SOTD: Gentlemen Reserve Privee by Givenchy 24/12/2025

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Réserve Privée was the second bottle from the Givenchy Gentleman line that I acquired and it's definitely my kinda vibe. Released back in 2022 and created by Nathalie Lorson and Olivier Cresp, the same duo behind the rest of the Gentleman line. However, for Réserve Privée, they collaborated with a Scottish Master Distiller. It uses a barley absolute sourced from a refined Scottish distillery to create a hyper-realistic whiskey note without smelling like spilled alcohol. It's heavily built around the boozy warmth that you would expect. I still struggle to decide which is better, this or the Boisse?

The opening is where the wow factor lives. You get a very noticeable, high quality whiskey note. It smells like the aroma of a single malt scotch aged in oak barrells. It's a warm, golden dram, rather than the sharp sting of vodka. The bergamot provides a little brightness, but it is very subtle. As it dries down the signature Givenchy Iris note appears. This is a powdery, lipstick-like iris (similar to Dior Homme Intense), but here it is made creamier by the chestnut. The chestnut adds a nutty, roasted, almost chocolaty nuance that makes the scent feel cozy and edible. At the base the booze fades, leaving a warm, resinous woody base. The amber and woods take over here, keeping the scent sweet and comforting but masculine.

My one and only complaint with the Givenchy fragrances is the performance, at the price it fetches, is be expecting it to last a bit longer, I'm only getting 5hrs on skin average, but it smell so damn good you kinda forget about this and reapply, it's that good It projects well for the first hour (arm's length) and then settles into a refined scent bubble. Perfect for the cold weather like much of my collection. And it wouldn't go too wrong for a date night or a formal event.

My Rating: 7.5/10

Scent: 2.5

Longevity: 2

Sillage: 2

Y/N: 1

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