Gucci Bloom Intense

Sensuous & velvety, the floral heart of this fragrance is freshened & warmed by the addition of ginger, which is present more as an effect than as a clear & crystallized note. Similarly, the florals are made soft & lactonic by the addition of coconut which is not evident in & of itself, but, like the ginger, plays a supporting role. The heroes of this fragrance are the white florals—namely tuberose—which bloom creamy & hedonistic, lifting like great pale moths from an inky cocoon of oakmoss; this dalliance resolving to a gentle haze that is both fuzzy & waxy, velveteen & buttery. I do not find this fragrance to be powdery or soapy, as some reviewers have noted. I do, however, sense darkness in this perfume where others may have felt it has fallen short; no, this is not “dark” in the more obvious or common uses of the term, nor yet may it deserve the name “Intense”. However, the darkness in this perfume is a nuanced one; the darkness of privacy & of intimacy, of that which goes unspoken, the darkness found between bedclothes & caught between hands held together, the shadow cast on a lover’s cheek by lowered lashes, melancholic in its beauty. When I wear this perfume, I feel its presence around me, diaphanous & snug as fog, & feel terribly romantic about my own life—dreaming of those who will walk where I have been & pass through the wraiths of blooms I leave in my wake.

I love the original Bloom and love wearing it when I want to feel ladylike and feminine. I just purchased this and love this too!! It’s definitely a warmer sexier scent! I find the patchouli gives it such a beautiful depth. I typically don’t care for a mossy scent but it’s stunning in this and not overpowering. The coconut is subtle but definitely there. These base notes complement the white florals so beautifully. It is not for those who prefer gourmands or sweet scents. It is more sophisticated and grownup. It’s really beautiful for date nights in dimly lit restaurants in the warmer months. I love my deep sexy scents in the evening in fall and winter but struggle to find ones that are good for warmer nights. This one is perfect! It could be worn all year if you like your florals. Longevity on me is good, 6+ hours. The sillage is good but they won’t smell you before they see you. It could go slightly unisex but definitely leans feminine in my opinion. I love scents that are a bit unisex! This is really nice, and I actually love this entire line. I’ve yet to find one I don’t enjoy. So, if this is too grown for you, try others in the line and you’ll probably find one that you enjoy!

I wanted to like the Gucci Bloom line and it's flankers but to me they smell dated and heavy in a headache-inducing way. Do we need another heavy-handed white floral with a shot of bergamot at the top? No, I don't think so. But I dutifully tried each one... the Alessandro era of Gucci was killing it in so many other ways but not this line. So I didn't have high expectations for Intense. First, is it intense? No. I think they should've named it Bloom Sensuelle, or even Bloom Estate ('summer'). It's lighter and smoother to me - addition of pear & coconut make this more fresh and the moss has an interesting green depth that the others are lacking. The tuberose definitely leans 'bubblegum' in this one, compared to the others in this line. Eddie did a review of this one (that he did *not* enjoy it) but he says one thing I agree with: if you liked the rest of the Bloom line, this might not be for you, and if you *didn't* like the others, you might love this one! I find it the most wearable and enjoyable and I'm grateful to have it in my collection.

I'm so thankful that I only applied one spray of this, and that being on my wrists so I can hold them away from my nose. Don't get me wrong, this is really enjoyable, but Alberto (big fan of his BTW) didn't pull any punches with this. It's really beautiful and jumps straight into the heart notes...simple because they're so strong. Yes, there is some citrus. But *no*, this didn't really have an opening sequence. It all serves to uphold the tuberose and jasmine. The patchouli is rather clean as well, and further supports the malange of white florals (which are...sexy). I don't smell anything oakmoss actually, but this could of course be due to restrictions and that the oakmoss is less of a force than it used to be in throwback perfumes. Speaking of throwbacks though, this doesn't smell current, or modern (I mean this in the best way). It's a classic, well-constructed white floral beauty. And it's unsurprising that younger generations largely dislike it.

I have been a fan of tuberose for a long time and often reach for the original when I want a strong, confident white floral. I also enjoy Ambrosia and Nettare di Fiori, for different aspects of the scent. I do agree that Intense takes a different approach and does not feel completely as a part of the "Bloom" family, yet I enjoy it immensely. From the very first time I wore it, I felt enveloped in this mysterious aura of a fragrance that is strong enough to be detected at all times yet brings me joy every time I get a proper whiff. To me, maybe also due to the branding and the flacon of the perfume, it has a witchy feeling to it. It is not daring enough to be the perfume of a true villain, but it can add a bit of a dark undertone to the charm of its wearer. I think it's a great perfume from Gucci, as it is likeable and complex enough to appeal to people yet still go a bit against the typical designer scents released in the past few years.