Envy for Men

Today’s review turns toward Envy for Men by Gucci, a fragrance that has achieved near-legendary status within the fragrance community. Long regarded as a timeless masterpiece, it represents an era when mainstream releases were willing to be daring, complex, and unapologetically bold. Years after its discontinuation, Envy has only grown in stature, with demand far outpacing supply and prices reflecting its cult reputation. What once sat quietly on department store shelves is now treated as a benchmark for masculine perfumery, often cited as something that simply isn’t made anymore. Let’s give in to temptation and see what this green-eyed legend still has to say once worn. Opening: The opening is aromatic, woody, and warm. The most prominent notes are lavender, sandalwood, incense, and tobacco, with lavender and sandalwood leading the charge. Lavender greets the nose first with an unmistakably classic barbershop character. It’s clean, assertive, and confidently old-school, very much in line with the masculine standards of its era, and immediately calls to mind fragrances like Drakkar Noir or more modern interpretations such as Masculin Pluriel. Sandalwood works closely alongside it, adding a soft, creamy woodiness that smooths out the aromatic sharpness of the lavender and reinforces the fragrance’s refined masculinity. Incense and tobacco enter as supporting players, with incense lending a gentle, restrained smokiness and tobacco contributing a dry, warm, subtly sweet undertone. In the background, there are flickers of fresh spiciness from ginger, as well as soft florals from geranium that carry a faint clove-like nuance, adding quiet complexity without disrupting the classic structure. Dry Down: The dry down is aromatic, woody, and ambery. The primary notes at this stage are lavender, sandalwood, amber, and carnation, with lavender and sandalwood continuing to lead the composition. Both notes retain their classically masculine character with very little loss in presence, preserving the fragrance’s clean and confident core. Amber then emerges beneath them, introducing a rich, balsamic warmth that deepens the overall profile without overwhelming the aromatics. Lastly, carnation becomes more pronounced here as well, reinforcing its spicy floral quality and adding character to the dry down. In the background, vetiver contributes faint hints of dry woodiness, while patchouli adds a subtle earthy undertone, both remaining secondary to the dominant aromatic and ambery structure. As the fragrance continues to settle, the balance gently tilts toward warmth and earthiness from the amber and patchouli, though the classic framework remains firmly intact. Performance: Projection during the first hour is strong, reaching roughly five to six feet and leaving a confident scent trail. After a few hours, projection remains consistent, while sillage softens slightly but stays clearly noticeable. Around the seven to eight hour mark, projection pulls in to about arm’s length, and the scent trail becomes light. The fragrance transitions into a skin scent shortly thereafter. Overall, performance is solid and fitting for a fragrance of this style and vintage. When to Wear: Envy is best suited for fall and winter wear and works equally well during the daytime or evening. Its structure makes it highly versatile, capable of being worn casually or dressed up for formal occasions. It also shines as a special occasion fragrance and can even work in an office setting when applied with restraint. Blind Buy: For fans of classically masculine fragrances such as Masculin Pluriel or Drakkar Noir, Envy is very much in that same vein. However, given its discontinued status and the inflated prices it now commands, this is not something to buy blindly. Sampling first is essential, especially before committing to what has become a significant financial investment. Final Verdict: After finally spending time with Envy on skin, it’s clear to me why it holds such an exalted place within the fragrance community. This is a truly magnificent example of classic men’s perfumery, executed with confidence, depth, and timeless appeal. As my tastes have evolved, I’ve grown to appreciate profiles like this more and more, and Envy feels like a benchmark for the style. That said, two practical factors ultimately keep it out of my collection. The first is price. Its discontinuation and legendary status have driven costs to unreasonable levels, making it difficult to justify at around four hundred dollars. The second is familiarity. The overall character reminds me strongly of Masculin Pluriel, which I already own and enjoy. Taking those points together, there’s little incentive for me to pursue it at current market prices. Still, should I ever come across Envy at a rational cost, it would be very hard to pass up. Scent: 10/10 Longevity: 7/10 Sillage: 8/10 Versatility: High Mass Appeal: Average Gender: Masculine Value: Extremely overpriced

