Habit Rouge Eau de Parfum

(Comparison of a 1988 EdT, a new EdP formulation, and a new Parfum formulation) This is silly. Why am I doing this. I’ve toyed with this for years. I’ve toyed with my “final” review(s) of the EdC/EdT through ad infinitum drafts that never seem to be done. Do I write separate reviews of these various concentrations and let them stand separately on their own? Do I put my thoughts on them together to appropriately showcase their marked differences, and let them stand on their own that way? Wouldn’t it make more sense to compare a new EdT formulation to the newer EdP and Parfum concentrations instead of an original EdT?... A significant reason for my wayward indecisiveness, which should be stated for full transparency, is that the EdC and EdT are going to be difficult for me to approach with any semblance of objectivity or rationality: the EdT is the first perfume I truly fell in love with. The first time I smelled it, many years back in my formative days, was an epiphany. I couldn’t get enough of it. After what was then a short number of years of only having explored a relatively small number perfumes that were highly commercial designer scents, finally getting to Habit Rouge EdT opened a door into a utopian world. “This is what perfumes can be like?!” To call it revelatory would be an understatement. For the purposes of this review, and for the sake of time and focus, I will leave the original EdC alone for a different time and focus here on the EdT; in a simple bullet point, the biggest difference is the higher strength and diffusiveness of the EdT, otherwise they are virtually the same. The EdT was the first HR I tried and has been a staple of mine ever since, I've gone through bottle after bottle, maintaining a rather obsessive collection of HR across various batches and formulations and concentrations for posterity, and marking HR as the only perfume that could get close enough for me to say it is my signature or my all time favorite. And, when really put to the task to assign a signature or favorite, it is the only one I’ve answered with. So, I’m going to give this a whirl, and accept that no matter what I write about one of the best perfumes ever made I am not going to be happy with what I write. Just take a swing, Nathan. It is what it is. Screw it. Let’s start with the Parfum. It opens with a bang of fruity rum notes. Something akin to the good ol’ effervescent bergamot of the original is trying to make its voice heard amongst the baritone roars but it just can’t, coming across instead as more of a slightly bitter, oily, boozy heat. What proceeds next is a browned caramel, boozy, leathery, vanillic, cured tobacco melange, and there it stays for the most part. The final skin scent leans a bit more dark woody, leathery, more bitter tonka than it is vanilla, and really calling to mind charred oak rum barrels. Habit Rouge has never been referred to as linear, until now with the Parfum. This has no frame of reference to the DNA that is Habit Rouge. Zero. This could (should) actually have been called something other than Habit Rouge. That said, if you can suspend annoyance, bias and preconceptions for a moment, it is very good. Though thick and rich - a big, suet caramel and boozy pudding of a perfume - it is easily wearable, maintains levity and breathability and never goes lumpen, it’s just on the right side of sweet, and very highly addictive. I wore this once during a frigid, snowy Christmas get together, where the smells of a wood fire in the hearth, roasting courses of a meal that took hours to consume, and baking desserts filled the air, family and friends hung on me all throughout the evening to get one more whiff. Habit Rouge though, it is not. The EdP tries for the effervescent bergamot opening and nearly achieves it except for an odd, oily, chemical finish that goes down the back of my throat. Once that calms down, the bergamot does come through as very convincingly HR with a bit more saturation and durability, as you’d expect from an EdP, and lasts for a surprisingly long time. Very slowly the floral heart starts to peak out that is balanced more towards rose than the EdT’s rose-carnation balance. This eventually cedes to a center-stage rose leather accord that is really quite beautiful. The rose is powdery, a touch creamy, and the leather is well-worn and suede-like in its presentation that really calls back to the original if but a bit stronger. The bergamot still carries on, albeit very quietly, and starts to link to the green facet of the patchouli in the base as the rose leather fully takes the stage. There is a regality and luxury to this heart layer of the EdP, compared to the more stately and austere layer of the EdT. The EdP then is a good option for the Habit Rouge lover that wants a bit more of a three piece suit feel, rather than dowdy equestrianism. It is plenty enough like Habit Rouge for me to say “yes, Habit Rouge” but it has its own character. The green facet of the patchouli rising upwards to link with the bergamot is a bit of a worry at first for those intimately familiar with HR, as I am. You question if this is going to descend into a dank green patchouli bomb as does so many masculines of the current day, but it doesn’t. That green quality stays very well behaved, lending a slightly bitter freshness and energy to the base and skin scent as the rest of the patchouli comes forward very faithfully to the original. The suede and vanilla remain as ethereal compliments before having more presence in the skin scent, which is true to the original with the leather, earth, woods, vanilla, and resins. The EdP is intended to be more luxurious and heavier than the EdC/EdT, but this careful and intentional balance of the green note with the earthy patchouli, suede, and vanilla makes sure that it does not get too heavy. There is a vibrancy to this regality and luxury. Lovely. Now for the EdT.... Ok, deep breath, Nathan; steel yourself, you can do this.... Sniffff.... Oh, dear god.... The sparkling, yellow-green and effervescent bergamot can cut through the darkest of moments. The conjunction of dusty aldehydes creates a hazy but determined sunlight that radiates from your person, not upon you. It is confidence and energy. There is a tango that starts with this bergamot and the fresh green herbs and slightly anisic woody notes coming up from the heart layer. The tension of this dancing pair is palpable, but instantly magnetic. The seamless lock-step movements with each other are stunning. Chills. It truly gives me chills. As the tango nears the end, a slightly creamy and heady carnation accented by woody spices comes in to resolve the tension. There is a bit of rose for breadth, and a touch of dry earth for depth, with the rose gaining intensity as time goes on. The rose stays on the side of gently powdery and pink, the accented tips of the petals of the carnation. The vanilla and leather at the base are in the background, quietly waiting their turn. They are clear on their instructions: let the rose, carnation, and spices have their turn; wait. The experience is all the better for it. As the base begins to take over, Habit Rouge still has plenty of tricks up its sleeve with this chypre plus amber combination. This blend is impossible. How does Habit Rouge have everything, a kitchen sink approach, yet presents as a fine broth made by a legendary chef rather than a soupy canned concoction a wannabe throws into a pot? Gently animalic leathers, a touch-sweet vanilla, creamy sandalwood, dry beige-brown and loamy patchouli, wisps of damp and green oakmoss, and resins of benzoin and labdanum that are just barely sticky like a very deep and slightly dried earthy honey; the rose and carnation gently caress the base before they depart. Just how. I can barely describe the dry down from the heart to the base without almost getting misty-eyed. It remains one of the most beautiful - and certainly probably my favorite - dry downs I have ever smelled. Nothing feels rushed, but timed exactly as it should be; the trees do not matter, it’s the forest we should be keeping an eye on. All the while the richness and diffusiveness become one with the air around you, never taking up a lot of space or attention but impossible to ignore. Ooof. I barely got through that, but yet I did. Hooray for me. In final thoughts, the Parfum is not Habit Rouge. It is quite good, but it should’ve been called something else. It has nothing to do with Habit Rouge. Therefore, if you like the Parfum enough to go full-bottle do not worry about putting a different Habit Rouge in your collection and creating redundancy. You won’t. The EdP is a faithful, appreciable, and wonderful reworking of Habit Rouge. For the Habit Rouge lover that needs a bit more oomph and saturation, it will do quite well, though the most noticeable differences will be the slightly off timing of the note evolutions, the greater prominence of the rose and leather, and some slightly screechy synthetic qualities - but the differences are negligible when the EdP is considered on its own, and rather simply a detraction relative to the experience of an original EdC/EdT when they are compared. The EdT is a masterpiece. Full stop. Yes, surely and certainly, it smells dated. Even in the 1960s when it was released it smelled a bit retro. But perfection doesn’t come with an expiration date. Yes, I used that word - and I stand by it. With nearly every perfume I have ever worn there is at least something about each of them that I could say I would slightly tweak a bit; at least a very tiny wishlist item that would make it a bit better. Not Habit Rouge. I would not change anything about it. If my home were to catch fire, there are three things I would grab: my partner, my dog, and my stash of vintage Habit Rouge. This perfume will be front and center of my collection, and with me for the rest of my days.

