Extravagance d'Amarige

The Verdict

Extravagance d'Amarige is one of the most confusingly named fragrances in the Givenchy catalog. Despite the name, it shares almost nothing with the original Amarige. Where Amarige is loud, rich, and opulent, Extravagance is refined, green, and quietly beautiful. Released in 1998 by perfumer Michel Girard, it has developed a devoted cult following among vintage collectors and green floral enthusiasts. With roughly 1,300 votes and a strong 4.21 average, the community consensus is clear: this is an underrated classic that deserved far more attention than it received.

What It Smells Like

The opening is a lively burst of Mandarin Orange and Pink Pepper, with a smoky, slightly bitter undertone that can feel almost harsh for the first few minutes. Violet Leaf and Nettle add a crisp green edge, while Marigold provides a slightly herbal, golden quality that sets the stage for what is to come.

The heart is where the magic happens. Orange Blossom and Jasmine unfurl into a rich, almost aristocratic floral bouquet, supported by the delicate sweetness of Strawberry and the cascading lightness of Wisteria. One Basenotes reviewer described this phase as "a great green floral accord" with florals that are "rich, almost aristocratic." It is fresh but substantial, pretty but never frivolous.

The base brings Iris, Sandalwood, Cedar, and Amber together into a warm, woody finish with a powdery iris quality that gives the fragrance its staying power. Community members frequently compare it to Gucci Envy with more citrus, or Chanel No. 19 with a warmer personality. One enthusiastic reviewer even called it "the female version of Silver Mountain Water by Creed."

When to Wear It

The community considers this fragrance surprisingly versatile for a discontinued niche-adjacent scent. It shines brightest in spring and on cooler summer days, but the sandalwood and amber base give it enough weight for fall. Multiple reviewers call it "wearable in any season, day or night," and specifically praise it as a perfect office fragrance that avoids smelling generic.

Longevity & Projection

For an Eau de Toilette, performance exceeds expectations. Community ratings put longevity as very good, with several reviewers reporting that "it lasts very long on my skin." Sillage is moderate and well-balanced -- present enough to be noticed but not enough to overwhelm a shared space. One blog reviewer rated it 4.5 stars for longevity and described the projection as "just right."

Expect around 6-8 hours of wear from the original formulation. The 2007 Les Parfums Mythiques reissue is reportedly weaker, with less depth and shorter staying power, so vintage hunters should seek the original packaging when possible.

The Community Says

The overwhelming sentiment is affection mixed with frustration that this fragrance was discontinued. On Basenotes, one reviewer declared: "They do not make them like this anymore. In fact, not even spending 300 or 400 dollars will get you a perfume like Extravagance d'Amarige." Multiple community members describe it as "a hidden gem" and a beloved green floral that was poorly named and poorly marketed.

The criticism, such as it is, centers on the opening. That initial peppery, slightly chemical burst can be off-putting for the first five to ten minutes before the gorgeous drydown takes over. One Fragrantica reviewer noted "there is a little bit of chemical harshness that dissipates relatively quickly, and then the drydown is a luscious jasminey orange." Patience is rewarded here.

The naming also draws consistent complaint. As one Basenotes member put it: "The name is a puzzle, because it has almost nothing in common with its namesake other than quality construction." Buyers who purchase expecting a variation on Amarige are reliably disappointed, not because the fragrance is bad, but because it is something else entirely.

Who Should Buy This

Extravagance d'Amarige is for the collector and the green floral enthusiast who appreciates 1990s perfumery at its most refined. If you love fragrances like Gucci Envy, Chanel No. 19, or anything in the elegant green floral family, this is worth hunting down. It is also an excellent choice for anyone who wants a distinctive office fragrance with real character.

Skip it if you are looking for something easy to find and repurchase, if you want a fragrance that grabs attention from the opening spray, or if you specifically want something in the Amarige DNA. This fragrance shares a name with its famous parent and virtually nothing else.

The Bottom Line

Extravagance d'Amarige belongs in the conversation about the great mass-market perfumes of the 1990s. Its combination of green freshness, aristocratic florals, and warm iris-sandalwood base is the kind of balanced, quality construction that the community mourns losing to discontinuation. Finding a bottle takes effort, but the reward is a fragrance that feels genuinely timeless -- elegant without pretension, distinctive without demanding attention, and better than many of today's fragrances at twice the price.