Gucci

Gucci Guilty vs. Guilty Essence (Black) Cologne Comparison

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I’ve been going through and updating a lot of older posts for the past week or so, on this site. So, I thought it was time that I post something new, and why not start with a head to head cologne comparison?

In today’s match up, we have two entries from Gucci: Guilty Pour Homme vs. Guilty Black (edit: renamed to Essence). Which one of these fragrances from the Guilty line, smells the best? Which has better performance? Which is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Gucci Guilty vs. Black

Gucci Guilty

Notes include: lemon, orange blossom, lavender, patchouli, cedar, pink pepper, neroli

Click here to try: Guilty By Gucci EDT spray for Men, 3 Ounce

Read my original review: Gucci Guilty

Guilty Essence (Black)

Guilty Black Notes: green coriander, lavender, orange flower, neroli, patchouli, and cedar wood

Click here to try: Gucci Guilty Black Pour Homme Fragrance Collection 3.0-oz. Eau de Toilette

Read my full review: Guilty Black

Opening

Gucci Guilty starts off with lemon, pink pepper, and lavender. It’s light with a slight spice, plenty of warmth, and a smooth freshness. This is bolstered by the inclusion of a solid outdoorsy base provided by cedar wood and patchouli. Quite citrusy and clean.

The lemon is joined by the lavender and orange flower up top. But, the citrus has the edge over the floral notes in the composition.

Guilty Black, meanwhile, opens up without the same lemony-citrus aroma that the original has. Guilty Black is really well blended and it can be hard to pick out notes.

However, what I do mostly notice is coriander, lavender, and orange flower. It’s got a green masculine freshness with plenty of spicy/woody energy coursing through the heart of the fragrance.

Which do I like better? I actually like Guilty Black’s opening more than the original. Yes, I enjoy the lemon, lavender, and pink pepper aroma, in that one. Though, I don’t think it is as interesting or appealing as Black.

They do share an overlap, of course. Guilty Black just goes a little bit deeper with it and the coriander smells better in the composition.

Edge: Black

Projection

For the first few hours after application, Gucci Guilty has a fairly moderate sillage. Thereafter, it becomes more of a light and airy cologne. Not a beast at all. In fact, it’s kind of disappointing how much it lack that steady power.

Guilty Black doesn’t have huge sillage either, but it is stronger and more consistent during the wear. I always experienced very solid projection with Guilty Black.

Nonetheless, don’t expect to leave behind a huge scent trail, with either of these fragrances. Though, I do notice that one is slightly superior to the other.

Edge: Black

Longevity

Guilty only lasts 5-6 hours on my skin. With Guilty Black, I could get over 10 hours of good wear from it, on my skin.

Those were the older bottles, from around the time of its release, and I don’t know if it was reformulated. But, from my experience with each, Guilty Black lasts way longer.

The original Guilty just never had great performance for me. It would be noticeable for a while and then gone within that six hour span.

Even, if Essence has undergone a reformulation, it’s probably still at the very least on equal footing…but probably better.

Update: Trying Essence again, it’s in the 7-9 hour range. Maybe a slight step back, but still better.

Edge: Black

Versatility

These scents pretty much cover the same territory, as to when they can and should be worn. Both are pretty much year round wears, that can go casual or more dressed up. Both are quite attractive colognes.

They are going to be mostly worn by men in their 20s through early 30s. No real edge here. There’s too much overlap.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I have always found the original Gucci Guilty to be a nice fragrance, but one that is pretty simple, and never wowed me. The main trio of lavender, lemon, and pink pepper are pleasant to smell, and I like the undertones of woody and floral notes.

It’s not a terrible scent, just doesn’t strike me as amazing. I think that the concept was a solid one to build off of and there have been some better flankers, like Black.

Guilty Black, on the other hand, was always super enjoyable for me to wear from the start. To me, it’s not even a contest between these two colognes, and the real tough decision would be between Guilty Black and Guilty Intense. I’m pretty sure I’d go with Intense, in most cases.

But, since that has been discontinued as of this update, Black is a great choice.

