Bloom

The Verdict

Givenchy Bloom arrived in early 2013 as a limited-edition travel retail exclusive, available only at airports worldwide. The concept was a fresh, bewitching floral designed for the modern feminine traveler. The composition delivers on its promise of delicate beauty, wrapping raspberry, iris, and violet in a soft powdery haze. Unfortunately, that beauty is astonishingly fleeting.

The community consensus acknowledges the loveliness of the scent while lamenting its near-complete lack of performance. When a fragrance is compared unfavorably to a body spray in terms of staying power, it faces a fundamental problem that no amount of compositional elegance can overcome.

What It Smells Like

The opening presents raspberry in a slightly synthetic but appealing guise, more hard candy or popsicle than fresh fruit. It arrives with a powdery quality thanks to the immediate presence of iris and violet, which quickly take over from the fruity top note. The effect is reminiscent of a dusted berry compote, sweet but refined.

The heart blooms with tiare flower, adding a tropical, creamy white floral dimension to the iris-violet core. This is the most interesting phase of the fragrance, where the powdery florals gain depth and a slightly exotic character. The base of musk, incense, and woody notes provides a whisper of warmth, though it never asserts itself strongly. The overall impression is of a sensual but restrained musky floral, more moisturizer than perfume in its presence on skin.

When to Wear It

Givenchy Bloom is a spring and summer fragrance by nature, with its light, airy character suiting warm-weather daytime activities. The powdery floral profile works well for office settings, brunches, and casual social gatherings where subtlety is appreciated.

Given its minimal projection, this is a personal fragrance in the truest sense. It functions more as a mood-enhancing scented accessory than a traditional perfume meant to leave a trail.

Longevity & Projection

Performance is Givenchy Bloom's critical weakness. Multiple reviewers report the fragrance lasting only two to three hours before becoming undetectable, even with generous application. Projection is described as close-to-skin from the very first spray, with one reviewer noting that "four sprays and 30 minutes later, barely detectable." Another compared its staying power unfavorably to bath and body spray products. The EDT concentration combined with the light, airy composition creates a fragrance that essentially evaporates rather than develops.

The Community Says

Fragrantica reviewers are divided between those charmed by the scent and those frustrated by its performance. Positive voices call it "a lovely French floral" with "a certain girly personality" that "also suits a more mature skin." Critics are more pointed, with one declaring incredulity at "how light it is" despite being from a major fashion house. The travel retail exclusive distribution added to the sense that this was a pleasant but disposable impulse purchase rather than a serious fragrance offering.

Who Should Buy This

Givenchy Bloom suits women who prioritize the immediate experience of applying a beautiful fragrance over long-lasting wear. It appeals to those who enjoy iris-violet powdery florals and do not mind reapplying throughout the day. Collectors of discontinued Givenchy fragrances may seek it out for its limited-edition status.

The Bottom Line

Givenchy Bloom is a genuinely pretty fragrance trapped in a performance profile that prevents it from fulfilling its potential. The raspberry-iris-violet composition has real charm and a mature elegance that deserves better longevity than it receives. As it stands, it is a pleasant few minutes on skin rather than a lasting fragrance experience, which makes its discontinued status feel less like a loss than it otherwise might.