The EDT is hands down a masterpiece, a classic forever. As others have mentioned, we kind of slept on the EDP. The DNA is obviously the same, but it's been completely restructured. Notes that were in the background in the EDT are now coming to the forefront in the EDP, and it makes for a very interesting take on what made the original so great in a way that doesn't make it feel redundant whatsoever. As I once said, the EDT/EDP labels are a bit misconstrued these days, because modern aroma chemicals are strong enough to keep up with higher concentrations. What made the EDT so great were the very long, drawn-out transitions from start to finish. You get to enjoy every part of the fragrance until it fades equally. The effervescent citrus blend from the opening, which was tart, honeyed, and woody, is also here, but it's going a lot darker with redwood instead of rosewood, which had a gentle, rosy, woody nuance. This makes a huge difference, giving an impression of "sturdiness" instead of "gentle". Both are undoubtedly classy, but not old at all. Both have a very beautiful, airy rose, but in the EDP, carnation is tied with rose, giving a slight floral, spicy direction that the EDT doesn't commit to. The patchouli and sandalwood here also reveal their distinctive qualities a lot more, leaving the jasmine "opulence" a bit behind in favor of sandalwood and patchouli. Actually, the rest of what you get from the middle is quite the same; it just mutes some softer notes. Very, very lovely as well. Both have a slight soapiness, but powder is present in the background here. When the base notes start crossing each other, a much more distinctive difference with the EDP becomes apparent. It really wants to emphasize the vanilla and leather that the EDT had, but dialed to 200%. The benzoin and ambers give much more warmth than the EDT, with slightly more labdanum and leathery effects. And the addition of a much more musty, powdery wood is noticeable. Both are amazing, and honestly, it's a "take whatever situation". I think they're both super lovely, elegant, and classy. The EDT is my pick, but I can see someone preferring the EDP if they wished the leather and vanilla came out more, with an extra addition of woods. It's slightly less versatile than the EDT, but they project and last pretty much the same. Quite unisex as well. Another forever classic from Guerlain.

