Habit Rouge Rouge Privé

There is very little I can add to Habit Rouge that hasn't already been said. Despite its silly and rather pretentious name, this is one of the greatest perfumes of modern times. For me, personally, it holds a place in my heart of nearly equal gravitas being the first perfume I ever truly fell in love with. It has this ability to swoon and caress me, to reset my mind and emotions to a stress-free state of contentedness that really no other perfume has managed yet to do. Released in 2023, and followed quickly by the parfum version in 2024, having the ability to only smell this now a third of the way through 2025 means I am playing catch-up to long-ago news, and I have avoided reading anything about it except from Guerlain in preparation. When I smell the 2024 parfum concentration in relative comparison to the EdC/EdT original, I am certainly left wanting. The parfum concentration is a big suet pudding drenched in a caramel vanilla sauce that has lost one of many of the defining characteristics that made the original EdC/EdT HR so evocative: breathability, diffusiveness, and effervescence of all of its notes. The parfum is great for an icy cold winter's evening huddled around a fire - and that said, if one has no point of reference to the original HR you would find the parfum to be exquisite, but that says a lot more about the genius of the original more than it says about the composition of today's parfum. So, when I stepped up to the plate to try Rouge Prive, this perfume fanatic and HR lover was trepidatious enough to sh*t his pants. It's always a fraught endeavor messing with near-perfection, and when Guerlain say they're going to let Delphine Jelk "update" HR for the modern man of modern times, cue the crowning in my pants. I should first start off by saying that Prive is a great name for this version because "private" describes exactly the direction HR was taken. HR RP has lost that diffusive and effervescent character of the original, but rather than being made lumpen and sweet and thick like the parfum, it was made "private" - it is taut, lean, and close to the skin without losing any of the notes and other characteristics that have made HR a legend. If HR was the epitomal representation of 60s Franco-European masculinity - an exuding confidence that is firmly stated yet subtle, gentle, and comfortable with a bit of femininity - then Prive is the representation of modern masculinity, where confidence is kept close to the vest and focused inward rather than outward, kept tight and private, rather than publicly diffusive. The bergamot opening, that shimmering and effervescent signature of the original HR that feels like it was sprayed in a fine mist throughout the air, now smells like a fresh juice-oozing bergamot was cut right in front of your nose; it is superbly photorealistic and mouthwatering, but tauter which somehow doesn't subtract from its necessary effect. The leather is less dry and powdery, and has been amped-up to be more fresh and new without going down the road of dirty and animalic. The patchouli has also been amped up, but kept dry and peppery and mildly earthy, reinforcing this feeling of tautness and newness without being at all too earthy or dirty or cloying. All of the notes played by the instruments that made HR great are present and accounted for, playing at the same volume as before, but perhaps there are now two basses and two cellos, as opposed to one; the violin is not a Stradivarius, but a modern electric. I happily stand with my concerns and trepidations unmanifested. Mission accomplished, Guerlain and Ms. Jelk. This is indeed HR for the 21st century man, and it's wonderful.

Habit Rouge Privè is a very special collector edition that i am glad i had the patience to understand, this scent has 3 faces, The first one is pure citronellla, the bergamot and the ginger listed are probably lifting it up and allowing it to last, but to me the opening is pure Bitterish lemons, This first phase is fairly long and keeps you there, is almost playing with you, as it smells like any Citrus heavy scent, is linear and bright, in the second phase the Orange blossom comes out next to a opaque Iris, it gives a feeling of a wet towel due to the iris junxstaposing next to the lemonish orange blossom, i have to be honest, this is my least favorite part, and probably i have to get used to it, is very hard to get over the " ammonia" effect that this mix has, unfortunately i wish i never smelled ammonnia, Once we get rid of those both in my opinion boring parts we reach the depth after 1h, this is where you feel the real Habit Rouge dna coming out elegantly placed, The leather is next to light spices, to create character, it radiates as a Dark Red Leather trench rather than a Jacket and it becomes deep and beautiful, from now on is a leather masterpice that slowly let the citronella effect fade away and becomes bloody dark red, almost like a painting, is hard to describe, but this is the most "Red" scent i have came across, but isn't a common red, is one of the most beauiful shades of velvet red ever, is unique, elegant and versatile. Extremely Masculine and mature. One thing to note is that this scent is better in the air than on the skin, I sometime underline this because not all scents act in the same way ofc, this one was designed to smell insane outside you then on you, To me, is better in the trail, rather then on yourself, it leave a misterious trace to die for, this is where i think Dalphine worked hard imo, the connection between the yellow of the lemon and the dark red leather is a contrast that in the air radiates something unique. Is understadable why the comments are so good of who love this scent, is a masterclass of elegance, but not that elegant that you can't wear it everyday, is a velvet Coat that is made with very high-end garments, but has a very modern cut. Aside the very strange "historical" choice to pump the Citrus to 2000 in the beginning and let it be so bright, the dry down is a banger and it will surely have a special place in your collection. The Privè start is really a letdown, accompanied with a beautiful dry down and stabilization, is like a concert that start badly and ends up making you stend up and applause, unaspected, hate and love, and that was probably Delphine point with this work, i think sometime porfumers wants you to delete the file of "bad" smell from your brain, showing you how something is actually made without any indication of what it is and allowing your brain to accept something as nature wanted it. That's mastery. Update: Last very long on me, That first " unsettling" part is now registered as part of the contrast between lemon and leather, is glorious and special, it takes time to understand that part. Secret Weapon.

