So Givenchy

The Verdict

So Givenchy, released in 2004 and crafted by Christophe Raynaud and Mark Buxton, is a discontinued floral fragrance that has quietly earned a cult following among women who remember it from its brief time on shelves. With its unusual cucumber opening and delicate peony heart, it occupies a peculiar niche: too fresh to be a typical floral, too floral to be a typical fresh scent. Fans have been pleading with Givenchy to bring it back for years, calling it "so beautiful unlike any other."

What It Smells Like

The opening is dominated by Cucumber, which arrives with a clean, slightly astringent crispness that immediately sets this apart from the usual fruity-floral fare. Raspberry is listed alongside it in the top notes, but on many wearers the cucumber steamrolls everything else for the first few minutes. It reads more spa-like than sweet.

As the top notes settle, the Peony in the heart blooms beautifully, soft and feminine without being powdery. Magnolia adds a creamy, slightly lemony dimension, while Black Currant lends a tart fruitiness that bridges the gap between the vegetal opening and the floral middle. This is where So Givenchy finds its personality: that moment when the cucumber's coolness meets the peony's warmth.

The base is understated. Musk provides a clean foundation, Cedar adds the faintest woody backbone, and Amber gives just enough warmth to keep it from feeling entirely transparent. The whole composition reads as light, uplifting, and genuinely mood-brightening.

When to Wear It

This is a dedicated daytime fragrance. The community overwhelmingly votes for spring and summer use, with 36% favoring daytime versus just 3% for night. It thrives in warm weather where the cucumber note stays fresh rather than disappearing instantly, and it works perfectly in office settings where you want to smell pleasant without overwhelming your colleagues.

Longevity & Projection

Here is where So Givenchy stumbles. Multiple reviewers compare its staying power to a body mist, particularly in humid climates. Expect 2-4 hours of noticeable wear, with very soft sillage throughout. The projection is intimate from the start, hugging close to the skin. This is not a fragrance that announces your arrival. If anything, someone will need to be within arm's reach to catch it.

The Community Says

With 140 votes and a 4.11 average on Fragrantica, So Givenchy enjoys solid approval: 34% love it, 54% like it, and only 11% disagree. The numbers paint a picture of a fragrance that most people find pleasant without necessarily becoming obsessed with it. Fans describe it as "completely uplifting for the spirit" and rave about the cedar-cucumber interplay. The most common complaint is performance. One reviewer in Mexico lamented that it was a limited edition there, calling it a shame because it was "very sexy." On Parfumo, it receives a scent rating of 7.0 but only 5.0 for both longevity and sillage, confirming that the fragrance itself is better than its staying power.

Who Should Buy This

So Givenchy is for the woman who gravitates toward fresh, understated florals and does not mind reapplying. If you love fragrances that feel like a cool breeze through a flower garden rather than a heavy bouquet, this will appeal to you. Fans of green, vegetal notes in perfume will appreciate the cucumber opening, and the peony heart is genuinely lovely.

Avoid it if longevity is a dealbreaker, if you need your fragrance to fill a room, or if cucumber in perfume sounds off-putting to you. Those seeking a similar vibe from something still in production might explore Trussardi Delicate Rose, which community members recommend as an alternative.

The Bottom Line

So Givenchy is a charming, discontinued relic from 2004 that earned its small but devoted following honestly. The cucumber-peony combination is genuinely unusual and refreshing, and the overall effect is mood-lifting in a way that few light florals manage. Its only real sin is disappearing too quickly from your skin. If you can find a bottle and accept its fleeting nature, it delivers a slice of springtime elegance that Givenchy has never quite replicated.