Reviews of Habit Rouge (1965)
by Guerlain

This review is for Habit Rouge in EDC concentration.

This one starts with citrus and leather--in the citrus, I smell mostly lemon and bergamot, and the leather is the same castoreum-type leather note that I smell in Shalimar and L'Artisan Dzing!, i.e., leather, skin, bandaid, antiseptic, and manure. There is a hint of spice and vanilla, and the citrus has a sort of woody/grassy smell also, sort of like rosewood or citronella. Overall, it smells very clean (in spite of the manure!).

As the citrus burns off, the spice becomes more prominent. Not totally out front, yet, but I think it is cinnamon. The drying citrus also increases in woodyness, and the lemon smells really juicy, like fresh lemon fruit. At this stage, the leather also comes out more, and compliments the spice very well. As time passes, the juicy, fruity part of the citrus fades, but the citrusy-woody note (rosewood) stays (it has a bit of a furniture polish vibe), and the spices increase in strength. The leather has settled into a comfortable place--less like manure, more like newly tanned hide.

More time has passed...the rosewood is still present, the spices and leather are fading. I am relieved that the cinnamon did not turn into the dreaded cinnamon candle wax note that really turns me off. Sweet resins are starting to come out more--vanilla with (probably) benzoin and maybe some sweet myrrh. I suppose the lemony part could also be from frankincense resin. It is definitely getting an "unburned incense" smell which I associate with beads of resin. HR is quite amazing--I am not sure I get the "Shalimar for Men" association I have read elsewhere, but it surely has a family resemblance. I just wish it hadn't gone by so quickly!

At any rate, there have been very few scents that I found full bottle worthy after only one wearing. Usually I go through a small sample, at least 1-2 ml before I decide. But, Habit Rouge is love at first sniff, and it is not an expensive fragrance in the EDC concentration. (PS I bought a full bottle two days later).

I was in the bank the other day and I was waiting in line. At once, I thought indifferently “A person in front of me is wearing Habit Rouge”. A few seconds later I thought “Hey, wait a minute!!! The person in front of me?! How weird…” Namely, ahead of me was an old woman. She looked pretty normally: She was wearing a very expensive leather jacket and she had a lot of rings on her fingers. I decided to smell her better. I approached to her as close as I could. My nose almost touched her hair. Suddenly, she turned towards me, with an extremely unfriendly mien, and asked me:” What do you want from me, young man?!” This question was the start of the following dialogue.

Me: “Excuse me, missis, are you… possibly… wearing Habit Rouge?”
She: “Am I wearing – what?”
Me: “Habit Rouge, a famous Guerlain’s scent.”
She: “No, I am not, I hate the scents and I never wear them.”
Me: “I see… Thank you.”

A few minutes later…

Me: “Excuse me, missis…”
She: “What do you want now?”
Me: “Can I ask you one more thing?”
She: “If you must…”
Me: “Do you use any kind of preparations… or maybe some body oil… something like that?”
She: “Yes, I use my salve for rheumatism, and before you ask me that – yes, it has a quite strong, funny smell. Would you please now stop with these silly questions?”
Me: “Yes, certainly… Thank you.”

“That is interesting” I thought, “a smell of her salve “in cooperation with” a smell of her leather jacket gave me a smell of Habit Rouge”. So what is the point of this story? Well, it is not necessary for every story to have a point.
And now a more conventional part of this review: Habit Rouge is a classic, woody-oriental scent with a very good strength and a decent longevity. If you give me only two words to describe Habit Rouge, these two words would be “powdery” and “leathery”. If you give me one more word, as a bonus, my choice would be “sweet”.
I did not like it at first. Namely, I had very wrong picture of this scent in my head and a nose that was used to Acqua di Gio and Cool Water. Oh, please, don’t get me wrong: I really have noting against these two scents. They are just very authentic representatives of their (our) era: superficial and commercial. And Habit Rouge… Well, Habit Rouge is something totally different...
It had only my respect at first, now it has my love as well.

I have the EDC version. Lemon, lemon, who's got the lemon. I don't know if it's me or what, but it opens exactly like Chanel PM Concentree to me. Great lemony/vanilla/vetiver scent.......and that's about it.

No other notes have transpired in the wearing, so I guess I will sell it since I already have the Chanel and the Concentree doesn't seem to be as linear as this is on me.

The first time I smelled Habit Rouge I was in shock. How could Guerlain come up with such a bright, loud and sickly-sweet fragrance? Pour Homme? Maybe for Willy Wonka. It is an one-dimensional fragrance in desperate need of revision. Perhaps some darker notes to tone down the cheap smelling rose, pimento and carnation. I cannot imagine a man wearing this in public, unless he's going to a taping of the Barney the Dinosaur Show.