The fragrance is, unfortunately, no longer offered or produced (because what is good cannot last forever, and especially according to the current Gucci philosophy), which is a pity, because it is an example of one of the best-cut men's fragrances in the history of perfumery... I admit that I approached it many times to finally understand it, appreciate it and, as a result, love it.... My first contact with Envy was at the urging of “fellow misery” from a friendly forum (greetings Gentlemen and Ladies) 😉. Since the fragrance is hard to come by and to buy basically only in online stores and on the few auctions on alledrogo, by happy coincidence I spotted it one day on the shelf at the local drugstore Superfarm (typo intended and intentional 8) ).... I will immediately interject that I do not recommend sniffing perfumes, let alone making a decision to consciously purchase anything other than the fragrances you know very well in this type of establishment, because the conditions for sniffing in this type of establishment are far from favorable.... Firstly, the ubiquitous and subtle in action like the Red Army security guards... poking a suspicious look at my back because, in their view, I take too long to take an interest in the contents of the rack, instead of promptly throwing some Lacoste into the basket and crawling towards the checkout.... Secondly, in this type of place there is air conditioning and artificially forced air movement in a rather strong way, so most of the sniffed smell is caught by the ventilation system before it manages to reach my nostril by gravity.... Thirdly, there are various people walking around all the time, shrouded more or less intensively in their own fragrances, and every now and then they spray something profusely in the blotters or on themselves... in addition, there is a cacophony of fragrances coming out of, as it were, “not quite airtight” atomizers of dozens of testers on the shelves.... It is impossible to sniff in such conditions, it absolutely will not be authoritative, so for anyone who wants to get to know this fragrance as well as any other, I recommend getting a sample and testing the scent quietly at home... I assure you that the reception will be surprisingly different than in combat conditions.... My surprise during the re-test (lovely thanks to Lichu for the sizable decant) in home conditions was overwhelming... the fragrance smelled completely different, fuller, more willing to share its shape and every now and then revealed new previously unknown fragments of the composition.... and there is much to contemplate.... Envy is complex, multifaceted and treacherous as hell... it can surprise as much as an overprotective mom popping into a teenager's room every now and then under any pretense, and with a view to preserving her son's virginity and purity in dealing with women 8) The composition of Envy is a masterpiece in terms of composition and release of the various elements of the composition... it can rapidly change its face in extremes depending on the conditions, time of day, humidity and ambient temperature... what on the surface seems chimerical and capricious... after getting to know it more closely begins to appreciate over time... Envy has as many faces as users and on each it will play in concert, but somewhat differently.... this endearing play of aniseed, which like a green absinthe fairy circles and moves the senses, combines with a kind of vegetable scent of spices and plants to create a multifaceted somewhat culinary note.... It is a phenomenal sensation that surprises both the wearer and his surroundings... the fragrance is not the least bit forward or unbearable... the projection is relatively lazy and some time passes before it begins to envelop our surroundings with its tentacles, but it is able to move the senses despite the apparent sleepiness of the composition.... I love the subtle aniseed note, which in Envy is extremely balanced and rid of the aggressive sharpness known even from Opium YSL.... It is calm, somewhat idyllic, my nerves are gently soothed by the lazily dragging streaks of once aniseed, once vegetable notes, up to the sweet, subdued, yet remarkably masculine base of the fragrance.... The whole is enclosed in a classic rectangular, one-sided flattened flacon made of thick glass, which is topped by a slightly oversized black plastic stopper reminiscent of the one in the Gucci PH/PH II series, but obscuring almost the entire contents of the flacon... The color of the liquid in the form of an intense vivid green is somewhat at odds, although it partly alludes to the composition and arrangement of the composition.... Head: anise, coriander, cardamom, iris, nutmeg Heart: musk, opoponax, incense Base: cedarwood, sandalwood, vanilla, ambergris, vetiver

