gucci

Guilty Love Edition Pour Femme by Gucci

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Guilty is the long running franchise for Gucci, in both their men’s and women’s line. In 2020, they came out with the first of their Love Editions. I’ve been doing my reviews on the Guilty Pour Femme line and so I picked up a sample of Love to try. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Gucci Guilty Love Edition Pour Femme Smell Like?

Notes include: narcissus, musk, violet, raspberry, grapefruit, bergamot, mineral amber, water notes, patchouli

Click here to try: Love Edition

guilty love review

My Full Review

Here’s how Gucci describes it:  The new scent is a tribute to the vintage character of the narcissus flower. Opening with a transparent and green crystalline freshness composed of bergamot, grapefruit and a watery accord, a narcissus accord is elevated by the tangy notes of raspberry. 

The opening does have raspberry, grapefruit, and bergamot in the mix. Really though, Guilty Love is never all that fruity. Actually, from the jump, the powdery aroma really takes over.

Powdery early on, with a nice dose of that narcissus floral note. The musk and the violet sit underneath that, but as it dries down these notes will flip, and the violet and musk will be stronger than the powder and narcissus.

Beyond the powder, it does smell like the narcissus is floating in water. There is a watery accord in Love Edition that lightens this one up.

This one really isn’t too complex. Violet infused soap is basically what this turns into. More musk, less powder, and the patchouli note also comes in to add some light earthiness.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is on the lighter end of what would be considered moderate. It’s not too weak, in my experience. I’d say the first two hours or so are just fine, in terms of how it projects off of my skin.

That doesn’t last, though. The rest of the wear is pretty light and stays close to the skin.

The entire wear lasts somewhere in the 5-6 hour range before fading out completely. The performance is really pretty baseline average and not going to wow you.

It’s main strength lies in its versatility. Outside of the depths of winter, this one should be just fine. it works well enough in the heat and is probably at its best in the moderate to warm weather.

So, spring through the early part of autumn is Guilty Love’s reach.

It’s a clean and easy to wear scent. The powdery notes and soapiness aren’t really at all sexy. But, just as something to wear around or to work or wherever, it’d be quite suitable.

This isn’t a Gucci built for the nightlife, however.

Overall Impressions of Guilty Love Edition

Overall, do I like Guilty Love Edition? Not particularly. The whole Love Edition line hasn’t really seemed to gain traction. Personally, I like the men’s version and have a bottle for myself. The women’s…meh.

It’s powdery, watery, and ultimately like a bar of soap. There’s nothing here that is too exciting or noteworthy. That’s fine, but even while being boring, it doesn’t really smell all that good. Not horrible, but very forgettable.

It’s my least favorite of the Guilty line. I compare it to Absolute, for example, and that one just blows it away.

I do like some of the powdery aspects early on, especially when you do get some of the opening fruit notes. After that passes, I’m not too keen on Guilty Love.

Add to that, even if you like the smell, it’s still maybe going to get you six hours of wear tops. Which is pretty average, but costs much more than average with Gucci’s pricing.

I can’t really recommend this one as a blind buy or that it’s even worth a try. If you do like the soapy clean perfumes, violet, or narcissus…maybe this will appeal to you. But, at least see if you can find a bottle at a discounter.

Guilty Absolute Pour Femme EDP by Gucci

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Gucci Guilty is the staple of both the brand’s men and women’s fragrance lineup. There have been updates and new flankers over the past half-decade plus once Gucci got a new creative director. The Pour Femme line has a multitude of choices, that I’m working my way through reviewing. Absolute Pour Femme is today’s entry to the reviews. How does it smell? Is it worth a try?

What does Guilty Absolute Pour Femme Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, blackberry, pink pepper, Bulgarian rose, cypress, golden wood, vetiver, patchouli, amber

Click here to try: Absolute Pour Femme

absolute femme review

My Full Review

Here’s how Gucci describes it:  Gucci Guilty Absolute Pour Femme is created using a particular blend with a structure that remains unchanged from the first time it is applied to the skin. Goldenwood is complemented with a mysterious note of blackberry, creating a non-traditional chypre fruity fragrance for a contemporary woman. The fragrance’s composition is intensified with patchouli oils and Bulgarian rose.

The blackberry note is the main focus here and it’s great. I love the juiciness and pairing with a light bergamot citrus as well. The pink pepper gives it a tiny bit of spice, but really doesn’t have too much of an impact.

Like the men’s version of Absolute, Pour Femme is a very woody take on the Guilty name. The same cypress and golden wood notes are present here. However, that’s about all they share, as this one is way less intense and smoky.

Aside from woods and fruits, you get further support from a nice pinkish rose and the patchouli base. The patchouli actually doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb here, more so helps to add an edible quality to the blackberry.