Yes, it's French. Yes, it's 'a Guerlain.' Yes, it's quite expensive. It's also old and 'reputable.'

But it smells like a heap of baby powder that a drunkard threw up in.

I have tried the EDC version only. The first sampling did not go well. The animalic floral qualities were overwhelming and I washed it off within the hour. However, I was fortunate to get a nearly full bottle in a swap, so I took advantage of the offer, knowing that I could then re-swap it off again. Instead of wearing it again, I opened the top and smelled it every few days, before sampling it again. Doing this must have desensitized my dislike for the animalic florals, because when I sampled it again, over a month after the first sampling, I could handle the first several minutes. After that, it seemed to settle into a great spicy fragrance, with great "balance" amongst the different notes. I don't get strong vanilla at any point. Sillage is good but longevity could be better, though since it's an EDC I probably shouldn't complain about it. I enjoy spicy fragrances and this is not like the others, so I think it's got a permanent role in my rotation.

There are several fragrance masterpieces which I can appreciate, but don't enjoy wearing (Kouros being one of them). Yet Habit Rouge is masterpiece which is highly wearable in all it's phases of development. This is one of my all-time favorite scents. I'd want it packed in my bags if I were on the proverbial desert island. This should be required sniffing for every young man to teach him what a balanced fragrance smells like. From its citrus blast opening through its floral woody heart all the way down to the sensual vanilla, resinous and slightly animalic base, Habit Rouge is seamless. It is a testament to divine artistry in perfume, and best of all, it smells divine!

Designed for a rebels & mavericks. Very red, especially during the mid-notes. Also goes well with a red convertible on the streets of L.A. The drydown gets a bit greener, but remains smooth and pleasant. A macho scent, for sure.

I'm afraid I can't understand the support for this one.
While I can see how it can be interpreted as a "classic" and "gentlemanly" fragrance, I almost vomited when applying it.
It has a stomach-turning spicy opening, settling into an overpowering mixture of spice and vanilla.
Perhaps it is a personal aversion to spice, or just an old bottle which is "on the turn" I honestly do not know.

The opening is very classical with bergamot and lemon; just a bit spicy. Then comes cloves (not fresh cut carnations but edible kitchen type cloves) and cinnamon very strong. These two have a smell that you cannot play little.
The citrus leaves their place to a nice woody note but it is not imposible to enjoy woods as clovers cinamon buddies go loud and shrill.
Also the vanilla moss base is spoiled with clamorous spices.
Yes i hate these clovers. But i cannot imagine a person standing in the kitchen smelling the deep wet aroma of boiling dried cloves and thinks "yes, that's the way i should smell..." Cloves and cinanamon is ever a bad idea.

This is a difficult one for me to warm up to. Sometimes I think it has a refined, old world, gentlemanly charm, and at other times I think it smells like a ghastly baby powder on steroids. Perhaps that undecidability is a sign of aesthetic greatness, but for me, personally, it's difficult to imagine a setting or situation where I would eagerly want to be wearing this. Maybe that will change when I turn eighty and ask my young nurse to spray it on me as she changes my diaper.

EDT also has poor longevity.

The combination of resinous and citrus top notes that introduces Habit Rouge always strikes me as “boozy,” like some kind of sweet, old-fashioned cocktail. A touch of smoke that follows resolves the liquor into whiskey, which floats over a base of sweet vanillic powder. There really is something laid back and sleepy about Habit Rouge: its overall effect is plush and comfortably reassuring, much like a pair of fuzzy slippers or a favorite upholstered chair. It’s on a par in quality with Derby and Heritage, and of the three it is the sweetest, softest, and the most easily approachable. Like Heritage, Habit Rouge projects well from the skin and leaves a conspicuous trail of sillage, so while it’s gentle in manner, it is not a weak or shy scent. Enjoy it with a good book, a glass of scotch, and a cozy fire. And if none of these are handy, you can rest easy - Habit Rouge will conjure them up for you anyway.

Oh yeah! A "classic scent" that I love. Classic here I refer to the powdery feel and the vanilla. Citrus and vanilla together here though, it's great. Strong at first but settles down nicely and can be a monster of a scent. Has a myriad of personality and projects itself differently on different people. I feel like an intellect wearing it but that's just my own psychosis.

EDT review:

I received a sample of this and wasn’t too enthusiastic about wearing it at first. After all, my previous experiences were not too pleasant. However, after testing it again, I ended up making a complete u-turn. While it’s still not one of my favourite vanilla fragrances, it certainly deserves some respect for what it is – a powdery citrus-vanilla-spice combo.