Keywords: baby powder, old lady, handbag, and fortune-teller. The rose and carnation on my skin and to my nose overpower everything else in this fragrance. Rose is a very pungent scent to me that perhaps I am sensitive toward. Strangely, the sweet vanilla note fades after the opening and the mid is just rose rose rose rose. Compared to the EDT, this is heavier and more vanilla-forward whereas EDT is just bright rose. This just isn't a fragrance for me, at this time, in this body. Maybe someday that will change. UPDATE: I've revisited the EDP and tested it on my skin alongside the EDT. It has grown on me. I'm new to perfumery and I believe I tested this on my hand the first try, which, looking back, was not a good idea. After revisiting, a newer note came out to me that I did not detect before: tobacco. For some reason the rose and carnation are more subdued that I remember. Soft powder, tobacco, cedar, rose, carnation, cinnamon, benzoin, a hint of leather and perhaps jasmine. I prefer the EDP to the EDT as it has more warmth to balance out the green notes, whereas the EDT is very green and floral without the smoothness and warmth that make me feel cozy. At times, this scent is dusty and powdery. The dusty quality reminds me of an old book from a library. It has this aged, sweet pulpy papery smell that can be a bit strange at times, but I believe this adds to the character of the scent and what makes this truly unique. It is magical how scent changes with time and method of application. My nose has "grown" a palette and I'm learning to appreciate things I may not like at first smell. What I love about Guerlain's older scents is how truly multi-dimensional they are. The quality of the ingredients and the mastery of blending to create something that is symphonic and dynamic--while being affordable. If you are new to perfumery like I am, make sure to revisit scents you do not like often. There is always something to learn.

Purchased July 2019 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - My first bottle with some oud in it. Don't believe it had it listed here all them years ago, but it blends perfectly deep in the dry down and makes every bit of the mids and lows the headlining act. I came back to say this is one of few scents and colognes that I could wear at the drop of a hat and be happy. That makes it a year-round dumb reach for me, lucky to be living where I am. It's so warm and cozy, gentlemanly and stiff upper lip, leather jacket and donegal, prince of Wales and flannel, denim and cord. What a well done classic. It's almost an acquired taste, yet, everybody loves it - they just won't admit it; women and men. It's a superbly professional bottle that nobody properly understands and if Heritage is half as good as this well then I may just need that one too. It's easily forgotten, yet fondly remembered. All people around me love HR EDP, I can feel it. This cologne has E.S.P. Batch: 8F01 from June 2018. Edit: I have a clone, locally made and sold (glad to support my country's industry), of M7 which smells like my HR EDP but can oversprayed unlike when doing that with Habit Rouge EDP it becomes something like Cinnabar/JHL; and I don't want that from this Guerlain. It must be like M7 apparently is, stupidly missed out on that one when I started on this website but who cares. My clone is the bomb, lasts two days if I spray it to the amount I spray anything from the chemist. What a fabulous scent too, just smells like fragrance. Forget about man or woman, it smells like the essence of fragrant chemistry. It's not generic, though it can beat my Guerlain which I've loved for years and never bothered overspraying. The HR EDT remains citric and doesn't go into M7 territory. Fun owning both, though I'm sure the EDT smells closest the '60s EDC which is what my father grew up around/with.

Scent: 10 Lemon, rose, vanilla, leather... Some of my fabourite aromatic notes in one perfume and very good balanced. Compared to the edt version this is much better. The edp is more woody and elegant. A little bit less citrus and vanilla but more woods, leather, and resines. It makes ne remwmber some lemon candys that i had when i was a child: lemon sugus! I find It very similar to shalimar although this is more intense and powerful. Longevity: 8 This fragance has a good longevity. It lasrs clearly around 4-5 hours but you can still feel it 8 hour after. In clothes you can smell It the whole day. It lasts more than the edt on my skin. Sillagen: 6 What is true is that this is not a beast perfume in projection. This is more like a personal fragance, very adecuated for dates or when you dont want yo stand out. The edp versión has a better projection the first two hours but It has two important differences with this fragance: the smelling is more acid and animalic while the edp is more elegant and sweet, and the edp is more stable, It means that after two hours thw edt begins todo disappwar changing a lot and getting some weird smelling on my skin but the edp keep a very nice soft smelling during the 4 hours It lasts. Quality/price: 6 I have paid 70€/100ml cause here i couldnt find It cheapper. However i have seen It for 50€ on internet (i give a 8 un this case because It has a very good quality). I hace seen here the edt for 60€/200ml but i prefer the edp although It is a bit more expensive. Versatility: 10 I trink this is a perfume suitable for any time or ocassion. I find It totally unisex as well. One of the most versatile perfumes i own un my opinión. Global: 8

