Monsieur de Givenchy Givenchy for men

I am a female but I love this scent and find it very comforting. After the dry down on my skin, this is a very nice soft lemon scent with soft spices, faint musks, and a soothing sandalwood base. The lavender does a good job of softening the lemon note and is probably what makes this so comforting to me (without making it "feminine".) With a description like that it might sound weak, but it is not...it is just well rounded. It reminds me of my grandpa. It is a very gentlemanly scent. I probably wouldn't find it especially "sexy" on a man, but it is attractive in an intelligent and charming sort of way. It does smell older as it's not the typical sharp citrus type of cologne of today, but it's still a nice distinctive scent. Wisps me away to an old train station...or my grandfather's work station...

A very traditional aromatic, like YSL PH, vintage rochas pour monsieur. It doesn´t get much better than this.
vintage 9/10

I've been on the forums now for a short while and am learning all kinds of things about scents and frags. This one was fun to pick up due to the history. I like having a timeless fragrance in the collection from the 1950's. Reminds me of a lighter version of Armani Eau Pour Homme. They share a lot of ingredients in common. The MdG is a bit lighter overall.

I have the tall frosted bottle with the angular cap. Don't care for it. I realize that companies are trying to stand out on their own with the packaging, but I really just like many of the more simple/plain bottle designs. This does not detract from the quality of the juice and I enjoy this one.

ericrico has the best description on this frag. He has very elloquently expressed the feelings this cologne inspires.

it may be dated, but what a nice fragrance.the citrus with that sweet dry down, very very elegant...a pleasing clean masculine scent. just picked up a 30 mil splash bottle and was very impressed with just the presence of scent, people use the term timeless..and this truly represents that. promply put this into a nice atomizer..takes a few sprays..but like this one. i could see how this could be a signature scent of someone noteable.
very classy scent, seems to be one that you can generously apply and not overwhelm people., the scent is very pleasing and very manly...take a whiff..

A classic - to some dated, to those who can appreciate, timeless. I was able to acquire a pristine Old, Vintage 100ml bottle of the Monsieur de Givenchy in Super Concentrate ("Haute Concentree") formulation. This is really nice. Shamus1 gives a great review - sharing both feel and a better classification, a "citrusy chypre". In the Super Concentrate formula, there is a rich base of moss and nice touch of musk (or possibly civet) with smooth sandalwood - but not overdone. This wears like a classic watch...it is dependable, shows sophistication and will definitely tell others around you that you have a style all to yourself. Not a fragrance for the mainstream - and I never have been part of that. Since a young age, I've enjoyed classic scents. This is extremely good and I appreciate every nuance.

It is not loud, but it is very distinct. One spray on the back of my hand from about 2 inches away. Where it sprayed heavy, there is more focused scent (and deeper moss, musk and more sharp citrus & herbs)...where it "misted", the note separation is wonderful. This is very good to discover. Excellent to note as I will apply this (in a full wearing) at least 6-8 inches away for a couple of shots and then a focus shot on my wrists. This is, traditionally, a spring/summer scent. However, the "Super Concentrate" formula is definitely a year-round fragrance. It is laden with moss and depth of herbs. The top notes are there and very rich, but the depth of the base notes (moss, musk and a very nice and traditional gentleman's sandalwood) are what allow this scent to last. I actually see this being wonderful on cooler spring/fall days - and even wet weather (but not too cold). The subtleties would be lost - like the beautiful lemon verbena, slightly pungent carnation-clove, fragrant (but slightly bitter) sage, fresh masculine lavender and touch of pepper. The entire composition exudes confidence and what a European gentleman is all about - with an aire of sophistication. Proper attire and confidence required. It does wear close to the skin, but in warm weather - this breathes on your skin and has very nice presence.

Excellent, distinct, and refined masculine fragrance that shows wonderfully. There is a time and place where MdG would be perfect...I can think of many. Relaxing on a weekend (or dressing up in proper attire on a weekday), reading a novel (not a book), watching a classic movie (black & white, foreign, arthouse), listening to live jazz in an upscale bistro...

Final score for MdG (in Super Concentration/"Haute Concentree" formulation) - 9/10.

