Givrine is a herbal perfume that can be used by both ladies and gentlemen. It is made by the old perfume  house of E Coudray. The perfume is a repackaging of some older versions that go back as a far as the 1950s. Overall it is a great nostalgic look at what might have been but also shows courage in updating an older perfume for modern tastes. I admire the fact that they have decided to repackage an old perfume and make it appropriate for the modern age.

The Brand

E Coudray is by no means as famous as the great fashion houses such as Lacoste. However on occasion they are able to produce a perfume that is more than capable of holding its own. Givrine is one of the their better successes. However it must also be remembered that the fashion house is capable of producing less successful ones so it is a pity that on this occasion they insist on buying the perfume without sampling first.

The Fragrance

I like the very straightforward top notes. There is nothing complicated about the mandarin, bergamot, lemon, orange blossom, lavender, thyme, tarragon, jasmine, amber and mint. Rather it gives you a perfume that is both fresh but also has some depth. The almost citrus notes combine with the mint to give you a herbal mixture and then the lavender tones it down a bit to give you comfort. This perfume is the antidote to showy perfumes that lack substance.

The Packaging

The packaging reminds me of classic French style with some baroque overtones that cover the floral theme. I like the slightly golden hue that surrounds the whole package. It gives the perfume an elegant and luxurious feel. I think that the packaging is very effective.

General Customer Feedback

Customers were very complementary about the perfume. Curiously many of them said that they felt that the perfume made them feel clean. Whether this was the intention of the manufacturers is another matter altogether. However they were dissatisfied that they could not sample the perfume before buying. This is definitely an area that they can improve on because it does put off an awful lot of customers from buying.

Popularity: 9% [?]

And now for something totally different. Azzaro by Loris Azzaro has been with us since 1978 but it does not have the brand power that you would associate with established houses such as Chanel. However the fact that it has stayed for such a long time means that they have something to offer. My own persona theory is that it is such niche perfume that it tends to retain all of its customers regardless of what is happening around the world in terms of fashions. In any case I like the concept of Azzaro as a masculine perfume for men.

The Brand

As I mentioned in the short extract above, the brand is not particularly well known outside the circles of those connoisseurs who patronize the fragrance. The strongest selling point for the perfume is its unabashed masculinity and its simplicity of execution which brings to the fore quite powerful elements in a non formulaic way. This is a perfume for men and it says so from the time you open the packet.

The Fragrance

The fragrance list for Azzaro is surprising because it is not entirely obvious that it will be  a very masculine perfume until you actually sample it.  It starts off with the mildest hint of lavender and then some spices. This is a perplexing combination but I have found that it is often used in these high end perfumes. Suddenly the perfume hits you with its full masculinity when it moves into wood, musk, basil and sandalwood. You then definitely know that this is a man’s fragrance but it also has lighter elements that will appeal to the ladies.

The Packaging

Although it looks like something from star wars, I absolutely  love the packaging on the perfume. The combination of jet black with the clear bottle and the golden liquid within gives the impression of planned luxury. It almost seems as if the precious liquid is encased within  a protective glass shield and I for one would give top marks for the packaging on this one.

General Customer Feedback

Quite surprising none of the men who reviewed this problem had any problem with the overtly masculine overtones. They all gave it the thumbs up  and encouragingly for the manufacturers some even said that they would continue using the perfume for years to come. All in all I think this is a spectacular triumph. It is not surprising to me that Azzaro is  set to remain a strong presence in the men’s perfume sector.

Popularity: 5% [?]