Givenchy has introduced this year's harvest fragrances, aka "Les Millésimes de Givenchy". As in past years, there are limited edition versions of Amarige, Organza and Very Irrésistible, each enriched with a specific floral harvest from 2008; this year Ange ou Démon is added to the collection as well.
Ange ou Démon Jasmin Sambac 2008 (above left) ~ "Harvest Ange ou Démon features Sambac jasmine harvested in Madurai, India. This luminous note awakens and compliments the other majestic accents of the original Ange ou Démon fragrance to sparkling effect."
Amarige Ylang Ylang 2008 (above center) ~ "To magnify the radiant generosity of Amarige, Givenchy has picked an exotic star from Madagascar¹s tropical paradise: ylang ylang harvested on the island of Nosy Be in 2008. This note is ideal for revealing the luminous, sensual accents of the original fragrance."
Very Irrésistible Givenchy Rose Damascena 2008 (above right) ~ "Harvest Very Irrésistible incorporates Damascena rose harvested in Isparta, Turkey in 2008. The delicate, fruity freshness of this top note embellishes its subtly textured floral centre and intensifies the fragrance¹s infinite palette of roses."
Organza Fleur de Oranger 2008 (not shown) ~ "To intensify the glowing sensuality of Organza, Givenchy has chosen a sweetly seductive charmer overflowing with the bright Moroccan sun: orange blossom harvested in Khemisset in 2008."
The Givenchy Harvest Collection 2008 fragrance are available in 60 ml Eau de Parfum (£62.50), and can be found now at Harrods in the UK. (via harrods)
See also: Givenchy Harvest Collection 2005, 2006, 2007
Other recent launches from Givenchy: Be Givenchy, Very Irrésistible Summer Sorbet.
The island of Nosy Be?! Where the heck is that?
OK – I googled. It's north of Madagascar. Who knew? Not me. haha
This reminds me of Sarah Jessica Parker's Lovely Collection: 'Dawn', 'Endless' and 'Twilight.' It's also out soon, I think.
I didn't know either! I'd like to live on an island called Nosy Be.
It's out already, at HSN (or QVC? can't remember) and Ulta.
Oh, yes! HSN. Think the release date is March 11 in the UK. Rather excited about it! I think 'Twilight' will be the one for me. Will you guys be reviewing it soon?
It's no secret that I am a big believer in Givenchy's Harvest Collection, having waxed poetic about individual releases in the last year or two. I hope that jaded perfumistas who poo-poo the “regular” versions of Organza, et al, at least give these a sniff. For my $92 Cdn for 60mls, they are well worth investigating, if only to experience first-hand the beauty of the highlighted floral note.
Being a professional wine judge, the idea of a “single-vineyard” scent in the world of fragrances has particular appeal. The quality/price ratio is excellent for these, IMO.
One of the most sumptuous roses I've ever encountered has been the 2006 Harvest Rose Centifolia — almost incense-like in its velvet smokiness. The 2007 Harvest Jasmine was similarly rich — not indolic, but heady and intoxicating. The ylang ylang edition his year is one I really want to try.
Ah, and the Organza orange blossom, too, for sure!!!
You took the words right outta my mouth!
Heiress, I don't think so…I don't have samples. Will have to wait to see where else it launches in the US.
R, I would agree they do a great job with these at a reasonable price, & wish some other brands would pick up the idea. Just happens that I don't love any of these scents to begin with…improving them w/ higher quality materials helps, but doesn't sway me to love. But will also admit I haven't tried all 9 of the ones they've done so far.
I'll be interested in trying these. I already have gallon jugs of Organza and Ange ou Demon but I love jasmine and orange blossoms and have liked previous versions of the Organza. I should probably smell the ones for the scents I don't already have!
Trivia note: Out of the alarmingly large number of bottles I seem to have, not one is by Givenchy. All of their male fragrances leave me cold. I find the house style to be clumsy and inept.
Do other NowSmellThis readers find the same aversion to Givenchy as me? I'd be interested.
No, I adore the older mens and ladies scents, esp Monsieur, Gentleman and Ysatis. I have no interest in the newer scents…
Gallon jugs!
I adore Organza Indecence & Eau de Givenchy, but only have decants. I'd wear the Vetyver if I had some. But by & large it isn't a house I get excited about.
Rob, if you haven't tried that '06 Rose Centifolia, let me know and I'll send you a sample. I know you like the same roses I do and you WILL love this one. I'm rrazzell on MUA.
For some reason Givenchy is great on me, which was discovered by my family, hence the gallon jugs of juice (I always ask for the SMALL bottles of everything but they treat me to the big ones I'll never use up). Anyway, Organza and Indecence are great, I would not have chosen Ange ou Demon but it is fine and I wear it. Amarige is a sweet nasty thing that smells great on me. Ysatis has an Oriental soapy quality I don't care for, it smells good on me but I don't really like it. Fortunately I only have ancient minis of those two. Very Irresistable, no, yuck.
Oh, and I have a sample of the Vetyver and like it, but it isn't on my list of FB wants for vetiver.
R, thanks, that's very kind! I need to dig through my samples & see if I can figure out which year(s) I have — think I just have all 3 from one year.
Hello rrazzell on MUA – I've often wondered if I'd like this Rose Centifolia since I'm a big rose lover. What does it smell like? I love the 07 Organza Harvest Jasmine, and regret that I didn't snag the Amirage Mimosa Harvest.
Sorry to be late in responding, Robin; here at work I don't get comment notification and I can never remember what I've said where.
I am poised for action on that 2006 rose for you — and if that's the “vintage” you've already got, I can give you the 2007, so please do track me down.
Speaking of which, for some reason — I think it was confirmed by reading Patty's recent lament on Perfume Posse about her winter doldrums — I really want to be a part of the smaller community of friendly, wise, cheery perfume bloggers and swappers. Ah, and your mention of Scent Splits helped too, as I recognized some MUA names and some others from other perfume forums, etcetera.
I'm recognizing that, faced with an overwhelming number of tiny vials rolling under the bed, a closet full of decants and a fridge full of bottles, the thing about following my nose into the world of fragrance I love best of all is the people I've “met.” You, Kevin, Angela et al on Now Smell This, others I'm just starting to read regularly (the NST crew had me monogamous for almost two years before I strayed!!)
Fragrance would just be expensive smelly stuff in a bottle without you.
Smooooch!
Ann, the Rose Centifolia is a deeper, spicier and duskier than the Damascena Rose, almost liqueur-like, with a hint of some dark fruit like black currant, but not as sweet as all that might suggest. I'll send you a sample too, if you like.
Are they really harvested in those exotic sounding locations, I wonder. Rosa damascena from Isparta, Turkey? What a production one needs to make – how many bottles big companies produce? – perfume for millions of consumers?
Yesterday I tried the 2007 harvest. The rose was from Morocco…somebody felt the difference?
They’re limited editions, so not for millions of consumers, and while there is nothing to stop a company from calling something “Rose from Isparta, Turkey” when it’s no such thing, in this case I’d guess it’s accurate since that’s the point of the whole project.
How many bottles is a limited edition? Really, do you have any idea?
Anyway, I would like to be able to smell the difference between the jasmine from Egypt and jasmine from Madurai, or even tougher, rose from Morrocco and rose from Grasse. I have visited the Rose Valley in Bulgaria. Impressive!
It can vary quite a bit. WWD reported that for the 2006 versions (using the 2005 harvest), Givenchy made 80,000 bottles of Amarige & 100,000 of Organza, because that was how much they were able to make w/ that harvest.