What Are The Best Givenchy Colognes NOW? 7 You Need To Consider
Givenchy.
A brand that is just popular enough but not too much.
I’ve ranked and reviewed the seven best Givenchy colognes for men in the list below. I’ve included everything you need to know and any of my experiences with the fragrance.
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Table of Contents
#7 – Givenchy Gentleman Society
This is the newest Givenchy on this list. The opening is very fresh and aromatic with a tinge of spice. There is mostly sage and cardamom at the start, cardamom being the one to add the spice.
These heavy aromatics are paired with a strong powdery accord and a decent dose of florals. To my nose, it is like a mix of a lipstick-y iris mixed with a sweeter white floral that smells like a Lillie.
This is a lot of what you’ll smell for the first 30 minutes, and then it rolls into the dry down, which was the best part for me. It is all about a blend of powdery vanilla and some warm wood.
This is a classy and mysterious fragrance with a touch of old school. Yet, it is still wearable by any man with great mass appeal.
Gentleman Society lasts seven to eight hours with mild projection. The entire time, it projected a one to two-foot scent bubble.
As for seasons and occasions, it is all occasions and all seasons except the hottest days of the summer.
#6 – Givenchy Gentleman Only
The opening starts with citric mandarin orange and pink pepper. The orange is less about its citric nature and instead amplifies the sweetness of pink pepper. In the background is a present but not prominent woodiness.
The overarching emphasis in the opening is slightly fresh, sweet, and spicy woods. The citruses fade as the mid develops, and a smoky incense fills its void.
The Birch note comes through most as the dominant woody accord. Creed Aventus has smoky woods, but they aren’t the same here.
Smoky woods are the focal point for the rest of the wear. I smell a lot more vetiver in the base than birch and cedar. Vetiver retains the woody aroma but adds dark and earthy faucets to the smoky incense.
The citruses and spices are gone but left a degree of freshness.
Fresh, smoky, and earthy woods are what you’ll smell for the rest of the wear. This is a very masculine fragrance but also simple and wearable.
Every time I’ve worn Gentleman Only, the longevity is in the three to four-hour range with moderate projection. Almost the entire wear pushes out two to three feet; once the projection fades, so does the scent.
This is spring, summer, and fall wear. As for occasions, it is all.
#5 – Givenchy Pi
Givenchy Pi is your perfect choice; it is an oldie but a goodie.
The opening is led by freshness, a blast of aromatics and vanilla. The freshness is from a semi-fruity and sweet mandarin orange. It is a fleeting hint but provides a great introduction to the more dominant parts of the scent.
The aromatics are more prominent. To my nose, it is a combination of rosemary and basil. If you’re familiar with these from the grocery store, you’ll know they have a degree of “spice,” it’s no different here.
In the background, vanilla is prevalent, amplifying the sugary sweetness.
After a few minutes, the fresh citruses and aromatics are drastically dissipating, and vanilla is filling the void.
The overarching emphasis in the mid is vanilla with creamy almond additions. It softens the sweetness and gives vanilla a unique twist.
There is a hefty dose of florals in the scent profile, but I never pick up on them. If anything, they keep the fragrance fresh, light, and wearable.
The dry-down adds ambery Benzoin. It’s smooth and warm, giving the fragrance depth. The rest of the wear is vanilla, almond, and ambery benzoin.
Givenchy Pi is not going to be a monster performer, nor should it be. The projection and longevity are perfect for a date. Your aroma will be discovered rather than announced.
As for seasons, this is exclusively cold-weather wear. The scent gets quite cloying in the warmer temperatures.
#4 – Givenchy Gentleman Cologne
This is for you if you want the fragrance that heads most in the barbershop cologne direction. The opening is VERY fresh, an absolute blast of citruses, bergamot, and lemon.
But these citruses have substance; a powderiness comes from behind. I appreciate that it doesn’t weigh down the opening; it is a fresh powderiness. In the grand scheme, it makes the citruses unique.
After five to ten minutes, a green petitgrain note comes through. It has a greenness but also a bitterness to keep things interesting.
This freshness will lead into the dry down, where you’ll smell a noticeable dose of Iris with a hint of warm ambroxan.
Now, the performance is not that great. It lasts five hours with light to intimate projection. This is a fragrance that you can overspray, and it wouldn’t be a big deal.
As for seasons and occasions, only late spring and summer and it can be worn for all occasions.
#3 – Givenchy Gentleman EDP
This is all about powdery iris from the start. And honestly, it can be quite intense for some. As the powdery iris settles, a heavy and sweet vanilla comes through.
This vanilla and iris pair will lead you into the dry down, where a smooth amber, wood, and spice combination will wash over the top notes. This heavier blend will be the focal point for the rest of the wear.
The performance is great. It routinely lasts eight to ten hours with good and strong projection but is never overwhelming. It straddles the line between just right and too loud.
As for seasons, it is only fall and winter wear. And I could see someone wearing this for all occasions, but it was built for special events only.
#2 – Givenchy Gentleman EDT Intense
A rich and dark iris leads the opening. Don’t freak out; it’s still a very masculine scent. It is more so than the soapy and powdery iris found in Prada L’Homme.
The first few minutes are overwhelming iris before fresh greens brighten the opening. It is a balancing act of lightness and darkness. As the top notes settle, a fresh and sweet vein will carry the iris into the base, skipping the mid.
At this point, a heavy cedar and cypress will add. They’re mostly warm, but the cypress carries a darker green and fresh nature. Iris and faint spices sit atop.
This is what you’ll smell for the rest of the wear.
Gentleman Givenchy EDT Intense is an average performer. It lasts seven to eight hours on the skin and projects up to arm’s length for a couple of those.
It is a perfect fragrance for transitionary periods of spring and fall.
It can be worn in the summer, but you must be careful with the number of sprays. The sweetness towards the end of the wear gets cloying in high-heat situations.
#1 – Givenchy Gentleman Reserve Privee EDP
A strong whiskey note is the entire opening. It smells like the juice looks. Is it boozy? Yes. Does it smell like you just walked out of a bar? Definitely not.
The whiskey note will settle down within a few minutes and then comes a powdery iris accord.
A large majority of the wear is this iris and whisky duo. Over time, a warm, smooth amber with wood will sneak into the base.
This amber and wood blend will be the focal point for the rest of the wear, while the iris and whiskey are light in the background.
How’s the performance? Strong enough to be smelled but not so much that it is overwhelming. It’s only good for some things, but it’s great when you want to stand out.
Finals Words
Is it worth owning a Givenchy cologne?
100%.
I love that these are all high-quality but not outrageously priced.
This brand doesn’t quite offer a fragrance that could be your one and only, but if you’re building a small or large quality collection, these are all fragrances you need to consider.
Givenchy has some amazing fragrances for men, but don’t limit yourself to the brand. Check out the best Guerlain fragrances for men here.