The best Givenchy perfume depends on how intense you want it. L’Interdit Eau de Parfum is the modern reference for women, Gentleman Society anchors the men’s line, and L’Interdit Absolu is made for everyone. All 12 picks below come as a 2 ml decant from €6.90.
- Women: five versions of L’Interdit climb from 50% (Eau de Toilette) to 100% (Intense, Élixir) on Givenchy’s own intensity scale.
- Men: four Gentleman perfumes, from the whisky and iris Réserve Privée to the amber Ambrée.
- Everyone: L’Interdit Absolu, which Givenchy describes as a fragrance for women and for men.
- Start small: 76% of paid decant units bought in Europe from October 2025 to September 2026 were 2 ml.
Key figures, 2026
L’Interdit, Givenchy’s first perfume, made for Audrey Hepburn
LVMH 1
The year the first Gentleman was presented
Fragrantica 2
LVMH Perfumes & Cosmetics revenue in 2025, 10% of group revenue
LVMH Universal Registration Document 2025 3
Givenchy’s own intensity range across the 12 picks, from the Eau de Toilette to the Élixir
Share of paid decant units bought as 2 ml in Europe, October 2025 to September 2026
Scento Fragrance Index
How we chose these 12
This guide covers every Givenchy perfume Scento sells, and only those. L’Interdit Parfum, Pi, Organza and the discontinued classics are not here because they are not in our range. That keeps every pick something you can order today as a 2 ml, 5 ml or 8 ml decant.
We sorted the 12 by five criteria.
- Intensity, using Givenchy’s own percentage on each product page. It is a house scale, not a laboratory measurement.4,5
- Line: women’s, men’s, or shared.
- Launch year, so you know whether you are buying a recent formula or an older one.
- Occasion and style, taken from the notes Givenchy lists.
- Cost of trying it. 76% of paid decant units bought in Europe from October 2025 to September 2026 were 2 ml, so the 2 ml price is the one we show.
None of these perfumes appears in Scento’s own top lists for that period, so we do not rank by sales. For more on how performance compares across houses, see our guide to long-lasting designer fragrances.
A short history of Givenchy perfume
Givenchy’s first perfume was L’Interdit, launched in 1957.1 Hubert de Givenchy made it especially for Audrey Hepburn, released it to the public in 1957 and followed with his first men’s fragrances two years later.8 The first Gentleman was presented in 1974, and its modern re-edition arrived in 2017.2
L’Interdit has been constantly reinvented since 2018.1 That year’s Eau de Parfum was composed by Dominique Ropion, Anne Flipo and Fanny Bal and reached stores in mid-September 2018.9
The house sits inside LVMH, whose Perfumes & Cosmetics revenue came to €8,174 million in 2025, 10% of group revenue.3 The group reported €8,418 million for 2024, so revenue moved by -3% reported and 0% organic, while the operating margin reached 8.9%.10 In 2025 Givenchy focused on its L’Interdit line and unveiled a new interpretation of Gentleman Society Ambré, with Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly as its ambassador.3 To see the house as a whole, browse the Givenchy page.
The L’Interdit family for women
Five versions share one white-flower core and differ in how hard they push it. Givenchy’s scale puts the Eau de Toilette at 50%, the Eau de Parfum and Rouge at 75%, and Intense and Élixir at 100%.4,5
L’Interdit Eau de Parfum by Givenchy
Bergamot and fresh ginger open onto orange blossom, sambac jasmine and tuberose absolute, over patchouli and vetiver.11 It is a floral woody perfume with white flowers over dark woods, launched in 2018 and rated 75% by Givenchy.9,11 Rooney Mara was the face of the campaign.9 Start here if you have never worn L’Interdit.
L’Interdit Eau de Parfum as a 2 ml decant (€6.95)
L’Interdit Eau de Parfum Rouge by Givenchy
Rouge opens on blood orange and ginger, moves to orange blossom, jasmine and pimento, and rests on patchouli and sandalwood.12 It arrived in 2021 and carries the same 75% rating as the original.12,13 Choose it when you want that weight with a spicier accent.
L’Interdit Eau de Parfum Rouge as a 2 ml decant (€6.95)
L’Interdit Eau de Parfum Intense by Givenchy
An amber floral woody perfume. Orange blossom and tuberose sit over patchouli and vetiver, with vanilla bean and black sesame absolute in the base.14 Givenchy rates it 100%, and it launched in 2020.14,15 It suits cooler evenings, when a warm vanilla base is welcome.
