Habit Rouge Parfum

Been sitting on this review for a while, just to make sure I'm doing it justice. Well, after a number of occasions wearing HRP, I have to say, I am simply blown away. Guerlain have achieved an amazing feat, a masterclass of blending excellence, taking advantage of the original HR DNA whilst managing to endow it with a delightful, niche underbelly. It has the instantly recognisable floral and citrus punch of the original EDT, but less glaringly so, rounded off by a chocolatey-patchouli and vanilla-rum middle and a strongly animalic base. There is a touch of leather too, but very much playing a supporting role. I love the way the vanilla has been absorbed into the other notes, sweetening them slightly without ever taking over and becoming one of those horrid cookie dough scents. Honestly, I don't think I've ever encountered such a replete and well-balanced composition. HRP has become my special occasion scent, above all others. My first choice when I want to impress. Could I wear it for any occasion? No. Definitely not. This is a scent with the capacity to overwhelm if not handled carefully. It will not hide in the general mist of a crowded room. It will not be silenced. I got my first bottle delivered to work, a few months ago, and half a spray was enough, if not too much. It gets you noticed though, oozing class and self-confidence. Not a scent for wallflowers! Lifelong HR EDT wearers might struggle with this particular iteration of their beloved brand, as I know they really buy into the ferocity of the leather/citrus/rose punch that partners the original. However, the increased number of notes extant in the HRP, and the more even-handed approach taken towards blending the levels, might seem incongruous to trad HR EDT wearers, but objectively speaking it's really difficult to find fault. To my eyes, this is the PERFECT special occasion scent. Plus, I found a 100ml bottle for just over £80. What an absolute bargain...what an absolute belter of a scent! (P.S. I first tried this through a sample decanting firm, and the impression then was very different to the full bottle experience I get now. Some scents really suffer from being oxygenated through the decanting process, and this appears to be one of them. Try your samples over the counter, or just take the plunge.) (P.P.S. In people's efforts to describe HRP to the uninitiated, I've seen a number of interesting comparisons with other well-known marques. To my nose, the best comparison that can be made, is to imagine Musc Ravageur accompanied by a big old slug of carnation/rose oil. The chocolatey-patchouli of HRP actually smells quite a lot like MR's sandalwood note, and they're both heavy on the animalics...MR the more so, of course)

I was expecting something else(it was a blind buy). I also have the edt version(not my cup of tea but it's a solid(I could say timeless) fragrance especially for a mature man/nose) This one is such a nice surprise. It has vanilla, lots of vanilla(but a very nice one, a niche/exquisite type of vanilla not an usual designer one). But it's balanced by the aroma of rum (just the right amount), a delicate note of leather, some patchouli. A perfume that gives you a special mood. The opening is funny, cherry cola always comes to mind. This part lasts for a few minutes, after which the rum and leather notes with vanilla in the background intervene. This part is pleasant, but in the base notes...wow, what a pleasant vanilla although I am not necessarily a fan of this note, even more so if it is a predominant one (especially since today's perfume market is bombarded with a vanilla/tonka combination that is often uninteresting, redundant). But what they did in this perfume is very beautifully done. Let me not forget, it has something else in the background, small fragments of the original and which adds another plus to the originality. It also performs well without being aggressive, it is there for a very long time but without being harsh nor with some achords that denote synthetic flavor just because they are in large quantities. Very good also in terms of the balance of the composition. It is also versatile, I think it is ideal for spring and autumn (in areas with a temperate climate) but can be worn almost all year round (possibly less in periods with high heat). For 100 euros, that's how much I paid for 100ml, it is a special perfume, definitely in the top of my favorites. I did not expect something like this but maybe a denser version of the original and possibly slightly modernized but what a pleasant surprise especially in these times when everything is done just to copy something already existing. On a scale from 1 to 10 i'll give it a 9.5

