NEW: Gucci Launches Fragrance Flora Gorgeous Gardenia Intense

When Gucci announced Flora Gorgeous Gardenia Intense, many wondered whether the house would simply deepen the syrupy sweetness that defined the 2021 Eau de Parfum or take the composition in a fresher direction. Early information from the launch suggests the latter: creative director Sabato De Sarno and perfumers have stripped the formula back to a three-note pyramid—Italian mandarin essence in the opening, a heart of creamy gardenia reinforced with Hedione, and a base of smooth sandalwood oil.

The original Gorgeous Gardenia wore pastel pink; the Intense edition arrives in a fuchsia glass flacon trimmed with the historic Flora print and a gold cap. The colour is not purely cosmetic—Gucci positions it as a visual cue for the higher parfum-intense concentration and the bolder, wood-inflected dry-down.

Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia (2021 Eau de Parfum)

Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia Intense

What is different?

The 2021 Eau de Parfum is built like a three-tier dessert: sparkling fruit on top, sugared petals in the middle, and a cupcake-sweet base. Pear blossom and red berries create an immediate “pink soda” effervescence before melting into a heart where gardenia is iced with jasmine and frangipani. The final layer arrives almost abruptly, a brown sugar folded into patchouli leaving a candied, slightly earthy trail. The new Intense version discards that patisserie model in favor of a lean, almost minimalist triangle: bitter-zesty Italian mandarin up front, a single creamy gardenia accord elevated with Hedione at the core, and clean sandalwood in lieu of gourmand sugar. Where the 2021 EDP parades six or seven distinct notes, the new Intense focuses on just these three.

Many users reported four-hour longevity and arm-length projection for the 2021 EDP; the heavier sugar–patchouli base projects loudly at first yet fades abruptly once the sweetness burns off. The Intense version behaves the opposite way: Gucci claims its opening is moderate, but the higher oil concentration and woody base yield six to seven hours of detectable presence that diffuses close to the skin rather than across a room.

If the 2021 release is a carefree garden party—pastel macarons, floral sundresses, and fizzy fruit punch—Gorgeous Gardenia Intense would be a late-afternoon terrace drink: citrus garnish, sun-warmed white linen, and polished wooden tables. The streamlined formula skews slightly more adult without becoming austere, making it suitable for office wear and formal occasions where the original might feel too playful. Gourmand lovers may still prefer the brown-sugar comfort of the first edition, but we think that those who seek a cleaner, longer-lasting gardenia that transitions seamlessly from day to night will likely find this new release more suited for them.

Release and Pricing

The fragrance debuts as Eau de Parfum Intense in 30 ml, 50 ml and 100 ml sizes. Pricing aligns with other Gucci Intense releases: expect a 15–20 percent premium over the standard EDP. Retail rollout begins this month across major European department stores, with Asia-Pacific counters following in July.

In closing, whether it will convert long-time fans of the sugary 2021 edition remains to be seen, but from what we have read with early community feedback on social media and other sources suggests the more streamlined architecture in the Intense is being welcomed positively.