Gucci Envy is good. Damn good, in fact. But I don’t think it’s good enough to justify a niche price tag. I have no nostalgic connection to this fragrance whatsoever. I’ve never had the pleasure of getting my nose on this fragrance until recently, and as such, I feel like an outsider looking in here. Everywhere I look, Envy receives praise that would make even modern giants such as Sauvage or Aventus turn green with, well, envy. And make no mistake; this fragrance is certainly deserving of a lot of it. It’s a woodsy, spicy, dare I say oriental fragrance that has the most invigorating pop of ginger at the top. The incense still comes out and is one of the high points of the entire experience. In the base and the heart, the woods come together very sharply. The closest contemporary comparison I can think of is Givenchy Gentleman Boise. Despite its age, it still smells fantastic, though I don’t doubt age has gotten to this fragrance, even if only slightly. If we’re talking demographics, I’d consider this to be a younger man’s fragrance. If you’re in your early to mid-20s, right up into your 30s, I think this would be right at home on your skin. And let me tell you, wearing Envy in 2022 is a statement. Not just because you need to fork out the scratch to afford the damn stuff, but because nothing else in the game smells quite like this. Clones exist, and some of Envy’s contemporary competitors (Floris Santal specifically) are still around; and while they take a similar scent profile and perform admirably, they still don’t quite reach the lofty heights that Envy perches itself upon. Projection and longevity are nothing special. I’d say it tends to follow typical EDT standards, and projects moderately (bordering on intimately) for about 3-4 hours, before settling into a skin scent for another 2-3 hours. My particular bottle is from 2006, so I’m not going to judge a 14 year old fragrance too harshly for not projecting and performing like a beast. Would I recommend a purchase of Envy to someone who doesn’t have a nostalgic connection to it? It depends. If you like a sharp ginger note, this will be a fantastic fragrance for you - period. It’s beautifully blended and is as unique as they come. However, I’d recommend marking this one down as a sample before you buy, unless you’re a committed collector. Finally, I figure we should address the elephant in the room - the inflated pricing for this scent. Is it worth the astronomical prices being demanded on eBay? No. But also... yes? Let me explain. I believe Envy still, more than a decade after its discontinuation, competes with the very best Tom Ford has to offer. TF’s private blend will run you between $150-250 for 50ml, depending on the fragrance. If you can find a 50ml bottle of Envy for around that price, I’d consider it worthwhile. If you find a 100ml bottle of Envy in that range, I’d consider it an absolute steal. However, for this price to be AT ALL justified, it must be worn and enjoyed down to the last spray; not savoured and babied for another 20 years. Like the decade Envy came from, this fragrance won’t last forever. To remember it as an olfactory zeitgeist is only going to make the discontinuation of this fragrance harder to stomach as the years roll on. Envy is a lamentable loss, but it had a good run. I like seeing that it still has a dedicated fanbase. It is truly, truly excellent and holds up well to this day. I’d consider it a must try for almost any fragrance collector, but not necessarily a must own. I’d recommend giving JordanFromNZ’s (below) YouTube review a watch, he approaches it from a similarly non sentimental angle. EDIT: For those of you interested, Covet by Dua is a decent enough approximation, but not a perfect clone. It's much sharper and harsher than Envy is, and far louder. For those of you who have used Envy in the past and are looking to relive the experience for a price that's actually affordable, it may scratch that itch. But for those looking to experience Envy for the first time, I wouldn't recommend Covet.

