givenchy

5 Fragrances that Smell Like L’Interdit by Givenchy

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L’Interdit has been a massively successful series from Givenchy. There was of course an older edition from the brand which dates back to the 1950s. However, they’ve updated to the formula and brought some new smells to the name.

However, sometimes people want a cheaper alternative the designer perfume. Or, they’d like something with a similar scent, but not exactly the same as the Givenchy. On this page, I will keep track of the fragrances that can fit the bill, and are related to the sort of perfume the L’Interdit is.

What Perfumes Smell Similar to L’Interdit by Givenchy?

Cheapie Sweet

Al Ibdaa Gold– This is an interesting alternative to L’Interdit EDP, as it takes the ‘grape-like’ smell of tuberose found in the Givenchy, as uses flower blossoms (apple and pineapple) to replicate it. Plus, a nice peach note.

Now, the middle and back half of the wear are different. This is where Al Ibdaa Gold separates itself somewhat from L’Interdit.

Musky, powdery, with a greater rose influence. Plus, the earthy spice of patchouli. Still, the main thrust of this cheapie is a lot like our target scent. May be too sweet for some people, but it’s pretty good for around $20.

Which Way?

My Way Armani- The My Way series from Armani has a lot of overlap with L’Interdit, as a tuberose infused white floral perfume.

The overlapping notes? Bergamot, tuberose, jasmine, orange blossom, and vanilla. A main difference, this one doesn’t have the pear note of L’Interdit EDP.

Beyond that, they’re not exactly the same. Similar styles, but not the same smell by any stretch. Personally, I like the Givency releases better than the Armani’s. To me, they have more depth, better sweetness, and just a weighting of the notes that I prefer.

That being said, this is one that a lot of people may like as an alternative. The dry down here still has a sweetness (feels less candy-like at this stage) and a good blend with the musk and vanilla.


Forbidden Rouge

The Forbidden White Flowers by Dua– This one from the Dua Brand is actually their ‘inspired by’ take of L’Interdit Rouge Ultime and not the original EDP.

To me, the first Rouge release, was the best of the L’Interdit series thus far. But, I haven’t yet checked out Ultime to see how it stacks up. It looks like it’s a nice formula, maybe less of the spice of the original, and more of a white floral blend with cacao and tobacco.

So, if you’re looking for something that smells like L’Interdit Rouge Ultime, this is the one to go with. I’ve owned probably a dozen or so different releases from the Dua brand and they do a great job with their inspirations.

A Bit of Intense, A Bit Different

R U Serious by Rue Broca– R U Serious is a perfume that has a lot of overlap with the L’Interdit series, while not being exactly like any of them. A bit of EDP and Intense-like accords are found in this one.

The differences that are most pronounced is the use of a heavier patchouli in this Rue Broca release and the smokiness of the birch. That note, kind of reminds me of the one found in Creed Aventus for Him.

Somewhat heavier in comparison to L’Interdit EDP. Amber, patchouli, and birch give R U Serious plenty of substance and projection power. The top notes are light and crisp highlighted by apple and blackcurrant.

Fruitier Cheapie

Fakhar Rose by Lattafa– Fakhar is an inexpensive alternative that has a good deal of overlap with the way that it smells in comparison to L’Interdit EDP, in particular. Though, it’s not an exact match.

This one is brighter, sweeter (at first), and overall fruitier than what I get with the Givenchy perfume. That’s especially true in the opening act.

Once the transition into the middle comes around, they have more similarities. Yes, this one does have a rose note, but it feels balanced with the gardenia and the tuberose. The back half doesn’t maintain the sweetness and L’Interdit has a longer go with that aspect.

It’s also lighter, with some nice muskiness into the dry down. For the price, Fakhar Rose is an excellent deal that can deliver much of what you get with our target.

Gentleman Intense EDT by Givenchy

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Gentleman Intense eau de toilette is a popular edition of the now long-running Givenchy series. It was released back in 2021. It’s one that I’ve tried numerous times before, but never posted my full review of. Well, I received a sample of Intense with a recent order, so let’s dive into it now.

How does it smell? Does Gentleman Intense last long? Is it actually worth a try?

What does Gentleman Intense EDT Smell Like?

Notes include: blue iris, bergamot, cedar, basil, cardamom, cypress, coumarin

Click here to try: Gentleman Intense EDT

My Full Wear Review

Gentleman Intense often gets compared to the Dior Homme series, from the last decade. Yes, many of the scents from this Givenchy line have overlap in notes and style with those colognes.

