Hot Couture by Givenchy

sherapop

Perhaps I should have guessed from the ridiculous name that Givenchy HOT COUTURE would be a mess, and it really is. The opening smells like artificially flavored red cough syrup--could be raspberry, but it's artificial, so it could also be gaspberry... From there, unfortunately, things just get worse...

The middle stage of HOT COUTURE edp smells exactly like a dirty ashtray. This is not a smokey but a dirty-ash smell. Although I am not a smoker, I love few things more than the scent of the smoke trailing off of a freshly lit cigarette or a just struck match. I even like the smell of pipe smoke. But I have zero tolerance for second-hand smoke or the lingering nastiness that infects my clothes when I have the misfortune of spending time in a cigarette-smoke-filled chamber. HOT COUTURE smells like that to me. It reminds of the time I had a facial done by a woman who had just taken a cigarette break and neither brushed her teeth nor washed her hands before our session.

The drydown of HOT COUTURE does become more tolerable with time, but only because the scent diminishes in strength. No other fragrance I know smells like HOT COUTURE. But that is for a very good reason. This is a big, loud "No!" to my nose.

tennischick

I went to Macy's to purchase this perfume and asked about the old and new packaging and the sales girl said she checked with the Givenchy rep and they said it is exactly the same just new packaging. Hope this helps!

Fragaria

Can anyone explain the difference between Hot Couture No 1 and Hot Couture? They have the same notes. Hot Couture is floral and Hot Couture No 1 is an oriental floral. Is this the same perfume with one bottle being a collectable? Very curious!

little Cinderella

At first it’s to strong but after a while it gets some really creamy and sweet note on my skin. Very long lasting (about 12 hours) , to me it smells like raspberries with sugar...mmmm

kastehelmi

(EDP)

Sort of pleasant, sort of synthetic raspberry sharpness-I tried it and had no desire to wear it again, it left me rather cold. I still can't say it's really bad-it's just simple, rather sharp and not a first-time-love kind of fragrance. If I hadn't had the luck and opportunity I've had to smell so many fragrances and discover the potentials of great fragrances, I might like this-but for now, I can say I never gave it enough opportunities on my skin to grow on me.

soulsong

I'm not crazy about the opening, but after the first hour it is a serious crush! I feel like I smell raspberries balanced by magnolia and vetiver, although berries aren't listed in the notes. The pepper is mild, which of course is the only way to smell pepper. I love the balance between the gentle amber revved up by the berry effect.

Vaiva

This fragrance is my nr.1 :D Very, very good scent!!! (EDP)

ktv0926

When I first time sprayed Hot Couture into the cap of the bottle, I got a really sweet raspberry scent, which instantly reminded me so much of something in my childhood, so I persisted smelling the cap hoping to remember what it was. Finally it brought up the memory of the smell of a Russian kompot (drink made of fruits and berries boiled in water with sugar, served cold though, very popular in Russia some time ago. They served it everywhere - in kindergartens, schools, colleges, children’s camps etc.). Needless to say – I loved the association and as a result I loved the fragrance that brought up that memory!

Aside from that, Hot Couture is very distinctive, one of a kind scent, not to be confused with anything else. It is very long lasting too. The only thing that makes me a little controversial about it – its powdery and smoky quality, which actually is the reason why the fragrance is so original and fantastically delicious, but I don’t help but getting annoyed by these loads of powder after a while.

Anyways – I own it, wear it occasionally and more or less pretty happy about it!

guest_alexanna7

Tested it.love it.on me raspberry pepper amber.and some woody note mix with flower.mwah

garofani

jummy fruity-floral!for me this is fruity as much as floral, or maybe even more fruity with raspberry and orange really dominating...it may be overwhelmingly sweet, and its frivolity becomes annoying at times when you sort of feel 'deep', but a great parfume for a night out, to boost the good mood! Though I see many people have rated it as winter, I tend to use it more in the summer..

rainydays

When I first sprayed it on it was pure alcohol, but after a minute it settled down and was rather nice. It was both citrusy and peppery. But after another few minutes it turned into this strange after-shave smell (I verified with a few other people that it wasn't just my imagination), and was too masculine for my taste. Guess it didn't work with my body chem.

guest_Peanut

Well, my personal fave is the older version of Givenchy Organza Indecence, but alas I ran out. Well, one time I bought a gift set that had other givenchy samples, including Hot Couture. It was my least fave (hence I still have some left after all these yrs)I think because it reminded me of cotton candy. Well, my boyfriend ATTACKED me and couldn't stop raving about it (maybe because he is diabetic haha) so now guess which one I'm going to wear?