Yeah, it’s literally basically gone on me after a few hours... this is a fairly gigantic bummer to me... may may be sitting on the skin for a little longer... then it’s just gone. I tried it with some Vaseline, and it kept the opening around a bit longer for sure.... then it just fades away to nothingness... as amazing as this smells (and it has a cool bottle) I can’t really understand how this could possibly project more than arms reach for anyone... and the fact that it is simply disappearing is insane to me. I know it’s and EDT, but I have some EDT’s that certainly last nearly all day... and some EdP’s that literally may last on clothing for a week! If I spray this on fabric... it is GONE in about 45 minutes or so... so WTF? I believe I have a bottle of the pale green, it’s sort of yellow, mostly green for sure... it has little floating particles in it, which I’ve read other Gucci Envy owners have in their bottles, so it’s probably Ford’s propensity for natural ingredients doing something inside.... But the price:performance ratio here so far is actually depressing.... I’m really happy I got this for a good price... and it smells so amazing and looks great in the collection... lol but if even sprays on a Vaselined neck don’t work... then why in the fuck would I not sell this for a 300-400$ profit? I’m not sure how many of the comments on here are people who remember anything about the performance of this and are mainly attaching beast level to their memories of this smell... This isn’t cool how this is going... no other frag in my entire collection works like this... if have body mists that perform better.... so what’s up? EDIT: just now I sprayed 5 sprays into the same spot on a piece of fabric and put it on my desk... so I’ll see how long it can be detected.... EDIT 2: alright... so I can still smell the 5 big sprays I put onto a pair of socks and went out all afternoon and left them on my desk... I don’t really understand what’s up here... because one spray on each side of a tshirt and a jacket I did yesterday, then went out and walked around for a few hours (it’s really cold right now in Toronto) and seemingly not a single trace could be detected. Still don’t know what’s going on here... I’ll give it a few more tests before it’s set in stone.... but again, at the price per spray (as I have a 98% full 3.4 bottle) is insanity, and 6 sprays anytime I try to wear this isn’t going to work... I’d rather sell it and then buy every clone of envy ever made to find the best one.

Yeah... wow. Finally got my hands on a bottle of this today!!!! Found a 3.4 of the lighter green version! Oh man, didn’t really know what I was expecting... just hoped it lived up to all of you on here proclaiming it as a masterpiece... I think it probably is... this smells super super awesome. It’s hard to describe the smell, it’s different than anything else in my collection... it’s definitly woody, peppery, with some floral action behind all that. This is really really really good stuff. It must be a little subliminal with the green juice, but my first spray when I got home today, so my first time smelling this ever, it reminded me somehow of pickles hah. Good ones though and not a vinegar/alcohol smell, but that mysterious, sweet, pickled strange vegetable from a far off land... Pretty captivating and I haven’t warn this out in public yet hah. EDIT: Hmmmmmm, so this seems to be performing, really badly? 3 or 4 sprays on my neck, one each on my wrists, a shot on my shirt and jacket... on the clothes it’s almost immediately gone. After three hours or so I can smell it right where I blasted my wrist... seemingly my neck smells like nothing, and I’m not sure if it was really projecting at all since I left the house... if I can barely smell myself, surely no one else can smell me... This is disappointing on a fairly different level lol. This smells incredible, definitly the only thing I’ve ever smelt like this... but if after 6 sprays or more in total and it’s gone in 3 hours.... wtf? Not usable at the price per ml basically..... hmmm I’m going to give it another day or too and see if it gets any better but I mean... today was the big test to see if it was as awesome as everyone says.... but if this won’t last beyond an hour or so with any strength, I definitly don’t see the point. I was getting wiffs of it when I walked around, but it seems to be gone, I sniffed the collar of my shirt right now... barely detectable... so anyone who actually has this and isn’t just remembering... what’s up?

