L'Interdit Absolu

This fragrance is so silky smooth and sexy, straddling the unisex line between being a woman in a long black silk evening dress with a rouge lip, and a man with a well-presented masculine elegance and self-aware sophistication; both tender and strong, captivating and seducing you through presence alone. I received this fragrance as a New Year's gift, and upon first spraying it through its wonderfully pressurised atomiser, I was perplexed: I first noticed a clear and somewhat pungent white floral note - one that was unmistakably feminine and almost generic - and I worried for a moment if this was going to be a basic jasmine/tuberose fragrance with too much sweetness and not a lot of personality, but I was (thankfully) wrong. I sprayed another two or three times onto my skin as well as the fabric of my sleeves, trying to clear the initial alcohol blast of a new fragrance, and then it happened: the Guatemalan cardamom came through, strong and unmistakable, and supported by an aromatic lavender; opening up an addictive olfactive chapter full of aromatic spice. I said aloud, "This part is exquisite", as the subtle tobacco note began to project from my sleeve, ahead of my skin somehow; bringing about a masculine core to a deceptively feminine opening. I could not stop sniffing my arm, almost to the point of giving myself a tight head. But this androgynous beauty wasn't done with me yet, as I initially sprayed quite close to bedtime, and as I tried to settle down for a good night's sleep, my head was then filled with a heady bubblegum tuberose that, to me, was more akin to a grape-flavoured candy. This part I wasn't so keen on, as I've always had a complicated relationship with white florals - often finding them to be too obnoxious and/or too sweet - but there was something equally as addictive about this conflicting part of the drydown. I won't lie to you: it filled my head and, subsequently, my dreams that night. My mind was commandeered by this fragrance in a way I used to hope for from my liked, but not quite loved, under-performers of the past. I awoke the following morning and was greeted by an oh-so delectable creaminess that bordered so close to being vanillic without ever going over the tipping point; instead, it was a nutty type of creaminess with the white florals fully immersed but still ahead of the aromatic spiciness that makes up the entirety of this fragrance's distinction. The only notes I didn't detect within the gorgeously sensual line-up were neroli (which I'm more than okay with) and rum. The rest of the pyramid was cohesive and beautifully displayed that it could all work together without pulling itself apart, trying to appeal to either gender. Quite frankly, this fragrance is a sensual type of sexy: it allures you, and has you wondering if it will tease and then allude you, before living up to its background and has you falling for it in a heady and hypnotic type of way that makes you not care who, or what gender, the person is behind the mask as they beckon you forth with a gloved hand into a night full of pleasure, as the ad campaign so cleverly suggested. "This is you", said the person who gifted me this darling fragrance. They knew before I'd even come to fully explore this beauty myself. The only other fragrance they said the same thing about was Black Orchid (EdP). I was both flattered and intrigued, but it begs the question: Is this fragrance 'you', too, dear reader? Wear this if you want to project a mysterious type of seductiveness, removed from gender, while still keeping you acutely aware of all that is erotic and erogenous about your own being. A masterfully-blended moonlit creation that symbolises the masculine and feminine as one, but not as you've known it before - and you'll likely find yourself coming back to it in the dead of night, when other more crowd-pleasing fragrances don't quite scratch that itch. All you need to do is submit.

