Giorgio by Giorgio Beverly Hills is the signature fragrance from the gone by brand which is characterised as a floral fragrance.
In the world of fragrances, there are nostalgic fragrances that capture a period in fragrance history, and prove their staying power, as they are still sold to this day. One such fragrance is the Giorgio perfume by Giorgio Beverly Hills for women.
The affordable but pungent fragrance is touted as one of the “big four” fragrances of the 1980s. It is still a bestseller despite recently celebrating its fortieth anniversary. The fragrance is touted as a floral fragrance with main accords including white floral, tuberose, woody, and sweet.
Giorgio as one of the 1980s “big four” fragrances
In the 1980s, it was a trend in the world of fragrances to create a big and boisterous world to promote your fragrance.
There are four fragrances in this decade that are considered to have defined this era. Namely, Opium eau de toilette by Yves Saint Laurent, Poison eau de toilette by Dior, Obsession eau de parfum by Calvin Klein, and Giorgio by Giorgio Beverly Hills.
Giorgio occupied a unique spot as one of the big four fragrances of the 1980s as it was a floral fragrance as opposed to the other fragrances, which are touted as oriental blends.
What are the scents in Giorgio perfume?
The 1980s were considered the “decade of excess”, and Giorgio by Giorgio Beverly Hills encapsulated this for Los Angeles and placed LA’s Rodeo Drive on the map as a luxe shopping destination.
The fragrance was launched with much fanfare in 1981, which is argued as the reason that the fragrance went on to become one of the defining fragrances of the 1980s.
Mostly, the floral fragrance with main accords of white floral, tuberose, woody, and sweet, is touted for its longevity and projection properties.
So much so, in fact, that the fragrance is notorious for changing its formulation because it was banned in LA hotels and restaurants due to how overpowering the original fragrance was.
Despite the reformulation, the fragrance has maintained its longevity and projection properties. As such, the fragrance which celebrated its fortieth anniversary in 2021, is still a popular but divisive purchase.
For those who love it, the fragrance is a must-have in their collection. And inversely, the nostalgia and pungency of the fragrance is the reason that some believe it should have stayed in the 1980s rather than continue to be made.
A detailed look at the fragrance reveals the following information:
| Year introduced | 1981 |
| Nose design | Bob Aliano |
| Top notes | Apricot, orange blossom, peach, and bergamot |
| Middle notes | Tuberose, gardenia, ylang-ylang, jasmine, orchid, and rose |
| Base notes | Chamomile, oakmoss, vanilla, amber, musk, sandalwood, patchouli, and cedar |
| Sillage | Extra strong |
| Longevity | 10 to 12 hours+ |
| Price |
Is Giorgio made by Giorgio Armani?
Giorgio was originally owned by Fred Hayman and his wife at the time, Gale Hayman. They were the owners of the luxe clothing store, Giorgio Beverly Hills, which was opened in 1961.
The floral fragrance was released in 1981, and the original design of the yellow and white box was inspired by the outside of their store. In 1987, the fragrance was sold to Avon for $165 million.
After that, the fragrance was sold again to Elizabeth Arden, who did not celebrate the thirtieth or fortieth anniversary of the fragrances staying power as a popular buy.
When was Giorgio reformulated?
First introduced in 1981, Giorgio by Giorgio Beverly Hills immediately garnered a reputation for how powerful the projection properties of the floral fragrance were, so much so that by the turn of the decade, some restaurants and hotels had banned the use of the fragrance in their establishments.
Therefore, in 1996, the company that owned the fragrance at the time confirmed that it would reformulate it to reduce its pungency.
While the fragrance has been reformulated, it is still lauded for its projection and longevity properties even with the reformulation, especially considering the affordable price point of the fragrance.
A look back at the famous people who wore Giorgio
While Giorgio by Giorgio Beverly Hills is now regarded as a nostalgic fragrance that can be too overpowering, in the 1980s, the fragrance was worn by the wealthy and the biggest celebrities at the time.
Some of the most notable celebrities from the 1980s that have the fragrance include Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, and Jacqueline Bisset.