LenaBel

So many different reviews for this perfume! I guess it is the one that really develops to its full potential only if it goes well with your body chemistry.
I tried EDP in store and it was too spicy for me and irritating, but today I found a sample of EDT at home and WOW it so beautiful. You get a splash of raspberry at first, which then settles down a bit and you can smell the spicyness too. Sweet berry spiciness - this is how I would describe this scent. It has been on my skin for almost 7 hours and I still smell the raspberry - which I absolutely love in this fragrance. Worth a try! Actually this may go on my 'wishlist' for next autumn...

nicesmell66

Today I bought Hot Couture EDT and I absolutely love it! I keep smelling my wrist over and over. I'm pretty sure that this will be my signature scent for quite a while. It has great staying power, lasts several hours. I tried the EDP, but it is too woodsy for me. The EDT is perfect, a clean, soft scent that makes me feel incredible feminine and sexy.

miszliz

i dont understand this fragrance at all but i really do like it

guest_A.Rose

One more thing-
Another poster mentioned the similarity between "Hot Couture" and "Chanel No. 19" and I could see that. They're both green, spicy and underscored by an astringent wood note. To the poster that thought it reminded her of something in her childhood, here's a guess: If you were a child of the 80's, you might be remembering someone who wore "Aspen for Women" as they're both very similar. Or, it could be the underlying smell of pencil shavings running throughout "Hot Couture" (remember crank pencil sharpeners?) and something that reminds me of carbon printed report cards (remember that dry, checmically smell emanating from those pink and yellow papers?).

guest_A. Rose

There's a similar quality evident in all "Givenchy" blends, something that sets them apart from other brands in a way that's obvious; they're gloriously artificial. Really. Every "Givenchy" fragrance imparts the glossy thrill of a celluloid tease, the hint of a hyped-up memory--they feel idealistic, consciously constructed and formed. You will never find a non-descript skinscent in a Givenchy, unless your skin naturally smells of huge silk flowers, polished jewels, overblown taffeta and hot spices.

"Hot Couture" is the pefect example of this aesthetic, smelling of sweet-grass and tweed, simmering under fashion show lights or backstage hot-lamps. You can almost see the beaming light focused on a model having a dress built on her (a dress in jazzy black and white), the session running late into the night, smell the sheared fibers of material being cut for the design, the rasberry sweetness of blush wine tiding-over a mad-cap designer (she has frazzled dark hair falling over horned glasses, a kelly-green, silk shirt getting in the way of her pinning and sewing). Even the spicy pencil shavings surrounding the sketchboard make an appearance (a dash of cumin, maybe? Anise? Mace, perhaps?) so that in one spritz, the tale rapidly unfolds, quickly filling the air with energetic intensity. "Hot Couture" is spicy green, slightly sweet but not sugary, dense and woody-deep with a distinctly creative kick. This is a scent suitable for wearers of art deco abstract prints, polka dots and/or red lipstick. To adore "Hot Couture", you must love the dry velvetiness of vetiver, the astringent woodiness of cedar and the hollow, jammy sweetness of rasberry. Oh--and you have to be a "character"."Hot Couture" is cheeky and aggressive, only dominated by a strong, fascinating personality.

guest_Flo

Je l'ai découvert à sa sortie et ne l'ai jamais quitté!
Un pur régal !

amelie

So soft as the finest velvet, clean, slightly reminiscent of the finest fabric softener, I love these scents! To me EdP acts more serious, maybe not as charming fruity EdT, but this is a great fragrance. Not even a little old-fashioned, glamorous, spectacular, a sumptuous splendor of the old famous perfume, but still very stylish. On my skin reminds somewhat on Flowerbomb, or vice versa, has a powdery note as the most expensive make-up. Some say it was sexy, maybe this is true.
When I'm in the mood for Hot Couture also love to wear My Insolence by Guerlain. To go to the Oscar award maybe I would even decided to wear Hot Couture. Tres chic and unique, really a must have!

LadyLaLa

I bought it 8 years ago for a winter. It´strange, but to me it smells like rasberries in hot Earl Grey tea :)
And I like it.

tsth

This surprised me too...I LOVE the smokiness along with the undertone of sweet raspberry. It is a haunting fragrance to me. After I tested it in the store, it kept haunting me. The sillage is very good, and it does have great staying power. After 2 weeks of thinking about this one, I had to buy it. It is the sweet/smokey that wins me over, about it.

missk

This was a very odd fragrance indeed. I totally wasn't expecting what I smelt when I intially applied Hot Couture.

The previous reviewers are not wrong in stating that this is a peppery floral scent. It's quite sharp and surprising to my nose.

