Gucci Guilty Absolute reformulated?

[cxrpsecxllectxr]

Is anyone aware of Absolute having been reformulated or "watered down" since it's initial release?

I had a 2ml tester from a 2018 Sephora sampler pack that I recently rediscovered. Recalling my initial disgust, I decided to try it again and to my surprise, I kinda fell in love with it this time.

I got about 5 wears out of the 2ml and decided to pull the trigger on a full 150ml from Jomashop. Unfortunately, the performance on the new one seems to pale in comparison to the "vintage" one. The initial scent is pretty much identical, but the performance is abysmal in comparison. With the 2ml I could catch wafts at work up to 6-8 hours after initial application. The full bottle doesn't even seem to make an hour before it becomes a skin scent.

In addition to that, the dry down seems entirely different. The tester had a dry leather scent, no sweetness to be found. The bottle however, loses almost all of the leather scent and only a slight sweetness remains if I press my nose against my skin.

This isn't just my own opinion either, my girlfriend (who has a very sensitive nose) has also confirmed the differences.


Anyone else experience this?

 

[hednic]

Is anyone aware of Absolute having been reformulated since it's initial release?

Don't know, but it's been out six years so it wouldn't surprise if it were.

 

[lfc1892]

I’ve got a new bottle and managed to get a five year old partial and there’s not much difference

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Could be that some of the alcohol in your 2ml sample has evaporated in the 5 years you’ve had it and so become slightly more concentrated. It can happen with samples.

 

[Pippin06]

Don't know. My bottle is from January of 2017, gifted to me by a generous Basenoter. It's become one of my very favorite fragrances, and I will use it sparingly and with much pleasure. What a gem.

To the OP: I'd give it some time. I've noticed time and again with new bottles that the performance is quite disappointing at first. Then, I find after multiple sprays and the gift of time, the performance improves impressively--smelling and performing as I remember them in older formulations. Best wishes.

 

[Pippin06]

Could be that some of the alcohol in your 2ml sample has evaporated in the 5 years you’ve had it and so become slightly more concentrated. It can happen with samples.

Interesting point.

 

[cxrpsecxllectxr]

Don't know. My bottle is from January of 2017, gifted to me by a generous Basenoter. It's become one of my very favorite fragrances, and I will use it sparingly and with much pleasure. What a gem.

To the OP: I'd give it some time. I've noticed time and again with new bottles that the performance is quite disappointing at first. Then, I find after multiple sprays and the gift of time, the performance improves impressively--smelling and performing as I remember them in older formulations. Best wishes.

I thought about that as well. I know people say to give some of the middle eastern cheapies a few sprays to clear the atomizer and stem, then let them macerate. I'll give it some sit time for sure.

 

[cxrpsecxllectxr]

Could be that some of the alcohol in your 2ml sample has evaporated in the 5 years you’ve had it and so become slightly more concentrated. It can happen with samples.

If I could figure out how to remove the atomizer without destroying it, I'd let it sit topless for a few weeks 😏

 

[The Colognnoisseur]

GGA has been discontinued. I don’t think it was in production long enough to warrant a reform. Everything I have purchased from Jomashop has been authentic.

 

[Colbourne]

I thought about that as well. I know people say to give some of the middle eastern cheapies a few sprays to clear the atomizer and stem, then let them macerate. I'll give it some sit time for sure.

Maceration is a process that happens before a fragrance hits the shelves for consumption. Anything after that is maturation, something that is hopefully a slow process as it is actually the beginning of degradation over time. I think some folks like the change in smell from this process (think vintages), but it isn't a change that's necessarily intended or encouraged by the perfumer.

 

[Galicia & Jicky]

It looks like this is in production again. I was sad that I didn't get to smell the original when it first came out, as I've only been recently reintroduced into this community about 2 years ago. So I was surprised to see it in the department stores in Munich on a recent trip. There were probably 10+ bottles on the shelf. I got excited at first, until I tried the tester (half full) and I thought, What is this? It was so weak. I didn't even want to purchase a bottle. And seriously, like 10-15 minutes later I could hardly smell it on my wrist. Still sad- never to know how the original performed or smelled.

 

[Andyjreid]

I bought a new bottle of GGA a month or so back and I get stellar projection and longevity from it. It smells exactly as I always remembered it my reference point being that my brother has been wearing it for years.

 

[Monsieur Montana]

Where did you get this information from? It is being sold everywhere online and in the shops. I bought my bottle 2 years ago and the sillage and longevity are way over medium.

GGA has been discontinued. I don’t think it was in production long enough to warrant a reform. Everything I have purchased from Jomashop has been authentihis

 

[PrinceRF]

I'm not sure, but it wouldn't surprise me if that's the case.

 

[Pippin06]

GGA has been discontinued. I don’t think it was in production long enough to warrant a reform. Everything I have purchased from Jomashop has been authentic.

This makes perfect sense.

 

[lfc1892]

Not sure if it’s been discontinued? It’s been available for ages in the uk since rumours of its demise and still in stock most places.
Unless it’s just overstocked everywhere and doesn’t sell well…

 

[DudeLebowski]

Even if it was reformulated, I find it to be a loud fragrance with enormous projection. I've owned several bottles, and they've all performed well.

 

[Pippin06]

Even if it was reformulated, I find it to be a loud fragrance with enormous projection. I've owned several bottles, and they've all performed well.

How much do you apply? Personally, I wouldn't want any of my fragrances to be loud. I apply 2 sprays of GGA, and it lasts a very long time, but projects lightly.

 

[DudeLebowski]

How much do you apply? Personally, I wouldn't want any of my fragrances to be loud. I apply 2 sprays of GGA, and it lasts a very long time, but projects lightly.

When I owned it, it was usually four sprays. Two sprays behind each ear. Its easy to go noseblind to this one.

 

[Pippin06]

When I owned it, it was usually four sprays. Two sprays behind each ear. Its easy to go noseblind to this one.

Thank you. Makes sense.