Guilty Absolute does a fantastic job at avoiding becoming too much of a girly/sugary/fruity mess. No, this one is dark and has a well-rounded sexiness about it. Deep woods, naturalistic green smells, and that awesome berry note highlighting it all.

Rose has its time to shine, after about an hour of wear. That will subside and the blackberry will sit on top of woods with some of that smokiness that’s found in the men’s version. Once again, the men’s version is a lot bolder on that front.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This one isn’t super powerful and is pretty moderate for the duration. I do get some power out of it early on. I’d say it’ll hit about 7 feet from the skin at its peak. Closer to 3-5 for the majority of the wear.

Not crazy, but you get a nice bubble.

The longevity also goes for like 7.5 hours on me, maximum. On clothes, it goes for days. I sprayed it on an old t-shirt and it hung around for a long time. But, if you don’t want to ruin your fabric, the performance is just above average.

Seasonally, it’ll work in any, so long as it’s not too hot. So, most of the summer will be a no go, in most regions. Outside of that, it’s go time. Personally, I think if it’s a little chilly, Absolute Pour Femme would be awesome.

This is also a great perfume for those who want some versatility. It’s not obnoxious, so, it’s safe in most daytime scenarios. But, it’s also stylish and attractive enough for the nightlife.

Overall Impressions of Guilty Absolute Pour Femme

Overall, do I like this fragrance? Yes, I think that this is the best of the Guilty Pour Femme lineup. It’s a very good perfume.

The blackberry and deep woods combination helps to give this one a different feeling from others in the line and it stands out from the bunch, in my mind.

I love the fruit note, the darkness here, and the mix of the traditional cypress and their own smoky golden wood ingredient.

The performance is good enough. It isn’t amazing, on me at least. I do wish it had a bit more consistent strength. Though, I wasn’t all that disappointed.

Guilty Absolute also feels pretty unique. There’s nothing that I can think of which smells exactly like it, but it seems familiar at the same time.

You get a versatile, sexy, and easy to wear scent that doesn’t do anything poorly. It is definitely worth a try and a pretty safe blind buy, as well. Is it the greatest thing ever? Nope, but it delivers most of what you want in a perfume.

Flora Gorgeous Gardenia by Gucci

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Gucci Flora is one of its more popular fragrances. So, naturally they brought out a flanker to it, Gorgeous Gardenia. I initially tried this one out, when it was first released, but have come back to it in order to post a full review. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is Gorgeous Gardenia worth a try?

What does Flora Gorgeous Gardenia Smell Like?

Notes include: gardenia, brown sugar, mandarin, red berries, jasmine, frangipani, patchouli, pear blossom

Click here to try: Flora Gorgeous Gardenia by Gucci

My Full Review

Gorgeous Gardenia opens up with a mix of its fruit notes and the brown sugar accord on full display. The pear blossom leads the way, but it is joined by red berries and a bit of orange.

The heart of the fragrance is obviously the namesake gardenia note. Early on however, it will be geared to the sweet freshness of the fruits, and the scent is delightful.

The pear blossom gives this a nice sparkle and with the frangipani and the emergence of the other floral notes, it can even give off a tropical vibe at certain points. The gardenia will take over for the frangipani, but the latter is the floral note I get most earlier in the wear.

The fruitiness will start to burn off, but the scent remains smelling edible with the patchouli and brown sugar notes. Yet, this is when the white floral accord really begins to take over more.

Flora Gorgeous Gardenia remains clean and light, never becoming a heavier gourmand kind of perfume.

The dry down gives me gardenia, a light jasmine, patchouli, and the remains of the brown sugar/pear. The frangipani is gone and the sweetness of everything is more of an impression, than distinct and separate notes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is initially pretty good. There is definitely a scent trail to it and it will project itself nicely off of the skin. Not an absolute monster, but you can tell that it is there and others will notice.

After that initial blast, it does move quickly closer to the skin. Not entirely a ‘skin scent’ for the whole wear, but it’s light. At it’s peak, Gorgeous Gardenia is above average in strength.

The longevity seems to be in the 5-6 hour range. During testing, it was closer to the five hour mark, but it did hit six once. So, it for sure isn’t a massive performer, but also wasn’t a complete let down.

Seasonally, it’s probably at its best in the spring and summer months. Enjoyable to wear when it is warm out, but even in cooler temperatures it still had its charm. Maybe not wear it on bitterly cold days, though.

This Gucci can also work well for any age group. Yes, it has fruits and sugar, but it doesn’t come across as being immature. I think that since it never becomes too thick and cloying, it will have a greater appeal across ages.

