gucci guilty

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 Parfum by Gucci

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It’s a new year and that means that Gucci is going to come out with a new fragrance to add to the Guilty line. For 2022, we have, Guilty Pour Homme Parfum. I ordered a bottle of this new scent to try out and see if the brand is going to add anything new or if its just more of the same. How does Guilty Parfum smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Guilty Parfum Smell Like?

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

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

My Full Review

Immediately upon spraying, I can already tell that the closest comparison to Guilty Parfum is the now discontinued, Guilty Intense.

They aren’t the same fragrance, but I do get a lot of the same DNA. Lemon, lavender, patchouli, orange flower, cistus (instead of amber), and nutmeg (instead of coriander).

But, the structure is different and this new release is much smoother and natural than the old Intense. It is a much better blend.

Guilty Parfum is fresh and aromatic early on. The lemon note isn’t a full juicy fruit, more of the peel itself. Very light, actually. Nutmeg and juniper are big players in the opening act. It has a colder and woodsier feeling coming from the base.

I love the nutmeg and juniper combo playing of the usual Guilty notes. The opening is probably my favorite aspect of this fragrance so far.

Yes, you get plenty of the signature lavender and orange flower note, but more of that later on. And really, not to the same extent as others in the Guilty series. One note that will really come into its own is the Spanish cistus.

Basically, a labdanum note, that gives Guilty Parfum its ambery qualities. Not as heavy as the amber note in Intense and just of a higher quality.

The dry down still has some of that cold freshness, but much of the nutmeg and juniper have burned off completely. The latter stages are about musk, patchouli, cistus, and the floral notes.

Lavender and musk with the amber/patchouli and some remaining aromatic notes. Still does have a bit of a spicy finish, but feels more musky/woody than anything. I like it. Not super amazing to me, but it’s a very easy to wear scent.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is on the upper edge of moderate, at its peak. Not going to leave a huge trail, but very noticeable in the first hour or so. After that, it’s pretty middle of the road and devolving into something that sits pretty close to the skin.

I would’ve liked more of a powerhouse, but this Gucci ain’t it. Not bad, just not a monster.

With these initial tests, Guilty Parfum lasts somewhere in the 7-8 hour range, on my skin. Again, not insane, but still well worthwhile. I’ll keep trying it out, to see if it can do more. But, that’s about what it’s looking like.

Seasonally, I do think that this one gives you plenty of opportunity to wear it. I would avoid the hottest days, but in the cold or more moderate temperatures, you’ll be good to go. Autumn through spring for most folks.

This one is very versatile and can be worn pretty much anywhere without offending anybody or feeling out of place. It’s got a more mature and refined aroma than something like Guilty EDT and older guys may want to go with this Guilty, if any.

Daytime or nightlife. It’s not a club beast, but one that I could easily wear (and will) to a bar or lounge to have a few drinks. Dressed up or even casual. Guilty Parfum is a good cologne to have in the rotation.

Overall Impressions of Guilty Parfum

Overall, do I like Guilty Parfum? I do. I think it is one of the better releases of the series. Especially, from the editions that actually stick to the main DNA. Intense was one of my favorites, which I have a mini bottle of, and this one I might like a tad more…though, I’ll have to keep trying it out.

It’s not a complete lavender bomb or strongly citrus. You do get a somewhat new direction with this version of Guilty and the juniper and nutmeg are awesome. Not too much in the floral notes, but a solid use of musk and wood in the dry down.

Very balanced scent, as a whole. It’s not a complete love for me, but one that I like a good deal so far. I wish it was a little more powerful, but it is still decent for what it is.

If you’ve liked the Guilty line, it is one to check out. I’m glad that I have a replacement for Guilty Intense and one that is cleaner and well put together.

I was afraid that this might be like Guilty EDP, a strong start, and then pretty disappointing. However, I think that the back end of Parfum actually holds up well.

