L’Interdit Eau de Toilette by Givenchy

I don’t know how they do it, but Givenchy’s feminine fragrances always have something special, that DNA, that extraordinary and pleasant touch. L’Interdit is a lovely, soapy, floral perfume. The combination of orange blossom, neroli, and poppy creates a wonderfully harmonious warmth, and the patchouli note is also very pleasant. I also perceive jasmine, neither too much nor too little, just right. It’s a charming combination and the scent unfolds differently after half an hour. The longevity is good to very good and it blends wonderfully into the skin. Totally interesting, incredibly wearable, sexy, sophisticated and elegant without being over the top. Follow the mantra less is more, but don’t be mistaken, it is anything but discreet. All in all, a pleasant fragrance with enough sobriety for every occasion. The love-hate relationship with neroli is a matter of taste and important when deciding.

Finally, I give up: I had my reservations because I tried it a year ago and my nose was already turned upside down by another dry perfume. Now, after a week of testing all its flankers, I must admit that the EDT, the Intense, and the standard EDP are marvellous: rounded, pulpy, edible, elegant and serious, with a touch of light and a winter walk. They suit me in summer and with sunshine because of that rebellious trait of a creamy barquillo and fairground that escapes through the seams, dancing with a bearable peach, nothing of that artificial bubblegum. It’s a tasty peach, more of a flavour than a scent. I’ll buy a little bottle to keep in the back of the wardrobe. It doesn’t fully identify with me, but I always return to these charming, slightly browned and clean aromas, even though I confess to being a woman of salty and lemon fragrances. A beauty! I hope they don’t ruin it.

Sweet and that’s it; it’s so sweet that you can’t feel the other notes; for me it’s poorly designed, it’s just sweet and that’s it, so much so that you don’t know what it smells like, and the worst is that it produces olfactory saturation: half an hour later you stop smelling it yourself, terrible if I perfume myself. It’s beyond whether others can smell it; I won’t repeat it. I’ll try it in summer; here in Argentina it’s autumn, we’ll see if the heat reverses this opinion. 30/1/2024: I finished it a few months ago and the truth is it’s a very rich perfume, but you have to let it oxidate for a few months before using it. You open it, put it on, and store it; three or four months later you use it and it’s nothing like before. After that time, all the notes are finally felt.

I have samples that will last me a while, so I won’t be purchasing it. It has a charming opening but quickly turns serious, dull and faded on my skin until I lose interest. When it launched, I thought it might become my new crush, but nothing happened. I applied it earlier and it’s almost gone. My husband asks what perfume I’m wearing and says it smells like ‘lady’. There’s some truth to that. It evokes a fond image, but as a scent, it doesn’t appeal to me. Now it smells like my mum’s handbags: a mix of leather and mint gum. It smells like my mum’s subtly scented handkerchief emerging from her bag in the darkness of an old carpeted cinema hall.

It’s very rich. If you like florals but not too citrusy, not so much patchouli, not as floral as Gucci Bloom, and not sweet and cloying. The opening is strong but doesn’t overwhelm. Then it settles and becomes delicate. It doesn’t have the power of the EDP, which makes it more wearable and versatile for all day and season. I wear it every day. It has good longevity for an EDT. My skin is olive and soft fragrances don’t last, while those with heavy patchouli become sharp. I recommend it if you’re looking for these options.

Unlike the EDP, this is much more airy with fresher flowers. It feels more daytime than nighttime. In my case, the neroli isn’t as prominent; the orange blossom stands out, otherwise I wouldn’t have liked it. The longevity is above eight hours, feeling at least six, then the trail drops to skin level but if you lean in, you can perceive it. A magnet for compliments. Its resemblance to My Way is astonishing, but L’Interdit performs better. It’s a fantastic perfume that will make history.

For me, it’s a resounding yes to the EDP with that ambroxan; it doesn’t quite close for me, I prefer this version. It’s very grounding, it doesn’t overwhelm or saturate me, I can smell the flowers, and I’d like to try the new one and the Millefime to see if I should get a replacement for this because it definitely suits my olfactory taste. I detect a hint of incense; it’s a soft oriental and floral, and I wore it in summer with great pleasure. Excellent performance and trail.

I received some samples of L’Interdit EDT and kept testing it. I think it’s a very lovely perfume of excellent quality; I was surprised because it lasted about six hours on my skin (more than some EDPs I own) and had very good projection. I believe this new version might appeal to those who find the EDP overwhelming but enjoy the characteristic scent of this line (nardos + pear).

I’ve just bought it. At first sniff, I loved it. I was looking for something reminiscent of Givenchy’s Play for Her and this fragrance is quite similar, leaving me satisfied. It reminds me a bit of Elie Saab’s Girl of Now, perhaps a more affordable version. Good performance for an EDT. I like it more than the EDP; it’s more wearable and less cloying. I’d give it a 7 out of 10.

With all due respect, but for me this perfume is a resounding no. I used it once and it overwhelmed me with a sharp sweetness that left no room for any other note; I could even smell it in my throat and it gave me nausea; it’s not something I’d repeat to change my mind. Debut and farewell, it put me off trying any other flankers for now.

I tried L’Interdit EDT samples. It seems very lovely and of excellent quality. I was surprised as it lasted about six hours on my skin (more than some EDPs I own) and had good projection. I think this version might suit those who find the EDP overwhelming but enjoy the characteristic aroma (neroli + pear).

What a delight! I received a sample with another purchase and I couldn’t resist. It has good projection and excellent longevity for an EDT. I find it super elegant, revitalising and rich. It’s sweet but in perfect balance with the flowers. I see it more for autumn and winter than for warm weather.

If you like neroli, it’s for you. The trail and longevity are enormous on my skin. I forgot that I disliked L’Interdit and tried it; the neroli overpowered my morning scent and I can still smell it in my throat. If you don’t like neroli, don’t test it on blotting paper.

I’ve learned to love this fragrance. I think the poppy, neroli, and patchouli notes create a strangely beautiful duet. How does it wear on my skin? People have told me it smells like honey sweets, very sweet and soft. Fortunately, I have a spare bottle.

I didn’t like it. It loses the elegance of the EDP, smelling generic and commonplace – more of the same old stuff. I wouldn’t buy it; for that price, there are cheaper and more distinguished options. As the saying goes, to each their own!