I know many of you will go crook on me for saying this, but Hot Couture really reminds me of Chanel No.19. It has a grassy/green quality to it that I can't deny.

In my personal opinion, I don't think this fragrance would be very well suited to young women, it seems to take a more mature and sophisticated approach. Don't get me wrong however, I'm not saying this is an 'old-lady fragrance'.

I don't actually get the raspberry and vanilla in Hot Couture, which I'm a little disappointed about. To be honest, I don't find this scent sweet or fruity at all.

I'd choose Versace Woman as a better alternative if you're looking for a raspberry and spicy/herb scent.

guest_Angie

The first time I tried this scent, I fell in love with it right away, it reminds me of something luxurious, charming & meaningful. Its my favourite perfume for life, and yes indeed, I found a great difference between the EDP & EDT, I love the perfume very much, but the EDT is missing some key ingridients so it smells like nothing special, very simple.
And I think its the high content of musk in this perfume, that makes it smell so different on every person, because only musk releases your individual sexual scent and blends with it, thats why some people hate it, some people just love it....

thegirlsapearl

I rushed out to buy a bottle of this after a friend sprayed it on me in a taxi on our way out one evening... i loved it and was hypnotised by it's sexy, warm smell....it's probably one of the sexiest smells; very alluring. Gorgeous - get a bottle NOW!

Artemislune

I've been wearing it for almost ten years and I can't change because people associated the scent with me and keep telling me how they like it (even strangers tell me they like it). It changes very much from the bottle to my skin and take a clean laundry smell (almost like fabric softener - weird - but I often had the comment). For a year now I have been wearing it with Kate Moss fragrance and the two together smell wonderfull!!!

Malegria

It is one of the "funny" Givenchys that I actually like...Several years ago a coworker brought some samples to work and distributed them among us girls, saying - guys, look what I found, it`s a marvel for a fantastic price!I totally agree. It is a juicy raspberry with ginger, that makes it oh so saucy and perky.I especially like ginger in it - it is very prominent and spicy.

The whole impression about this perfume created a picture in my mind - the carnival with confetti, fireworks, bright cheery costumes, cotton candy and shots of something sweet and definitely alcoholic. A fun, bright,delicious perfume!

It has a downfall though - some people get a headache from smelling or wearing it, and sometimes, especially in winter, you can feel a synthetic note - like a wrapper of a chewing gum. I think that teens would not mind it, but it can be a put off for more experienced perfumaniacs.

snobuni77

A very pretty perfume indeed! The raspberry & floral blend so marvelously in this.It is as if they are dancing together.The sweet pepper ever so lightly peps this concoction up & I am thankful for that because I need a little pep in my scents

The raspberry stays true till the end & it doesn't get powdery on me which makes me happy =)
It does however make my mouth water a little lol

nathalieZ

I really really dislike it@ smells old, very chypre..like an old painting to me! I dont know, maybe the mini I got was bad but I could NOT wear anything like that...like the smell of a mummy to me!!!
not for me !

e9rul7

i had it a few years ago. ima buy it again! it's superb!!! highly reccomand it

noharadwan

i used to have this perfume 7 years ago , i remember how much compliments i used to hear from everyone about the way i smell, its very warm sexy emotional , i'll always consider it my favourite

Trvevil

After so mixed reviews, I decided to try this one.
First of all- about impression and expectations. When a perfume has 'Couture' written on it I expect unusual, even crazy in some way smell. You know, like Haute Couture collections- nowadays are sewn and designed more like entertainment on runway shows than something to wear every day, because it can be not so practical (crazy colors, banana hat, butterfly hat, they use even plastic and foil!) I tried 2 frags with name Couture on it- Moschino Couture and this one by Givenchy... Well, what to say? These two failed my expectations.
About scent- delicious and a bit freshy at the beginning.Like some undetectable flavor candy. After some hours it turns more flowery and spicy with some vetiver to add some 'tree' feeling. It even has some incense impression on my skin. That's it. It's very faint although I sprayed 3 times on my wrist.

luz

The woody floral edp is too smoky and reminds me of cigarrets smell.
The edt is a less complex fragrance, I consider it a nice adult fruity floral, the raspberry nuances in this fragrance are one of a kind. Very seductive and elegant. F by Ferragamo is also a good alternative for those who love this style.