Guilty Love Edition Pour Homme by Gucci

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Guilty is a line that is continually having new fragrances brought out under its banner. 2020 saw the release of the first Love Editions, which were followed up in 2021. For this review, I am taking a closer look at Guilty Love Edition Pour Homme (2020). I hadn’t tried it out last year and wanted to see what it was all about. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a buy?

What does Guilty Love Edition Pour Homme Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin orange, kumquat, ginger, lavender, rosemary, geranium, pink pepper, vetiver, patchouli, benzoin

Click here to try: Gucci Guilty Love Edition by Gucci Eau De Toilette Spray 3 oz Men

My Full Review

Guilty Love Edition opens up with a fresh blast of kumquat and mandarin orange. This is sitting on top of a mix of ginger, rosemary, and pink pepper. The ginger has a short run at the top, but the rosemary will become a more dominant force.

The citrus, floral, and spiciness is pretty reminiscent of a fragrance like Acqua di Gio. That’s the style of cologne to expect here, but this Gucci isn’t really an exact match.

The citrus is bright, but not all that juicy. In fact, this comes across as a pretty dry fragrance. The mandarin does have the edge, in terms of strength over the kumquat.

Once that initial opening burns off, we enter a more floral/woodsy phase. The stars here will be: geranium, lavender, and vetiver. Rosemary sticks around and fully overtakes the pink pepper and faded ginger note.

Guilty Love now has a soapier quality to it versus that initial citrus blast. The lavender is the center point, though, it doesn’t completely overpower the other notes. Guilty Love Pour Homme has more balance.

The geranium and vetiver give it a cold and dry aroma. Then, there is the remaining herbal notes floating around. The patchouli is noticeable at this point, giving this an earthier kick to finish. It’s not too complicated of a cologne.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this is a light to moderate fragrance. You do have to go pretty heavy on the sprays for it to have very much ability to project. Even then, it’s not going to be for all that long. Performance is definitely the weak spot of Guilty Love.

In terms of longevity, I can get up to six hours of wear. It’s more of a range of 4-6 hours. Again, not great, but I’ve got other workhorses in my collection for it to be too much of an issue personally.

However, this wouldn’t be my go to cologne, if I were looking for one scent to be my go to.

Seasonally, it’s mostly a spring and summertime wear. I’ve been wearing Guilty Love Edition here in the autumn and it works well. So long as it’s not too cold, this is a decent option.

This Gucci flanker is mostly or casual wear. It is clean enough to be worn semi-formally and light enough that it isn’t ever going to offend. The cleanliness and freshness do allow it to have more use cases versus something completely niche.

While it’s called Love Edition, that doesn’t seem to have any real bearing on its actual presentation. It’s not a particularly sexy fragrance, even among its peers in the series.

 

Overall Impressions of Guilty Love Edition

Overall, do I like Guilty Love Edition Pour Homme? I do. I bought a full bottle in my last fragrance order, so, it definitely appeals to me.

That being said, this didn’t seem to be all that popular of a cologne in 2020. I just really enjoy the opening act and how it emanates from my skin. Mandarin and kumquat together are great. I love ginger as a note and the dry fougere base notes give it some more refinement.

I had the sample of this Guilty along with the EDP version and kept coming back to this versus that one. Both of them have spices and floral notes, but I think the pairing simply works better here.

Is it the greatest ever? Nope. The longevity is pretty mediocre also. The 2020 version of Guilty Love Edition is upbeat and enjoyable to wear. It requires lots of sprays and I’ll go through the bottle fast, but it’s worth it.

At full price? Probably going to be a pass for most guys. At a discount? Give it a shot or at least get a sample to see if it vibes with you.

Update (2024): It’s been out of production for a while now and definitely left the scene without making too much of an impact. I finished my bottle, mostly using at as a chill summertime scent or something light that I might wear to the gym.

If you can find a bottle for cheap, it can fit that sort of casual role well. I wouldn’t go out of my way to obtain a new bottle, but it’s a fragrance that I got some enjoyment out of wearing for a while.

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.