For an EDT, the indications of a quality composed scent are quite evident. The opening notes have the tendency to remind me of Beechams Lemon and Honey but, with some patience, this quickly subsides to allow the spices and vanilla to gradually bloom. All the way through its development, the citrus note can still be faintly detected but even less as time passes. If worn on the wrong person (or even on the wrong type of day) this scent would probably be quite unpleasant to wear. However, the drydown is sublime with sillage that gently lingers for many hours. There’s also a resinous (some would say harsh) quality about it that gives Habit Rouge some edge.

When compared to other vanilla scents, from the past 20 years, Habit Rouge can easily be perceived as somewhat dated or old-school. To a certain extent I would agree. However, while it may not possess the contemporary feel that many of its contemporaries have, its real strength lies in both its unique sophistication and gentlemanly appeal.

Habit Rouge may not be for me (although my opinion may change in a few years) but I’m sure there are many out there who love it (and justifiably so).

I have a lot of admiration for Habit Rouge. I think the thing that impresses me most is how the vanilla is presented. It is sweet, but just below the edge of too sweet. There is a citrus tinge to it that gives it a sherbet like character that another reviewer has noted. This coupled with leather and a powdery character define the fragrance. Great duration. A classy fragrance.

Fantástic one of the best EDT for men used all season

This review is under revision.

Jean-Paul Guerlain has been quoted to say that 'perfume is the most intense form of memory', and he proved this and the extent of his talent when he in 1965 launched Habit Rouge on the world market. Habit Rouge means 'red jacket' or 'hunting coat' and refers to professional equestrians' dark red jacket. Jean-Paul Guerlain is himself an excellent equestrian, and this woody, citrusy and leathery fragrance is a vivid reminder of the leather saddle on the horse back and all the smells of the horse rider. It's the most distinctive and recognisable of all the Guerlain perfumes for men and regarded as the world's first masculine oriental. The balance between the dry citrus top notes and its sweet vanilla base is known to be one of the finest and most skilfully made in perfume history. When asked if it will ever be discontinued, Guerlain replies: 'Non, Habit Rouge c'est comme les petits pains' – it's that classic! Together with Mitsouko and Shalimar, Habit Rouge is among the ten perfumes that perfume expert Luca Turin would save in Noah's Perfume Ark. The now indispensable Eau de Toilette-version of both Habit Rouge and Vetiver wasn't invented until 1988 to meet the eighties' demand for longer lasting scents and stronger sillage - a trend that also gave birth to Eau de Parfum (or, in Guerlain's terms, Parfum de Toilette) versions of Shalimar, Jicky, Mitsouko, L'Heure Bleue and Chamade in 1986 and 1987. In 2003, Jean-Paul Guerlain created a new 'Eau de Parfum' version of Habit Rouge, in which agarwood has been added to the base, giving the scent a more formal feel. Though still recognisably Habit Rouge, it's more a reformulation than a mere concentrated version of the original. With the newest Habit Rouge derivative, Eau de Toilette Légère from 2005, Jean-Paul Guerlain added a fizzy lime-lemony accord to the top notes and thereby modulated the whole Habit Rouge 'tune' into a bright, joyful key.

As far as I’m concerned, MonkeyManMatt has given the perfect analysis of Habit Rouge. My reaction to it was almost the same as his although I didn’t actually vomit, but I certainly felt the initial impulse. The sickly vanilla sweetness is overpowering, and to my nose, too, the fragrance is very feminine, not that I would wish this scent on a person of either gender. It’s not a skin reaction that I’m experiencing, either: I tried to use it as a room spray and felt the same reaction to it. To me, this illustrates how unique and individual are our sense interpretations are: It really is stomach turning for me.

I agree that it is very vanilla, extremely sweet and powdery. I don't smell much leather though. I agree that it reminds of old people....rich old people. I don't find it to be a bad perfume and I am planning to use mine at the office.

I really should wait until I've worn this more before reviewing it, but what the hell? Buying this was a bit of a fiasco: First I bought it thinking I was getting the Eau de Toilette, but it was the Eau de Cologne instead. So thinking it just wasn't going to be strong enough to wear for the whole day I immediately searched around until I found a place selling the EdT, then splurged and bought it. THEN I find out that the EdC is actually the original version (fyi, this all occurred during the BN downtime, or I might not have had to scramble so much...) So now I find myself with both the EdC AND the EdT. I don't mind so much because I find that I love this scent very much. Like someone said, you don't really appreciate it until you actually wear it. I still can't discern all the subtleties of it (and I don't really get the animalic quality) but the way it just sort of stays in the background, all subtle and elegant is pretty much perfect. I have a lot of bottles on my dresser these days and two of them say Habit Rouge, but I have a feeling those last two are going to get used up the quickest. Two thumbs WAY up!