Very, very nice, creamy, dense, sweet spicy fragrance. I smell star anise but none is listed. I also don't get much Wood despite it being the second most prominent accord listed here. It must be so well blended into the creamy amber and lavender that it doesn't come across as a woody scent. It comes across as a creamy, dense, sweet spicy frag to me. The leather note is clearly discernable, so the accord stack on this page should have a Leather accord listed. Really cool bottle design too. This is in my favorites collection. Too bad its discontinued. I have about 7ml left in a 15ml bottle, but I wear Dua's very good clone called Covet. Disagree with @Karim_Ezzat above on Dua Covet. Covet does indeed smell like a stronger Envy, but you do have to tolerate Dua's amped up performance and the enhancers they use as I can see that might effect quality. I also have the Envy clone by Scentual Obsessions called "Role Model". It is very good and doesn't suffer the distortion of the strong performance enhancer in the Dua. I also have Floris Eau de Santal, which is very similar - it opens very similar but veers more a bit more green in the drydown, essentially just the opposite of @Karim_Ezzat's opinion above. And its performance is worse. And, laughably, I have to say Gucci Envy for Men smells NOTHING like Chanel Egoiste. Lol. Nor is it anything, and I mean anything, like Creed Tabarome. I have all of these fragrances. I mentioned that because someone actually invoked these as a comparison. UPDATE: I just found a cheapie clone of Envy for Men called Enthral by EAD. It was brought to my attention by a YouTube reviewer who said it was a dead ringer for Envy for Men. Haven't yet worn it but it smells just like Envy for Men on test blotter. Lol, on the back of the box it says "EAD - European American Designs and Enthral is not associated in any way with Envy which is a registered trademark of Gucci". What is that, a legal way to say its an Envy clone by not saying it?

The Prelude: Creamy Ginger Picture this: a sun-kissed ginger root, freshly unearthed from the moist earth. Its skin, golden and warm, yields to the blade, releasing a creamy nectar—an elixir of fire and silk. Gucci Envy opens with this very essence, a spicy crescendo that flirts with your senses. It’s as if the ginger itself leans in, whispers, “Come closer, my dear. Let me weave my spell.” The Heartbeat: Sandalwood’s Sigh And then, like a clandestine lover, sandalwood emerges. Its woody notes wrap around you, a velvet cloak of ancient wisdom. Close your eyes, and you’ll feel the sun-drenched forests of Mysore, where sandalwood trees stand sentinel. Their fragrant breath mingles with your skin, leaving an indelible mark—a promise of eternity. Gucci Envy’s heart beats to this rhythm, a slow, hypnotic pulse that draws you deeper. The Finale: Whispers of Longing As the hours wane, Envy unfurls its final act. Incense curls like smoke from forgotten altars, vanilla caresses like a lover’s kiss, and amber glows like embers in the night. Tobacco and leather linger, a secret shared between kindred souls. It’s a symphony of longing, a whispered confession in the language of scent. The Verdict: A Stolen Kiss Gucci Envy for Men is not for the faint of heart. It’s for the midnight wanderers, the poets who pen verses on skin, and the rebels who dare to chase desire. Wear it when the moon hangs low, when the world sleeps, and let it weave its magic. For in its creamy ginger and sandalwood embrace, you’ll find a stolen kiss—a memory that lingers long after the night has surrendered to dawn. Note: Gucci Envy for Men is a discontinued gem, elusive as a shooting star. Seek it in the hidden corners of vintage boutiques or the whispers of perfumistas. But when you find it, hold it close. For in its allure lies the promise of forbidden dreams.

This is a masterpiece. To me it smells like a Gothic but crisp mixture of spicy ginger and creamy sandalwood, but with something green in the background, and this green does not necessarily remind me of nature, but of church; hinting at incense but not 100 per cent there. I found this too serious and for adults when it was released, but mesmerising as well. As I was in my late teens, I did not feel comfortable wearing it, but from the very first moment I knew this was going to make a big impact for a very long time, as it has. Envy for Men is something unique, distinguished, really creative, a bit challenging to wear at times maybe (it wears you unless you dress formally and look a certain way) but oustanding. Like a work of art. The problem with such pieces is that sometimes they leave you in awe, and you can only look or smell in admiration, from a distance, or envy them but not be part of them, somehow. It took me time to feel comfortable wearing it, but now with age (despite the cliché) I do like to wear it finally... I will never understand why it was discontinued, and I also find it hard to understand why other companies (Zara, I am looking at you) do not release some kind of dupe, even if it is updated or a bit fresher or a bit less strong. It would certainly sell out. From the clones that keep on being mentioned to replace this, none do fully replace it. Floris Santal lacks punch and ginger; Vintage Carven Homme is too strong on the vanilla; and Tabac Man Fire Power smells like a pale reminder of Envy's last phase. The three of them do have some nice similarities, but that's about it. Re-releasing Envy for Men these days would make such a statement...

