Gucci Eau de Parfum II arrived in 2004, composed by Antoine Maisondieu and Daniela Andrier, and it has since become one of those quiet casualties of brand housekeeping. Gucci discontinued it, retailers list it as sold out, and what remains trades on the secondary market at collector prices, with recent listings hovering around C$207 for a 30ml bottle. That scarcity is worth knowing before you fall in love with it.
What Does Gucci Eau de Parfum II Smell Like?
The opening is genuinely tart. Blackcurrant and red berries hit first, backed by bitter orange and mandarin, so the first minutes read as crisp dark fruit with a citrus edge rather than candy sweetness. Cassia adds a slight green sharpness that keeps the fruit from turning jammy.
As the top fades, the heart shifts toward florals without ever getting loud. Violet and peony lead, supported by jasmine, freesia, and lily-of-the-valley, while blackberry carries the fruity thread downward. This middle phase is where the fragrance earns its reputation: a clean, slightly powdery berry-floral that smells polished but not formal.
The drydown is soft woody territory. Cedar provides structure, musk adds warmth, and heliotrope contributes an almond-like powderiness that rounds everything off. On skin, the finish is closer to a scented-skin effect than a statement base. If you expect the bold leather-and-moss Gucci DNA of older eras, this is not that. It is lighter, friendlier, and more modern than its age suggests.
Performance
This is where consensus turns critical. Most wearers report four to six hours of longevity, with some experiencing closer to three in warm weather. Projection is intimate by design; this sits within arm’s reach after the first hour and becomes a near skin scent by the end. That restraint suits office wear, but anyone wanting presence will find it underpowered.
The flip side is that discretion makes it hard to overspray. Two or three sprays are pleasant for coworkers, and reapplication is easy since the scent never turns cloying. Still, judged purely on performance per dollar, especially at secondary-market prices, it scores poorly. A fragrance that lasts half a workday should not cost triple digits.
Best Clone Or Alternative
Perfume Parlour’s Florence Lady B For Women - 0229 is the most direct option. The UK oil house markets it explicitly as an Eau de Parfum II match, and its published pyramid mirrors the original almost note for note: orange, blackcurrant, and mandarin up top, violet, blackberry, and jasmine in the heart, heliotrope, musk, and cedar at the base. It sells for about $15 through Perfume Parlour USA.
Expect two honest tradeoffs. The oil format sits even closer to the skin than the original and typically runs three to four hours, so keep the bottle in your bag. And like most budget dupes, the florals are slightly flatter and less nuanced than Maisondieu and Andrier’s composition. For the price gap, though, it covers roughly ninety percent of the experience for five percent of the cost, which matters when the original is discontinued.
When To Wear It
Spring through early fall, daytime, low-stakes settings. Office days, brunch, errands, casual dates. The fresh berry-floral profile handles heat reasonably well because it never gets heavy. It works in cold weather too, but the quiet projection gets swallowed by layers and dry winter air.
Who Should Buy It
If you loved this fragrance when it was in production and want a faithful memory of it, the Perfume Parlour dupe is an easy recommendation. It also fits anyone who likes light berry-florals with a powdery finish, prefers scents that stay close to the skin, or wants something inoffensive for shared workspaces.
Who Should Skip It
Skip hunting down an original if performance matters to you. Paying secondary-market prices for four hours of intimate projection is hard to defend. Also pass if you want sweet gourmand fruit, strong white florals, or anything with real sillage. Powdery heliotrope skeptics should sample first, since that almond note defines the base.
Final Verdict
Eau de Parfum II is a well-composed, easygoing fruity-floral let down by modest performance and its own discontinuation. The scent itself earns affection: tart blackcurrant, gentle violet, a soft woody-powdery landing. But the original is now a collector’s purchase rather than a practical one. Unless you are completing a vintage Gucci shelf, buy the $15 Perfume Parlour interpretation, enjoy the same blueprint, and save the money. The original’s smoother florals and better blending are nice, yet not several hundred dollars nice.