Gucci Guilty Black is great to wear and has a certain sexiness to it. It outperforms the original and really just is a better scent all around. This is one of those cases in which the flanker fragrance outdoes the first of the series.

Winner: Gucci Guilty Black

Gucci Guilty EDP vs Parfum

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Guilty has added another name to its lineup, with 2022’s release, Guilty Pour Homme Parfum. I bought a full bottle of it, as soon as it was released, and have been enjoying it. But, how does it compare to another best seller from the line, Guilty EDP? In this post, I am going to break down each, before declaring an ultimate winner.

Tale of the Tape: Guilty Eau de Parfum vs. Parfum

Guilty Parfum

Notes include: juniper, orange flower, cistus, lavender, nutmeg, lemon, patchouli, musk

Click here to try: Guilty Pour Homme Parfum by Gucci (Macy’s)

Read my review: Guilty Parfum

Guilty EDP

Notes include: rose, French lavender, neroli, chili pepper, orange blossom, patchouli, vinegar, salt

Click here to try: GUCCI GUILTY POUR HOMME by Gucci, EAU DE PARFUM SPRAY 3 OZ

Read my review: Guilty EDP

Opening

Guilty EDP does have a very interesting aroma. It opens up with a balsamic quality. It is warm, spicy, and greenish with that rose note coming through. It is fresh and has a soapy cleanliness underneath, with a pinch of salt hanging in the scent.

Neroli and red pepper bring some spiciness and the white floral notes sit underneath the rose. It definitely leans toward the rose, early on.

Then, the neroli and orange blossom come through more. Finally, the fragrance will feature the lavender and orange blossom.

With Parfum, you get a fresh and aromatic fragrance early on. The lemon is more peel than juicy fruit. It has a colder and woodsier feeling versus EDT. The juniper and nutmeg, really are pretty dominant at the opening stages, on me.

Which do I like more? Ehhh, it’s a pretty close call. Parfum reminds me plenty of the old Guilty Intense, with some distinctions of its own.

EDP? I find the opening act to be attractive and quite unique versus plenty of the others in the series. I’ll give it the edge here.

Edge: EDP

Projection

Guilty EDP is a lighter to moderate fragrance, with the moderate end of the scale being confined to the first two hours or so after spraying.

It isn’t a super powerful fragrance, the sillage isn’t much to write home about. Though, decent.

Guilty Parfum hits the upper end of what could be considered moderate. The first two hours definitely hit a higher high, than does EDP.

It’s also not massive, but it will project itself 4-6 feet for a while. Then, it too will begin to lighten up after a few hours. The peak isn’t that much greater than EDP, but it does hold it for longer, also.

Edge: Parfum

Longevity

With Guilty Pour Homme EDP, I get about 5-6 hours of wear, on my skin. The performance does leave plenty to be desired. While it’s not completely atrocious, it still isn’t great at a Gucci price point.

With Parfum, it is 7-8 hours of wear. Not a complete beast, either. Though, I can say that it has consistently outperformed the EDP version.

That extra bit of difference does help separate these two.

Edge: Parfum

Versatility

Both of these are very versatile scent. I probably wouldn’t wear either as a strictly formal sort of fragrance, but outside of that, they should be fine.

Also, neither is really a club beast. More daily wears, that can sometimes venture into the evening.

I do think that Parfum performs better in the warmer weather than does EDP. I don’t want either on the hottest days of summer, but Parfum fits better in the late spring, I’d say. That’s about the only real difference.

Edge: Parfum (slightly)

Overall Scent

With Guilty EDP the opening act is quite nice to wear. The balsamic rose with red pepper spice? Smells great and gives you something unique.

Not a complete love for me, but a strong like, and something that doesn’t bore me.

After that?  It is pretty boring. It’s got some of the same notes as earlier entries into the series. Lavender, orange blossom, cedar.

Floral, soapy, clean. More in line with the original Guilty, which isn’t bad, but it’s disappointing after that start.

Guilty Parfum? It’s a very good cologne. Doesn’t quite reach must have or classic status, but one that is enjoyable all around. I think that it is just better than EDP. Every aspect outside of the opening and even that is a close call.