I tried this perfume based on a couple of tips I got for perfumes in a similar vein to Shalimar. I was a bit hesitant at first given I'm a very girly woman, though with a big heart for orientals and heavy classic fragrances and this perfume isn't that common to find in my country. I tried it and though it really isn't Shalimar, I get why it was recommended to me. It has a citrussy opening, a rich deep layered scent which projects quite far, and it has a distinct "bygone era" vibe. It developped beautifully on my skin. It has everything I like in old perfumes and I find lacking in newer ones. It has a richness, an interesting development, and quite natural scents. To test if I would like it and whether it would stay for a long time, I spritzed it on my bed coverings. I still smell it two days later and the smell is still rich and interesting. Habit rouge is like sniffing an old leather diary of Indiana Jones full of yellowed pages still scented with adventure. It's a sunny day in an Italian library when the window's open and the citrus scents from the nearby lemon and bergamot trees are blowing in. It's a dark academia scent worn by your interesting professor. It's what you imagine an equastrian smelling like, the leather of their saddle and gloves blending with the outdoor scents of their ride and their cologne. It's a scent that smells warm like winter and sunny like summer. It's the scent of a femme fatale from the 40's who just rolled out of her lover's bed and stole his perfume and shirt before walking out with a devil may care attitude. I think habit rouge will be my next purchase.

Sampling Guerlain Habit Rouge EDP, the 2003 flanker (the first, I believe) to the original 1965 EDT version, and a fittingly denser alternative to the EDT. Described as entailing a bled of leather, oud, vanilla, and patchouli, I find that it has most of the sort of citric/sharp/fresh/iris-like powder mixed with vanilla that, for me, so defines what I’ve smelled of the Habit Rouge line, along with some spices and the suggestion of leather and rose, something seemingly present in the EDT and Rouge Prive versions, also, but less so the Parfum and Spirit Parfum. It’s not a huge surprise that in total, the EDP is denser, heavier, sweeter, and the EDT is lighter, fresher, more citric, and therefore a bit easier to wear as an everyday fragrance, whereas the EDP leans more toward both Parfum versions in density while still being somewhere in between in terms of character and performance, lacking some of the boozy, oaky qualities of the Parfum versions. Certainly the contrast between the EDT and the Parfums is more palpable than between the EDP and Parfums. The EDP is a nice compromise among the five or so versions that I’ve tried, a way to enjoy some of the vanillic gravitas of the Parfums while still feeling fairly closely connected to the original EDT. Overall, it’s outstanding. The EDP seems to be one of two versions, the other being Spirit Parfum, sold via the house website in the US, priced at $150 for100ml, though it is also available via various grey market websites. 8 out of 10

Like "SkunkApe" below, I get the very strong soapy/talc and Carnation/Rose opening, but I absolutely Love it! It's the same opening I get with Versace Versus Uomo, which is my signature scent. I get virtually NO citrus, and that is good, because I don't think I would like a strong lemon clashing with the rose that other reviewers have noted. If citrus is in there, it is overpowered by the rose and carnation, or it is blended so well that it just supports the rose rather than clashing with it. The vanilla shows up in about an hour, and then the scent really takes a nose dive (pardon the pun). I get some leather and a bit of amber, but it really is a skin scent in about 2-3 hours on my skin. With the powerful opening it has, I thought it would have much more longevity. I wish the leather was amped up more, along with the woods in the drydown. I love this fragrance simply for the opening, but it could be so much more. Overall, I do Love it though. Edit: I got the EDT 2015 version, and although I love it, I still love the EDP just bit more. From reading other reviews, it appears that the 2015 version still doesn't have the powerful citrus opening that the newest version has. The 2015 version has more of a citrus opening than the EDP, but it's not too much citrus. Any more citrus would be too much, so I'm glad I got the 2015 batch. The vanilla is dialed back in the EDT, but the rose is still strong. As with the EDP, I wish the leather was more prominent.

Such a beautiful fragrance, and one of Guerlain's most underrated. I bought HR L'eau ages ago since it seemed a bit more modern and wearable. Recently, though, I was able to test the EdP and felt like a damn fool for not getting a bottle earlier. It is stunningly smooth, perhaps a little old-school, but not dated as I had expected. I see the comparisons to Shalimar; this definitely has that vintage Guerlain DNA. Imagine Shalimar with the lemon dialed down, the rose amplified, and the deep smoke replaced with dirty-powdery carnation. Reduce the rose again, add a bunch of jasmine, and voilà: HR L'eau. What more can I say? This is a gorgeous masculine/unisex rose-carnation-vanilla-lemon-leather masterpiece. The blend is superb, the performance stellar. For me, the lemon is not at all agressive; it remains in perfect sync with the fresh rose (not artificial at all) and smooth (but not sweet) vanilla. The carnation and leather are in the background, and they thankfully never overwhelm the florals; that is what distinguishes this from something like Derby by Guerlain or Bel Ami by Hermès. HR EdP is a bit of a dandy, but more refined, with a very understated sexiness. Marvelously genderless and versatile in terms of season and time of day. I am so glad I revisited this and will be adding it to my collection soon. Guerlain never ceases to leave me sniffing for more. :) Update: The later stages of the drydown smell like Turkish delight!