One of my all time favorite fragrances that is sadly long discontinued and very, very overpriced as a result. It's warmth is just something that I wish I could be smelling all of the time, but because of its price I can't afford to wear this one anywhere near as frequently as I'd like. We have this fresh sort of opening, but the top notes are nearly instantly overpowered by the rich, spicy, ambery, sexy base notes and depending on which batch you got this may also contain a massive dose of incense which I absolutely adore. The first formulation also has this smokey woody note that reminds me of a few other designer fragrances I own a little bit: Bentley for Men Intense and Absolute, and YSL M7 Oud Absolu. Another key note here is the very intense and creamy sandalwood note, which I don't think this fragrance gets enough love for having such a great sandalwood. For a designer release, I believe this was pretty ambitious which makes sense since Tom Ford was the head of creative at the time. Overall, this is probably my all time favorite fragrance, I wish I could use it more. Dua's Covet is absolutely outstanding and really nails the sandalwood aspect but misses some of the finer details. Overall, I would say it's about 90% similar to the less dark batches of Envy where the incense was toned down. I'll continue to use that and only bust out the real thing for special occasions until Gucci realizes their mistake and brings back this beautiful fragrance, hopefully along with Gucci Rush, Gucci Nobile, and Gucci Pour Homme I and II.

Ok, although i rarely visit this site, i just created an account to help others like myself to find a suitable alternative to this masterpiece. Like many others, this was my all-time-favorite back in the 90's - '00's so a lot of good memories are associated with this fragrance. Ever since it was discontinued (still baffles me as well) i started buying bottles on ebay and searching for alternatives. I tried a lot of these (Carven Homme, Floris Santal, Tabac Firepowrer, Vetyver l'occitante but none of them ever came close to the warmth, depth, classiness & mystery of the real deal until...... i found this VERY good & affordable alternative: Eclat N642, initially there's a notcieable difference between the two (yet not unpleasant) but on the dry down it's actually very, very similar & the longevity is better than the original. I still have 1,5 bottles of the original so i have done side-by-side tests. I only wear the original on special occasions and my wife asking me why i all-of-a-sudden started wearing Envy again on a daily basis was the ultimate compliment for this alternative in my POV Prize-wise it's also a great deal as well and they ship international (i live in Holland, eclat is german). I am by no means associated with Eclat in any shape or form. Just want to help out others who like me, simply can't live without this fragrance nor can't afford to wear it on a daily basis. Try it out! Am sure you won't be dissapointed.

This one is wonderful. Nostalgia aside, it was my boyfriend's signature scent. I still have a little of it, which I wear twice a year. Back then, we used perfumes; there weren't any databases about them yet. Now, I think of all the wonderful fragrances that are discontinued in no time that they probably contain ingredients that turn out to be harmful to health. Maybe they can get away with it once, but not if they're kept in production. What surprises me most is that there's a range of designer fragrances that stay in production for years and years, and they're often not the best. - Heerlijk is deze, los van de nostalgie het was de kenmerkende geur van mijn vriend. Ik heb er nog een beetje van welke ik 2 keer per jaar gebruik. Destijds gebruikten we parfums, er waren nog geen databases over. Nu denk ik bij alle heerlijke geurtjes die in no-time uit de roulatie zijn dat ze wel ingrediënten in zich zullen hebben die schadelijk voor de gezondheid blijken te zijn. Misschien dat ze er eenmalig mee weg komen, maar niet bij blijvende productie. Waar ik me het meest over verwonder dat er een assortiment is binnen de designerluchtjes die wel jaren en jaren in productie blijven, welke vaak echt niet de lekkerste zijn.

