Givenchy

Givenchy is a French fashion and perfume house founded by Count Hubert de Givenchy in 1952, known for a blend of French elegance and American glamour embodied by Audrey Hepburn, for whom Givenchy designed both wardrobe and film costumes. Parfums Givenchy followed in 1957, with the first fragrance, L'Interdit, again inspired by Hepburn, and the first men's scent, Monsieur de Givenchy, arriving in 1959. The house joined the luxury group LVMH in 1987, and Hubert de Givenchy retired in 1995, leaving behind a legacy that has carried its classics into the present.

The house style spans crisp elegance and modern softness. A powdery refinement runs through the line, with iris and rose lending classical poise and woods giving structure, while bergamot, pear, ambrette, and black pepper add brightness and a little spice. L'Interdit, the scent that started the perfume house, is the obvious place to begin, with L'Interdit Intense offering a richer reading, while Eaudemoiselle Eau Fraiche and Very Irresistible Sensual show lighter and more contemporary sides. French couture translated into fragrance, with Hepburn's spirit still in its DNA.