This one is interesting. The original Habit Rouge is a masterpiece of French perfumery. One of the most versatile scents ever made. A juxtaposition of citrus and florals with leather and the iconic powdery feel. I smelt this flanker today with high hopes. I was not disappointed. The Habit Rouge DNA is definitely there. In all honestly this could be called Habit Rouge Intense. The opening is zingy with the added ginger. Overall the scent is less powdery. But it’s the leather that is the star here. As some people have stated below, they get a band aid vibe. This is because the new leather accord here is similar to that by used Alberto Morillas in Gucci Guilty Absolute, Dark Lord by Kilian. It can also be found in Purple Oud in the Dior Prive line. There is also a slight smokiness in the dry down. A rep I know who works for Guerlain told me that they used oud in this leather accord and I can kind of see it. There is a big animalic quality here. Habit Rouge is a scent that can be considered refined, gentlemanly, sophisticated etc. But one thing it was not at least by modern standards is sexy. This all changes with Habit Rouge Prive. Because of the animalics, it is very sexy. I would consider it the perfect summer evening/date night scent. I was aware of Habit Rouge since my 20s but only in my 30s started wearing it as I felt I had reached the age. It is a more mature scent and the recent reformulation has made it feel less dated. With Habit Rouge Prive I think they have made it even more versatile. This could easily suit anyone 25+ looking for something refined and sexy. The leather and animalics give it a modern edge. I predict this will be a hit once people get their noses on it. As it is a limited edition flanker one day this will turn into those highly sought after discounted gems selling for 10x the price in a couple of years. Suffice to say I picked up a bottle.

At the beginning of my fragrance journey I stumled upon Habit Rouge EDT and found it very oldschool and oldmanish and did not change my opinion ever since. That fragrance just does not do it for me. I took a gamble and bought Rouge Privé and what a nice surprise it was! The note pyramid here is spot on and if I should make a change, it would be moving the leather to the middle notes. Opening is very nice citrus with ginger and it lasts almost an hour. After that I already start to pick nicely done and quite promiment leather with hints of iris and orange blossom. Drydown comes in about 2 hours time after application and you get the famous harmonic guerlinade in all its beauty. At this stage it starts to sit close the to skin, but lasts for another 6+ hours. This is how transitions in a fragrances should be made. It never feels like a loud fragrance but I believe it was never ment to be like that. This is classy fragrance for a confident and well dressed gentleman doing his own thing, who does not need to anounce his entrence with his fragrance. Except the hot sunny days it can serve you throughout the whole year and it can get you covered on multiple occasions. Even though I decided to not keep this fragrance in my collection, I really appreciate the quality and masterful blend and rate it 8,5/10! Maybe I will come back to it again in the near future as I found the smell kind of addicting as it made me comming back to it quite often during my testing. I highly recommend to sample it to anybody that find the notes listed here interesting. 8.1.2024 update: I had to buy it again and now it probably stays in the collection :)