Fragrantica still hasn’t caught up with reality. This isn’t “for her.” It’s for whoever’s hot enough to pull it off. 🔥 Givenchy said it themselves: “A smoky, warm signature blurring the codes between genders.” That’s what made me want it before I even wore it. I’m a woman who thrives on unisex scents that lean masculine, the kind that smells like moral corruption and after-hours confidence. Tobacco, booze, leather, spice, and zero tolerance for sugar or “clean girl” boredom. My inner chaos demon yelled “BUY” when I sampled it for the first time, and I did. Days after it dropped. The opening hits like that one ex who only ever texted “come outside” instead of “hi.” Lavender and cardamom melt together, calm and carnal all at once. Love that kind of contradiction. I’ve always believed the deadliest kind of sex appeal is control. Nothing louder than stillness. Nothing filthier than quiet confidence. Then comes the heady white floral middle. Tuberose, orange blossom, jasmine... the unholy ménage à trois of migraines. And I’m a card-carrying member of their hate club. Normally I’d tap out, but here they’ve been sedated with rum and duct-taped in smoke. Finally behaving. And then the base drops. Tobacco, vetiver, patchouli, rum. Holy. Or rather, unholy. It’s heavy, rich, intoxicating. You stop smelling like perfume and start smelling like the villain in an obscure 2000s erotic thriller. 💋🩸 You’ll leave a trail of memory behind you whether you mean to or not. It’s not perfume or a confidence booster. It’s a full-on personality upgrade. People say it’s the most masculine L’Interdit. Yeah, sure. It’s masculine the same way a woman with dark lipstick, a slow smile, and a knife in her pocket is masculine. Which is to say, not at all. Think goth noir heroine energy. The type who makes eye contact like a dare and walks like she’s about to throw hands or kiss you. I’ve worn it on a suspicious number of dates. Boys said it was “too strong.” Men said they couldn’t shake it off. Age never mattered, it was all about the state of their minds. Absolu is natural selection in a bottle. A built-in filter for mediocrity. Just wear it and watch the faint of heart self-eliminate. ☠️ This isn’t your everyday fragrance unless you’re clinically dramatic. It’s bold, decadent, and unapologetically inappropriate for daylight. Perfect for 2 a.m. in cold weather. Cigarettes, leather, lace, and crimes of passion. The kind of thing you wear when you want to be both the problem and the cure. And that bottle? Pure authority. Opaque black, sleek, heavy enough to end an argument. Essentially a blunt weapon with aesthetic value. I’d gatekeep it, but that’d be selfish. L’Interdit Absolu smells like a fight in a church alley between lavender, tobacco, and rum that ended in sex and repentance. Spray it before you apologize to absolutely no one. 🕷️

A more nuanced, aromatic, less peppery, spicy L’Interdit Rouge. Still a warm scent. As a first impression I can’t say I smell any lavender in the Absolu but the cardamom is quite strong. I like that, I am a fan of cardamom. For me this version maintains the original DNA: a strong blend of tuberose, jasmine, orange blossom and patchouli. Maybe some faint hints of rum, tobacco and vetiver. Note wise, it has a more complex structure than most of the line, at all levels, but the overall scent ends up smelling like the rest of L’Interdit, just slightly more grown up and unisex. Might be more punchy than the original and the previous release, Rouge Ultime, but can’t be 100% sure unless I would give it a full wear. Would love a small bottle of this version but for winter. I don’t think it’s absolutely a must have if you have some of the previous variants of L’Interdit and it is highly priced for the moment. But it does seem like a strong scent for sure which is something that I personally like in all my fragrances. Givenchy still creates fragrances that packs a punch in 2024! I am impressed, Givenchy!!

Scrumptious. Absolutely Scrumptious. I had Intense, but I sold it because of the sesame note. It just didn't sit well with me, so I was excited to test this when it came out. I adored it, but it was coming into summer where I live and it is more of a cool/cold weather scent. So i put in on my winter 2025 wish list. Well, i forgot about it. I tested it again while Christmas shopping and decided that I wasn't going to forget about it again. I bought it about 4 weeks ago, damn it's SEXY. I haven't worn it out yet, but wearing it at home makes me want to rip my own clothes off 😉 It's so well blended. The rum, tuberose, lavender, Jasmine, patchouli and vetiver is so smooooth but sexy spicy. It's a little syrupy sweet, but not in a juvenile way at all. Although it leans a little feminine, it's totally unisex and I would swoon if i smelt this on a dude. It's sex in a bottle. MA rated. Proceed with caution. Your significant other will want to bury their face in your neck... Or breasts... Or thighs.... or.. well this is getting X rated real quick. So I'll leave it at that.

Despite being advertised and a part of Givenchy’s women’s perfume line, I think this is one of the best unisex fragrances I’ve smelt to date. It’s deep and sensual yet smooth and soft. You won’t have to worry about performance at all; the beauty is in the scent. The lavender and neroli opening is beautiful. Idk what tuberose smells like but it’s got great smooth florals. And I love the tobacco, rum and vetiver combo once it becomes more of a skin scent. I literally smelt this on someone in Canada almost 2 years ago and have thought about it everyday since. I could’ve bought it online, but I wanted to get my hands on it and smell it again. Couldn’t find it in any Sephora, Ulta, Dillard’s, or mall. Welp I ended up finding it in an airport in Hawaii. Bought it instantly and it’s now a top 5 fragrance that I own and is signature scent worthy. And yes, the glaze is justified. Any man or woman wearing this has my respect.

