Xeryus Rouge (1995)
by Givenchy

Sweet yet devoid of warmth. Cold even. I'm not sure how this was achieved but I feel this intriguing combo gives it an edge over Givenchy's other saccharin offering, Pi. And strangely enough the image I had when sampling XERYUS ROUGE was of a tall glass of ice cold red rose cordial on a sultry afternoon.

A shade too sweet and crude for my taste, but it is not the worst entrant in its class. I quite enjoyed the rather faux exotic opening, it was not exactly life changing, but it was laudably different and stimulating. The shroud of cloying sucrose descends within an hour, and the whole thing seems a little unbalanced and heavy. That said, on a warm day, in informal surroundings it might just find its place. Its longevity and sillage are impressive, despite my misgivings about the product itself.

Xeryus Rouge is a horribly vile and synthetic fruity scent that is way too sweet for its own good. When I first smelt this (around the time I first became interested in perfumes) I absolutely hated it. In those days, my nose wasn’t even as sophisticated as it is now. I think that pretty much sums up how awful this stuff really is.

[Original submission date: 27 May 2008]

Holy Kumquat! I'm in the minority here, giving it a neutral rating. I don't find it cloying, perhaps because nowadays it feels as if every cloying scent is a variation of vanilla with a capital V plus synthetic Joop-like crap.
I can also understand how this could be a favorite for those who like bold, unusual scents. Favorite? This has attained cult like status. Look at its virtues: Strong sillage, great longevity, super-fruity sweet (makes John Varvatos smell astringent by comparison) and a highly unusual accord.
Cactus Flesh?

Perhaps there should be a new category. Forget fougere, oriental or chypre. How about well blended frags that are half-mad?
Peau d'Espagne (tabasco sauce) Nostalgia (motor oil)
Quasar (bananas and newsprint)
etc.

XR is most certainly worth a sniff! You might join me in the minority and shrug, or you might find it appallingly sweet and cringe, but then again, you might also be among those who have discovered their signature love.

About 14 years ago when I was a young guy at school, I had a part time job in a jewellers as an engraver. I remember smelling this from a sample in a magazine and then also realised that my boss wore this when he was in work. It appeared to me to be a sophisticated scent, very grown up and very different from the "fresh and unisex" scents which were about at the time.

I remembered that scent right up till this year when I saw a bottle in a store for about £20 GBP so I decided to test it. Thank goodness I did. To my nose this is nothing like what it used to be in the mid 90's and I felt thoroughly dissapointed.

Neutral rating on the basis that the mid 90's one smelt really nice.

A blind buy, but made me fond of it instantly after first spray. Marvel, sensual and exotic… found great for summer wear… for me it’s a romantic wear…