Eau Parfumée au Thé Rouge

Aww.... it's The One That Got Away. Why does this always happen? Absolutely the standout of the generally respectable-but-dull Bulgari teas line - sharing the same very high quality and (once) good value for money with the rest, but doing something far more original and lovelier than any of the others. So OF COURSE this is the one I liked best, the only one that got discontinued, the one that turned into a minor cult, and the one that you can now only find at vintage-silly prices. And of course it's the one that I once saw years ago for pennies in TKMaxx, and considered for a while, but wasn't willing to blind buy given my bland experiences with the rest. Then I first smelled it, years later... and loved it beyond reason, only it was too late. This has to be my greatest personal fragrance fail ever. What it's got: something truly special - genuine, warm, persistent red tea at the centre (of a class that only stupidly expensive things like Memo Winter Palace or Floraikus can rival); an impeccable balance of warmth and freshness; a gorgeously clean and classy aura which never gets cold or overly sharp. It has a peppery, spicy, almost muskiness at the bottom end which binds to the skin in a way that feels intimate, not clingy. Totally unisex, quirky enough to be interesting without getting wilfully weird, would work in any setting, on anyone, dressed in anything, going anywhere. Just amazing. Amazing - but not perfect. It's damnably discreet, staying well within your personal space, not lasting as long as its magic should. It shares that teasing, evanescent, now-you-smell-it-now-you-don't quality of Malle's L'eau d'Hiver, trailing out a wisp now and then to tantalise you when your body heat, moisture and the weather allow it, then disappearing, leaving you chasing its wake. I'm eking out precious drops of the EdC and body lotion from a tiny travel set ... but pining for the chance to smell this one day as it should be, sprayed into a glorious puffy cloud from head to toe, if I ever find any at a sensible price. That's not likely to happen - its cult is well established, I don't think there are any remaining stocks to be rediscovered - but if you ever spot it at a non-antique expense, buy it (if only for me!). For now - I'll love what I have, and treasure the dregs of my set, but The Rouge will forever be the smell of wistfulness, and the sense of missing the (magnificent) boat on this one. ETA: ... aaaaand my years of pining are over AT LAST!!!: managed to snag an opulent and amazing full-body box set of this from a charity shop on eBay complete with soap, shampoo, lotion, conditioner, and a bottle for a very reasonable price. Love it more than ever. It still doesn't last as strongly as I want but my passion is undiminished, and I've come to realise the key to its appeal (for me) is that walnut note in the underneath - the special secret sauce that gives it juuust the slightest tang of peppery-oily-bitter which sets it apart from the rest. Keep on searching, The Rouge fans - it can still be found, if you're willing to way, and persistence pays off - I don't think anything has delighted me as much as finally getting this one.

WOW - I don't like florals or rose scented smells in particular BUT MAN THIS WON ME OVER! IT'S not noted as a rose or floral and I get the scents that are in the note pyramid on a deep smell (though the walnut maybe a bit abstract). But at a whiff it smells to me on the dry down like soft rose or rhubarb (I think soft rose is spot on) slightly musky interspersed with chamomile tea and fresh soft wood (more like soft fresh wood chip). Initial spray to me is of citrus and diluted rose. The black tea with milk and figs as a description didn't occur to me until reading here but that also works... If I was offered to purchase this on the description of Roiboos Tea as Bulgari describe it or on the pyramid alone I'd have said no thanks. I'm always curious though and it would've tempted me to at least try and Bulgari is one of my fave safe brands. As it happens I was gifted this in a First Class kit on Emirates ( I had a free upgrade - Awesome - Bonus - must've been my luckiest day of the year thingy!!). I tried it as a "what the heck" despite the unmanly packaging. WOW - what a CURIOUS UNIQUE SCENT I thought. How fresh and nice for a change from an aquatic. After a few hours I'd realised that not only did I like it but I wanted it!!! As soon as I was off the plane in Europe and heading to my connection I tried to purchase a full bottle. It hadn't occurred to me that this was actually a unisex scent. My brain just assumed that it was a mens kit therefore it was an odd perfume for men. Everywhere I went for two weeks people in the gents section did not know of a Bvlgari Rouge or whatever in a red bottle that smelled like faint roses and tea - and they looked weirdly at me... After googling it as an after thought and seeing it listed as a womens scent and or unisex on the return leg at Heathrow I realised I had to go the the ladies section and of course they had it. The girl said "Must be for the wife as it wasn't a common request!", I said "its actually for me"... she just looked me up and down and was like OK whatever... I walked away shaking my head but with a smile on my face... * Great longevity 4-8 hours * Low to moderate silage * Unisex but erring on the ladies side * Fresh and not overpowering Some times serendipity strikes...

