Say it ain't so! Habit Rouge SPORT???

[Diamondflame]

Old thread but it's new to me. :P
Adding the 'SPORT' flanker is just a marketing tactic to target a group of younger customers who have not been exposed to Guerlain's classic range. Usually these are the ones who would look for fresh gym frags or clubbing scents. 'HR Sport' is therefore more an "introduction to Guerlain" so to speak. If you like the scent, you're more inclined to try out other Guerlain products. And perhaps it goes some way to nullify the 'stuffy' image oft associated with classic fragrance houses.

[mikeperez23]

I finally tried this and it smelled to me like...... Private Collection!

Private Collection by Estee Lauder?

[Primrose]

The word 'Sport' cheapens a fragrance. It is true for most of the previous releases*; therefore, it must be true for Habit Rouge. Basic logic. I think it would be awesome if the name alone would tell me everything I need to know about a perfume. However, at this point in my life, I am in that primitive state where I have to actually smell the fragrance to make an aesthetic judgement. So, I am left with the desire of sampling this one soon. Sigh.

*The fact that Allure Homme Sport cologne smells better than Allure Homme is an accident. Or maybe it is the word Cologne. Either way, those chanel dudes and dudettes do not know how to play by the rules.

The word "sport" connotes light, airy and casual. The name "Habit Rouge" was initially used to mean "red hunting habit." The inspiration was of manly, dandified elegance and riding to the hounds: a top hat, a scarlet tailcoat, gloves (scented, of course) and a riding crop. There was an implied formality here.

Yes, the "sport" concept does not quite mesh with classic elegance.

What next? Hermes' "24, Faubourg Sport" for women? (OK,OK...I know that they have Eau Delicate versions, but I have a problem with the word "sport.")

How about Mouchoir de Monsieur Sport, anyone! LOL!

[gupts]

I tried Habit Rouge Sport at the duty free just last week.
It was not as 'appalling' as the original Habit Rouge that I tried long ago.
Though I don't remember how bad the original was (I need to retest), I think Habit Rouge Sport wasn't bad. I loved the red bottle too. I need to wear it in my own space to make up my mind on this.

[ortho123]

Red Sport Jacket....

[Mr. G]

Well, horse riding is a sport, so why not? The old Vetiver ad showed a golf player, and the first Habit Rouge ad was also quite sporty. Jean-Paul Guerlain was obsessed with horse riding as a sport more than as an aristocratic hunting act. I think it's fairly justifiable to name it "sport".

[mtgprox05]

I was contemplating starting a new thread for this, but this old thread will do just fine. I understand the hate for the "Sport" moniker, and I also understand the feeling you might get if you love the original Habit Rouge and learned of them coming out with a Sport version. But strictly speaking, I can't understand anyone truly disliking this scent on what's inside the bottle. It doesn't smell "trendy" or mailed-in, nor does it call to mind any of the derivative mess we might think of when Sport frags come up. Maybe it's because I DON'T like the original Habit Rouge, but I DO get the original HR structure from HRS, it's just been dusted off and brought into this century. I'm a BIG fan of this stuff, and urge everyone (even you staunch HR supporters) to try to evaluate HRS as a separate entity from the original HR.

[sarıpatates]

Naming the new frag Habit Rouge MMIX with the old one keeping the name
or naming the old one Habit Rouge classic and making the new one habit rouge could be a better idea.

sport or not, that kind of flanker naming is a bit like... calling james mark's brother. poor james.
I like what dior did with the naming of the poison line.

[perfaddict]

Beautiful floral oriental that smells somewhat like Habit Rouge, but has its own character.

The only thing wrong with this beauty is the name. It should have been given a stand-alone name.

[Indie_Guy]

I think it's great stuff. To me, it interprets Habit Rouge in a sport scent EXACTLY the way Kouros Cologne Sport is spun from Kouros. I'm good with the fact that it uses the Habit Rouge name, because it does have the Habit Rouge signature running through it, even though it winds up in different places as well.

If there's one thing that drives me nuts-- it's seeing reactions of "Habit Rouge Sport sucks because it's not Habit Rouge" and "Chanel Pour Monsieur Concentree sucks because it's not Pour Monsieur"-- and most of all, "Platinum Egoiste sucks because it's not Egoiste."

I have almost every version of Habit Rouge available except the Extrait and Dry versions-- and I love them all and have certain occasions for wearing each. I love the fact that I have a version of Habit Rouge that I can wear to a formal event (EDP) or to work or out on a date (EDT, EDC, Legere) and yes, also to a baseball game, the gym or any of the aforementioned events (Sport). I understand a lot of people just don't like it, but I think it's brilliant. It's a great scent on its own, but it has a definite nod to the hallowed Habit Rouge, while acknowledging that today is a different time than 1965.

Also, I have to mention that while some think it boring or unoriginal, I can't think of anything else out there that's like it.

It's an absolute crime that Guerlain has discontinued the EDC. It deserves every bit of praise it gets. Again, the Habit Rouge line is very interesting in the way its range is laid out from heavy to light; L'Extrait-EDP-EDT-Legere-EDC-Sport ( I actually think the Legere is most like the the EDT and falls somewhere between the EDT and EDC.)

The more time I've spent wearing Habit Rouge Sport for long periods of time, the more convinced I am of its true Habit Rouge pedigree--the musk, vanilla base is straight out of the EDC.

[Derbyman]

I'm a BIG fan of this stuff, and urge everyone (even you staunch HR supporters) to try to evaluate HRS as a separate entity from the original HR.

Exactly! This is fantastic juice! If it had been given a completely different name and image it would have been hailed by many as a great return to form for Guerlain's male fragrances. It is complex, unique, long lasting and still recognisable as a Guerlain fragrance. I LOVE it!!!!

[perfaddict]

.....If it had been given a completely different name and image it would have been hailed by many as a great return to form for Guerlain's male fragrances....[/IMG]

My thoughts exactly. The name is an albatross to Guerlain. Most people (i.e. non-BaseNotes and even some) will look for HR references in it. Not finding much that is familiar, they will slate it at face value, thereby missing the bigger picture. That's the experience of retailers here with customers already familiar with the prior HRs.