I am not going to write a philosophical treaty on that one, since a lot has been already said. It's my first sniff today (thank you Aetherealist for the decant), and I now understand the legend. Beautiful citrusy opening, followed by rose (delicate, not a crushing one). Fantastic vanillic sandalwood & patchouli drydown supported by leather and delicate round oud in the background, that trained noses will easily spot (disregard the note pyramid here, it's unaccurate). Not very complex, just a perfect blend. Aside of being a masterpiece, this fragrance has a major historical importance: indeed in 2003, with Habit Rouge (EDP), Jean-Paul Guerlain introduced agarwood to western perfumery, for the very first time (YSL M7 was the first western oud-centered fragrance, not the first to use oud). That said, I have to agree with others that projection is quite modest. Overall, the real definition of timeless: a perfectly tailored powdery amber with a hint of freshness. Despite a lower than average performance, it's a fantastic creation by Jean-Paul Guerlain, that my grandfather and my father could have worn, that will be on my regular rotation list from now on, and that will probably be as well on my son's rotation list in the future. (The far future). Edit: while it's not a beast, I have to say that projection is afterall ok. I can still smell whiffs from under my shirt 3 hours after spraying.

Confident, outgoing and optimistic, Habit Rouge Eau de Parfum has a lemon-tangerine-bergamot opening, deeper than the Eau de Toilette original and with no margarita accord this time. Labdanum & benzoin join to create a citrus-amber tension that improves on the EdT while still reminding me of fruit-flavoured sherbert, with sandalwood and cinnamon providing the powdery texture. Carnation, rose, labdanum and benzoin dominate in the heart as it shifts into its spicy-floral-amber stage, the bergamot bouncing around and the remainder of the Guerlinade notes also stepping out of the shadows. The spawn-of- Shalimar thing starting to make sense. Then onward, becoming surprisingly leathery — a tame and supple leather — but with Habit Rouge 's old-fashioned carnation/clove and powdery sandalwood accord dating it somewhat. And so it goes until the armagnac-like patchouli takes up the baton with the sandalwood and moss, pushing things down a glorious, woodier route in the drydown. Habit Rouge is from a different era of perfume construction. I love its upbeat, sunny disposition, its complexities and progression — its final stages are stunning — but because some of its notes and the powderiness have fallen far from fashion, it's not particularly versatile.

I always thought the EDP would be redundant but finally got it, after getting the Parfum as well. The EDP is a deeper concentrated aroma profile which is perhaps more contemporary than the EDT. The vanilla, leather and mossy-woods are amped up, making the dry down rich and very enjoyable. It lacks the notes journey of the EDT; after the opening it quickly moves to the dry down. Overall it has a sensual refined and quite sophisticated character. Longevity is as good while projection is armslength, leaving a scent presence behind, even after having left a location, as do the EDT and the Parfum. While the EDT has a higher all seasons versatility, the EDP and Parfum add options for different, particularly seasonal and formal occasions preferences. I love the EDT and EDP, though the EDT remains the most interesting because it delivers the still very unique magical scent development no other perfume can match for me. The Parfum turned out to be too different from the HR DNA, and I won't keep it. The two Habit Rouges provide an excellent choice for anyone seeking elegance and sophistication. SPNKr's suggestion to layer the EDT/EDP is worth to check out as well, yet I prefer to enjoy them individually on their own merits.

This smells like nothing else. It is so well blended, so luxurious , so Guerlain. You definitely get the citrus opening, the rose and the vanilla to smooth things out. Even though I see this being worn in a more formal situation I just can't help spraying it random and in casual situations. It's just that good, it's addictive and you smell like no one else on the street, mall, office etc. You will definitely stand out even though the projection is not that high but it does create that nice bubble around you (1-1.5m). There is nothing else to say that hasn't been said for years (decades) now. It's just a classy, fantastic smelling, amazingly blended , unique, oriental Guerlain. I absolutely love it. The only thing that I see not working with this fragrance is that I don't see it being worn in really hot summer days but I think there's a EDC that might solve this problem but I don't seem to find it anywhere. Blind buy, I don't think so. Some people might not even like it even after they try it but an "educated" nose will definitely appreciate this classic. All hail Guerlain!!

There are fragrances that are obviously marketed to "the modern man," trying to either set or cash in on a current trend, and then there are fragrances like this. Habit Rouge exists outside of spacetime. Admittedly, this is not a scent DNA that one may be immediately familiar with, and an initial reaction may be to bestow the "dated" or "old man" epithet. I feel an amount of regret for those whose olfactory experience may be so limited by "modern" scent DNA. The dusky rose/lemon/leather accord is timelessness in a bottle, gentlemanly yet self-assured. You may need to give this one time to fully appreciate, but I believe it is well worth the resultant enjoyment. Comments on longevity must always be viewed as anecdotal on these forums, but this is one of the longest lasting perfumes in my entire collection. I can smell it for 24 hours on clothes and even lightly on skin, easily lasting all day long with 4 sprays. Habit Rouge is one of a few in my collection that I get a real craving to wear. It is a beautiful fragrance.