Eau parfumée au Thé Rouge is an old favorite of mine. I remember sniffing it in the store around the time it came out, when I was a student and not particularly interested in perfumes. My friend and I loved it, but it was much too expensive for us at the time, and although we went back to the store a couple of times to pine over it, we soon forgot all about it. Years later I started obsessing about perfumes and when I began browsing Fragrantica I was reminded of this old crush. It seemed to be discontinued (is it?) so I got a bottle on a discount site, rather cheap, at least in the eyes of my current working self. I was curious to find out whether I'd still love this scent, and I'm happy to say that I do! It was love at first sniff again. I love to drink all kinds of tea, and this is the perfect tea scent to my taste; quite realistic, but not so much that it loses its perfume character. It smells exactly like tea, rooibos in the foreground and some black tea in the background, only it's not bitter at all. It's pretty sweet, but in a non-sugary way. I guess that must be the fig playing its part, but it's wonderfully well blended in, I don't think I would have picked it out without looking at the notes listed here. All in all it makes for a lovely, warm, comforting but mature smell. I love it throughout the year but I think it's at its best now, in the early fall. By the way, this is the only perfume my (almost exclusively male) colleagues have ever commented on, and it wasn't good. The longevity isn't good, so I sprayed some more on in the bathroom after lunch, and when I came into the office, where the windows were open, my colleague said "Oh God, now those idiots in the next office are smoking a water pipe!". I agreed with him and made a point to spray a bit less liberally with this one in the future...

I must start off by saying that this is not just a tea scent...In fact it only starts off as one and then develops into an exquisite fragrance that is very far from where it began! On first spritz, it very much reminds the smeller of a thick, rich red tea with all the trimmings...meaning it has a little spice, a little sweetness/creaminess, and a bit of zestiness. All of that is the beautiful mix of tea, bergamot & orange, fig, and a pinch of pepper. This phase lasts about an hour or so. It then develops every so smoothly (and quite stealthily) into a rich and creamy dream scent that is quite similar to Armani Code (I know this sounds insane, but you must try it to believe it!!) but lighter in many facets. I would call this a lighter and more complex version of AC because there is much more than just creamy and leathery (in AC, not this beauty) goodness going on. This middle phase lasts a good five hours or so. The last leg of this journey is just a delightful as the rest...the resins and the walnut note pop up in a fantastic sort of way and remain dominant through the end of the fragrance's life. I don't get much musk, but that's not a bad thing in my book! This last bit of scent can last the rest of the day (at least four hours) if you don't wash it off or sweat it off! My only complaint is that other than the initial blast, the projection isn't that massive, but with a longevity like it has, it is a wonder nonetheless! I give this a deliciously creamy 9.5/10!!! P.S. On my skin it is much more potent, creamy, nutty, and a bit more masculine than when my girlfriend wears it...for her it tends to be a much lighter, sweeter tea fragrance! Skin makes all the difference!

Eau Parfumee au The Rouge, though discontinued now, is a nuttier, cozier, woodier take on the original iconic Eau Parfumee au The Vert. The original opens with a dazzling lemon peel and the most perfect green tea accord that I think should set the industry reference point. Rouge, on the other hand, begins with a bergamot earl grey feeling. One immediately detects the slightly musty but very authentic scent of tea leaves after, along with a woody fig. Fig is a really odd accord to me because it can smell so different from fragrance to fragrance depending on how the perfumer interprets it: woody, ozonic, coconutty, fruity, shampoo-y... In The Rouge, it acts as the sweet varnish on the woody, nutty notes. As the fragrance develops, the warmer aspects become much more present: the plushness of woods, a slightly toasted walnut, a hint of ozonic, figgy sweetness throughout, like tea with honey and a dash of cream. The whole effect is somehow fresh, creamy, a little powdery, and cozy at the same time. A more meditative fragrance for sure, transparent and ethereal, nostalgic. This isn't a gourmand, but it does remind you of something you would drink on a cool, gray autumn day when you plan to stay in and read your favorite book. However, the juxtaposition of fresh and woody notes make it easy to wear in nearly any season. I especially like it for that irritating transitional time between summer and fall when beachy fragrances no longer feel appropriate, but it's still too hot to go in for the heavy stuff. Alas, once I finish my travel spray, I'll have to move on, but I'll enjoy this little beauty while it lasts.