L’Interdit Eau de Parfum Intense as a 2 ml decant (€8.90)
L’Interdit Élixir by Givenchy
Givenchy calls it “the most intense expression yet of its iconic fragrance legacy”, in a bottle “inspired by the ruby”.5 The notes start with a black cherry accord and bitter almond, then orange blossom, jasmine and tuberose with pure oakwood extract, and finish on rum absolute, davana essence and vanilla extract.5 Master perfumers Dominique Ropion and Anne Flipo worked with perfumer Meabh McCurtin at IFF, and the perfume dates from 2026.16,17 It is a floral woody gourmand rated 100%.5
L’Interdit Élixir as a 2 ml decant (€6.90)
L’Interdit Eau de Toilette by Givenchy
The lightest of the family at 50%. Bigarade orange opens, followed by orange blossom, tuberose and jasmine, over patchouli, vetiver and musks.4 It first appeared in 2019 as a lighter version of the 2018 Eau de Parfum, and Givenchy reinvented it in 2022 with a new formula and a bottle made with 10% less glass.18 A sensible choice for daytime or warmer weather.
L’Interdit Eau de Toilette as a 2 ml decant (€6.95)
Beyond L’Interdit
Two more women’s perfumes offer a different mood: one built on rose, one on amber.
Irresistible Givenchy by Givenchy
A fruity woody floral with a pear accord and ambrette absolute, then rose essential and iris butter, resting on cedarwood essence and blond wood.19 It launched in 2020 and Givenchy rates it 75%.19,20 Of the women’s picks, this is the one to try if rose appeals more than white flowers.
Irresistible Givenchy as a 2 ml decant (€7.90)
Ange ou Demon by Givenchy
Givenchy lists white thyme, mandarin and saffron, then lily and ylang-ylang, with oakwood and tonka bean beneath.21 It is the oldest perfume in this guide, launched in 2006 and concocted by Firmenich’s Olivier Cresp and Jean-Pierre Bethouart.22 An amber floral rated 100%, it suits evenings and colder months.21
Ange ou Demon as a 2 ml decant (€7.90)
A fragrance for women and men alike
L’Interdit Absolu by Givenchy
Givenchy calls it “a fragrance for women, for men and for all those who have the courage to express their own singularity”.23 Neroli, lavender and cardamom lead into orange blossom, tuberose and jasmine, with tobacco, patchouli and vetiver below.23 In Givenchy’s words, “the iconic white flower of L’Interdit is troubled by Tobacco absolute”.23 It was announced in August 2024 and is rated 100%.23,24
L’Interdit Absolu as a 2 ml decant (€7.90)
The Gentleman line for men
Four Gentleman perfumes cover most tastes, from aromatic and woody to whisky and amber.
Gentleman Society by Givenchy
A woody floral aromatic: sage and cardamom, then narcissus and vetiver, then cedarwood, sandalwood and vanilla.6 Givenchy points to a vetiver quartet from Uruguay and Madagascar and an absolute of narcissus from France.6 It launched in 2023, composed by Karine Dubreuil-Sereni and Maïa Lernout, and is rated 75%.6,7 The bottle is made from 15% post-consumer recycled glass.7
Gentleman Society as a 2 ml decant (€7.90)
Gentleman Eau de Parfum Reserve Privée by Givenchy
Bergamot and whisky absolute open, with chestnut, orris and benzoin in the heart and cedarwood, vetiver and patchouli below.25 Givenchy lists “Whisky Absolute from Scotland”. According to a launch report, 700 litres of whiskey are used to extract 1 kg of absolute, and the perfume went on sale in Japan from 4 February 2022.25,26 It is rated 75% and suits smart evenings.
Gentleman Eau de Parfum Reserve Privée as a 2 ml decant (€6.95)
Gentleman Society Eau de Parfum Ambrée by Givenchy
Sage, juniper berries and nutmeg lead to narcissus, vetiver and sandalwood, then tobacco absolute, balm essence and vanilla.27 Givenchy describes it as “enhanced with an addictive new amber facet and the seductive notes of Tasuki Vanilla”.27 Karine Dubreuil-Sereni of Takasago composed it, with a launch date of February 2025.28 At 100% it is the warmer, stronger partner to Gentleman Society.27
Gentleman Society Eau de Parfum Ambrée as a 2 ml decant (€7.90)
Gentleman Eau de Parfum Boisée by Givenchy
A woody floral spicy perfume. Black pepper, coriander and geranium open, orris, cedarwood and cacao follow, and santal, burning wood and patchouli close.29 It launched in 2020 and is rated 75%.29,2 Reach for it when you want pepper and cacao rather than whisky or amber.
