Simon Baker and Givenchy’s Gentleman’s Club

By Ashley Kowalewski

Australian actor Simon Baker: suave investigator from The Mentalist—and seductive playboy from The Devil Wears Prada—takes centre stage as the new face for Givenchy’s Gentlemen Only fragrance. A vision of sophistication, masculinity and sexiness, Baker embodies the concept of the refined modern-day gentleman. He is confidence, style and chivalry incarnate.

Gentlemen Only is, in fact, a next-generation take on a Givenchy classic. The original woody-aromatic Gentleman scent originally debuted by Hubert de Givenchy back in 1975. The new fragrance is made up of some of those traditionally masculine notes but is laced with fresh new spices. Green mandarin orange, pink peppercorns, birch leaves and nutmeg open the fragrance; cedar, patchouli and vetiver make up the woody heart; and incense defines the fragrance’s sultry base.

Baker plays the gentlemanly role so well. In the ad images, top lensmen Patrick Demarchelier and Peter Lindbergh capture his nonchalant sexiness. Demarchelier snaps Baker sheltering a striking young woman dressed in red from the rain with a jet-black umbrella. Lindbergh does the same, documenting Baker walking the streets of Manhattan, holding said umbrella over that same raven-haired woman while getting drenched in a Gotham downpour.

Even soaking wet in his lean—and obviously designer—suit, Baker still manages to epitomize the brand of cool, calm masculinity that the French company is after with this new toilette. Nice casting.

Givenchy Gentlemen Only EDT, $88 (100 ml), www.givenchy.com; www.thebay.com