Mainly, the notes they share are: bergamot, iris, and cedar. Gentleman Intense EDT particularly favors Dior Homme Eau, that was discontinued a long while ago. Mainly because, they are the woodier fragrances of the bunch that still have a strong iris.

However, Gentleman Intense does manage to stand apart on its own. It opens up with a mix of the bright bergamot, a strong cedar, and a nice kick from the basil note. Here, it smells more to me like Dior Homme 2011, just without the leathery aspect.

Still, they’re fairly close. I do enjoy how this Givenchy opens up. The basil and the cedar really work well together. But, you also get a decent amount of the cardamom here for some further depth and spice.

As we head into the middle act, it gets less spicy more woodsy fresh. The cardamom stays around the longest, but even it will fade.

Iris will be at its powdery peak, once the spice happens. But, it’s splitting a lot of the workload with the cypress and especially the cedar.

Cedar, iris, and tonka bean in the base. A touch powdery and creamy. Yet, the cedar and remaining cypress note pull this one towards the woody side of things. It feels fresh, crisp, and here’s where it has a closer aroma to Prada L’homme.

I’d say it’s more like the original than the more powdery L’eau.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

While not being a heavy sort of cologne, this Givenchy scent does have some sneaky strength in terms of how it projects.

Not a massive cloud of fragrance following you around. However, the scent bubble that it does create will be substantial and it performs well above average overall. After 2-3 hours, this one is more intimate, but isn’t weak until deeper into the back half of the wear.

On my skin, I will get 8-9 hours of wear from Gentleman Intense. Not really anything beyond that, unless I sprayed it on a t-shirt directly. It’s quite good for most purposes, but doesn’t hit a truly elite level.

Seasonally, Gentleman Intense EDT can be worn pretty much whenever, outside of the height of summer. Even then, you could wear it inside. It’s actually not great in the heat. I like it best, when it is sort of chilly outside and it can venture deep into springtime as well.

It’s great strength is its versatility. This is one that can be worn in a wide variety of scenarios, from casual to more dressed up to date night or out at to a bar. It doesn’t scream for attention, but just works well with that chill, woody iris aroma.

Overall Impressions of Gentleman EDT Intense

Overall, do I like this fragrance? Yes, I do. I’m not even a massive fan of the Gentleman series from Givenchy, but Intense strikes me as being one of the best of them.

Sort of like Dior Homme Eau, but, just going off of memory this might be the better scent. I really like the opening with the basil, cedar, and cardamom coming out. The basil and cedar pairing is great to go along with the signature iris.

It does hold up well throughout, also. When it becomes like a Dior Homme Eau/Prada L’Homme hybrid sort of scent. Though, it doesn’t hold my attention as much towards the back half.

Still, for the price you can get this at, it is well worth a try. I see it for sale in the $70 range, currently, which is a good deal versus a lot of its comparable designer fragrances. Some of which, aren’t even around any longer.

If you like the Gentleman series or want an easy to wear, super versatile woody-floral for men, given Intense EDT a go.

9 Best Smelling Givenchy Perfumes for Ladies

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Givenchy (owned by LVMH) has a vast array of perfumes and colognes for both men and women. With such a large selection it can be hard to key in on which of those is the best option for your own personal style. With that in mind, I have selected nine options from Givenchy which not only smell the best but will fit well with an individual personality better than others.

Also, check out: Top Estee Lauder Perfumes, Best Bond No. 9 Scents, Best Dior Perfumes for Ladies

What are the Top Smelling Givenchy Fragrances for Her?

Rose and Peony Daily Wear

Very Irresistible By Givenchy For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 2.5 Ounces A deliciously seductive fragrance by Givenchy. It blends rose and peony among other notes, to create a long-lasting and beautiful affair, which adds a bit of spice to the floral notes.

It opens with the rose note and anise, which provides the fresh spice complement, to the floral aroma. As it dries down, the peony comes into its own, and takes Very Irresistible away from being more of a pure rose fragrance.

This one will last a full 8 hours, isn’t a sillage beast, and works very well in the spring/summer months.  Full Review

The Other Irresistible

Irresistible Eau de Parfum– Like the one above, Irresistible also has a prominent rose note, but this one isn’t nearly close to being another rose. In fact, it gets paired with an iris note in the middle act.

What you do get, is a delicious pear note, up top with a musky finish. It’s a fruity clean rose perfume, with musk and a bit of powder from a fairly understated iris. It dries down into something that is inherently fresh and pretty.