So is this for women or actually unisex? On this website it says women, most of online stores also categorize this as for women but on Givenchy's website they say it's both for women and men. I also found it in my local Sephora in men's perfumes section...and I have to say I love it (I'm a guy)! The combination of white florals with the tobacco and and rum works really well for me. I'm not an expert on perfumes but I would say it's going more into niche direction than other designer perfumes. Maybe I'm going crazy but it reminds me a little bit of Amouage Reflection Man, like a heavier, darker version for colder seasons. But I did think to myself as I was leaving the store that it smells a little bit feminine. Interesting to see that many women here are saying this leans masculine though, gives me a bit more confidence to get a full bottle for myself :)

Why isn't this fragrance more popular? I have no idea. Its definitely more unisex than feminine for sure. The usage of rum and patchouli give it a darker, slightly dirtier edge while the florals lift the rest of the fragrance forward. Also the cardamon and lavender make it feel like a distant cousin of Jean Paul Gaultier's Le Male Le Parfum. I think of lot of guys would love to wear this fragrance if they knew what it was. This is french designer perfumery at its finest having really good sillage, a light airiness to it from a distance, but still an elegance. This is one of those fragrances I gatekeep hard. Its a really good combination of taking the strengths of the original line, and combining it with a certain richness you don't see in other fragrances of the same caliber. It refuses to play by the rules of modern department store trends.

This is my gem. When I first smelled it at the store I had to do a double take on whether it's a female or male fragrance. It is SO unisex! When I got home I couldn't stop thinking about the smell, it just stuck with me for some reason, I couldn't shake it. So I got a full-bottle and it was the best decision. This one is for winter nights, when you are wearing a long black coat with fur and high black boots, it is freezing and snowing outside. Super sophisticated, sexy, dark scent, there is just something about it. Very unique smell for me, people will notice, compliment you and remember it. Every time I look at it on my shelf I have to smell it, it's just that good. I also have the Rouge from the same line. They are my loves, all time favorites. Wouldn't blind buy if you are not familiar with the DNA from this line though.

O tamer of wild cats, a tomboy at heart and a seductress in soul, you move wrapped in velvet, perched on heels that carve out your own law. At its heart, a magnetic, sovereign tuberose reveals the DNA of ‘L’interdit’: bold, unforgettable, impossible to resist. The opening sparkles with fiery cardamom, spicy, with citrus-tinged flashes that recall ginger and electrify the senses. Lavender, at first only a whisper, melts into a luminous bouquet of tuberose and jasmine, wrapping the senses in a soft, velvety caress. As the trail intensifies, smoky tobacco, shadowed patchouli and polished vetiver leave a bold, almost masculine imprint. And still, femininity burns beneath the surface—glowing through this incandescent oriental bouquet, where desire, strength and grace become inseparable. Almost indecent.

My mother received this as a gift and didn't like it. She said,and I quote ''maybe if I wasn't a blonde but a large brunette woman like Seka Aleksić (Serbian singer) I'd wear this. To be fair she's a school teacher in her mid 60s. I loved it immediately (as a gay man) and it became my signature scent in the winter! My friend, both male and female, borrow this scent from me. Its truly unisex. It lasts very long, especially on clothes. I didn't bring any perfumes to my winter trips but sprayed the clothes in my luggage with this and still got compliments, thats how well it stays on fabric. I washed shirts and they still smelled like this. Stays well on skin too. I recommend it to everyone.

As a man i absolutely loved this scent when i first came upon with accidentaly ,because i was getting myself a backup bottle of Gentleman EDP and the newly released by then -Society Ambree. And i guess i found a match for them for my wife for late night outs. She really loved it. I dont find it unisex because i enjoy masculine scents but my wife kept wearing it on cold winter evenings. Definitely not a hot weather fragrance. Lasts whole evening on skin and few days on clothes. Projects loudly first couple hours then settles as a seductive and sexy black perfume scent. Luckily my wife will forever keep it in her collection because i love smelling this one on her neck and chest

I have a couple of favourite fragrances, which are marketed towards men - but I love them for myself as much as on a man. The first one is Replica Jazz Club - oh, there is nothing like it!! 😍 Then there is Hugo Boss The Scent for Him Absolute, and Givenchy Gentleman Eau de Toilette Intense (crazy names, by the way) - and they are really feminine on me! (But I have not bought the two last ones. Yet.) And now, there is this one, marketed for women, but it could easily be unisex, as well. Dark, hot and sexy, plus warm, cozy and cuddly. I love it. A lot! My only problem is, that I have so many fragrances now, that I am soon running out of superlatives to describe them all...