You get balance between citrus, freshness, floral notes, and woodsiness in the dry down. It’s a nice entry from Gucci and takes this contest.

Update: I wore my bottle of Parfum for a while, but grew fairly tired of it. I do still like it more than Guilty EDP, but I’m not that into either of these scents anymore. They’re fine, just not something that I wanted to have on all the time.

Winner: Parfum

Gucci Guilty EDT vs. Parfum

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Gucci keeps coming out with new versions of their Guilty line. Some, are wildly different from the originals. While others, share a pretty similar overall vibe. Guilty Pour Homme Parfum, falls in that latter category. So, with that being the case, how does Parfum compare to the original EDT? Which lasts longer? Smells better?

Tale of the Tape: Guilty EDT vs Parfum?

Gucci Guilty

Notes include: lemon, orange blossom, lavender, patchouli, cedar, pink pepper, neroli

Click here to try: Guilty By Gucci EDT spray for Men, 3 Ounce

Read my original review: Gucci Guilty

Guilty Parfum

Notes include: juniper, orange flower, cistus, lavender, nutmeg, lemon, patchouli, musk

Click here to try: Guilty Pour Homme Parfum by Gucci (Macy’s)

Opening

Gucci Guilty opens up with a blend of lemon, pink pepper, and lavender. It’s a light, warm, and calming fragrance with added base notes of cedar and patchouli.

While it feels basic, it’s actually fairly unique in how it comes across when compared to other scents. At least when compared with non-Guilty fragrances.

With Guilty Parfum, you get a fresh and aromatic fragrance early on. The lemon is more peel than juicy fruit. It has a colder and woodsier feeling versus EDT. The juniper and nutmeg, really are pretty dominant at the opening stages, on my skin.

Which is better? I like EDT. It’s quite nice to smell. Straightforward and attractive.

But, I prefer the opening of Parfum more so. It’s a better mix, with some more depth, and a different profile. Plus, I like that juniper and nutmeg blend.

Edge: Parfum

Projection

Comparing an EDT to a Parfum, it’s pretty clear that the latter should have the greater sillage, just based on the perfume concentration. Parfum, for sure does. But, it isn’t a total beast, however.

Guilty EDT is moderate for the first few hours of the wear. Then, it will be pretty light and airy for the rest of the way. Not a huge performer, but it generally stays above skin scent level right up until the end.

With Guilty Parfum, it hits the upper end of the moderate range. Not massive, but it will project itself 4-6 feet for a while. Then, it too will begin to lighten up after a few hours. Still, it maintains more than Guilty and reaches a higher high.

Edge: Parfum

Longevity

Guilty EDT isn’t a workhorse. Anytime that I’ve used it, I’ve only gotten 5-6 hours of wear from it. It’s pretty average and doesn’t simply disappear. But, it’s not something that keeps going.

Is Parfum better? Yes, but it’s longevity is in the 7-8 hour range. Solid, but it also isn’t a complete performer. 7-8 hours is good and about what I would expect with something like this.

Parfum has the clear edge here. 

Edge: Parfum

Versatility

Both of these are extremely versatile. They can be worn nearly year round…accepting the hottest and coldest days. Both are great daytime wears, with the ability to handle the nightlife. 

These two Guilty fragrances are kind of no-brainers. Not the most formal occasions, but fit in fairly well most other places.

But, I think that Parfum has more maturity in comparison. Older guys can enjoy it, as well as younger ones, who are more the target audience for EDT. Very easy to wear, either way, but Parfum gets the nod.

Edge: Parfum

 

Overall Scent

Gucci Guilty EDT has always been something that I liked, but never really had much attraction to wear. I’ve always preferred its flankers.

It is a simple and clean fragrance, that is a good go to for a wide variety of situations. The main focus is simple and are the lemon, lavender, and pink pepper note.

It has a slight woody/earthiness to the aroma, but also some nice floral sweetness. By no means a bad one, just nothing that jumps out.

Guilty Pour Homme Parfum? It’s a very good scent. Not a complete classic, but one that I’ve enjoyed wearing in this short time since its release. It’s just an across the board better cologne than the original EDT.