I chose this blind based on reviews, my experience with Bvlgari, for my love of Rooibos (to drink) and fragrances with the tea note in them. And I'm happy to say that I am not disappointed in the least. On coming back to the notes to write this review, I decided to look up Yunnan tea. At first, I thought it was a sharp, robust, black tea according to the initial welcome. What I discovered is that Yunnan in its finest form is full of golden (black tea) buds and is fermented with lychee, rose and longan--smooth and sweet honey flavored with a gentle, floral aroma. This is exactly what the heart notes smell like, which I mistook for something of a Rooibos and rose tisane. The Rooibos lends a cleansingly warm, earthy character, while sweet, plump figs swim through the infusion and then transform into a heart warming resinous cushion. Where Elizabeth Arden Green Tea (another of my faves) is bright and uplifting, this fragrance is gently soulful and sensual. I really can't imagine a man enjoying the dry down as much as the opening after the transfiguration is complete. Most definitely a woman's fragrance in my book.. Longevity is also better than EA with a deeply penetrating allure. If you appreciate whole leaf tea and don't mind wearing it, this is sure to be a winner in your wardrobe.

my first review of au the rouge expressed disappointment. despite loving all the notes listed it did not work with my body chemistry at all and it kind of made me feel sick to wear it. at least, that's how i felt about it 2 years ago when i was a smoker and took birth control pills... today, synthetic hormone & tobacco free, i find this fragrance beautiful. it is delicate and unusual in a comforting way. the spice is soft, the rooibos tea is authentic, the nutty notes lend a gentle depth, and the citruses keep this from becoming too gourmand for my tastes. like many others, i find au the rouge wears and performs best in warmer weather. the opening is fresh and sweet, almost sparkling. the drydown is musky and warm; it doesn't project much but seems to stick around much longer than anticipated for a perfume of this concentration. this is suitable for times when you want something uplifting and subtle. i can't imagine many people being offended by the aroma of au the rouge as it sits close to the skin. it is alluring in an unassuming way. tranquil, reassuring, and warm. if there is such a thing as "tea-room sexy" au the rouge would be the shy sister to serge lutens' 5 o clock gingimbre. so glad i did not swap this after all. wouldn't be without it now, especially this time of year.

Of the Bulgari teas I smelled so far, Au The Rouge is my favourite. I love this one, since it gives off autumn vibes and sort of facilitates the transition from the hazyness of late summer to the cooler, clear air of september and october. The roibush and fig are prominent in this one, a huge plus for me as I love the smell of both. I also love the nutty dry down and the fact that it does indeed smell of walnuts and not some other nutty stuff. I’ve collected tons of walnuts together with my dad over the years and this reminds me of our trips together. Musc and walnut is a rather unexpected pairing, but somehow it works very well and the dry down is warm and embracing. Like an autumnal hug from mother nature. I bought a small vintage set of this and it contains an after shave, which seems rather peculiar when marketed as unisex. However, it is indeed completely unisex. Only problem, though a huge one in this case, is the longevity. After an hour it is so faint that you and you alone will even notice it. It becomes a skin scent very quickly and it is a shame, since it is indeed a fine fragrance that glows beautifully in fall.

I really have an affinity for tea scents that smell like tea and don't turn into some type of cinnamon or spicy hybrid. The tea is center stage in this one and is very wearable. I do not like it at all when it first goes on but it settles down quite quickly and become lovely. I'm not sure if the if the onset is unique to the eau parfumee or not but it doesn't matter because all the undesirableness dissipates within minutes. So many people refer to this as spicy and strong (other than the initial spray on) but I don't find it either. I find it delicate which is not to say this can not be worn by a man. It is unisex in a CK One kind of way (it does not smell like CK One) but more complex and much more enjoyable. I would love to smell this on a man actually. I live in a part of Texas that gets HOT during the summer and this is light enough that it will not get smattered and become some stinky abomination due to the heat. If you are looking for something pretty, powdery, floral, sweet fruity or very feminine this is not the scent for you. It is a very lovely tea scent that I think will work well for many people.