I tried both Habit Rouge Eau and Habit Rouge EdT before the parfum: the first was nice, but too watery; the second, though even nicer, was a little too sharply lemony in its first blast. The EdP is everything I would want: it has the lovely (and still surprisingly masculine) mixture of lemon, rose, carnation, vanilla and leather, but the lemon is less overpowering, and the underlying vanilla creaminess is quite a bit more pronounced. It still surprises me this was such a big hit when it came out, because vanilla and rose used to be thought to be decidedly feminine ingredients; but the Habit Rouge line has been a champion for Guerlain since its introduction in the early 1960s. This can be worn day or night, and on all but the very hottest days. It's a classic, but it's still very modern. And like many Guerlain fragrances, its elegance belies its affordability. (I wish only that the current Guerlain bottles didn't look like tiny mouthwash bottles...)

Tried this on a few times over the last 2-3 years and even though I loved immediately I pulled the trigger only yesterday. Love the timelessness of it. It smells like a classic gentleman scent from the 20th century in a great way. I like that it stands out. Love the florals, the cinamon, benzoin and redwood. It sits close to my skin after the inital arm length projection which lasts about an hour or two. Depending on what you’re after this may be a strength or weakness. I prefer it like this since I have other scents in my collection when I need stronger projection. Lasts about 6 hrs on my skin. I can see this on older guys 30+ but if you’re younger, you can try it out, and if you like it who am I to say you shouldn’t rock it. Has a unisex vibe so by all means if you’re a lady give it a go. Does this even matter? Wear what you love no matter how the companies market their products.

Starts off powdery and soft. Then a tidal wave of citrus, mostly lemon. Then the powder continues but starts to head toward sandalwood more. Then a beautiful rosewood and suede tone comes through with just a hint of that lemon, just enough to tease you but never the sharp lemon from the open. Then the rosewood matures into more of a rose with suede velvet undertones and that hint of lemon still but the lemon is there just enough to make everything else pop. Really nice stuff. I have a casual relationship with money. I really don't care what things cost. Typically I would turn my nose up at something in this price range at face value. However, this has all of the quality I would expect from a guerlain at any price point. Also I disagree with the idea of needing to dress up for this or any other fragrance. If your brain is fancy then that's just who you are.

Habit rouge is such a good and beautiful perfume, filled with qualities, distinction and presence He is neither garish nor weak, he is of character and nobility, he is a gentleman all by himself It is leather, it is dynamic, it is calm, strong and soft It is not complex however, everything comes quietly, on a leather which lends itself perfectly to everything it supports. I had a hard time enjoying it a few years ago ... but once you get to know it, it has something that a lot of perfumes don't have ... This contrast between sweetness and character is unique to this Habit Rouge The bottom is a delight that only the privileged (e) s know and will know It is so suitable for cold atmospheres outside and warmed from inside ... I will not see myself wearing this leather in summer, on hot days

Where do i start with this one? This has to be one of the greatest fragrances created! I don't care if people say that this is for older persons or not, the scent is excellent, from the fresh citrus spritz at the start to the vanilla / leather dry down. The fragrance is multi faceted, the floral aspect is balanced by the wood elements, so it never becomes sweet. The dry down is heavenly, I've read on the reviews that some people says it smells like Soda pop, they're not that far off, as the Vanilla mixed with the rose, wood, patchouli & leather gives that impression! Longevity is impressive at 8 hours, projection albeit is moderate. It is different from the EDT so do not consider this as a stronger version of the EDT. I consider Guerlain to be one of the best perfumery houses still.

I love this one, and imo it's fully unisex -- more unisex than some of my niche and middle eastern 'unisex' scents i've sampled. Sweet, realistic citrus, lemon and a lime that makes me think of key lime pie, with rose-carnation and jasmine, with a base of sweet, spicy resins and powdery smooth glove leather. It's clearly what inspired Etat Libre d'Orange's Fils de Dieu Riz et des Agrumes, though FdDRA has added coconut note and rice, which pulled it too 'foody' for my taste. The Guerlain also feels like a higher quality, with a smoother more natural seeming scent journey. Longevity is impressive, though it sits close to the skin. I can see wearing this frequently especially in spring and fall. This review is referencing a red-topped vertical bottle with a 2017 batch code.

There's been less than two times where I have ordered another bottle of a perfume within minutes of receiving and testing one I just opened. This is that time. The same, illogical centre of the brain that is affected by this scent is the one who is compelled to (quite camly and sensibly) order more as soon as it is received. It's that good. EDP is definitely related to EDT, and yet they are so different, it's like winning first prize in the Guerlain lottery, twice from different tickets. If a world government sprayed this into the air and onto its population, I'd move to where it was happening. Why aren't we sprayed with this when we are about to get off an airplane? I spent maybe 2K on other fragrances to get to Guerlain and find my paradise, a reasonable fare, I say.

Its a pleasant long lasting gentlemans rose flavored barbershop fragrance. It smells of a well groomed, mature, unabashed gentleman. To wear this means that you are comfortable with yourself and can handle yourself with dignity and strength. When paired with Guerlain Vetiver its a super layer monster. Easily lasted 8 hours and had a moderate sillage. Its not going to be a compliment puller because this is a frag that says "I know. I got this." Frags being subjective and everyone interprets them a little differently.. I get rose and carnation from start to finish. It is not a womans floral. It is definately a masculine floral and the slight woodiness, green notes and cinnamon are what enforces this as distinctly male. Overall. I rate this as a 8/10.

