SOTD: Gentleman Reserve Privée by Givenchy #NoBuySept 16/09/2025

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Building up quite a collection of Givenchy now, this is my third bottle from this house. Its a sexy, boozy amber/vanilla fragrance that was created by master perfumers Nathalie Lorson and Olivier Cresp & released in 2022. It is an intoxicating blend of floral accords with a rich amber and a prominent boozy iris character.

It opens with refreshing bergamot, which provides a sweet yet spicy aroma, along with a distinct whisky note. The heart unfolds into a gorgeous combination of iris & chestnut, which adds depth & a unique "lipsticky" or "waxy" undertone. The iris note is a key differentiator in the Gentleman line, and in Reserve Privée, it's a smooth & prominent note, but not overpowering. In the dry down we settle into a warm, inviting base of whisky, amber & various woody notes, including cedarwood & vetiver. This combination creates a "masculine sultry" smell.

I first came across this in a Curly Fragrance video where she gave it large as to how boozy, sexy this was. Well in fairness she was right about that. But sadly for me the performance on this one is shocking. I get a mazx of 4hrs here on my skin, projection is like 30 min to an hour. I know its considered to be a more refined & subtle scent, rather than an overpowering one, making it ideal for intimate moments, close encounters, or date nights.

My Rating 7/10

Scent 2.5

Longevity 2

Sillage 1.5

Y/N 1

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