Xeryus Rouge (1995)
by Givenchy

Xeryus Rouge is a commanding, masculine fragrance if ever there were one. Forget Chuck Norris quips, he would buckle under it's magnitude. Nay, this is what the most masculine of all men would wear. This is what Charles Bronson would wear for a night out of exacting merciless vigilante justice on the heathen masses.

Xeryus Rouge starts out slightly sweet, but very peppery and woody. Once the heart begins to develop, all sweetness is gone, the fragrance turns to a very dark, dry blast of wood. As it continues to develop into its dry-down it becomes a softer wood and some of the mild sweetness returns with buttery smooth cactus and cedar bouquet of pure manliness.

20th January, 2012.

This is a very common fragrance in our country!
Even ravens at top of the tree wear this! lol
Like 1Million in Europe!
The opening for a few seconds is very strong and peppery. It's like sniffing a red pepper!
So when you spray it on your wrist, wait for a few seconds and then sniff it or It will burn your nose!
The top notes are really fresh and a little sweet. I can smell citrus and cactus at the opening!
Yeah amigo! :d
The middle and base notes smell herbal and a little sweeter.
It's a warm and great fragrance for fall and winter.
I get 5-7 hour out of this fragrance and projection is very good too.

7th November, 2011.

Overly sweet cedarwood. Terragon and geranium are not enough to balance the general synthetic fruity sweetness while the pimento results sort of off-putting. Cheap. Meh.

One of the very few creations by Annick Menardo that I strongly dislike.

15th October, 2011.

This is a unique and incredibly powerful men's fragrance with vicious projection and, next to Joop! Homme, perhaps the best longevity of any men's fragrance I've ever owned. It opens with a piquant, strong Kumquat and cactus smell, that is not for everyone. It is so sharp smelling that it is a little off-putting at first. For the first few hours, this fragrance smells much better from afar than right up close. So, don't overspray, or you WILL get a headache. As someone else mentioned, two sprays is more than enough.

The heart of the fragrance is pimento - it smells exactly like someone cut into a fresh red pepper. If you like that smell, then this fragrance is a good one. If not, then this one absolutely isn't for you. Why? Because the pimento smell will last, and last, and last.. though the day, into the night, into the morning, after your shower, it will still be there. You have to scrub - hard - to get this fragrance off of your skin.

That being said, it is a complicated, sweet, fruity scent, that is very masculine. This is not what I would call a "safe" scent. Not everyone will like it, nor will everyone be able to pull it off. But for those that can pull it off, this makes an interesting addition to one's wardrobe. I use this all year around. It might be a little better in the cold months, but as long as you don't overspray, it can be enjoyed all year long. It is an excellent "clubbing" scent, due to it sweetness and insane projection.

So, if you are a risk-taker and are the kind of person that likes longevity, and I mean Joop! Homme-like longevity, then definitely give this one a sniff.

7th October, 2011.

Fruity explosion . You know, when you mix many colors , what do you get? black (or nearly black) .
Whith this fragrance I have the same feeling , you get a hit of fruits at first splash, hard to distinguish, then it turns into a woody drydown .
Not manly , it could be perfectly a women's fragrance .
Disgusting

12nd September, 2011.

I agree with subutex, this frag could be nauseating if worn too much/often. On the first day I wore it, I sprayed it on my wrists and neck and placed my wrist to my nose to smell. I felt nauseous for the rest of the day. So be careful.

Ever since then, when I wear this frag, I try not to whiff it too much or spray too much on me. I think three sprays is enough (one on each wrist and one on the neck).

Having said that, I do feel this is a nice warm frag to wear every once in a while. My wife also likes it. I don't regret buying a bottle and it's a definite try before you buy. Just give it a chance and don't write it off after the first whiff.

3rd September, 2011.