★★★★★ When something is a link between you and the version of you in the past, it surely is a precious thing. When that link is taken away from you, it almost becomes an urban legend. A myth. I’ll try to be grounded, and talk about Envy without thinking it’s rarity and high price on the net. It’s a beautiful mass appealing designer. It’s unique, easy on the nose, sensual and refreshing at the same time. The gingery sweetness is contrasted cleverly with its oriental woody character. It’s that ginger that makes me think of a total black Japanese minimalistic outfit, an aesthetic I love. It’s not a mind blowing smell, then again it was not intended to be. A massively successful designer that conquered the 00s. That’s it! I am not encouraging anyone to pay a high price for envy. I found a bottle at a moderate price by accident. Then again I understand how precious this memory link to the past can be for some people. That’s the beauty of fragrance. I’ll wrap this up by saying that it’s not a beast mode fragrance. Lasts long, but projects discreetly. One of the best designers for men, yes, but there are some other designers that have been really mind blowing (looking at you By Man, wherever you’re hiding)

My sense of smell is not fully back after covid. This has moderate projection, so I'm not getting all the fullness of what it is. It is wonderfully blended. I have mostly niche fragrances. This smells like a niche quality frag. Like a vintage Guerlain, Derby or Lupin. It is more youthful than those, more playfully like a Creed Aventus. It's very smooth with the amber base. I get a great sandalwood and mahogany. The greeness is coming from cardomom and carnation. But the cardomom and ginger do not stand out prominently, but everything is well blended. From the open to mid, it's somewhat fresh, green spicy. From the mid to dry down it's creamy smooth, warm spicy. I can understand why people say it's one of the best designer fragrances ever. There is nothing cheep smelling like many designer frags today. M-7 Fresh was a great YSL fragrance that had ginger and mandarin orange and Oud. When Tom Ford moved from Gucci to YSL. Vintage bottles of M-7 Fresh can be had for 1/2 the price of this Envy. I would rate it as good a designer classic. But Envy is a complex great all arounder, any season any occasion. Rating: 10/10 God bless. John 3:16

I’m of the mind that this is one of the greatest male fragrances ever created. This includes niche and indie, not just designer. You don’t smell scents like this anymore. The pop of ginger in the top with the creamy sandalwood is absolutely spellbinding, and as it dries down into more of a sandalwood/incense combo with a slight hint of leather and tobacco... oh man. It is an absolute masterpiece of a fragrance. It’s nearly impossible to describe, but when you smell a fragrance that WORKS for you, you know it. And this is one of those fragrances for me, which makes it all the more disappointing it’s been long discontinued. Should you buy it? I'd say try to sample first. For the amount of money this stuff commands now, I think blind buying a full bottle isn’t the greatest of ideas, keeping in mind this juice is going to be 15+ years old. It's quite polarizing for a Gucci fragrance too, like I can understand why this didn't work for the general public. My girlfriend for example strongly dislikes this scent on me, but it just makes me love it even more.

One of the best incense I have ever felt. It has a seductive, dark and spicy sweetness that instantly captivated me. Opens with notes of lavender and a peppery orange, enriched with cardamom. In a few minutes the heart begins to emerge... the sweetness becomes more evident with the carnation, jasmine and the rose, creating a spicy floral accord. But the best is yet to come. The dry down is incredible. Smooth and warm, slightly spicy and sharp at the same time. Ginger, incense, amber, tobacco and vanilla with a woody background (rich in sandalwood, mahogany and patchouli) create an acrid/sweet/smoky accord. It's heady but at the same time soft, comforting and exciting... it's really hypnotic. Longevity and sillage are medium and require mild temperatures. It's elegant, but not formal. A wonderful (and discontinued) creation by Daniela Andrier, once again blessed by the hands of Tom Ford, during his time at Gucci. My favorite male fragrance.

