Look at that bottle and knowing it is from Gucci, what do you expect it to smell like? A woodsy wonderland, right? Something deep and musky perhaps? Probably not the slightly fruity floriental that is inside that masculine looking bottle.

While this fragrance is a companion to the Gucci Guilty eau de Toilette (Guilty Intense is an eau de parfum), for me this is a very different experience. Initially there’s a surprising amount of the Mandarin, a bit sweet and fruity, but grounded by the lilac and powdery violet. I can’t smell the pink pepper at all, which is good, because I’m typically not a pink pepper fan. The overall effect is warm and inviting, but a bit light hearted as well. The dry down seems to take 2-3 hours for me, and during that time the mandarin recedes a bit and the patchouli comes out a little bit, though with the “amber rich sillage” (I’m not really sure what that is, though I’m not full of fragrance information, I just like perfume) it isn’t a typical patchouli. Instead, it seems a bit quieter and richer. Not the in your face sexy that I seem to associate with anything Gucci.

Notes:
Top Notes: Mandarin, Pink Pepper
Middle Notes: Lilac, Powdery Violet, Heliotropine
Base Notes: Patchouli, “amber-rich sillage”

Overall, this is definitely an every day fragrance. It isn’t necessarily something to wear to your toddler’s play date, but it would be great for the office or heading out to dinner. I think it is elegant and a bit quieter than I had expected from the bottle, and I love the little hint of fruitiness brought in by the Mandarin note.

You can buy Gucci Guilty Intense at Sephora or Macy’s.

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