Note Pyramid
Gentleman
Givenchy Gentleman Eau de Parfum 100ml is the richest of the current readings of the Gentleman name, and the version most people mean when they talk about it.
Nathalie Lorson and Olivier Cresp composed it, and the shape is clear. Black pepper opens with a dry peppery snap and lavender arrives almost immediately alongside, cool and herbal and slightly soapy, so the first minutes are crisp rather than sweet. Iris takes over the middle and it is the best thing in the fragrance: cool, powdery, faintly metallic, with that expensive grey quality the material gives when it is used generously. Peru balsam sits under the iris and warms it with a sweet resinous depth, almost like a dark syrup. The base is patchouli and vanilla, earthy and damp against smooth and sweet, and the tension between those two is what carries the second half of the wear.
Six materials, used with weight rather than variety. At eau de parfum strength it projects confidently for two or three hours and then holds close for the rest of the day, and it is a fragrance that rewards restraint in application: two sprays is right, four is too many, and the drydown is worth waiting for rather than drowning.
It is aimed at men, works best in cool weather and after dark, and is formal enough for a wedding or a dinner while staying wearable at a desk. If you already know the lighter versions in the same line, this is the one with the most body, and the one to buy in a full bottle if the iris is what you are after.
Hubert de Givenchy opened his Paris house in 1952 and it is owned by LVMH today, the fragrance side operating as a separate maison within the group.
Please note: images are a guide only. Packaging and bottle design may occasionally differ from those shown due to manufacturer updates or promotions.
Similar Notes
The Scent Vault
Join thousands earning on every order
Earn points as you shop, redeem for money off, and unlock member perks.
Find out more
The Scent Vault Gift Cards
Give the gift of choice
One card, every scent. Let them pick the fragrance that is truly them. Send it instantly by email, or schedule it for a future date with a message of your own.
Shop gift cards
