FRAGRANCE | That mythical emerald jewel called Gucci Envy for Men EDT

Gucci Envy for Men is one of those fragrances that have somehow gained mythical status following their discontinuance. And oh, the obscene prices eBay sellers command for a bottle! I got lucky, however, because I didn't have to pay an arm and a leg for one; just a few fingers at most. So I dove in to see, or rather smell, what all the fuss was about.

First off, what a stylish and elegant bottle this is! There's not many caps that cover 2/3 of the bottle from sprayer to base—if there's any at all—which puts it in a rather unique position. The bottle fits snugly into two pieces of foam that altogether slide into a thick plastic sleeve, teasing just a bit of its magically green juice (although I've read somewhere that the earliest releases were more yellow than green in color).

Presentation is a bit of a tease.

Look at that bit of emerald green beauty peeking through! 

Envy for Men starts off with a fresh ginger opening, suffused with an ambery sweet smokiness. The ginger is prominent but restrained, not bitingly sharp or exceedingly spicy. The incense, while not as airy as Penhaligon's Elixir because of the sweetness, isn't entirely dark and heavy either like Amouage Memoir Man. There's a certain woodiness about it, too. It's light, nuanced in its approach, so the overall scent remains fresh but with some density to it.

After a few minutes, some lavender starts working in the background, adding a floral dimension to all the freshness. The scent later dips its toe into barbershop territory when the creamy aspect of the lavender begins to unfold, which is probably enhanced by vanilla. But it doesn't commit to it and pulls back, effectively differentiating itself from other lavender-heavy fragrances like Penhaligon's English Fern and another hard-to-find discontinued legend, YSL's Rive Gauche pour Homme. Despite the prolonged creaminess, Envy for Men never loses its mild, spicy zing during this phase.

Envy for Men is touted by many as one of the gems of Gucci's Tom Ford era.

The creaminess decreases in intensity after some 3 or so hours, as the sweet vanilla accord steps up its game. About 2 hours more and the fragrance's woody facet becomes more pronounced, the prevailing sweetness slowly ebbing. Likewise, the dry and earthy character of the vetiver shines in this stage. The fragrance isn't a heavy-hitter but it projects well enough for its first 3 or 4 hours, and then gradually weakens until it fades on your skin.

I wasn't exactly blown away by this fragrance, to be honest. For a moment I thought about what all the hullabaloo was about. Either I was expecting way too much or I didn't really know what I was expecting in the first place. But don't get me wrong because Envy for Men is a beautiful fragrance. It's a very rounded composition that gives off an air of gentlemanly sophistication. It's pleasant, can easily be dressed up or down, and practically suits any occasion or weather.

All said, I do not regret getting a bottle at all, more so since I got a good deal. However, if you're getting one for $200, $300, or more, I personally think it's not worth the chase. Don't be green with envy and just buy something else. But then that's just me.