FRAGRANCE | Insensé EDT by Givenchy: Florals for men

Earlier this year I was offered a bottle of Givenchy Insensé without me knowing anything about it—which happens more often than not, by the way. Only then did I learn that it's another so-called discontinued gem that's getting harder to find nowadays. And I'm a sucker for discontinued stuff. Not one to pass up on the chance of "saving" a fragrance, I just got it after very little thought. There's no more box, just the bottle, which clearly has seen better days. It feels good when held because of its rounded back and contrasting flat facade.

The scent harks back to decades prior with an aldehydic and very green opening laced with a medley of flowers and citrus. It almost feels like oakmoss although it isn't. Fir, I've read, which would explain the highland freshness that it projects. This relaxing greenness marches on and establishes itself as the fragrance's very backbone.

The fragrance follows a sort of fougère or chypre construction but is much brighter with its heady blend of florals. The flowers lend it a transparent sweetness, similar to what they do in Amouage Bracken Woman, only Insensé is sweeter. I like how the lightness is preserved by the perfumer by not resorting to adding either honey, vanilla, or resins that would have weighed the scent down. The scent remains fresh as a result.

After some 30 minutes, something mildly musky appears, a smell reminiscent of old-style men's frags of yore. An hour in and everything melts into a sweet, green floral with a quasi-creaminess working in the background. It reminds me somehow of Ralph Lauren's Safari for Women sans the smoky vetiver. After all, this was marketed as a men's floral. Its discontinuance, however, would suggest that this wasn't very successful. It was the 90s and although more and more men are starting to embrace florals these days—perhaps without them realizing it (hello, iris bomb Dior Homme and its many flankers!)—most guys remain averse to the idea.

But like I mentioned, Insensé has that green backbone that keeps the bouquet of flowers in check, so there's really no need to be afraid of a few petals. I don't find it "feminine" at all. It's also not a loud frag, projecting moderately for some 2 or 3 hours before gradually easing out. Longevity is likewise moderate, where touch-ups are necessary to prolong its power and get you through the day. This is more of a casual, daytime scent that sits perfectly in warm weather. I can't think of any other masculine fragrance with a similar scent profile, so it's fairly unique for that matter. All said, Givenchy Insensé is worth a try.