Probably skews more toward a younger audience, but Irresistible EDP is very versatile and has a great performance for this type of fragrance.

Modern Tuberose Blend

Givenchy L’interdit Women, Eau de Parfum Spray, 1.7 Fl Oz– There hasn’t been too many new Givenchy women’s fragrance releases in the past few years, but this is one of them, and it’s actually great. They reused the name from a much older fragrance, that was way before my time.

L’Interdit EDP is a great white floral perfume with an opening act that features a quite prominent pear note. Jasmine, orange blossom, and later tuberose are the main attractions here. It starts out with a candy-like grape sort of aroma. Though, overall it’s not really all that sweet.

Then, the floral notes really take hold and the jasmine is the leader at one point, before the tuberose takes fully control. It has a bit of wood in the base and a slight plant-like greenish aroma, at times. Really good performance. L’Interdit EDP Review

My Favorite L’Interdit

L’Interdit Rouge by Givenchy– Since it’s been a while since I’ve update this page, I wanted to make sure that I included Rouge on this list.

To me, this has been the best of the L’Interdit line so far. Intense, is also a good one.

Rouge kicks off with a blast of ginger spice and blood orange. It is warm, spicy, and sweet with much of that familiar tuberose based DNA of this series, just lurking underneath.

Tuberose and patchouli will play a big role in the dry down too. This one lacks the vanilla, but has more of a woody base than the others. Really great designer wear and worth checking out. Rouge Review

l'interdit rouge review

Best Wintertime Wear

Ange Ou Demon By Givenchy For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3-Ounce Offers some good versatility but it is best suited for evening wear. Ange Ou Demon opens with herbal spice from saffron and a light zesty orange note.

Then, it transitions into something creamier and sweeter with tonka bean and vanilla. This stuff can be an absolute powerhouse, with its intensity, and longevity.

Ange isn’t a fragrance for everybody, much more niche, than other scents on the list. It’s got a unique sort of profile, but one you may need to learn to love. Notes of tonka bean, saffron, ylang ylang, vanilla, and others.

Light and Sweet Floral

Amarige By Givenchy For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Oz. A uniquely classic scent from the early 1990s which features a fantastic mix of fruits, floral, and spicy notes.  It is a rich and layered fragrance which gives it an air of complexity and makes it ideal for a mature woman.

Amarige opens with it fruit/floral mix, before it leans more towards the floral end. You get juicy peach and tart plum, especially strong at the top, but they hang around throughout the wear. Gardenia, ylang-ylang, tuberose, and mimosa all seem to get their turn at bat.

However, they ultimately reach a lovely bouquet period, that is highlighted by the underlying sweet fruits. This is an outstanding performer and overall lovely perfume.

80s Throwback

Ysatis By Givenchy For Women. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Ounces Spices and woods co-mingle and are softened by the floral notes. An interesting profile with amber, iris, vanilla, rose, and rum. This is a complete throwback to the 1980s, so, it’s not going to appeal to everyone.

What’s expected from perfumes, as far as style, has changed so much. Nonetheless, Ysatis, is a classic. Obviously, this one has been reformulated, from its original. Unless you pickup an older bottle, it’s not going to be the same.

The newer bottles aren’t terrible, in my mind, but definitely don’t strike the same chord. More floral, less musky and woody depth.

Unique Raspberry Goodness

Hot Couture By Givenchy By Givenchy For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3 Ounces This one is a really special fragrance, that could become a signature perfume for the right lady.

Its fruity notes give it a sweet smell which is pulled back some by the introduction of notes such as pepper, which adds some playful spice to the drydown.

Hot Couture can help separate you from the pack and give your style and infusion of individuality. It’s opening is the fruit note of raspberry, orange, and bergamot. It is creamy with its sandalwood base, with a fresh spiciness of pepper and vetiver.

It dries down, warm and sweet, with a powdery/smoky finish to it. Plus, Hot Couture also gives a long lasting and pretty powerful performance.

Autumn and Early Winter Scent

Organza By Givenchy For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3 Ounces A softer perfume than the others on this list, but by no means weak. This is a great option for day to day wear, for those who want something not too intense, but highly feminine.

It is a white floral wrapped in vanilla goodness. Gardenia, jasmine, and tuberose highlight Organza; making it one beautiful scent. There is a spiciness, also, that goes well with the amber in the base.

That is my current list of the best Givenchy fragrances for her. Obviously, there are many more great options from this brand (seriously, they have dozens more), but this should be a good place to get you started. I will come back to this page and update as necessary, when I come across a newer gem.