Cris_Venesza

a nice scent , something you recognise ...,so many womans had this scent ...it's very usual now , it's no mistery and everybody knows this scent

linden tree

this perfume is a strong floral fruity,kind of masculine fragrance,i don't feel the middle notes.The perfume jump from the raspberry to the final notes.Too fast for me!I agree it's a headache perfume

susieqrj

I really love it, one of my favorites. Got a lot of compliments for using it. The raspberry is mouthwatering, deliciously inebriating to the senses.
The smell is sensual, makes me feel sexy, it is sweet without being teenager sugar.

guest_Gayla/Dallas

This is a really unique fragrance. I love the "fruity raspberry" and espcially am fond of the pepper notes. I always get compliments! Try it....you'll love it.

kayka

i had edt, and now i have edp... :(

edp is terrible!!

there is a big difference.

if you want to feel something really nice, you should try edt!!

ineedavktion

Reading the review it is so strange how body chemistry works. I tried this in the store and then gave it another try with a sample I purchased. Both times it went on really nice and the within the hour dried down to a really woody smell and a little bit floral. I really didn't like it that much but of course my husband did like it.

VioletLily

Confident and sexy, yet feminine. First spritz is just mouthwatering: powdery amber, raspberry and pepper with a hint of sweet floral. The pepper and florals save it from being too candy-like, and the sillage is yummy, it becomes quite spicy powdery with the raspberry floating in the background. Some more sweetness parading as vanilla comes out in the drydown and it's like raspberry cream with a hint of spice. Very mmmmm. My man always takes an extra deep and happy sniff of me when I wear Hot Couture!

chance25

Slightly updated from last review. Okay I finally got a handle on what I think this smells like on me. It smells like a hot cup of raspberry coffee, sugar and creamed wafting from my skin. Enough said, either that would appeal to you or it would have you running for the hills.

mmsmlzgud546

Hot is right! Its so sweet and spicy you feel like you should get heartburn, but in a good way :) This one had to grow on me and it did! The raspberry and pepper show up upon first spray. As it dries down you get a hint of flowery musk but a powdery vail of the sweet pepper. Mmmm very warm scent, makes you feel Hot!

nauticaa

Alittle bit too much strawberry, too stingy and penetrant... sorry

andreapaz2008

really really heavy smell, is classic and elegant, special for matures women.
""my boyfriend gave me it , and my mother used it""

vestigial

Horrid. Might be pretty on some, but for me, personally, it was quite sneeze-some and headache-some. Left my noze stuffed finally.

essija

This is delicious. And XXX Sexy. Love this stuff, I had a friend who wore it all the time and I just had to get a bottle.. Cudos

Xenya

I'm thinking now whether to buy it or not. It seemed to me a little bit too light (probably because I'm wearing amarige mariage now?). But it is so great that I think I'l buy it sooner or later.

PR

old fashioned to my taste, but better than YSL 'Paris'

comparison here, because I tested them at the same time, they're different as scents, of course, so just personal preference's mentioned here

carmenragalie

This is my favorite...is rich,sweet and spices,delicious.For me, is the bestof Givenchy!

baiba_pukite

The first 5 hours are just terrible... I tested it on my wrist and got such headache... I tried to wash it off but I couldn't... I still feel it on my clothes after 4!!! days! Now, on my clothes, the fragrance is ok, but I know for sure I'll never buy this "headache in the bottle".
P.S. I tried eau de toilete... And it makes me wonder how long does eau de parfume last? But then... I actually don't even want to know!

mihaelasusan

MY ALL-TIME PERFUME!!!VERY SEXY,ULTRAFEMININE,SEDUCTIVE FRAGRANCE!!!MMMMMMMMMM.

oolala30

I LOVE this. I bought it a week ago and have been wearing it faithfully since. It is a very feminine, sexy, and somewhat unusual scent. It was love at first sniff for me.

crysna

OMG! one of my top 3 parfums! with out a doubt one of the most beautiful fragrances by Givenchy it has something that makes guys crazy my mom, sister and i wore it and we had comments all the time how good smells.
my top 3 are tresor by lancome (my real first parfum), hot couture by givenchy and far away by avon!!!

coco76

I don't know what it is about this scent that makes me so nauseous, but it doesn't matter who i smell it on i find it repugnant! I find it invasive to my sinuses the same way that 'exclamation' did back in grade eight when half of the girls in my class used to soak themselves in it...headache in a bottle

jmp

This has been one of my favorites for many many years. I was sick when they discontinued it, as Givenchy often does with my favorites (Extravagance!) However when it was re-released, I couldn't have been happier!! It is sweet, and drives men CRAZY (as does Angel, in my experience) It is sweet ad spicy. For evening IMO.

Moszatka

This is my favourite fragrance! It is so pretty and beautyful, very delicious!
I will like it forever:)

Aeternitas

This stuff is delicious, I smelled it on somebody else and had to ask what it was! So this one is going onto my wanted list :)