Gentleman Eau de Parfum Boisée as a 2 ml decant (€6.95)
Givenchy perfumes compared
| Perfume | Line | Style | Key notes | Launch | Intensity | 2 ml | 8 ml |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L’Interdit Eau de Parfum | Women’s | Floral woody | Bergamot, tuberose, vetiver | 2018 | 75% | €6.95 | €20.90 |
| L’Interdit Eau de Parfum Rouge | Women’s | Floral spicy woody | Blood orange, pimento, sandalwood | 2021 | 75% | €6.95 | €20.90 |
| L’Interdit Eau de Parfum Intense | Women’s | Amber floral woody | Tuberose, vanilla bean, black sesame | 2020 | 100% | €8.90 | €25.90 |
| L’Interdit Élixir | Women’s | Floral woody gourmand | Black cherry, oakwood, rum | 2026 | 100% | €6.90 | €26.95 |
| L’Interdit Eau de Toilette | Women’s | Floral woody musky | Bigarade orange, tuberose, musks | 2019, reformulated 2022 | 50% | €6.95 | €20.90 |
| Irresistible Givenchy | Women’s | Fruity woody floral | Pear, rose, iris butter | 2020 | 75% | €7.90 | €23.90 |
| Ange ou Demon | Women’s | Amber floral | Saffron, lily, tonka bean | 2006 | 100% | €7.90 | €23.90 |
| L’Interdit Absolu | Shared | Floral woody amber | Neroli, tuberose, tobacco | 2024 | 100% | €7.90 | €26.95 |
| Gentleman Society | Men’s | Woody floral aromatic | Sage, narcissus, sandalwood | 2023 | 75% | €7.90 | €24.95 |
| Gentleman Eau de Parfum Reserve Privée | Men’s | Woody floral ambery | Whisky absolute, orris, benzoin | 2022 | 75% | €6.95 | €20.90 |
| Gentleman Society Eau de Parfum Ambrée | Men’s | Woody floral ambery | Juniper berries, tobacco absolute, vanilla | 2025 | 100% | €7.90 | €21.90 |
| Gentleman Eau de Parfum Boisée | Men’s | Woody floral spicy | Black pepper, cacao, burning wood | 2020 | 75% | €6.95 | €20.90 |
Choosing your first Givenchy sample
Match the perfume to the accent you want, then try it in a 2 ml decant before committing to a bottle.
- The reference L’Interdit: L’Interdit Eau de Parfum. The lightest: the Eau de Toilette at 50%.
- Spice: Rouge. Vanilla and black sesame: Intense. Black cherry and rum: Élixir. Tobacco: Absolu.
- Rose and pear: Irresistible Givenchy. Saffron and tonka: Ange ou Demon.
- Men’s line: narcissus and vetiver in Society, whisky and iris in Réserve Privée, a warmer amber in Ambrée, pepper and cacao in Boisée.
If you are matching an L’Interdit flanker and weighing alternatives, our guide to alternatives to L’Interdit is the place to continue. If you are comparing designer houses, our guides to Dior and Yves Saint Laurent follow the same approach.
How we compiled this
Notes, launch years and intensity percentages were read from Givenchy’s product pages, LVMH publications and trade press on 22 October 2026. Prices are Scento’s one-time retail prices checked on the same date. The 76% figure comes from the Scento Fragrance Index, covering paid decant units in Europe from October 2025 to September 2026. Scento sells 1,000+ fragrances as hand-poured, undiluted decants from original bottles in 2 ml, 5 ml and 8 ml vials.
Sources
- Givenchy Parfums, LVMH, .
- Givenchy Gentleman Eau de Parfum Boisée, Fragrantica, .
- Universal Registration Document 2025, LVMH.
- L’Interdit Eau de Toilette, Givenchy Beauty.
- L’Interdit Elixir, Givenchy Beauty (also Belgian page).
- Gentleman Society, Givenchy Beauty.
- Givenchy Launches Gentleman Society, ParfumPlus, .
- House, Givenchy Beauty.
- Givenchy L’Interdit (2018), Fragrantica, .
- Solid performance in a disrupted global economic and geopolitical environment, LVMH, .
- L’Interdit Eau de Parfum, Givenchy Beauty.