I adore this scent! It is so pretty but moody broody. Dark, mysterious, sweet but deep floral with pretty unisex base. To my nose this smells niche, not like tenth flanker of popular bubelgumy perfume. It lasts decent amount of time but it stays close to skin and that is only downside. It surly carries that l interdit DNA of modern bubelgumy tuberose but this one is more complex and the sweetness is much better balanced with notes of tobacco, vetiver etc. Reminds me a bit of Quatre iconic. They share same level of sweetness, tuberose as main note, and deeper, darker base. Comparing them side by side I could say I prefer Absolute little bit but QI projects much better.

I like this one more than the intense version. I agree, in the first 5 minutes or so it smells strongly like a spicy men's cologne but that gradually fades away completely giving way to a beautiful sweet floral perfume, very feminine, not overwhelming, just right. Also, it feels very different from all the other flankers, with very little tuberose and significantly more lavender, jasmine and orange blossom, especially sweet orange blossom. I don't smell any tobacco, but vetiver is there in the dry down. It should stand on it's own. It's very beautiful in my opinion, perfect spicy and sweet blend. I love it, I will add it to my collection.

I think it's a really nice "goth" fragrance. Dark, alluring, the tobbaco absolu smells really nice and there's not a hint of vanilla (which is a note I don't enjoy). Definitely unisex, breaks up with the whole "male/female fragrances", projects really well for 2 hours on my skin and lasts for 10-12, even though that it becomes elegant and discreet after 2h. If you think Black Orchid is too polarizing, go and give this one a try, had received compliments on this one more than any other, specially with the girls. You can use it in the day but it's at night that it truly shines. Reminds me of The Cure.

This is Unisex according to Givenchy website and Im a male. Never did I think this was feminine when I tried it at the store and immediately bought it Online 😅. This is a dark sexy and mysterious tuberose with sweet goodness lingering behind it. Very potent. My bottle is over a year old I remember when I got it there was a strong opening but that subdued after 7-8 months. This is something else. A true Fu**boy fragrance. Truly unique and even somewhat mainstream friendly in a niche way. I wear this when I want to stand out in the crowd and events/venues. This fragrance lasts all day and all night.

Oh my! Love this fragrance! It's quite dark, mysterious, slightly depressing, but also sweet. It definitely makes you confident with being who you are no matter what mood you're in, you just own it and get things done regardless. It is an addictive melancholic scent but also has a vulnerable side to it. I imagine a man riding a Harley, smoking and drinking Jim Beam. However, it's the more feminine scent, honestly. Wouldn't recommend it to men as much due to the sweetness it contains (probably the Tuberose). If this perfume were a song, it would be Ultraviolence or Lake Placid by Lana Del Rey.

The opening is very sweet and aromatic. Right off the bat, I can smell white flowers, tobacco, and patchouli. The tobacco becomes light quickly, and it is more acting as a "behind the scenes" backbone, as opposed to a main character. The dry down is beautiful, deep, rich, and comforting. It smells sweet, flowery but also boozy and lightly spicy, but in a very rounded way; there is nothing sharp or unpleasant. It smells rich and heady, like white flowers "dressed up in black velvet, drinking the finest cognac" on an evening out. I think I might need to buy a full bottle of this 🖤🖤🖤

I had Intense, but I sold it. I couldn't get passed the sesame. This is without the sesame, and it's growing on me. It's super unisex, and more often than not, I believe it to be masculine leaning. I think you'd have to be in the correct mood to wear this, and by no means do I think this is a warm weather fragrance. For me anyway. Autumn and winter are approaching in the southern hemisphere, so I will put it aside until then, and I look forward to it. As a female, I do enjoy wearing some masculine leaning fragrances. Bring on the cold weather

As a big fan of L'interdit series I didn't like it in the first sniff because i tested so many perfumes and the scents were mixed together. But in another day, i absolutely love it so much. In the beginning it's very strong, white floral, warm and spicy but when it integrates into your skin it smells very sweet and smooth but sweetnes is not sugary. Normally i don't really like the tobacco smell especially in the Tom Ford perfumes but it didn't feel like smoky in this at all. I'm 25 and i will use it on the fall and winter.