**This review is of the EDC**

Habit Rouge (HR) was created by JP Guerlain after a rather freak accident where he spilled lemon sherbet on his red jacket while riding a horse to the Guerlain fragrance lab. From the Guerlain site: “The Habit Rouge man represents the height of elegance. He is intimately aware of his powers of seduction and the only thing that ruffles his perfect outward appearance is the faint glimmer of uncontrollable passion that smoulders deep in his eyes.” Well I can’t imagine Bill Clinton wearing this but hey who knows ..

HR smells like a refreshing tangy vanillic sherbet. While that may sound like a sickly sweet potion geared towards facebook-humping teens, in the hands of the vanilla masters at Guerlain this classic potion exudes class and displays superb blending skills. From the first blast the tangy sweet lime citrus notes are apparent, with a faint veil of vanilla creating a light warm sensation. Soon the delicately balanced spicy heart of cinnamon and carnation makes itself apparent, with a little bit of cedar lending an airy dryness to the composition. The spices are never nose searing and the cedar never gets into the “Oh my god! I smell pencil shavings and hamster cage!” phase. From here the tangy vanilla spicy accord evolves over the next few hours to a smooth amber and vanilla base with the barest hints of leather to keep things interesting.

If one looks at the pyramid, HR might seem like a heavy stomach churning fragrance with notes of vanilla, benzoin, patchouli, cinnamon, etc. The reality is it’s a light even airy fragrance with deceptive depth. It smells like what most L’Artisans aspire to smell like (“light skin scents) except that you don’t get the watery sensation of most L’Artisans resulting in a feeling that the fragrance house is skimping on the essential oils and feeding you romantic stories to make a buck or two. HR’s composition is substantial but never cloying….and it manages to succeed because of its EDC concentration. In the hands of other lesser perfume houses, the vanilla note would have most probably turned the composition into an overwhelmingly saccharine and unbalanced composition. But Guerlain show in HR how to control and maintain a note of excess. Bill Clinton would be proud.

Rating: 8.5/10

Wow have I changed my mind of this one. I had written off Habit Rouge EDT as a sweet citrus with little character or personality and hid my bottle in the recesses of obscurity. But was I wrong. Older and wiser I have brought out Habit Rouge and find where I thought it lacked character, there is hiding a great subtlety and extraordinary balance. Behind the citrus creamy opening is a chalky dryness that balances the opening notes. 2 keys to "getting" this fragrance are: 1) Give it time to develop (an hour or so) and 2) Use it to best results in colder weather. The dry chalky aspect comes out more in the cold. It is simple perfection.

As stated by so many others, not a scent for the teenager!

I totally get comments about the similarity between this and YSL M7. Its almost as if YSL isolated that part of Habit Rouge and released it as a fragrance in its own right.

Out of the bottle it's an explosion and no, not really in a great way. It reminds me of something that Floris would sell. It doesn't take long however for the Leather to come through and start calming down to something more acceptable. Of course the fragrance smells 'old', it was released in 65 but then it comes down too whether you want the faceless generic tripe that is being released today or something with some pedigree and style too it. Of course, a classic is not going to be everybodys taste and some will find this unacceptable but for me, this is a gorgeous, warm & sophisticated choice that marks you out from the crowd as an individual and to me that has a lot of weight too it.

I just can pick from here is sherbert lemon mixed with cinnamom, a hint of vintage carnation and rose, powdery accords, leather and something greenish and pungent, (probably pimento, that has been missed badly with the wrong notes. What a disappointment. I really like pimento accords in others: Piment Brulant is a good example).
There’s nothing original here to be found.
Terrible instant migraine!.
This is a real example for me of how a scent should smell to be catalogued as vintage and vile. Disgusting!.
Sorry, I’d pass.

Refined and good. I came to Habit Rouge via Monsieur de Mouchoir, a better Guerlain fragrance, but about ten times more costly. There are some similarities, but Habit Rouge has a little kick to it, which I like. This is an elegant fragrance; to be worn with a jacket and tie. Just about perfect for a dinner date or a cocktail party. Just tops.

My simple nose tells me this is very similar to YSL Pour Homme. It's smells of the same vintage and it exudes the same character. The YSl is very simple in composition of course and the Guerlain adds in some florals and vanilla to pad out the fragrance (described as sweet by reviewers).
I really don't see how you could put this on off unless you were over 50. I'm not trying to be ageist (does that word exist?), but I think a younger person wearing this would look like a someone trying to dress older than they are.