Xeryus Rouge by Givenchy

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Xeryus Rouge is a fragrance that I’ve encountered, owned, and enjoyed over the decades. My experience this one definitely precedes this website or even my real interest in perfume. Givenchy released this back in 1995 and it’s one that is still being sold, despite completely flying under the radar of most people.

I bought a bottle of this within the last year to try Xeryus Rouge out again and see if I still liked it. How does it smell? Does the performance still hold up? Is this 1990s classic, still a worthwhile scent today?

What does Xeryus Rouge Smell Like?

Notes include: red pepper, cactus, kumquat, cedar, geranium, musk, tarragon, sandalwood

Click here to try: Xeryus Rouge by Givenchy

My Full Review

Here’s how Givenchy describes it: Warm and intense, Xeryus Rouge is a classic, Woody-Oriental designed for a man who embraces his freedom and is a risk-taker at heart. His fiery, intuitive sensuality is irresistibly captivating with an underlying mystery that cannot be resisted. Succulent kumquat and green cactus are dusted with red pepper and crushed cedar wood for a seductive scent that lingers.

The word is that this one has been reformulated. Personally, I can’t really tell since I’m going off of memories from a bottle that I owned long ago. Memories I don’t entirely trust, so, I can’t really compared an older version versus what is offered today.

Still, my new bottle smells pretty much as I recall the old one.

I did notice that kumquat has been added to where it used to be mandarin orange. The kumquat reminds me of that one found in Gucci Guilty Love, just way tempered by the other notes in the mix.

The opening is bright, juicy, greenish, and herbal. Cactus is definitely in play, not letting the kumquat get too sharp or dominant in the blend.

While you do have this juicy/watery quality from the fruits up top, Rouge will always have this warm spiciness and freshness to it, even at these early stages. Red pepper and geranium start to show up big on my skin, 10-15 minutes after application.

Those notes are there from the initial spray, but some of the kumquat and cactus needs to back off before each really comes into their own.

The red pepper has the edge early, but that shifts quite a bit, and geranium starts to pop. It’s an interesting effect with the cactus note still hanging around. Much greener, fresher, and has more of a herbal undertone.

Rouge becomes drier, more of a classic aromatic and woody fragrance. The citrus really falls off, as does the red pepper. You will still have a slight spice, but this leans towards the fresh woods end of the spectrum.

Cedar, geranium, musk, cactus, and some light sandalwood. That’s basically the order of the notes by strength in the dry down. A sweet woodsy aroma, masculine, almost barbershop (minus the usual lavender).

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Rouge is pretty moderate with how it hangs in the air and the scent trail that’ll leave behind. This isn’t a heavy sort of fragrance. Lighter and fresher. Projects from the skin 5-7 feet at its max. Then, will slowly reel itself in, until it’s in skin scent territory.

I will say, it can be deceptive. You might not smell it on yourself and then someone will complement you.

On my skin, this one lasts in the 6.5-7.5 hour range. Those last few hours definitely aren’t powerful, but the fragrance is still there. I think I used to get a couple of hours more with my older bottle, so it wasn’t completely gutted. Just a step back.

Seasonally, I really like this one anytime other than the height of summer. That warmer opening, lends itself to the autumn and winter months. However, it becomes greener and fresher, which works in the springtime too.

I’ve worn it outside on warm days in the spring and Xeryus Rouge held up well.

xeryus rouge review

Rouge has a classic masculine style while still having its modern edge. This one can be a daily wear and venture out into the evening if necessary. It’s not a nightlife cologne per se, but it wouldn’t be totally out of place either.

It’s a likeable scent that I do get complements with. Not completely ‘sexy’, but it has its charm and appeal. The fresh aromatic smell that comes through past the opening act, is one that people do enjoy. It didn’t last for nearly 30 years, without reason.

Overall Impressions of Xeryus Rouge

Overall, do I like this one? Yes, it’s no one that I wear all of the time, but it has been a fragrance that I’ve come back to multiple times over many years. Though, it might not be everyone’s cup of tea.

That being said, it has been around since 1995, so it has plenty of fans. There’s nothing that smells exactly like Xeryus Rouge. That red pepper, light kumquat, aromatic freshness, the cedar, and the unique cactus note…what else has that?

Sure, Hot Water by Davidoff has overlap with its style, but even that just strikes me as being quite distinct from Rouge.