Lord how I LOVE this fragrance!!! I picked it up at Ross about three years ago (it's 2015 now) as a blind buy after enjoying selling Bulgari eau the vert to my shoppers at work. OH. MY. GOD. I was floored by this blind buy (my first ever blind buy at that, WHAT luck) instantly!! To me, it smells like the spoils of a harvest, and all the things I love about the cooler seasons. There's a real "dark fruit" quality to this, that's rich, beautiful, and simply effortless. It reminds me of stewed cherries, the subtly earthy smell of real silk fabric, and the pleasant smell of a being inside a well kept old wooden barn on a warm autum day (minus any animal or animal related smell). THere's something very "sundown," / "now the dark is coming but you have nothing to fear" about this scent. If you love fig, but without the earthy or sharp edge, love the smell and flavor of dark fruits, and are looking for a warm inviting scent that's not sticky or sweet or spicy or overly musky in any capacity...but warm while still being FRESH..this is the one for you. Simply delightful.

This is one of those perfumes I just was not so sure I would like, or not after reading all the reviews but since Bvlgari is one of my most favorite designers, I decided to give it a go. I must say, I find it delightful. I do not smell anything manly about this scent even though it is advertised as one of the unisex scents. The pepper is the first note that hits my senses, and it is very pleasant. I think it is the fig and walnut that really makes this scent unique to me. I am not too sure what tea is supposed to smell like other than the tea in my cup ;-) but whatever it is that makes this scent a combo of delight is okay with me. I was very hesitate about pulling the trigger on my wallet with this perfume due to all the reviewers saying it did not last that long on them. I do agree that the immediate awesomeness does not last nearly as long as I would like, but the lovely all around scent last all night on myself. I spray it on before bed for a cozy, comfortable feeling and it is still pleasantly lingering long into my morning the next day. So ladylike.

I love, love, love this scent! I own this fragrance in a set with the Bleu and the Vert ones and this is my favorite. Wise decision to bring back this one because it really is a timeless beauty. It is kind of fresh but not in a citrusy or herbal way, it is kind of dry but fruity and aromatic at the same time, it has some kind of sweetness, maybe the walnut and resin, that makes it warm and delicious, it is feminine but perfectly wearable for men as well. Unfortunately this is not very long lasting. The sillage is moderate and, depending on how much or how often you reapply it, people around you will notice it. To me the Vert is uplifting and the Bleu is balancing, this energising. I feel happy and full of positive energy when I wear it. It reminds me a lot of Hermes style, especially of Un Jardin en la Mediterranee because of the beautiful fig note, but Jardin has also a powerful cypress and cedar that make it a bit stronger and maybe a bit less feminine. Ideally I would wear this and my husband the Jardin for the perfect fig binge...

Wow, this is definitely my favorite Bvlgari scent so far! To me, however, it smells strongly of green and red apples and cherries! Those notes aren't listed above, though. Hmmm, there's definitely a little tea-like quality to it, but the overall scent is so lush cherry/apple, that I don't immediately associate it with tea. It's too young and juicy a scent to be truly tea-like. There's also the presence of citrus and bergamot. The main thing I can say about this scent is that it is fruity, youthful, juicy, and doesn't smell cheap! I love it so far... I also love the bottle! It looks classic and modern at the same time :) On me, the sillage may not be very good, but maybe this just isn't a "big" perfume... I still love it. The LASTING POWER, on the other hand is great... I sprayed some on a postcard a week ago and it is still clearly detectable! :)

I usually don't get around to buying a 2nd bottle of any fragrance as I bore easily (or they become "common") I'm on my 2nd bottle and looking for a 3rd. Oh how I love this fragrance! I would not consider myself an expert on fragrances and I won't pretend to explain notes, BUT I will say that I know what I like! I like interesting, different and complex fragrances. This is it. I like fruityflorals, this is it! I like a little spice, this is it!!! I tend to stay away from "too popular" fragrances, this is it!!! It was not love at first sniff but in a short while you get this lovely and mysterious wonder. I get many compliments! As with most of my most beloved frags I've learned that they've discontinued distribution here in the US, but for now it is still readily available at discount stores/sites. I gotta get a backup bottle to be safe!!!!

