Xeryus Rouge by Givenchy, 1995

A sticky and intoxicating pimiento bomb. Although different in many ingredients, this carnal woody oriental is a One Million's old parent because of its powdery bitter-sweet-slightly salty kind of dissonant after smell exhaling from its type of woodsy dry down. If the Paco Rabanne one is dusty-white, this is dusty-red, an aromatic blend of peppery-salty pimiento, bitter cedar, flowers, spices and musky amber (styrax?). It's exaggeratedly sweet and aromatic but is dissonant because is also salty-aromatic and bitter. It's a bit rubbery and pungent in its after smell that is a dense, viscous, almost gummy, dust. Set the dry down the salt, the rubber and pepper almost overcome the yet strong sugar in the general dense powdery atmosphere and this is too much for my nose. It's stronger than me but each time i smell this i feel a sense of disgust and it happens rarely to me while inhaling fragrances. The beginning is green and floral (geranium, kumquat, cedar leaf) but immediately starts rising a sort of resinous peppery pimiento that, linked with a sort of rubbery cactus flesh and prickly terragon, produces a changing sweet-salty cream that is too pungent under my nose. The cedar, other key element, and sandalwood impress a bit of woodsy consistence while a sort of creamy-ambery musk, linked with resinous cactus flesh, enhances a kind of creamy bit dusty woodsy feel. All the smell plays the game of contrasts and the outcome is too much, too sweet but with salty nuances, too dusty but resinous, too oriental but bitter boise. Longevity and sillage are great. 

The bottle seemed to exude a lot of promise. The red could have represented something hot and sexy, or masculine and bold. In all honesty, Xeryus is a bit of everything. This is quite possibly one of the most intriguing male fragrances I've come across in the last few years. It's crisp yet fiery and spicy. Xeryus Rouge makes me think of all those men in my life that were so bad that they were impossible to resist. Both those men and this fragrance has me drawn like a moth to a flame. This fragrance is dangerous and exciting. If you're looking for a scent that equates to sex, look no further. This woodsy, spicy and slightly sweet scent is commanding, masculine and sensual. It gets me all hot just talking about it. I can really sense the red hot chilli in this fragrance, which gives off a rather warm yet fresh, invigorating feel. The scent can be a little sharp and tart-like at times, but only when smelt up-close. From a distance, Xeryus Rouge has a definite, subtly sweet smoothness. This fragrance is so unique that it almost puts what I hold as 'out-of-the-ordinary' to shame. All the complexity that is contained in this one bottle is quite breath-taking. The lasting strength is great, and let's be honest, this fragrance has the ability to suit practically every season and every occasion. Just make sure that you wear this during a passionate night with your lover, it will drive her absolutely insane and she'll remember this fragrance for years to come.