Habit Rouge EDP (New Edition) is another Guerlain masterpiece that won me over elegant, timeless, and surprisingly wearable in summer thanks to its bright citrus and powdery-woody dry-down. It’s a scent I truly love, radiating refined sophistication. That said, the performance is very weak for an EDP—it barely lasts 3-4 hours on my skin, which is disappointing at this price point. While overpriced for its longevity, the artistry of the fragrance still makes it worth experiencing. Would I repurchase? Yes, but only during a sale this one’s for die-hard Guerlain fans who prioritize scent over staying power.

Habit Rouge Eau de Parfum is magnificent! The lemon, orange, jasmine, and rose sparkle on top of patchouli, resinous benzoin and rich soft supple leather. It’s like a perfectly-blended old fashioned with the woodiness of an aged bourbon, a twist of orange, simple syrup, two dashes of fragrant bitters on a leather coaster. It stays closer to the skin than the edt (which I also love!) but it’s appropriate that this one stays close and instead captivates the wearer and those in his trail with its intelligent, masculine intensity. It’s a brilliant creation from the venerable house of Guerlain!

Oh wow. I wasn't sure what to expect since this was first released in 1965. But, it is pure class in a bottle. I definitely get the comparison to Boucheron Jaipur. It has that same kind of clean, soapy elegance. If you're a guy for whom rose is a turn off, then you'd probably want to skip this one, but I really like it, as long as it's used tastefully. Custom made for cooler evenings, but could be worn on a gentle Spring day just as well. Fantastic longevity. Not one I could see a young person wanting to wear, but the 30 and up crowd could rock this with authority. Classy and classic.

I’ve been using Habit Rouge EDT for many years and never been curious about the Eau de Parfum, as I always thought it was redundant to have it. Reading the notes, they are the same. How mistaken I was! Although sharing the same dna, they are very much different. The EDP is like a better tuned orchestra.... Modernized, better behaved and wearable than the much beloved EDT. I love both.... But if I was forced to choose, I would stay with de EDP, as it is smoother and more discreet, with a modern twist with better smelling leather and fresh sweet vanilla, while toning down the citrics.

I picked this up as an alternative fresh/citrus warm weather scent - a style I don’t usually love. This has a gorgeous fresh lemon, rose and vanilla accord. Classy and relaxed. Not huge longevity or projection, but that’s fine for a summery scent, just respray once or twice in the day and in return it won’t choke you out in the heat. One drawback is that my GF finds it reminds her of Pond’s cold cream. Adds perhaps to the relaxing quality of the scent, as she associates it with something you’d use before bed, but not a sexy pick or shared bottle for her.

Epic Journey Into the Bottled Yonder, 081 ------------------------------------------------------- Purchased July 2019 Hell yeah, spray this with the EDT and you got a super scent. It's better on its own to the EDT. Very charming, alluring, mysterious vs. the EDT. My folks still talk about the 1960s EDC and I'm sure I'd remember it if I could smell it, but it feels as though I missed out on it since it's been discontinued for maybe over 1.5 decades. That's why I have these two elegant frags, and turns out you can layer them. Batch: 8F01 from June 2018.

This fragrance is beautiful, a classic gentleman's fragrance it's a little fruity, warm has some spice too a beautiful rose note that perfectly combines with vanilla as it dries down it gets a little woody but remains powdery at the same time, I know that may not make sense but I don't know how else to explain it, This will probably be more suited for a more mature guy but if you are younger and have the confidence go for it. To me it doesn't feel dated but I'm also a old man so maybe it is but either way I love this fragrance

This is a gem of a fragrance, i have been trying to decide which i prefer out of the edt and edp, i have gone for this one, it gives me the wow factor every time, its a denser smell than the edt which is fresher, both are fantastic but my mind is made up, i am quite new to guerlain but now understand why french perfumers have been the best in the world for a long time. I will add that i agree with a few others that have said this has an extremely dirty sexy vibe. Love it.

I love this. I'm a woman but I consider this one too good to leave it to men. Projection is small, that's true, but longevity is quite good indeed (at least for the awful Guerlain's standards). It's lemon vanilla, with some rose and a suave leather background. The drydown is incredibly pretty: a bit poudery but in a nice, fresh, sandalwood way and it last hours and hours. This is a classic, so modern and so unisex: everyone deserves a bottle of Habit Rouge.

As one reviewer noted I also get that Boucheron Jaipur vibe. This one is an old classy type scent that is rosey and powdery with fantastic performance (10 hours plus). Its for the more mature fella and reminds me of something my great-grandfather would have worn. Its very unique and I will look forward to putting this in my rotation when my bottle of Jaipur runs out. They seem to occupy the same type of unique old school space.

What a difference from the Eau de Toilette. I prefer the Eau de Parfum much more. I guess it's more "modern" with the addition of Oud others mentioned. I think it smells overall smoother - the lemon, rose, leather are more balanced, rounder. The eau de toilette seems to have a sharper citrus top note and a more powdery vanilla dry down. I'm glad Guerlain continues to make both for everyone's personal preference.

