Overall, is it worth a buy? Maybe. It smells really good, in my opinion, but the longevity questions remain. The fragrance itself is an awesome blend of sweetness, woods, leather, and spice. On that end of things, Gentlemen Only Intense is pretty brilliant. This Givenchy fragrance is one in which I could completely imagine myself applying while wearing a suit and even though I was wearing a t-shirt and jeans, I definitely felt quite fresh with it on.

Surprisingly, this isn’t too heavy of a scent. Smoky and dry woods, sounds more like a winter thing, but here it isn’t really. I would say that Gentlemen Only works best in moderate temperatures. It’s not terrible in winter, but I wouldn’t wear it in the summertime. When reviewing a masculine fragrance from Givenchy’s stable of manly scents, it is important that one applies some context to the matter. So here goes, Givenchy’s most iconic and classic masculine – ‘Gentleman’ – was launched in 1974 and is a staple for many men around the world, with its robust accord of citrus, patchouli, spices, leather and moss. Gentleman is a fragrance that epitomises the man of the 1970s and it’s a no holds barred take on the masculine signature that is evocative of hairy chests, gold watches and sharply made suits. However, it really should be better than that and I’m disappointed that it isn’t. Shouldn’t an ‘intense’ fragrance, have a strong sillage, and staying power? That's really not very exciting and innovative, but I feel very comfortable with this fragrance and I also find it suits me very well. It can be a daily wear at the office, or something you put on for semi-formal to formal occasions. It is attractive enough for the nightlife, but again, the performance isn’t great. It’s actually got a pretty wide use case.

Whoever expects something highly complex with several precious and rare ingredients and a shelf life (Intense!) from 0:00 to midnight is naturally disappointed, especially for the numerous niche noses the fragrance is nothing anyway. But if you like it warm and spicy with a certain sweetness and a touch of freshness and with an average shelf life of about 6 hours (much longer on clothes) and no roomy sillage, you are welcome to take it. I also found the Gentlemen Only without Intense quite pleasant. If you want a woodsy/smoky/spicy cologne in this price range, consider: Burberry London or perhaps, YSL L’Homme Libre, both of which have much better longevity. It’s one that I could definitely find a place for on occasion, but, at the price I could get something else that is a much better performer. It’s not a bad fragrance, actually quite good, but it could be magnificent.

Again, this one might not be for everyone but if you enjoy that kind of sweet/leathery/masculine type of scent this could be a good look. The dry down becomes a woody, sweet, leathery, creamy/amber-laden affair. Again, to me, this is a nighttime fragrance. The original was more of the office type of daily wear, while this one is a sexier evening wear option. On a cold evening, Intense is actually really awesome, and will get complemented.

I can definitely certify GOI as suitable for office use, as well as for everyday use. Makes a good figure in a suit and in jeans as well. And for an evening at the theatre or a concert he is also not a bad choice The cooler season seems to me to be well suited, in summer the fragrance may seem a bit heavy. Ultimately, Gentlemen Only is a somewhat spicy and smoky woods-based fragrance, with enough sweetness to change things up. Very nice and refined.