The dry down is more typical of other colognes out there. Though, this Givenchy just always seems to have its own unique aspects which come through.

The performance is pretty good. It was never a monster in terms of power or a crazy long-lasting scent either. It’s fine, I didn’t have to pay a lot, and the performance is good enough.

Xeryus Rouge is one that is worth checking out. I did notice that it is now no longer for sale on Givenchy’s website (maybe it’ll return). I pulled that description of it from the site many months ago before publishing, but there are plenty of bottles available online for a good price.

Try it out and experience this mid-1990s gem.

Gentleman EDP Boisee by Givenchy

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Gentleman EDP Boisee is one from Givenchy that I hadn’t tried yet. It came out back in 2020, but I never got around to checking it out since I’m not the biggest fan of this series. Though, as I head more about this fragrance, I was wanting to try it. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it actually worth a buy?

What does Gentleman Boisee Smell Like?

Notes include: black pepper, cocoa bean, iris, geranium, coriander, cedar, sandalwood, patchouli

Click here to try: Gentleman EDP Boisee

My Full Review

Here’s how Givenchy describes it: The elegance of iris mingled with the strength of burning wood. A sensual woody floral warmed by addictive cocoa bean.

Boisee opens up with a warmth, fresh spice, and woods already peaking through. Black pepper with some touches of coriander are there at the start giving this a more dynamic feel than what the iris note would give you alone.

Though, that iris note is also there. It’s going to be the highlight, as it is in the rest of this Givenchy series, but shares the stage early on.

Cocoa bean is also noticeable. With its influence and the surrounding notes, the iris takes on less of a powdery aroma at first, and smells more buttery to my nose.

The other aspect of the opening act is the slight freshness/earthiness not coming from the two spice notes. Patchouli is light but there. Geranium is heavier in the mix, just not a long-lived role to play, kind of a sweet smelling geranium too.

As we move along, the iris and woods really come out in full force. The spices will fade, as will the cocoa bean. Both are still around for a while, but neither has the same impact moving forward.

The patchouli actually does manage to make it to the latter stages of Boisee. This one doesn’t get too heavy with the iris, it does have the powdery quality but isn’t super slanted towards that.

Mostly, the dry down is a balance of the iris, sandalwood, and the other woods. Under that? Some patchouli and a blend of the final hints of the other notes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is lighter to moderate. Though, that is kind of deceiving as Boisee is the type of scent that you can go nose blind to, while others will still give you a complement on the fragrance.

Gentleman Boisee isn’t a ‘heavy’ feeling fragrance. It hangs around as a lighter cloud around the wearer, just one with significant reach. At it’s peak, this one is in the 5-7 foot range in terms of projection. It will move in much closer to the skin, but I still catch whiffs of this cologne pretty deep into the wear.

The longevity here isn’t all that amazing. On my skin, it’ll go for 6-7 hours. Yes, much of that time is with the sneaky ability to project. Even still, those last few hours are very light and basically a skin scent.

Seasonally, this is mostly an autumn and winter wear. However, I wore it here in late spring when its very warm outside and I didn’t hate the results. Sure, it’s better in the colder to moderate temperatures, but as long as it isn’t insanely hot you should be okay.

This one can be worn for pretty much whatever occasion. It’s attractive and dynamic enough for the nightlife or for a date. Yet, Boisee is well put together enough for office wear or some other formal occasion.

It doesn’t scream for attention, is balanced and well-behaved. Boissee is great at fitting in to many scenarios.

Overall Impressions of Gentleman Boisee

Overall, do I like this fragrance? Yes, it is one of the better releases so far from the Gentleman lineup. It’s very good, but not great in terms of its scent. It’s performance is pretty mid.

I like the spicy opening. It doesn’t stray too far into that territory and maintains its balance. However, Boisee’s black pepper and coriander pair very well with the iris and the cocoa coming up from the heart.

The iris and woods finish is less enthralling, but I like it better than the finish of Reserve Privee, which was disappointing after its awesome opening act.

I do wish that this one had a longer life span and a slightly better projection. It’s not terrible, just had room for improvement.

Personally, I don’t need another iris centered colognes since I already own: Dior Homme 2011, Valentino Uomo, and Prada L’eau. All three of which are better than this Givenchy release. So, I’ll be skipping this as an acquisition.

If you’ve enjoyed the rest of the Gentleman line of fragrances, you’ll almost certainly like this one too. Nothing super different, but the woods and the cocoa bean give it enough of a distinct quality to help Boisee stand on its own.