**Update** - Bought last formulation in squat 100ml spray bottle prior to Les Parfums Mythiques release. It is a tester, with the description written on the back: "WOODY CITRUS: Freshness of Lemon and Bergamot, elegance of Lavender and Sandal wood." A brief, but perfect description - a distinguished scent for a gentleman. With sandalwood becoming a more precious commodity, we see houses going to other ingredients...in Monsieur de Givenchy, Les Parfums Mythiques has gone to Hinoki Wood. I wanted to get the older, last bottling of the very close to Vintage formula - and I am very happy I did.

A scent for those who understand that less is more, elegance and taste has been refined and that scent is part of your "wardrobe" or attire. Understated and one of the best Citrus Aromatic scents ever created in an excellent formulation. My score - 8+/10. This is not as loud as another great citrus aromatic/woody/chypre scent, YSL Pour Homme nor is it as herbal as Eau Sauvage. A composition of purity and refinement.

This is classic sophistication with muted notes and a heady citron and sandalwood presence. It lasts forever and that is a very good thing. Givenchy fragrances for men are distinctive and this beauty started it all. It may have been created in 1959 but it is a timeless scent. Recommended for any occasion.

For eight years I had been deprived of my sense of smell due to sinuous infection. I would smell by opening my mouth and like a snake sensing the air with the blade of my tongue. Then entering my sixteenth year I recovered. But having been dispossessed of my olfactory sense for so long when my sense of smell returned to me, it came back with a staggering intensity. All odours manifold stronger than before, I was disturbed at the very hint of scent and smell became a problem. I shunned Eau de Colognes they were all too overpowering, until a day when I in passing came across Monsieur de Givenchy, it was the first aftershave I was able to use. Today all my Eau de Colognes are insubstantial in character as though, they are not really there. They serve a purpose for each has a state attached to it, they are bottled moods. Each having been used over time for particular situations, they attune one; and have become synonymous with a situation. Thereby automatically setting one into the right state of mind merely through their fragrance changing the private sphere that is ones world. None more so than Monsieur de Givenchy. This transparent sea blue liquid; produced in 1959 have a fingerprint smell that has always reminded me of the Mediterranean, ex-girlfriends, beaches, sunshine and blue ocean. When it became increasingly difficult to obtain in the perfumeries, it was as if some states of being; no longer was available to me. I had lost a part of what I identify with myself and had become unable to conjure forth the memories connected with its scent. It is for this reason; of uttermost importance, when first applying a new Eau de Cologne; that one is happy, energetic and preferably located in a place which one would like to remember, for the memory; will stay with you, for as long; as it’s available in the shops.

Monsieur de Givenchy is basically a cross between Chanel Pour Monsieur and Eau Sauvage, but it does what it does right and smells timeless and classy. Lasts a good while, too.

Luckily the Mythic version didn't really f*ck anything up - it just made the fragrance last a little longer, which is OK with me! :)

A reformulation of this classic babrershop-masculine fragrance a-là Chanel Pour Monsieur. The apotheosis of old-fashioned discreet elegance. Mannered but not affected. To be absolutely avoided if you don't like the genre. I do.

Long story made short: to fully understand where we are now, we have to know where we came from! (I think I've already heard this one)!

Rating: 8/10

love it bought it 1973 - my scent me myself i

As in the case of Eau Sauvage, this is a reinterpretation of classical eaux de colognes. A classic fragrance in its structure and subtlety.

There are some notes in common with YSL pour Homme, but this doesn't have the classic construction so characteristic of Monsieur de Givenchy, maybe due to the presence of more pungent vervaine notes.

Imagine mixing Chanel Pour Monsieur with Cologne 4711 and just a hint of pepper, and you have MdG: a timeless classic. Just about everything about it is perfect: just the right amount of citrus to make it refreshing, just the right amount of chypre-like bitterness to give it an edge, and just the right amount of concentration to produce good sillage without blowing people out of the room. MdG is so classic and elegant, it could anyone seem like Cary Grant. If I were to give this a label, I'd have to call it a citrusy chypre. I hope Givenchy makes this forever.

For nearly fifty years this has been one of my favorites and suitable for all occassions and climates. Unfortunately, it is now hard to find in American stores.