Habit Rouge and Shalimar are close relatives, but different. Twin brother and sister maybe? Habit Rouge starts with an amazing blast of lemon before drying down into a leathery oriental. If you don't want to give up your orientals in the summer heat, this is the ideal choice. If you are used to Shalimar strength, this is toned down and despite the EDP classification, I would say it is lighter than Shalimar EDT.

This is the fragrance my dad used to wear. I have a lot of good memories with this one and even if my dad used to wear it, I don't think that it smells old. It's a very pleasant, classy fragrance. Definitely not an attention grabber but just a nice, fresh, fruity fragrance which is suitable for all seasons. Maybe some people would find it kind of feminine but for me it's more an unisex one. A solid 9/10 for me.

Excellent fragrance!! I understand why this is a "love it or hate it" scent, but I love this so much! It has this old school vibe, but not your usual barbershopy fragrance. The rose and lemon are prominent in the first hour or so, then the leather and woods take the center spot and keep going until the end. Amazing scent, really good longevity on my skin, average projection. Best 30 bucks I've spent this year!

This is a fragrance with depth and character. The citruses are to die for...the rose with the vanilla "guerlainade"and sandalwood are charismatic, and sometimes I'll detect an ample amount of patchouli on warmer days. This has more depth and I enjoy this slightly over the EdT. This is sophistication with personality. I usually don't hand out numerical ratings, but for Habit Rouge, this is easily 10/10.

I bought a bottle of Habit Rouge EdP years ago. I use it infrequently, but there are some occasions that almost demand it. Similar scents that I have owned, so long, usually develop unpleasant top notes. My bottle of EdP has only mellowed and bloomed in the mid-notes, and I love this bottle of Habit Rouge more than ever. I am constantly surprised by this bottle. Guerlain is a magnificent perfume house.

EdP - This exudes class like nothing else if you wear it right. At the same time, it smells like my grandpa. It needs a "classic" character to carry it. Think of Thierry Wasser or the guys in Taylor Swift - Blank Space. Without the dress pants, I would associate the smell with old people and dislike it. Takes time to appreciate this smell. Maybe get a sample first.

A Great Classic! that doesn't show any sign of aging, as modern as it was when released. Shalimar with a drop of Rose. Not similar to Tom Ford Noir EDP by any stretch of the imagination, at least not to my nose. Noir is OK but I find that it can get a bit vulgar at times, while HR is pure classy refinement as always expected from Guerlain.

Sexy in an elegant, classy way. The man who wears this is a proper gentleman; well read, minds his manners, never swears in the presence of a lady. I get tart citruses with a decadent vanilla. As it dries down, the vanilla stays around and is accompanied by light, powdery florals. It's pretty cozy and smells wonderful in the air.

This is my first experience with this clssical fragrance. I ́ve wanted to try it for so long and finally it is here. I must say I love it. But for me it ́s more like Jicky than Shalimar. I miss there incense and feel more leather notes. Very interesting fragrance I think I would wear it too, although I bought it for my husband.

The EDP reminds me of YSL M7, the original formulation. It opens with a short blast of citrus, then settles into the smae exact smell as Avon Skin-So-Soft insect repellent. It is heavily citronelol influenced for the first hour or two. It then becomes very oud-esque in the dry down, & thus enters the M7 similarity phase.

Habit Rouge, the red coat. Every time I put this on I hear the classic jazz song ending, "Shave and a haircut, five cents." For me, this stuff is THE classic barbershop scent. It's class, comfort and a smile in a bottle. I couldn't love this juice more. Absolutely brilliant fragrance from a classic house. 5/5 stars.

Habit Rouge opens with a distinctly citrus kick then evolves into a beguiling mix of leather, smoke and patchouli : a lighter version of Chanel's hugely impactful Le Lion (and at a fraction of the price per spray!) The perfect accompaniment to autumnal walks or wintry evenings in. Gooooorgeous!

good! carnation drives me crazy. it is put where it should be. super elegant refined forces you to be able to wear a tuxedo. I love this perfume, I bought liters. the bottles are cheap no weird design for guerlain which is considered top, from bee shaped bottles in gold crystal made small cans

Official description from Guerlain website: Oriental. passionate, sophisticated, audacious. Habit Rouge expresses itself directly in a spicy, woody heart, nuanced with neroli and jasmine notes. Leather and oud wood notes blossom in the base, tempered by the sweetness of vanilla and patchouli.

Great scent by Jean Paul Guerlain, Great projection and longevity, probably the only fragrance with rose that I would ever wear, very refined and classic, got a lot of compliments on Habit Rouge, great for fall/ winter days, all in all no Guerlain experience is complete without Habit Rouge.

Not 100%, but I get a little essence of Hanae Mori HM from Habit Rouge EdP. Also, this is certainly a warm-weather fragrance, to some extent. Maybe not that much above 90F (32C), but the playfulness of it really shines in moderate to warm temps (which includes most indoor spaces).

I never smell like this perfume before I impressed and I fall in love with this perfume. about smell first I smell lemon with leather then it will change in.15-20 minutes to rose and leather. when I smelled last time it was changed to rose and vanilla and leather