Serious stuff. This is the quintessence of virile, mature and confident manhood in a bottle. All the more powerful because--at times--it smells strongly and deliciously of woman's perfume and yet the testosterone aura is undeniable. Not for everyone but for those who can pull it off, this is a winner! Sweeter than my favorite Heritage and lasts forever. Thank you, Jean Paul.

I like it, and I REALLY wanna love it, but it just has something to it...I dunno...

I can pick out leather, rose, vanilla, and something very sherberty...

And there's something about it that gives me a good-aweful headache...Just can't think what it is though. It also seems to give a lot of other people headaches too.

Hmmm. I truly don't know what to think. Nice, smooth, woody, spicey, sweet, pompous, dandy candy, carnivale, masculine, confusion and headache are words streaming through my head right now...

It's nice, complex, and develops well on the skin, but something to be worn with jurisprudence. Please be careful about how much you wear, and only ever spray it onto your skin, it NEEDS to be developed on the skin...and try not to smoke when you use it, it doesnt pick smoke up very well, but does a great job of letting everyone know that you smoke Alpine Supremes...

Its an ok fragrance, and I would say its damn fantastic if I could bear to wear it more than once a fortnight.

Not much to add here except that i hated this with a passion some years ago, now i love it to death...thanks to a more "mature" sense of smell i guess. LOL.

its very classic, smells like my grandfather .now a days HB is very funny fragrance for man or women i bet 40 years ago it was very elegant scent

Really wanted to like this as I do feel an affinity for classic fragrances, but this didn't do it for me. It was somewhat sweet and somewhat animalic, with a synthetic smelling bite all of which just didn't appeal to me. There was an essence of sweat that deodorant couldn't quite cover, so they hang out together. I kept thinking of some of the older boys at Metro Area Ivy League eating Clubs with their too fast clipped speech; old blue blazers with a missing button here and there; whales on their corduroys, and well-worn pique golf shirts that just can't be cleaned thoroughly anymore. This may just be a little too fogey even for me, and I am generally proud to be one myself. Maybe in five or ten years...

Very dated, now. A weird, astringent, artificial character that lacks any real complexity. I have noticed that this scent seems to be popular with smokers, possibly because it has sufficient oomph to cover up the vile small of stale tobacco.

Though I own a bottle (bought on a friend's suggestion) I cannot say I use it that often. Won't choose it again.

My first encounter with Habit Rouge was very disappointing. I found it gaudy, cloying, and over the top. I also wrote a review expressing my vexation.
I had occassion subsequently to sample the Eau de Cologne version of the scent. Yes, now I can clearly see where the worshippers, me being the latest addition to the ranks, of this scent come from.
In my opinion, the EdC is the version to buy and use:
The citrus top is more pronounced without being excessively effervescent.
In the heart, the Vanilla, florals and the spices are toned down, relative to the EdT, and pitched perfectly.
The dry down, a spice- vanilla-leather fusion is pure olfactory heaven.
Mr.Justiniani is right: This one is "cool without trying".
Buy the EdC version and use it in the cooler/colder seasons; you'll be complimented on your taste.

Now it's my "alter ego" scent. First it seemed to me a masculine caricature of "Shalimar". But it proved to be like the olives: nobody likes them at first taste but mostly becomes their admirer then.
This scent makes me always feel a kind of "deja vu" just as the old songs by Marlene Dietrich. By the way, she consedered it to be the best masculine fragrance.
Anyway it's a carismatic, harmonic and at the same time contradictory between sweet and bitter notes scent. It couldn't be entangle with no other scent.

Amazingly sparkling top with a loud heart accord which blends into a divine drydown of vanilla, moss and leather. This is a masterpiece with stunning longevity and beautiful development. Each layer has fabulous, distinctive accords.

All the notes of citrus, powdery leather, flowers and spices are there big and strong from the start. The sharpness dies off quickly allowing a more woody scent with some vanilla and slowly emerging florals to take over. Quickly the depth of this heart becomes apparent, as it is underpinned by palatable leather. The heart and base coexist for so long that it is almost an imperceptible transition from one to the other.

An outstanding classic, Guerlain have done an amazing job with the reformulation. I actually prefer the new version. It seems brighter and cleaner to me, maybe lacking a bit of "funk" from the original but I think the definition of the notes is stronger without compromise on the smoothness of the transitions.

