Resist the temptation (Givenchy: Very Irresistible for Men, Eau de Toilette)

Member Name: lillamarta

Product:	Givenchy: Very Irresistible for Men, Eau de Toilette
Date:	16/03/08 (125 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Long lasting, strong smell

Disadvantages: Feels outdated, odd, incongruous accords

Launched: 2005
Group: Woody aromatic

~ Introduction ~

While sorting out my samples collection, I've found a pair of sachets containing Very Irresistible Eau de Toilette For Men and Very Irresistible Eau de Toilette from Givenchy, the latter being the ladies version. As always, a test followed.

~ The perfume house ~

In 1952, Parisian fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy opened his first boutique that soon became a pioneering enterprise being the first to offer ready-to-wear collections for the modern woman. The success of the luxury clothes line was followed by the 1957 launch of Givenchy's first two ladies' fragrances 'De' and 'L'Interdit', the latter inspired by, again, Audrey Hepburn. The house's two first men's fragrances 'L'Eau de Vetyver' and 'Monsieur de Givenchy' came out in 1961. Up to date Givenchy have produced nearly sixty fragrances and an astonishing half of these are men's fragrances.

~ The packaging ~

The tall, triangular bottle comes in neon green and black shades that merge into each other halfway up. The nozzle sits on the edge of the slanted lid metallic on the front. The impression of the packaging and choice of colours is odd, slightly old-fashioned but certainly masculine though the shape of the bottle is definitely modern and looks great on display.

Being the bottle chunky and heavy and the nozzle quite hidden, the fragrance can be applied by pressing down the triangular shaped top. The lid of the bottle is black and follows the shape of the bottle. The box also has green and black shades on it together with the well-known Givenchy logo, the four mirrored rectangular 'G' emblem.

~ The fragrance ~

Top notes: grapefruit, mint leaves

Just after applying the fragrance, a sharp, woody citrus accord dominates the composition that reminds me of a blend of lemon, green tea and a wet, earthy note. The fragrance is almost overpowering first and seems diffuse in the air rather than cling to the skin. The pungent citrus is underpinned by woods and green tones that don't seem to blend together but rather stay separate and somewhat incongruous.

Middle notes: mocha, sesame

The sharp, energetic top notes faded away after half and an hour and revealed a more powdery, and soapy green note that is mixture of woods and traces of lemon that now had a slightly bitter edge which was a detectable coffee aroma though it wasn't distinct enough to make it a gourmand accord. It did mellow and soften the composition somehow and I thought maybe there was something noteworthy going on here after such a disappointingly messy start.

The middle phase lasted for a good three hours and I think it would have lasted more had I used more at the beginning but again, the start of the fragrance is quite strong and I was put off by the pungent smell that kept escaping from the sachet and into the room. (Luckily I tried this at home otherwise my antics might have raised a few eyebrows among my colleagues.) With time, the sharp notes have finally disappeared and given way to a drier, subtler aroma of coffee that actually intensified and sweetened to produce a gourmand accord. It wasn't a pure coffee aroma, it had a green, minty edge and a powdery undertone.

Base notes: hazelnut, cedarwood

After about four hours the minty, gourmand notes of coffee have died down and the camphorous woods emerged from the base notes. The dry, quiet cedar accord felt empty and was barely noticeable as opposed to the sharp, heady start and the aromatic middle notes.

~ Conclusion ~

It may be my taste (or my boyfriend's as he too turned up the nose at the scent) but I somehow expected more from this 'haute couture' brand. A well-worked and skilful blend will stand the test of time (see Bvlgari or Guerlain's men's classics) simply because it is refined and has qualities beyond any fashion or trend.

Very Irresistible For Men's is an unusual fragrance but these unusual fruity - gourmand - and woody notes do not blend together to create harmonious accords, they stay too distinct and seem to be in disaccord. Certainly not something I would associate with the image and name of this high-end fashion and cosmetics brand.

~ Price / where to buy ~

Department stores (Debenhams, John Lewis)

£31.50 / 50ml Eau de Toilette
£45.00 100ml Eau de Toilette

Online from http://www.fragrancedirect.co.uk
£19.99 / 50ml Eau de Toilette
£27 / 100ml Eau de Toilette

Deodorant spray, deodorant stick and after-shave balm are also available.

~ Additional rating ~

Originality: 4 / 5
Composition: 2 / 5
Staying power: 4 / 5
Value for money: 2 / 5

Thanks for reading my review.

©powered by lillybee also posted on Ciao.

Summary: An unusual gourmand and woody fragrance that doesn't blend well