Eau de Givenchy by Givenchy

In the 70s, this freshness jewel broke away from old school colognes by introducing a chypre twist, something the public sought to relax without falling into civet, leather, or aldehydes. Eau de Givenchy arrived a bit late, perhaps due to the success of Givenchy III, but by the 80s it learned from the competition and forged its own identity: a fruity combo not overshadowed by herbal or citrus notes, featuring muguet, honeysuckle, musk, and a soft lavender. The projection is more subdued than others of its style, but the fragrance is very refined and pleasant. Straight out of the bottle: sweet mandarin notes, soft bergamot touches, a hint of red fruit, and a very gentle lavender; in general, that’s the opening. Yes, there’s a touch of grapefruit, but it’s almost imperceptible compared to the rest; it’s there to give a tiny acidic tone alongside the bergamot, but in my view, its finely musky fruity sweetness stands out more. Unlike Chanel Cristalle, Eau de Rochas, or Diorella, here the citrus intervention isn’t prominent and its olfactory structure is creamier and more subtle, not so sparkling. I’d say the only thing it shares with Diorella is that honeysuckle note. It’s soft, glamorous, from the moment it wakes up until it fades to sleep. My review is about the first splash version with the blue cap; it had a relaunch in the 00s (more potent, but smells a bit synthetic) and another reincarnation for the late 2010s (pleasant, but resembles a traditional cologne more than the original). It’s rich, soft, elegant, and has its own charm.

One of my favourite perfumes. It has a touch of green apple that I adore. It’s delicate.

My grandmother used to wear this perfume, and I still have such a vivid memory of its clean, fresh, and elegant scent.

This cologne was worn by my grandmother, mother, and me across three generations. I can’t find it anymore. It’s a fresh, sweet fragrance where neroli takes centre stage and has excellent longevity. It always drew compliments. I’d love to use it again.