The story of Givenchy
Hubert de Givenchy showed his first collection in Paris in 1952. His pared-back elegance won over Audrey Hepburn, whom he dressed on and off screen. According to the house, he had a perfume made for her in secret in 1954, by Francis Fabron at Roure in Grasse. She wore it alone until 1957. When Givenchy wanted to sell it, she is said to have answered that she forbade it, hence the name, which means forbidden. The perfume company was founded that same year. Men's scents followed fast, with Monsieur de Givenchy and Vetyver in 1959. Gentleman first appeared in the 1970s. The house joined LVMH in the late 1980s. In 2017 Gentleman was reinvented around orris. The next year L'Interdit returned with a new formula by Dominique Ropion, Anne Flipo and Fanny Bal. The eau de toilette came in 2019, L'Interdit Intense in 2020 and L'Interdit Rouge in 2021. In 2024 L'Interdit Absolu opened the line to men, and L'Interdit Parfum followed in 2025.
An olfactory signature
Givenchy likes the contrast between light and shadow, and the L'Interdit line shows it best. The 2018 L'Interdit sets bright tuberose, orange blossom and jasmine over a dark base of vetiver, patchouli and ambroxan. Pear and bergamot make the opening fruity and fresh. L'Interdit Intense adds pepper and vanilla, with toasted sesame at the heart. L'Interdit Rouge is spicier, with ginger and blood orange, tuberose and pimento over sandalwood. L'Interdit Absolu changes tone. Neroli, lavender and cardamom open onto the white flowers, then Bulgarian tobacco and Haitian vetiver take over. It is the version that sits best on a man. L'Interdit Parfum leans on golden pear and ginger, with mimosa from Grasse. For men, Gentleman pairs powdery orris with pear, lavender and black vanilla. The 2018 eau de parfum adds pepper, cinnamon and benzoin.
Which Givenchy perfume to choose?
A man who wants to wear L'Interdit should look at L'Interdit Absolu. Its tobacco, vetiver and lavender make it dry and smoky, far from the sweet tuberose of the original. Wear it in the evening and in cool weather. The 2018 L'Interdit stays very feminine, fruity and floral, though men who love white flowers wear it too. If you want a proper Givenchy men's scent, start with Gentleman. The eau de parfum is the most versatile, warm and spicy. The Boisée version swaps vanilla for cacao and sandalwood. Réserve Privée adds a whisky accord, and Society plays sage and narcissus. For women, L'Interdit is the heart of the range. The Intense makes it more gourmand and the Rouge spicier. Irresistible and Very Irrésistible offer a lighter, fruitier rose.