Before I begin, this is probably one of my favourite designer fragrances of all time, if not potentially my favourite depending on my mood. It's quite hard to describe what this fragrance precisely smells like but I think I would classify this a VERY smooth semi-gourmand Vanilla-Rum fragrance with a smoky slightly powdery patchouli in the back, this to me the epitome of what traditional French Perfumery is usually associated with; Smoothness, slightly smoky/airy, classy, sophisticated, and a bit powderyness all to wrap it up. I'd say the Rum in this isn't entirely that boozy (comparing it to something like 'Old Fashioned by Killian' which id say is a 10 in boozyness in the opening, id say this is a 4), as I said before its very smooth and not that alcoholic overall but its quite pleasant, the Vanilla doesn't smell like the Vanilla in most designers and it blends in with the Rum and Patchouli seamlessly, and the Patchouli albeit being a bit further in the back is also detectable especially closer to the skin, it's smoky and slightly powdery and it smells sweet?; it's just on the border of being the chocholatey type of Patchouli. Good for the colder months, and Perfectly unisex in my opinion but leans a fair bit masculine, excels in both formal + informal scenarios, honestly pretty good all around if you want a stronger projecting fragrance, speaking projection, this is quite loud on my skin, especially for the first 4 or so hours, then it becomes a medium projecting fragrance for most of the remaining wearing. Overall It's easily one of my favourite fragrances, especially amongst designers, the quality and scent profile is top notch, and its quite hard for me to describe how this scent makes me feel, but I'd say it's a calming, inviting, sweet, relaxing, and elegant scent that's full bottle worthy for fans of the scent profile like me. Final Verdict is a 9.2/10

I’d like to comment on the vanilla aspect of this perfume. It’s definitely of the bitter variant, which was confusing. Then again, the rum note is prominent so it’s not all that surprising that there’s something astringent here. Still, it’s perplexing. Why not make it a smooth hit of vanilla to counter the strength of the alcoholic accord? Fortunately for me, I have a strip of actual Madagascar vanilla (that I always have for food reasons). The way you use a strip of vanilla is you scrape the seeds, cut up the strip and cook sugar down with it to make vanilla syrup. Now, if you put the vanilla strip sans seeds to your nose, which I did, you’d find the vanilla note in Habit Rouge Parfum. It is a little unbearable at that distance because it’s concentrated, but it’s unmistakably vanilla. That, in a nutshell, is this perfume. Up close and the initial half hour, it’s harsh and a little indecipherable. If you hold your wrist at arm’s length and let the scent waft to you, though, it’s beautiful. This juice is meant for other people to smell on you and it is a beautiful blend of vanilla, rum, leather and bergamot. The bergamot note is faint in here, but I’m getting the feeling that it’s responsible for keeping the fragrance light, airy and fresh that makes this perfume ideal for a late afternoon, almost sunset-time spray. This is an interpretation of vanilla-boozy elements that you simply must try. As always, skin and strip test before buying. Edit: To substantiate the “eternal” rating, I still get whiffs of this perfume on my car seat WEEKS after wearing it for a Sunday afternoon stroll. I wear Habit Rouge rarely so I know when and how much I put on that day. It was one spray on the back of my shirt, around the neck area. Actually unbelievable longevity.

The original Habit Rouge from 1965 by Jean-Paul Guerlain is like a hunting jacket.. Delphine Jelks new Habit Rouge Parfum from 2024 is like that same jacket but made of black velvet and worn to a fancy opera. For a time people have been trying to make new versions of Habit Rouge that are a little different. But the new Parfum does not just make it a little different it makes it better for people who really like perfume. It does not start with a strong citrus smell like some other versions do. Instead it starts with an exciting smell that is like a play of shadows and light. What is really smart about this perfume is that it uses a kind of patchouli that smells like liquor and a mix of rum and hazelnut that is very addictive. It smells rich and smooth. It is not too sweet or cheap. The vanilla in it is dry and smoky. It goes well with the leather smell. The leather smell is dark and sophisticated. It feels very real. When I wear Habit Rouge Parfum it smells great on me. It is not too loud. It creates a nice smell, around me that lasts for a long time. Twelve hours. It feels like a smart and artistic perfume. Habit Rouge Parfum is not a perfume that I wear it is a perfume that I really like. It respects the tradition of the company that made it. It also has its own unique style. I think it is a success. Habit Rouge Parfum is a perfume that I admire. I think it is a great example of what a good perfume should be. Habit Rouge Parfum is a perfume.