Starts out so warm and alluring and feminine, for about two minutes with the lactonic fig and pink pepper and then immediately evaporates into a more clean and unisex bar of expensive white soap, black tea leaves and that fresh, kind of chemical scent of the inside of a leather bag. Still gorgeous but a bit disappointing, why can't it just smell like the opening the whole way through? I definitely still like it a lot though, probably the nicest "soapy" scent I've ever tried. I will experiment with layering to warm it up because I do think this has the makings of a gorgeous everyday scent. EDIT: Never mind, I let this mellow for another hour and it is nothing short of incredible. It's been on my test list for almost 10 years now and I'm glad I finally got to it, what a beautiful, creamy, sensual, approachable tea scent.

I like everything about this perfume, the beautiful matte red bottle with gold metal cap and the uniqueness of the scent. I think it's the only red tea perfume I know of, and it's special to me because I not only enjoy rooibos but it is inspired by where my grandparents are from, Yunnan, where you can find some of the rarest teas. I can over-spray this perfume without offending anyone or giving myself a massive headache. It smells naturally beautiful and expensive. Woody, calming and a tiny hint of leather, not spicy or obnoxious. I have deep regrets not hoarding the perfume when I saw it on clearance, now it is actually quite expensive to obtain one and the newer bottles are plastic-y. I'm halfway finished with the bottle and I'm constantly torn between saving the last bit or treating myself to a spritz.

Love, love, love this one! I cannot get enough of it. I want to BATHE in it. I want to WASH MY CLOTHES in it. I want my nose to ALWAYS be able to detect it on my skin when I'm wearing it. On initial spray I smell tea leaves. However, like member phishgurl, my husband senses pipe tobacco (he doesn't care for the fragrance at this stage). Actually, I can detect a hint of tobacco, too, which I don't mind. I wonder if the fact that both tea and tobacco come from leaves is the reason for this? Anyway. I love ALL stages of Eau Thé Rouge: the strong tea scent at the beginning, the floral/sweet tea in the middle, and the creaminess at dry down. I can't discern the fig and walnut, but I'd imagine they contribute to Eau Thé Rouge's lovely milky dry down. If I could afford it, I'd hoard the stuff.

I just got a bottle of this and it is beautiful! It smells of tea with citrus and there is a milky/creamy component that is very soothing. I bought it blind and I am very pleased. I cannot see wearing this during the warmest months of the year as I imagine it being too "heavy" but for the spring as the temp is weird here in GA, going from warm-ish to cool and back again until Mother Nature makes up her mind, it is perfect for the coolest of days and perfect for the evenings. It almost reminds me of JM Earl Grey and Cucumber...ALMOST, and it may be because of the strong tea and beeswax of that scent. I doubt I'll buy it again, but it was a good buy overall. I cannot see it being masculine though. Not sure where that came from as it's really warm creamy and soft, but to each his/her own.

A blind buy for me!!! A delicious burst of citrus, pink pepper, and tea upon first spray. I was expecting something warmer to start from the other reviews. However, the nutty warmth of the walnut and sweet fig combo are saved for later on my skin, while the tea continues along like a beautiful sheer veil floating in the wind behind a bride's head. This is everything I wanted the very likeable BBW Brown Sugar Fig to be-- sans the plastic smell that would annoy me every so often, popping up out of nowhere from time to time. I love this Bvlgari much better than I thought I would. I find it a constant sniffer. The kind you just want to keep smelling because it's so enjoyable. It's also very intriguing and sophisticated. All year round worthy too. A new favorite for sure. :0)

My parents used to take us to a hotel in Switzerland that had this fragrance as their soaps and shampoos amenities. I somehow was obsessed with the scent of the soap and would always take the bottles home with me. Then I crossed the fragrance version of it and of course I had to purchase it. The scent is absolutely beautiful, very crisp, very clean. Its a luxurious soap scent that stays on your skin for a very long time. Its an incredibly easy fragrance to wear and spritz on, whenever and wherever you may go. Its a very classy scent and also reminds me of the crisp early morning forest walk in the colder months. It is not at all citrussy, which is how I love my clean fragrances. It is definitely a unisex perfume. Overall, absolutely stunning.