If you like Habit Rouge, you will certainly LOVE "Habanita " from Molinard ! In the 60's, Jean-Paul Guerlain created Habit Rouge, being EXTREMELY influenced by Habanita. The main differences : Habanita (nowadays marketed for women, but originally unisex fragrance) is stronger, much more radical and complex than HR. It is also said to be one of the most powerfull and long lasting known perfumes (it is incredible how it stays on your skin !!!Soooooo economic !). To my mind, and nose, I only now buy Habanita from Molinard ! Should you buy Habanita, be extremely light when you spray (!) or you will smell like a drag queen (so much concentrated than Habit Rouge !). By chance, if you visit France,Nice, go at the Molinard boutique to get a cheaper price : I recently bought a 10 oz (300ml)Habanita bottle for only 74 euros !Waooo : 2 years of fragrance in front of me !!!

a classic, but dated scent. reminds me of kensington market, an old hippy flea market in london with many stalls which sold incense and bottled patchouli oils. in fact, it's the patchouli note which i find to be the prominent one. i don't get any vanilla at all. i'm not surprised that keith richards favours it. unlike mick jagger, i don't think he has ever got over his 70's rock 'n roll swashbuckling image, which i think that habit rouge has in spades. i can imagine peter wyngarde's fictional television character, jason king, being a fan.

certainly it needs to be used sparingly, and it's not something i would use for everyday use, as i think i would be too self-conscious. on the plus side, i like the way it develops more than the initial spray.

i'm glad that this scent exists, but i'm not sure if it's one i would favour for myself.

I have the EDP, so this review refers to that scent, except where I compare it to the EDT. As scentemental mentions below, the EDP really is a different beast than the EDT due to the addition of an agarwood note. One will immediately recognize this note from its use in M7 - it smells like a very similar chemical here, not like the oud of a Montale, for example, though here, it is less prominent than it is in M7. It adds a medicinal burst to the opening, and a smooth but "twangy" woodsiness to the base. The Habit Rouge signature citrus burst is still there in the top, fading to create a vanilla-woods-citrus melange that can be both intoxicating and addictive.

The first time I sniffed this, I wasn't sure it was for me. Too sweet I thought. Too powdery. Too boring. Then I decided to WEAR it. The full day wear makes a huge difference. Guerlains wear so well throughout the course of the day. The Guerlain animalic note is here, but less so than it was in what I recall of the EDT I tried some time ago. I'm not sure how I class this scent, that is, when to wear it, where to wear it, casual versus formal, and so on. I think I just wear it when I feel like it, when I feel a little vibrant and bold, and that seems to work.

I picked up my Habit by accident in 1985. I was in NY; I think I was shopping in Barney’s, but I’m not sure. At the time, HR came in the flacon with the funky cap that Guerlain Vetiver used to come in as well. At the time I wore vintage clothes. How appropriate. HR really is a vintage scent that is emblematic of its 1965 launch date. To this day when I open the cap and breathe in the essence of HR, I feel like I’ve stepped into the past and into another man’s closet, which is truly what I like best about it. I feel like a kid who has put on his Grandfather’s “grown-up” cologne. I adore the HR dry down and the different dimensions it takes on throughout the day. HR is so different from today’s scents that it literally leaves people baffled in it’s wake. Astounding!

Think of a blind date with someone who is pleasant but not sexy, funny, intriguing or beguiling... and the date passes ever so slowly. Eventually, you try to leave but she asks for a lift. Being a gentleman, you offer to assist and, on the way, she reveals that she is needy and unstable... and you just can't leave anyone in that state of turmoil. What began as a disappointment begins to cloy, degenerating into something very uncomfortable indeed. You know that someone, somewhere will love her, adore her and find her fascinating but you do not. Habit Rouge is a habit I will not form. It's as sexy as my grandmother's best friend and smells just like her. It was a blind date kind of purchase which made me realize again just how wonderfully individual each one's perception of a fragrance can be.

Class in a bottle. PERIOD.

Well, HR was a big let down... I expected something really oriental and all I smelt was a citrusy and sour talcum powder. Maybe It's my nose, but I can't find any sweetness. Very old fashioned, I think It's time to discontinue it.

I have written a review of this before. I sprayed some on my sheets yesterday and It was one of the most intoxicating smells I have ever experienced. Absolutely heaven. Cold, brilliant and charismatic. As it should be. I think both Keith Richards or is it Mick Jagger as well as Sean Connery us this one. Made for a star in other words. I would kill to get hold of the EDP-version who is said to be even better. The only reason I stopped wearing it in the first place is becaus it got discontinued. Definitely on my top five list.
benb

A Fave. It's a perennial scent for me. I have worn this for 20 years off and on. Deep and sweet, almost edible. Always evokes an inqisitive response. You'll have to be careful not to overuse. This is not a scent that will bear up well with an all over sprtiz, gentlemen, pulse point (elbows and chest) sparingly. You'll become a devotee also. Very long lasting.