It has similarities to Guilty Intense, but even feels like an improvement upon that. You get balance between citrus, freshness, floral notes, and woodsiness in the dry down. I just like wearing it more so than the original. Plus, better performance.

It’s a clean sweep for Parfum.

Winner: Parfum

Guilty Pour Homme EDP by Gucci

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Guilty has been a massively successful line from Gucci in the past decade. It has seemed like each successive iteration has had less to do with the original fragrance than those that preceded it. Until, they’ve become colognes that just have the same name.

So, getting ahold of Gucci Guilty Eau de Parfum, I wasn’t sure of what to expect from this. How does it smell? Is the performance amped up? Is it even worth trying?

What does Guilty Pour Homme Eau de Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: rose, French lavender, neroli, chili pepper, orange blossom, patchouli, vinegar, salt

Click here to try: GUCCI GUILTY POUR HOMME by Gucci, EAU DE PARFUM SPRAY 3 OZ

Full Wear Review

Here’s how Gucci describes it: The celebration of freedom expressed by the statement #ForeverGuilty continues with Gucci Guilty Pour Homme Eau de Parfum, a Woody Aromatic Spicy fragrance created to provoke. A contemporary take on two iconic perfumery ingredients popular in the ’70s.

The starts of Guilty EDP is intriguing. I read the list of notes before ever trying out this fragrance and wanted to know how they were going to infuse chili pepper, vinegar, and salt into this blend…because it sounds weird.

It does open up with a balsamic aroma. It’s spicy, warm, and has a greenish finish thanks to the presence of the rose (it doesn’t strike me as a red rose, more of a pink).

There is a touch of salt in the air, but the parfum has a fresh and soapier cleanliness that lurks underneath. One that will grow, as we move forward.

Neroli and red pepper add spice and the white floral notes sit underneath the rose. It favors the rose at first. Then, the neroli and orange blossom shine. Finally, the fragrance will feature the lavender and orange blossom.

The patchouli and rose combination do provide this with a classic feeling and an overall greenish earthiness.

At some point, the spiciness rolls off and it becomes a warmer floral fragrance, with patchouli and light woods. That soapy clean aroma becomes more apparent. There still is some chili pepper, but the balsamic aspect goes away.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

I was expecting a much more powerful scent with this eau de parfum version. Actually, the sillage is softer to moderate. Sure, the early stages are pretty solid, and that lasts about an hour or two. Thereafter, Guilty EDP is quite soft.

The longevity isn’t all that great either. It’s really not much different from the EDT, from my recollection. EDP sticks around for 5-6 hours. That’s about it.

The Guilty collection is fairly hit and miss with how long each of them lasts. They all seem to top out at the 8-9 hour mark, at the high end, and around here for the rest of them.

Guilty eau de parfum does provide a versatile wear, even if the performance isn’t top notch. It might not have a clear universal appeal, but for those who enjoy it, EDP can be worn almost anywhere and not feel too out of place.

It’s low key enough to be worn to an office. Though, I’d more want to wear it casually or for certain evenings out.

It’s not amazing in the heat. I’ve worn it in cooler autumn temperatures and on more moderate days without issue. It’s really when this cologne is at its best. Not too hot or too cold.

Overall Impressions of Guilty Pour Homme EDP

Overall, do I like Guilty EDP? Sort of. The opening act is really good. The balsamic rose with red pepper spice? Very interesting and smells great. Not my favorite fragrance ever, but it wasn’t a boring experience.

After that? Meh. It’s got some of the same notes as earlier entries into the series. Lavender, orange blossom, cedar. But, it doesn’t strike me as the same as Intense or even EDT. There’s elements there, though, the aroma is different.

I currently have an mini of Guilty Intense and the resemblance comparing them side by side, just isn’t that great.

Guilty Pour Homme EDP goes from interesting to forgettable. Yet, it still never reached a high level of enjoyment for me. It’s fine in terms of the smell.

I actually opted for a bottle of Guilty Love 2020 after sampling both it and EDP. Also, I later bought Guilty Parfum when it was released. I liked that better than EDP, as well. But, it’s also not amazing, kind of got boring after a while.