Gorgeous Gardenia is a pretty fragrance. Office safe. Good for casual daytime wear. Pretty enough for romantic encounters, but not overtly sexy and begging for attention.

Overall Impressions of Gorgeous Gardenia

Overall, do I like Flora Gorgeous Gardenia? The fragrance itself is really very nice. I love that initial sweetness and the brown sugar plays well off of it all.

It never leans too much to the floral side of things, doesn’t have any stem greenness in it. The fresh white floral fragrance is easy to wear and I even like the gardenia note a lot here, even if it’s not my favorite note.

Really, the main issue is performance. It’s okay, on me at least. However, it certainly would do better with some more power in the equation.

I do think that it is still worthwhile to at least try out. For some, you’d probably still want to buy a bottle because it does smell great. Extremely easy to wear and has such a clean attractiveness.

Made to Measure by Gucci

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For today’s fragrance review, I have a scent from Gucci, Made to Measure Pour Homme. This one was released back in 2012, enjoyed some moderate success, but mostly flew under the radar as a product.

I have worn this one a few times, over the past number of months, and will now share my thoughts and experiences with it. How does it smell? What are the notes? How’s the performance? Is it worth a try?

What does Made to Measure by Gucci Smell Like?

Notes include: plum, nutmeg, juniper berries, water lily, leather, lavender, bergamot, amber, cinnamon, patchouli, labdanum

Click here to try: Gucci Made to Measure Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Made to Measure is a smooth spicy smell, with some sweet fruit notes, and floral ingredients playing a major role. It reminds me somewhat of Guilty Pour Homme, not exactly in the aroma, but just the general category of fragrance.

This is a very Gucci cologne, so to speak. Even if I didn’t know the name and smelled this fragrance, I’d say, “Oh, that’s definitely a Gucci fragrance.” They even categorize this on the sample card as a ‘spicy Oriental’ fragrance. Though, I think that’s oversold, especially the spiciness.

To my nose, the fruit notes, aren’t that distinct. I get the impression of both plum and bergamot, but they don’t truly stand out. When I compare the plum note in this one, versus something like 1 Million Lucky, the presence of that ingredient is entirely different.

What I do pick up in the opening, is nutmeg, juniper berries, and lavender/water lily. It’s a fresh and light spice, that is very floral, for a men’s fragrance.

As it moves further along, Made to Measure, loses much of the bergamot and plum mix that it had at the start. Juniper moves into that role fully, and its freshness, plays well off an emerging cinnamon spice.

At this point, the floral notes are dominant, but there is an added leather note at the base. It keeps things masculine, but doesn’t totally intrude on the composition. Also, I can smell a bit of the amber, but that’s extremely light.

In the end, it is a smooth floral fragrance with a fresh spiciness. There are hints of sweetness, leather, and fruitiness. However, they are just dancing in the background of the aroma.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, this stuff is light. The sillage isn’t going to venture much more than an arm’s distance from your skin. At least, with normal application. For me, it wasn’t as strong as many others from the Gucci line.

Personally, I’d spray Made to Measure more than many other fragrances, that I own. That way, I’d be able to get some better performance from it.

While it is a skin scent, the longevity isn’t bad. I can get 6-7 hours from it. Though, that is with putting on a greater amount. Any aspect of its performance is probably average at best.

Seasonally, it’s extremely versatile. It’s not too heavy and not something like an aquatic, which will feel out of place in the winter months. You can wear this year round and it’s low key enough to wear for any occasion.

Made to Measure isn’t a beast mode type of nightclub scent, so, you may want to go with something else, if you want that sort of bold power. Nonetheless, this Gucci is a solid daily wear.

Overall Impressions of Made to Measure

Overall, do I like Made to Measure? Yes, I think that it is a very pleasant fragrance, but nothing amazing. Again, this would be good as a daily wear, for a guy who wants to smell attractive but not have to put too much thought into what he is wearing.

It’s fresh and clean, has a light spice, and enough sweetness to bring it all together. The strength of this cologne, could be much better, but you can double up the sprays and be fine. It’s not the greatest scent ever, but it does smell quite good, and is serviceable as a whole.

Honestly, if you really want a Gucci cologne, there are better options than this (Guilty Intense or Black)…which is why I won’t be buying a bottle.

I like the opening act, especially. Made to Measure certainly has some interesting facets, can be fairly enjoyable at times, but is overall just kind of middling. It doesn’t do anything extremely well, but it’s not terrible either.

Update: This one has been discontinued for a long while now and it’s become pretty scarce on online discount retailers. I do see some bottles floating around, but the price is too high for Made to Measure.

I wouldn’t bother with this one, unless you already loved it in the past and want it in your rotation again. Or, if you happen to see a cheap bottle for sale somewhere and want to give it a try.

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