An absolutely wonderful scent. A perfect combination of tart and sweet, but very light, never cloying. On me, the citrus note is very prominent, especially at the start, not overwhelming, just elegantly refreshing. Then it settles to a perfectly balanced, perfectly lovely quazi-oriental scent. Though it is actually too light to be described as an oriental. I'm absolutely in love with it.

A very nise scent, I have tried it on me and I plan to buy it soon. Its very powdery and -I hope you will allow me the metaphor- imho smells like a classy refined Old Spice should smell like.... I know some people will chill with this comparison, but it reminds me alot of it...

In any case I think its not as strong in the drydown, I would excpect it to last a little bit longer, but a great scent in any case...

Insence .. lots of warm insence on glowing coals in an old cathedral..not at all feminine. Warm, very warm.
It's what I'd consider a male version of Parfum Sacre by Caron.
WOuld also siúit the man next to a lady wearing Mitsuoko.

Just get through the initial blast of a rather too sweet spicy and candied bergamot/lemon. Give it five minutes and sink into some of the most luxurious new clean kid leather with a twist of orange. Subtle, refined, impeccable with a smirk.

Classic but never run out of time! Along with Habit Rouge, Vetiver and L'Instant de Guerlain are all unique, gentle, stronge and sexy.

I've used only the EDT. Here is my review: I don't think it feels like 'red' at all, but rather like 'orange' or 'white'. It is certainly a well-made, quality fragrance. Too cloying. Formal and sweet. Powdery. Not fresh, but very saturated. I think it goes better with older people. Overall, it's too much for me, and I don't especially like it.

What follows is a comparative review of *Habit Rouge* EDC, EDT, EDP, and Light (a.k.a. Légère) versions.

The EDC is the original formulation which tends to emphasize the citrus spice accord throughout the entire drydown. It's definitely the most sophisticated and the most complex of the four. The animalic/vanillic accord is present throughout but never brazenly so like it is in the EDT. The EDT, on the other hand, primarily emphasizes the animalic/vanillic accord from the outset. It’s bold and makes no apologies for being so. If the EDC is the more formal and demure of the two, the EDT is the equivalent of EDC but with the tie loosened, the shirt open, and on the prowl. With the EDT, there is a brief citrus opening and then the citrus element all but disappears after a minute. There is also a far less complex and persistent interplay of the spices with the citrus and animalic/vanillic elements than you get in the EDC. The EDT is, however, the most potent and straight up form of the characteristic *Habit Rouge* animalic/vanillic accord and, if your nose thinks so, a beautiful and beguiling one at that.

The EDP, interestingly enough, opens with a stronger, but smoother, primarily neroli dominated top and middle notes and paradoxically with a decidedly more muted animalic/vanillic accord. With the EDP version, the signature *Habit Rouge EDT* animalic/vanillic accord is not as prominent throughout the drydown and all but disappears well into the drydown when the agarwood makes a show and blends with it to the point where the animalic/vanillic accord’s presence becomes almost liminal. Certainly one finds oneself catching whispers of it in the drydown, but it’s the agarwood note which dominates the final drydown in a very cozy and yielding way and acts as a excellent basenote substitute for the vanilla predominant drydown of the EDT. If you’re looking for a stronger version of the EDT—and why anyone would want one is beyond me—you won’t find it here. The EDP is its own animal but with less animal in it and not more. It is, however, EDP strength and lasts anywhere from 16 to 24 hrs, at least on this wearer. If you find the agarwood note in Yves Saint Laurent’s *M7* overbearing, you’ll love it in the *Habit Rouge EDP*; it’s smoother, less medicinal, less smoky, and more integrated into the overall accord.

The newest incarnation of *Habit Rouge*, *Habit Rouge Light* (a.k.a. Légère), has a very subdued animalic/vanillic accord throughout with a prominent but very fresh top and middle note accord underpinned by a very sophisticated neroli note. In this sense the Light version is more of a reworking of the EDP than it is of the EDT or EDC for that matter since there is little to no spice in it. The neroli note in both the EDP and Light versions is never sharp, prickly, or unsettling as it is in say Rochas *Lui*. This neroli note in *Lui* is the one which makes people say it smells like *Habit Rouge*. While there certainly is a similarity, I find the neroli note in Rochas *Lui* taxing; to my nose it’s prickly and officious. Not so in the Light version. The benchmark for a more sophisticated aroma-chemical neroli note is, of course, Thierry Mugler's *Cologne*, and now, it seems, *Habit Rouge EDP* and *Habit Rouge Light*. As noted before, throughout the drydown of the Light version, the animalic/vanillic accord is a reticent presence, barely perceptible except for those who look for it. It's there, but on a much more liminal level than the EDP or the EDC, whereas, it’s the main feature in the EDT drydown. On the whole, the Light version is a very successful modulation of the EDP. This is quite a remarkable achievement when one thinks of it. It’s very easy to overlook the individuality of each one of these incarnations if one compares them hastily to what one is used to. If anyone of these were created without the others existing, many of us would be excited about them. It's hard to see things afresh, but all of the various *Habit Rouges* are truly innovative and a tribute to the original, seminal EDC, which, when all is said and done, remains my favorite–not that the others are very far behind.