Plus, the performance isn’t all that great.

I do think that Guilty EDP is worth a try. Perhaps, you will have more of a love for it than I do. It’s fine, has its moments, but not one that I personally need to own.

Gucci Guilty vs Guilty Intense

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In this edition, of the head to head men’s cologne comparisons, we have to entries from the Gucci line: Guilty vs. Guilty Intense. Which of these fragrances smells the best? The original or it’s flanker descendant? Which has the better performance? Out of the two, which is the better buy? Please continue below for my full break down, as well as, the original reviews of both scents.

Guilty vs Intense: Tale of the Tape

Gucci Guilty

Notes include: lemon, orange blossom, lavender, patchouli, cedar, pink pepper, neroli

Click here to try: Guilty By Gucci EDT spray for Men, 3 Ounce

Read my original review: Gucci Guilty

Gucci Guilty Intense

Notes include: lemon, lavender, coriander, amber, orange blossom, neroli, cedar, patchouli

Click here to try: Gucci Guilty Intense Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 3 Ounce

Read my original review: Guilty Intense

Opening

Gucci Guilty opens up with a blend of lemon, pink pepper, and lavender. It’s a light, warm, and calming fragrance with added base notes of cedar and patchouli. While it feels simple, it’s actually fairly unique in how it comes across when compared to other scents.

Guilty Intense obviously has a lot of similarities to its predecessor, however, it goes lighter on the lemon. Also, the lavender and amber notes are heavier, with addition spice from coriander and patchouli.

Which do I enjoy more? While I think the original is nice with the citrus note, I think that the use of the amber and lavender in Intense is just a better mix. Also, the extra bit of spice really adds more substance to the fragrance.

I really like the amber quality of Intense, coriander is a spice that I usually enjoy, and it plays well off of the calming lavender. Guilty’s lemon and pink pepper is good, but not great, in comparison.

Edge: Intense

Projection

Obviously, in this category, Intense should have the upper hand. It does. However, neither cologne is particularly powerful. The original is pretty moderate for a few hours and then light and airy.

Intense, is stronger and more persistent, probably on the upper edge of moderate. I guess it is, technically more intense than the original, but is by no means a huge fragrance.

To get a massive version of the Guilty name, you have to go with some of the flankers, that don’t really compare to the original release in how it’s structured.

Overall, the strength of Guilty Intense is good, just don’t expect a crazy sillage from it. Nonetheless, it is the clear winner in this category.

Edge: Intense

Longevity

Gucci Guilty lasts 5-6 hours on my skin. Meanwhile, I get 7-8 from Guilty Intense.

I like the original Guilty, but performance has never been all that good, especially at this price point. Guilty Intense will stick around for more situations, one will find themselves in. Pretty much a standard work day and can make it through a night out, just fine.

None of the fragrances from this Gucci lineup seem to have insane longevity (Absolute does, though, it’s an entirely different type of scent), but the winner is certain, in this battle.

Edge: Intense

Versatility

Both of these scents have great versatility and are basically identical, in that regard. Seasonally, they can be worn year round pretty much. Are fine for casual wear, work, and smell good enough for dates. Also, both seem best for guys in their 20s-30s to wear.

I think that I enjoy wearing either of them in the warmer weather. The extreme cold and extreme heat, probably aren’t the ideal scenarios to wear these…but it’s not too much of an issue.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I like Gucci Guilty, but it never really impressed me. It is a simple and clean fragrance, that is a good go to for a wide variety of situations. The main attractions are the lemon, lavender, and pink pepper note.

It has a slight woody/earthiness to the aroma, but also some nice floral sweetness. Not a bad scent, just nothing spectacular.

Guilty Intense, is just a better cologne. The performance is better, but also, the composition is just much nicer. It’s probably my favorite from the Guilty line. It’s very warm with amber and floral notes led by the lavender.

I like the orange blossom in this one and how the light the lemon note is. I find it to be a very enjoyable fragrance to wear, even if it is pretty simple as well.

Winner: Gucci Guilty Intense