dior, Bvlgari Pour Homme, Terre by Hermes, Comme Des Garcons 2 and this perfume. Insense by Givenchy brings back some memories. First love story back then in 1993. Sadly this perfume is discontinued in my country. Lucky I still got the miniature. It's only half bottle left. It's ok, I sniffed it sometimes...and the memory lingers. Such a refreshing but yet an elegant scent.

This one is amazing! I just tried it today and want to know who the idiot is that discontinued this. Who needs Amouage Gold Man when you have this gem of a floral? No civet in here. Opens with mixed florals, not positive which ones but then quickly transforms into a solid beautiful lavender. Later, the fir begins to creep through to show its face and blend with the florals and then the florals fade and the fir takes over. This stuff is marvelous!

INSÉNSE by Givenchy signature Daniel Moliere will go down in history as a Masterpiece! Til this day this fragrance has not been duplicated and no other fragrance has ever even come close to this beauty What a shame to discontinue such a beautiful fragrance! Floral Woody Ambered: Basil, Mandarin, Lily of the valley, Iris, Magnolia, Balsam Fir and Vetiver Thanks to Daniel Moliere for Insensé and all the memorable moments in my life!

Someone reviewing Nina Ricci's Memoire D'homme, one of my fav 5, wrote MdM was strange, very strange which I don't feel it at all. This gem is strange, really and particularly strange. Got a 99 version and I can't find any similarity with any other fragance. Floral, woody (kinda pencil wood), citrusy and (like ChrisInBrooklys wrote) Coca-Cola's ghost floating from time to time....and that's the strange thing, still a gem!

Insensé is a sun scent. This fragrance, its color and the warmth it radiates is simply exquisite. It is fragile as a lily, solid like an iris, sweet as pine needles crushed between my fingers. One of the greatest (Givenchy). Insensé is a sun scent. Insensé as in Sensei of scent. I have two bottles. One from 1995 and one from 2004. They both smell divine. I still can’t believe how I missed the Mythiques reissue :( *****

Superb, delicious fruity fir balsam wrestling friendly with the aldehydes and fresh bouquet. It is simply beautiful, and it demands an interesting character from the wearer. I have always thought of this as a Fraîcheur version of the original Oscar de la Renta pour Lui. I am confused no one else in the world has come up with the same conclusion. Oh well, more power to me, rrrrrrrrright!!?!!? Smells of resinous soap.

Pure beauty! This so nice and sophisticated. Beautiful floral with the perfect masculine touch. Too much can ovepower you so use it intelligently. Perfect for spring. Sunny, bright atmosphere is being spread by this. Makes your mood raise to utter happiness! Together with Nino Cerruti from 1979 this is the nicest floral male scent I know. A class act!

A Fresh . Clean .Uplifting Unisex floral bouquet .Just don't overspray ... 2-3 is enough in my opinion . Long lasting and good moderate Sillage. Still available in original sealed packaging as it did not sell well at the time - thus stocks are still to be found at " reasonable prices" A must try for any fraghead who is not afraid of male florals .

One of the very best finds for me since venturing in the fragrance world over the last year. I actually didn't know it existed and bought it blind. It's been the most surprising and highest quality of scent I've ever encountered. One reason is because its different than anything I own. I'm very glad its now a part of my wardrobe. A true Gem.

Of all the discontinued perfums, this is the only one I would like to have again and that I wouldn ́t mind to pay top dollar for. Actually, I would give up all of Givenchy ́s perfums just for this one. I wore this 32 years ago and brings back a lot of memories. How I ́d like to be 17 again and restart my younghood with this by my side.