L’Interdit Eau de Parfum Rouge by Givenchy

It’s a gem, top-tier composition. I’m absolutely smitten: the DNA of L’Interdit blended with the sweet touch of tonka bean.

On my skin it is warm, spiced, and very dark. It is nocturnal, sensual, and potent. Although sold as feminine, on me it works as unisex because the woods dominate the sweetness. At first it took some getting used to, as even though I like intense scents, the woods and spices are darker than usual. I barely notice a slight citrus touch for contrast. After several wears I now enjoy it. ♥️ I see it as ideal for the night, perhaps my night signature. I recommend testing on skin before buying or, like me, grabbing the small size to adapt to the intensity without getting overwhelmed.

Does anyone remember the song by Judge Frollo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame? When he curses the seduction of Esmeralda… well, this perfume is that song. Perhaps Esmeralda’s handkerchief smelled like this. It starts with fresh orange, ginger, and a delicious cherry. Then it settles into a blend of neroli and sandalwood. The spice comes and goes. On skin it lasts two hours, on clothes five days and keeps going, and on hair it smells of sandalwood after two days. If you only like the initial notes, use it on skin and reapply. If you want your clothes and hair to retain those oriental and floral notes, try it on your coat, scarf, or hair. Not for the faint-hearted. Frollo was one and look how he ended up burning Paris. Intense love 100%.

When I say I want a red fruit perfume, I want THIS, not a goat milk one. It’s mature, sweet enough to be seductive without being cloying.

I was depressed when I couldn’t buy it when I tried it, haha. It’s rich and lasts quite a while. It smells expensive and is special. I don’t recommend it for sensitive noses.

I wish it wasn’t for older ladies; it smells like flowers at a funeral or old things. To me, it has nothing feminine or sexy about it 🙁

Delicious, it’s like concentrated glühwein, but that’s its problem as it can be too potent. It doesn’t go unnoticed; I recommend it for cold climates and open spaces, but it can tire people out who are close to you.

I understand why many women like it, but it’s disgusting!!!! The mix of sandalwood and patchouli is an explosion in the worst way, super bitter and gives me a headache 😭

I loved it when I first bought it, but I don’t know why I now find it super heavy.

At first, a vibrant touch of ginger dominates with a subtle citrus note. Then delicate sweet flowers emerge, giving way to a base of creamy woods. The dry down leaves a minty and sweet sensation that envelops with character. I recommend testing it before buying and moderating the sprays, as it’s an intense scent with presence.

Buying it for the second time. I liked the first bottle more; now the black pepper leaf note is bothering me. Looking back, I would have chosen Absolu. For @ayerai. I’m 47: one of the men who told me I smelled super sexy was 27, while the one who said I smelled bad was 47…

Absolutely love it, but it’s tricky knowing when to wear it. In Argentina, there’s Cher Onyx Elixir, which is very similar but much more wearable. This one is strictly for cold weather, nights out, dancing, or bars; don’t take it to dinner—it’s too much.

A scent that doesn’t quite fit with me; I think it’s the ginger note. I have L’Interdit Absolu and am delighted with it, so if this happens to anyone else, I advise trying this other one instead.

Captivating fragrance; it certainly doesn’t go unnoticed. I tested it on my skin and my father loved it. It’s sweet in the opening, but with a distinct ginger touch. It has very good projection and longevity too: about 8/9 hours on skin and lasts days on clothes. There are aspects that make me unsure if I want to keep it: 1. Its high price; a 35ml bottle costs $100 (at that price in Argentina you could buy two Arabic perfumes, or even I bought a niche perfume from Edición Privée that came out cheaper and had the same quantity). 2. It’s too mass-produced; yes, I know there are people who don’t mind, but in the area where I work I feel people walking with the same fragrance, and to make matters worse, a girl from calisthenics always uses it, which depresses me. Although I know many people wear mass-produced fragrances, I prefer not to cross paths with them and wear something more original. 3. In its dry down, it has a smell of chocolate “Pepitos” biscuit that can’t be beat. So it goes from being an intriguing, sexy, attractive, and enigmatic fragrance to being the typical cloying, greasy chocolatey “dessert” so often seen in current perfumery.