- L’Interdit Rouge, Givenchy Beauty.
- Givenchy L’Interdit Eau de Parfum Rouge, Fragrantica, .
- L’Interdit Intense, Givenchy Beauty.
- L’Interdit Eau de Parfum Intense, Fragrantica.
- For L’Interdit Elixir, three perfumers reimagined a Givenchy icon, IFF on LinkedIn, .
- L’Interdit Elixir composition, Olfastory, .
- L’Interdit Eau de Toilette, Olfastory, .
- Irresistible, Givenchy Beauty.
- Irresistible Givenchy, Fragrantica, .
- Ange ou Démon, Givenchy Beauty.
- Givenchy Sets Ange Ou Demon Launch, WWD, .
- L’Interdit Absolu, Givenchy Beauty.
- Givenchy L’Interdit Absolu Eau de Parfum Intense, Fragrantica, .
- Gentleman Réserve Privée, Givenchy Beauty.
- Givenchy’s new men’s fragrance is inspired by whiskey, Otokomae, .
- Gentleman Society Ambrée, Givenchy Beauty.
- New Fragrance Arrivals for 2025: Gentleman Society EDP Ambrée, Takasago, .
- Gentleman Boisée, Givenchy Beauty.
Your questions, answered
- What is the best Givenchy perfume for women?
- It depends on what you want. L'Interdit Eau de Parfum is the modern reference, launched in 2018 by Dominique Ropion, Anne Flipo and Fanny Bal, according to Fragrantica. Rouge adds spice, Intense adds vanilla bean and black sesame, and Irresistible Givenchy is the rose option, also rated 75% by Givenchy. Each is available as a 2 ml decant from €6.95 to €8.90.
- What is the best Givenchy perfume for men?
- Gentleman Society is the woody floral line built on narcissus and vetiver, launched in 2023, according to ParfumPlus. Givenchy lists Gentleman Eau de Parfum Reserve Privée as the whisky and iris option, Gentleman Society Eau de Parfum Ambrée as the warmer amber rated 100%, and Gentleman Eau de Parfum Boisée as the spicy cacao and orris choice.
- Which Givenchy L'Interdit is the best?
- Use Givenchy's own intensity scale first. The Eau de Toilette is rated 50%, the Eau de Parfum and Rouge 75%, and Intense, Élixir and Absolu 100%. Then choose by accent: spice for Rouge, vanilla and black sesame for Intense, black cherry and rum for Élixir, and tobacco for Absolu.
- What is Givenchy's most famous perfume?
- L'Interdit. LVMH describes the 1957 launch as the maison's first perfume, and Givenchy says Hubert de Givenchy created it for his friend Audrey Hepburn before releasing it to the public in 1957. It has been constantly reinvented since 2018, with versions such as Rouge, Intense, Absolu and Élixir.
- What does L'Interdit Élixir smell like?
- Givenchy lists a black cherry accord and bitter almond at the top. The heart keeps the line's white flowers, orange blossom, jasmine and tuberose, with pure oakwood extract. The base is rum absolute, davana essence and vanilla extract. Givenchy rates it 100% and calls it the most intense expression yet of the line, launched in 2026.
- Is L'Interdit Absolu unisex?
- Givenchy presents it as a fragrance for women, for men and for all those who have the courage to express their own singularity. Its notes start with neroli, lavender and cardamom, move to orange blossom, tuberose and jasmine, and end on tobacco, patchouli and vetiver. Fragrantica reported it in August 2024.
- Which Givenchy perfume is the strongest?
- Judge by Givenchy's own intensity rating rather than by hours. Five of the 12 picks carry the top 100% rating on Givenchy's product pages: L'Interdit Eau de Parfum Intense, L'Interdit Élixir, L'Interdit Absolu, Ange ou Démon and Gentleman Society Eau de Parfum Ambrée. The Eau de Toilette is the lightest at 50%.
- Is there real whisky in Gentleman Réserve Privée?
- Givenchy lists Whisky Absolute from Scotland in the notes. According to a launch report from Otokomae in January 2022, 700 litres of whiskey are used to extract 1 kg of absolute, and the perfume went on sale in Japan from 4 February 2022. The other notes include bergamot, chestnut, orris and benzoin.
Cite this page
Scento (2026). Best Givenchy Perfumes 2026: 12 Picks for Women and Men. Updated October 28, 2026. https://www.scento.com/blog/best-givenchy-perfumes
