Guilty Essence

Guilty Black pour Homme

Gucci 2013 Eau de Toilette

(I'm writing this review about the re-released Essence.)

The name change really fits it now - it takes the "essence" of the original and adds a bit of character to it, unlike GG Absolute or GG Oud where it's a completely different thing.

To my nose, this basically smells like the discontinued Intense flanker, but instead of the amber and chocolatey patchouli, it focuses on the coriander, lavender and cedar, making it a bit fresher and greener.
It's quite redundant if you already have the original EDT or the Intense though.

Great for everyday wear, it's fresh, safe and masculine, I'm sure no one will dislike it.

The ratings are misleading, because almost everyone rated it poorly when it first came out, but it's not that bad honestly.

It should last 6-8 hours on your skin and project for an hour or two without any issues.

This used to be expensive, but as of now it hit discounters, so it can be a worthy pickup if you are looking for something different than the ambroxan-heavy and candy sweet designers released today.

I sampled Gucci Guilty Black recently at Sephora on the Upper West Side in New York City. I liked the smell enough on my skin to buy it despite the mediocre rating on Parfumo.

However, there is a good reason for the run-of-the-mill ratings it has.

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Guilty Black opens with a combination of lavender and light powdery/floral smell that makes it lean hard on the fresh side, with a light touch of sweetness.

The smell transitions to a mixture of woods and a minuscule touch of leather in the heart and base note, which plays nicely in an easy transition from the fresh notes, while maintaining a soft masculine scent profile.

It is a solid overall fragrance that is complex and easy enough to use (more on that later). However, the fresh/woods combination profile is ubiquitous with men’s fragrances in the current era due to how well it works. Guilty Black will disappoint someone looking for a unique scent profile, as it's present in many sports-like fragrances.

That disappointment is exponentially higher with people who knew Gucci’s creativity with fragrances in the past, and the lack of creativity in recent times. Effectively, Guilty Black is Guilty Intense, minus the lemon note and switching Amber with Leather.

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A standard 100 ml bottle of Guilty Black is solid. Functionally, like any bottle in the Guilty line, it is slim and easily fits in one’s hand like a smaller smartphone, making it easy to spray and carry around in a pocket or bag.

I also like the green and black combination that Guilty Black has going on, giving it an attractive designer style. However, the bottle is not an artistic masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination.

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In terms of performance, Guilty Black may not be up to everyone’s expectations.

For longevity, Guilty Black lasts for about four hours. That period can work for a date or a short meeting. However, it is nowhere close to lasting for an entire workday without a respray. (Good thing the bottle is easy to carry.)

In terms of sillage and projection, the fragrance does not project far from the skin, and the scent trail it leaves is faint. Do not expect Guilty Black to announce your presence as you enter a room, or even when you walk by a person. However, someone close to you would almost certainly appreciate the scent, as it will not overwhelm them.

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Guilty Black is a versatile fragrance. However, it shines brighter in some scenarios, and weaker in others.

For example, in terms of season or climate, it works best in the milder temperatures of Spring or Autumn, or if someone is in a mild climate like San Francisco or London. The fresh aspects of the scent should make it workable in the summer months without cloying or nauseating anyone. While detectable, it does not perform as well in the Winter, which is unusual for a fragrance with Black/Noir/Night/Nuit in the name.

For social situations, Guilty Black is too weak to use in an outdoor event, or a party at a large venue, as the scent fades into the background.

However, it works in every other situation. It can work great as an intimate date night fragrance, especially if one is shifting away from the modern trend of primarily sweet scents.

Guilty Black can also work as a leisurely fragrance, or as a scent after a workout in the gym, because of the fresh and woody aspects at the forefront of the fragrance.

With that said, Guilty Black excels the most as an office fragrance, as it is a fresh scent that does not have the sillage to bother people beyond a personal space bubble.

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Gucci Guilty Black is a solid fragrance option, but there are many reasons for disappointment. Admittedly, if Gucci called the fragrance Guilty Sport or Guilty Green, the reception is probably better.

However, Guilty Black is the name of the fragrance.

Anyone looking for a winter fragrance that excels at large parties or outdoor events would be disappointed, as most expect that out of Black/Noir fragrances.

Anyone looking for projection or longevity in fragrances will become more disappointed, especially at the price point offered, and knowing that Black/Noir fragrances typically last longer.

The same level of disappointment applies to someone seeking a unique fragrance—especially if Gucci’s current offerings do not impress them.

However, putting aside the negativity, and the silliness of labeling a sport/green scent black, if someone treats Guilty Black like the fresh fragrance it is, they will find a solid daily scent to freshen up at a point in the day in the office, or a potential date night fragrance that is outside the trend.

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Edit on Sept. 30, 2024 -- Apparently, Gucci renamed the fragrance Guilty Essence. This is a much better name.

This fragrance is a green and balanced scent. It's sweet but not too sweet, and also not too overpowering or loud. It just smells "good" which is why it feels generic.

However, versus other standard designer scents like Y, Sauvage, Dylan Blue etc. This has the same versatility, but it has a green herbal feel that makes it come off as less "synthetic" to my nose than it's competition.

Getting it out of the way, yes this does smell like Axe, Irish Spring — whatever comparison you want to make. But that is only for the first 30 minute to an hour of applying.

The dry down of this fragrance is what makes it so beautiful. It is so fresh, but so deep and dark. I’ve been a frequent shopper at Gucci since 2018. To me, this fragrance smells exactly like the men’s section of the store. Dark Purple velvet walls, green carpets, dimly lit corners. To me that is what this fragrance smells like on dry down. This scent is extremely nostalgic for me, but I still think absent that nostalgia one can enjoy this fragrance.

Gucci guilty black is probably one of the best blind reaches one can have in the collection without smelling like every other guy. Polo 67, sauvage, blue de Chanel, etc all smell the same and come from the same DNA. Gucci guilty black is different in that it is far more green, far more dark and far more alluring.

There’s not much to say about Gucci Guilty Black that hasn’t already been said here. It opens with a touch of spice and settles quickly into a familiar green, shower-gel freshness. Clean and smells like you just stepped out of the shower. It’s not mind-blowing, but it smells good in an approachable way.

Calling it disappointing wouldn’t be fair. I’ve come to realize in this hobby that not every scent has to reinvent the wheel. This is the type of scent a guy who doesn’t really care about fragrance picks up at Macy’s just to say he has something on the shelf. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

This isn’t a release made for the serious fraghead or snob. Whether you’re into high-end perfumery or just picking up designers, odds are you’re going to smell pretty damn good either way.

It’s not a standout, but it’s an easy wear and a solid beginner fragrance. It's something to reach for when fragrance isn’t the focus.