Guilty Pour Homme Eau de Parfum

A spring garden in a bottle. I went into Macy's and tried this expecting nothing, and thought it might end up smelling cheap and tacky (based on what I've heard, at least), but ended up completely falling in love. It smells like a dewey, flower-filled backyard with an immaculate, fresh-cut lawn, right after a rainstorm, with intense sunlight shining down through the dark clouds. (I know that's a very specific vibe, but smelling this brought me nostalgia and unlocked that exact childhood memory I'd lost through time.) From a technical standpoint, the scent profile is quite floral-dominant (slightly unusual for a masculine fragrance but it works so well). The opening is a sweet rose (that I'd say smells more like rosewater) balanced by spicy notes to capture a youthful vibe. The rose is omnipresent through the drydown, and holds on as an anchor or a "medium" for the rest of the notes. White florals are introduced in the heart, and the base captures an aromatic woodiness. I would argue there's a hint of unlisted green notes throughout, something like vetiver, grass, or verbena (it's hard to tell). Performance-wise, it lasts and projects as you'd expect a fresh designer eau de parfum to, 5-7 hours with moderate projection for 2-3 hours. It's not earth-shattering, but it's ideal for the price. I'd probably use this on casual days throughout the spring and summer, especially during the springtime, or on nature walks/dates. If I'm going to visit a botanical garden, or spend the day hiking or exploring a forest, this cologne would help me fit right in. Overall, Gucci Guilty Eau de Parfum has exceeded my expectations. I went in thinking I'd be disappointed, yet I walked out pleasantly surprised. If you have your quips about this smelling cheap, classless or generic because either you heard it somewhere or you're assuming so because it's Gucci, I'm here to put your concerns to rest. Believe me, it's worth it. One of the best spring designer fragrances out there.

This is a very, very, very strange and daring fragrance. I’m a fan of Guilty EDT and Guilty Intense - they generally get destroyed by fragrance snobs but they’re safe and very mass appealing, call them some of my guilty pleasures if you will (no pun intended haha). I will say that, to me, this is not as similar to the original EDT version as some others make it seem. The original is really clean, slightly sweet, a bit green, synthetic. This one makes some MAJOR (and pretty ballsy) changes, it’s much more soapy and floral, the opening is almost acidic. I certainly detect the rose and the vinegar-y chili pepper accord here. Upon first spray, this stuff can literally smell HOT. I usually don’t think of “spicy food” when I say a fragrance is “spicy”, but if I get a big whiff of this upon first spraying it can, quite literally, sting my nostrils (pretty sure the chili pepper and vinegar does it) I actually really like it. No, scratch that, I freakin love it... but man it’s weird and baffling... kind of clean but pungent, kind of cool overall but with a hot opening, kind of sharp and vintage masculine with some soft, feminine, floral vibes... really hard to describe. I do get a very “culinary” type smell from it but it doesn’t feel gourmand. It kind of smells “gummy” and honestly the scent reminded me of my third grade teacher (a woman) who would always chew cinnamon gum and wear perfume (really fascinating how scents can recall such memories). With all these impressions noted, I can only say this scent fascinates me and I feel like some would consider it an absolute masterpiece while others would call it a hot mess. It’s polarizing, it’s odd, it’s kind of bold and masculine but strangely feminine... soapy, flowery, slightly green, with a strong opening of fresh rose and... cooking ingredients. Yep. Guilty AF.

First and foremost I feel bad for the Gucci Guilty line. I get it, these fragrances aren’t “challenging” or “interesting”. But to me that’s okay, there’s nothing wrong with making fragrances that smell good. Just my opinion, but I like the Gucci Guilty line far better than the Dior Sauvage line and I’m a giant Dior fan. I enjoy though with this one, the slight bit of complexity compared to its counterparts in the line. It still has that extremely clean mass appeal, but the rose is front and center. It’s a beautiful one might I add. Also, the “salt and vinegar” vibe is there but not like a bag of chips. It’s just got a cool little funk to it that the nose picks up to make it that more interesting. You also get the beautiful neroli and orange blossom which is a nice touch to bring elegance to the scent. I am not a trained nose that went to school for this shit, but I’m imagining the masculine aspect of this fragrance comes from the base notes cedar and patchouli. But when I say masculine I don’t mean macho, thus could be elegantly worn by a woman. I think that’s actually what I love about this fragrance. Anyways, it isn’t beast mode so slap a few extra sprays on, or just deal with it sitting closer to the skin. These types of beautiful, elegantly clean scents are not and should not be monstrous. I get about 6 hours with close to the skin projection. This is a scent for me and for those close to me. So office friendly, will not blow the doors off anyone. I highly recommend trying. One of my favorite scents.

Honestly, among the Gucci Guilty flankers I own (I also have the EDT Black and the Parfum version), the difference in scent profile across the line isn't drastically huge. However, the Gucci Guilty Pour Homme Eau de Parfum is the one that feels the most distinct and possesses its own character. (Though, I must confess, the Guilty Black remains a top favorite for me too!) This EDP opens up with a beautiful, clean freshness that makes it incredibly versatile. I genuinely believe this is an all-season scent. On hotter days, 1-2 sprays are perfect. When the weather cools down, I go for 3-4 sprays for a warmer, fuller effect. Now, let's talk performance: This stuff is a beast! It stays on my skin for well over 8-10 hours. The longevity is seriously impressive and a major selling point. The magic truly lies in the dry down. The combination of Rose and Chili Pepper is the heart and soul of this fragrance. It gives off a sensation that is simultaneously Spicy/Hot and deeply Romantic. It's clean enough for the office if you go light, but for me, this EDP shines brightest on special occasions. I mostly wear it for dates—strolls with my girlfriend, weekend getaways, or cozy dinner nights. It just screams romance and confidence! If you are looking for a Gucci Guilty that steps slightly away from the signature DNA while maintaining excellent performance and offering a sexy, spicy-floral twist, the EDP is a must-try. A solid, unique love! It’s easily tied with Guilty Black as my favorite in the entire line.

I have been in the fragrance game for almost 10 years now and I must admit, the first time I have ever been "wow'd" by a fragrance was when I was on an airplane to Cali in early 2011 and there was an ad in a magazine for the original Gucci Guilty. Upon sniffing the ad, I was totally blown away. I remember telling myself that I would totally be buying it at fashion island when I landed. Well, when I got there and found the bottle, I realized it was almost $80 and said, "hell no!!" This was before I was a big collector and thought that price was INSANE! Anyhow, I eventually bought Gucci Guilty a year or two later and it ended up being a disappointment. Whenever I wore it, it became something that made me nauseous. Something about it just messed with me. It was a total lady killer, but I just could not do it. This new GG EDP is so much better and so much more rounded out. It has no "cheap" vibe to it. It is a beautiful creation. It smells like the original, only so much more refined and complex. This is so worth the price. It is a massively desirable fragrance to everyone around you. It is soapy in all the right ways, velvety, smooth, dark-yet-light, and just pure sexy. Finally an elaborate and refined flanker!