This is a very sophisticated an elegant piece of work. I can't believe it was created that long ago, and still have so much depth to it. Two thumbs up!!!

Not a very complex fragrance, basically smells like lemon and powder. However, I like that it is a very classy and formal scent with being overly cliched or boring. Also very strong and has good longevity.

A beast of a scent, others will hate you if you spray this one like a maniac. Creamy citrus mixed with vanilla with light leather notes floating in the mix. Perfect for the winter if applied properly

Another winner from Guerlain. Do not judge on first spray, but let it sit for at least a few minutes and you will smell why it can be so popular. Dry, yet slightly sweet, not cloying (unless you are judging on the first spray up the nose), very fresh but in a "fresh linens out of the dryer" kind of way - so very warm. This is perfect for the coming days of fall and winter. I would not have a problem wearing this to the office, or at home, or out to dinner. I can see this fragrance on many different types of guys, so it's adaptable, but I wouldn't go too young. I'm not talking age, but maturity. That said, it doesn't exactly scream old fogey either.

class in a bottle , with a classy suit and romantic night it will never fail, one of my top 10

A classic scent worthy of any collection. The initial sweet neroli, citrus and benzoin blast got quite thick and cloying at first, but as the fragrance developed, the warm vanilla and woody notes became more prominent and surrounded me in its warmth. The complexity of this fragrance is remarkable and it took quite a few wearings to fully appreciate Habit Rouge.

Habit Rouge is a fascinating fragrance. It never sat well with me; it had this raunchy and rough feel that very much put me off. I swapped my bottle away, and gave up on Habit Rogue. That is, until I tried the EdP. Habit Rouge EdP is a totally different animal; it’s rich, smoother, denser, and sweeter. It smells more akin to a better version of Habit Rouge with a dash of M7 thrown in. A must own.

The only fragrance I can remember that has made me throw up. I literally vomited after spraying HR on my skin. There is something very wrong with this one, the sickly sweet vanilla base clashes with the rosewood in a bizarre way, and on top of that this smells extremely feminine to me. I guess the enduring global support for this one will always remain a mystery to me...

Very useful. Makes excellent Rug-spray or..you can use it freshen up the bed linen.

I just happen to read previous reviews on Habit Rouge, and can tell you this fragrance has staged a spectacular come back in France (in 2003, it rank ninth among top sellers)while it had never lost its devoted following among men and women alike. I fondly remember it as the emblem of night life and discos in the late 70s and early 80s.I still wear it for an evening out. Its distinct oriental presence has never proved embarrassing, but wearing it on an everyday basis would kill for me its elegant fun.
A review here explains its name as a monk's habit (of which flamboyant order ?), but the only religion I see is that of a 'dandy' : Guerlain ads constantly feature a rider's jacket (visit http://www.psine.net/parfum/collection/Guerlain/
for 3 variations on this theme; if the link is broken, just enter 'habit rouge' in the Image category of your favourite search engine)

Habit Rouge was my signature scent in the mid- 80's and I recently rediscoved it in Bergdoff Goodman.
It has become my current favorite fragrance out of the many I own. I use it with the bath products and I spray it on around 8:00am. It is still going strong when I get home 10 hours later.
And I never found it feminine as some people say, although it may seem so on a cardboard or from the bottle. It needs to be sprayed on the skin for the masculine leather note to come out.
It is the number 3 selling men's fragrance in France, so that really says something.

Great stuff, but I really don't see what's rouge about it. I rather think that this is white: I wear one spray of this (no more -- it's strong) to work when there's a foot of snow on the ground, which is most days between December and March here in Ottawa. It's just so appropriate for winter.

An outstanding fragrance with a chalky/powdery note that makes it incomparable!

Habit Rouge is no longer what it was in the beginning. Since Guerlain is in the hands of LVHM, they made it cheap. The ingredients are no longer exclusive.

After reading glowing reviews, I obtained a bottle. Although it is obviously a quality fragrance, it is perhaps the most feminine men's cologne I have ever tried. Not for me, thank you. As a men's cologne- a thumbs down!