Our take
What does Gentleman Réserve Privée smell like?
Givenchy added a Réserve Privée to its Gentleman line in 2022, an Eau de Parfum by Nathalie Lorson and Olivier Cresp. It opens straight. Clean Italian bergamot quickly gives way to a Scotch whisky absolute that smells of oak cask and malt more than alcohol. The heart is the most original part. Chestnut brings a floury, almost roasted sweetness, and orris turns it powdery and buttery. Siam benzoin adds a vanilla-tinged warmth. The base stays dry and well built, with Virginia cedar and Haitian vetiver alongside Indonesian patchouli. Picture a wood-panelled room in winter, a glass resting on the mantelpiece. It is less sugary than the gourmand elixirs of the moment and more classic in its bearing, closer to a tailored jacket than a leather one.
When to wear it
Autumn and winter evenings or a dressy dinner. Two or three sprays on skin rather than clothes.
It belongs to the Floral, Woody family. Gentleman Réserve Privée is one of 40 creations by Givenchy in our encyclopedia.
