Guilty Cologne by Gucci

Oh, Gucci, you never do stop with the Guilty flankers do you? For 2019, the subject of today’s review was released, Guilty Cologne. Not a very original name, nor does it have any real connection to the rest of the Guilty line of fragrances. But, how does it smell? Does this scent have good performance? Is it worth a buy?

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What does Guilty Cologne by Gucci Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, juniper berries, rosemary, violet, cypress, cedar, patchouli, heliotrope, musk

Click here to try: Gucci Guilty Cologne by Gucci, 1.6 oz EDT Spray for Men

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My Full Review

I first tried out Guilty Cologne back in August, while I was out shopping. My first overall thought upon smelling it was, why do they keep using the Guilty name for fragrances, that don’t smell at all like the original Guilty?

Secondly, I was actually kind of taken aback, as to what I was smelling. It felt unique and different, while having familiar elements. I wasn’t sure if I enjoyed this fragrance or not.

As such, I’ve put off doing any sort of review for months, until I could spend much more time with it.

Guilty Cologne opens up with a fresh and rather sharp burst. Bergamot comes out really strong, to my nose, along with a fresh juniper. The juniper brings to mind Luna Rossa Sport, without the layer of lavender on top. 

The second layer in the opening, I get a lot of rosemary, but it seems to be wed to the cypress note. The tree note, will definitely come more into play later on. However, the rosemary and bergamot dominate the opening 20-30 minutes for me.

After that, they relinquish much of their initial power. A lightly powdery heliotrope comes in, the herbal spice/citrus sharpness gets toned down, and the woody freshness is amped up. Cedar, juniper berries, and cypress will do that. It becomes quite a green and clean aroma.

Finally, I get a very woodsy fragrance in the dry down. On my skin, the cypress comes through as the strongest note, with violet working in conjunction. Juniper, rosemary, and heliotrope follow. It’s dry, somewhat herbal and powdery, with a light sweetness around the edges. 

Not a super complex fragrance, but it is an interesting one.

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Sillage, Longevity, and Versatilty

I find that Guilty Cologne starts off strong and the sillage, can cover a large area around you. This is the case for the first hour. Second hour, is still moderately strong. After that, it’s pretty average. You’ll notice it, but it isn’t going to be a cloud of fragrance.

That opening act will definitely leave a solid scent trail in your wake. 7+ foot radius at its peak, before settling more into that 3 foot range later.

Longevity, sits in the 6-8 hour range. It’s good, but not amazing. A lot of the other Guilty scents, don’t seem to have a long life either, but this is such a distinct scent from those. It’s sort of in the middle of the pack, out of the Guilty lineup.

Seasonally, I wouldn’t be opposed to wearing this year round. However, on mild to slightly warm days, this Gucci cologne seems to be in top form. I like the idea of this in spring and early autumn, the air isn’t too thick with humidity and it will be the right temperature for Cologne to do its thing.

I like it as a casual to semi-formal fragrance. If you don’t spray too much, it would be fine for office wear. Has a fresh and masculine disposition, but not really a club beast, nor romantic wear. It could work in a variety of situations, but not really built specifically for such a purpose.

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Overall Impression of Guilty Cologne

Do I like this scent? The more time with it, the more I lean toward it being enjoyable. Yeah, that sounds weird, but this is a unique smell and not the usual style that I personally go for. 

The opening act is pretty sharp and if you don’t like rosemary, this one will almost certainly be a pass. I have grown fond of the cypress, I enjoy juniper, and the violet doesn’t bother me in this composition.

The performance is above average, also. The whole thing comes across as interesting, just not excellent. Guilty Cologne will for sure have its dedicated fans.

It’s overall a good fragrance. Not the best, but certainly one, which can be a solid wear for the right guy. I would check for this one, when it’s getting discounted way down and price. Then, I’d say it’s a buy, but probably not for full retail.