This is the first scent I can remember being absolutely amazed by but feeling somehow under-qualified to wear. Like, perhaps I'd need to dye my hair darker to be able to pull this one off. Gucci Envy for me was aspirational. I wanted to become the person who could wear it. I was only twenty-two-or-three years of age, and when I sprayed this on I felt impressive as fuck but also maybe like a bit of an imposter. Looking back I think that's because the first time I wore it in public was at my job at a call center. This definitely is not a cubicle-friendly scent. Not unless you're trying to get your co-workers all unnecessarily twitterpated. Which I was not. There's nothing 'cool' about this. No icebergs or fighter jets or whatever. This is super-warm ginger-sandal-cream. Nowhere to run. Makes the air in the immediate vicinity thicker. Changes the latitude. Makes everyone's blood pump up a notch whether they like it or not.

ENVY was my nights-out fragrance in the 2000s... I adore it! What I would highlight about ENVY is the ability to adapt a highly classic fragrance to a young, glamorous and fun profile. Here, there is a little bit of everything, but nothing exceeds; everything is rounded and measured to the millimeter to make you feel sexy and confident without feeling too 'perfumy'. The scent was MAGNETIC... sandalwood and ginger standed out, but even none of them screamed inside a bottle with a design to die for. Forget about Floris, forget about Carven, forget about Tabac... nothing is comparable to ENVY. I even cannot figure out that Gucci decide to reissue this perfume... honestly, the world would split in two... might it be the same? so many things have changed in the world of fragrances... I still have a small sample... UNFORGETTABLE and UNREPEATABLE

Absolutely love everything about this fragrance. I bought my first bottle in 2002 and it lasted me years. Exceptional performance but as others have mentioned this is more for a date night or a formal event, rather than a daily casual. I’m on the lookout for what would be my 3rd bottle and to be honest I’m not too mad at the reseller price. I’ve paid more for a Creed recently which in my opinion is inferior to Envy in many ways. One day the world will run out of this and it’ll be like it never existed.. but I’m pretty sure if Gucci ever re-released it, they would reformulate it beyond recognition and it would probably last 30 minutes on the skin. I’m not sure which outcome is worse! Probably better to let it die on its sword rather than come back with no soul like some rancid dog from Pet Semetary.

Daniela Roche Andrier made a great fragrance Gucci Envy for men I don't think Envy is a niche and it is not worth all the hundreds people are asking for it nowadays but it was a beautiful creation at that time, worthy of a FIFI Hall of Fame. It's so sad to see that Gucci doesn't care about fans or consumers' responses to beloved fragrances just money money money and pillar after pillar if they were to relaunch both Gucci Envy for men and women they would take it to the bank, there are many fans of Envy waiting for a relaunch of this pillar now that Alessandro Michele is stepping down from the house of Gucci let's see what happens we can only dream... Gucci Envy Men by Daniela Andrier discontinued Gucci Envy Women by Maurice Roucel discontinued Gucci Eau de Parfum 2002 discontinued

@zorba_colin69 I to am experiencing the same issues as you , but not always. I woke up in the middle of the night and could smell the rich smell of the incense and sandalwood coming from my arm, so it could be olfactory fatigue , the intense smell was intoxicating and reinforced why i bought it and now treasure it, i just picked up my second bottle, and I still look every day .....I will never have enough bottles of Gucci Envy. I want them all.....if I could only ever wear one fragrance for the rest of my life.....it's this. I say hold on to the bottle for history sake, it's a monument to excellence in design, both bottle and scent. I smile when I look at my bottle. Isn't that worth keeping it? You're probably worth it too,so treat yourself to one of life's better things.