Habit Rouge Rouge Privé is a citrusy, woody and leathery fragrance. It has a very citric opening that is reinforced by ginger, and from that moment the leather chord is already noticeable, in fact the citric and leathery duo make a strange but very attractive combination. As the minutes go by, the citric presence decreases, but without disappearing, while the presence of leather and a woody base of patchouli and subtly spiced with vanilla increase. Due to its citric and leathery characteristics, Rouge Prive is suitable for use almost throughout the year, except on very hot days, because it can be a bit dense, it could also be a signature fragrance, used in formal and casual situations, office work and that will be appreciated by an audience more mature than young. In terms of performance, the smell remained for more than 10 hours. with me, leaving a noticeable sillage for the first two hours. The smell of this fragrance is a modernization of the classic Habit Rouge, it gives it a more current twist, without going in the trends of very sweet aromas or with a lot of ambroxan. I highly recommend that lovers of leather fragrances try it, and although I am not a great knowledgest of leather fragrances, but I do identify certain similarities with Gucci Guilty Pour Homme Absolute, especially in the drying phase. In fact, I recommend trying it to any lover of fragrances, because they are going to find something interesting and so everyone will assess whether it is a jewel or not, for me it is. Special mention should be made of the color of the bottle, which in that red color is very attractive.

Sampling Guerlain Habit Rouge – Rouge Prive, a 2023 flanker in the Habit Rouge line, noticeably fresher than either the Parfum or Spirit Parfum that succeeded it in 2024 and 2025, respectively, less with a sharp iris and more so with a candied aspect that’s inviting and intriguing. Citruses, iris, and vanilla primarily blend together to foster something sweet, fresh, slightly sharp, and, overall, quite versatile and satisfying, certainly easier to love than either the Parfum or Spirit Parfum, even though I regard both of those as exceptional. Also, in Rouge Prive, I feel a vaguely chalky, almost L’Homme Ideal-adjacent almond-like vibe that also hits the mark at the intersection of appealing and interesting. I find that the total concoction is roughly as sweet as Parfum, though not as sweet as perhaps L’Homme Ideal Extreme, but in that vicinity, really a nice expression of citrus + vanilla + floral with a result that’s quite unisex, much like the other Habit Rouge fragrances I’ve smelled, and it performs well, even if not as outstandingly as Parfum or Spirit Parfum. It’s EDP concentration and, only two years removed, seemingly unavailable through normal retailers and even most grey markets, so go figure. I imagine it was priced in the $150-200 range for 100ml retail, which seems standard enough for recent years’ men’s line pricing for Guerlain. I’m not as immediately moved to buy this as I was with Parfum or Spirit Parfum upon first try, but this still smells great and I could easily wear it often. 8 out of 10

Absolutely gorgeous, this is 'my' habit rouge. I own the EDP, and something about it felt a bit soft for how I like my scents to wear. The modern EDP wears quite sweet, with a candied lemon and vanilla vibe while the leather is secondary. Prive takes this formula, but retitrates each ingredient to produce a fragrance that is unmistakably habit rouge but darker and bolder. The leather takes center stage, and the leather is similar to something like Bel Ami, where the leather accord smells primarily of birch tar, castoreum, and myrrh. I was surprised at how strong the leather was, it reminded me of far more daring leather fragrances like MAAI and Anubis right off the opening, until the bergamot caught my nose and tempered the animalic feel. After settling, there's a iris-neroli-bergamot + musk effect on the leather that softens it and adds a green-floralcy to the leather. Unlike the EDP, Prive's vanilla lies in the background and only peeks out just before the dry down, when Prive settles on a vanilla-iris-lemon skin scent. The deep dry-down is when some ambery facets come out alongside the vanilla, namely patchouli and what smells like labdanum. The end effect is a more leathery, dry, and green take on Habit Rouge which smells amazing. I will say that projection is great initially, but it gets quiet soon after. Worth trying if you like the habit rouge DNA, and want a more dark, masculine twist or if you enjoy powdery leather scents, a-la dior homme intense or parfums d'empire cuir ottoman.

So I got my bottle of Habit Rouge - Rouge Privé! Mon Dieu - this is actually a very nice “modernization” of one of the best (in my humble opinion), perfumes created. I still prefer the EdT, but this is really well done. I have not smelled L’Instinct, I have read and heard too much about it to be willing to blind buy it, it does sound like a piggy back ride on the name that is Habit Rouge. With the Rouge Privé it is something else. The opening is very..decadent, very french, leathery, bergamot and vanilla, I do get some iris and...jasmine too? Very Habit Rouge! If you like the EdP, you will like this one too, will it be redundant...perhaps. Imagine Habit Rouge EdP but with an amped up leather, like new leather gloves, or a saddle. In the drydown the leather fades, still present but not as prominent. The similarity or “dna” of Habit Rouge EdP are very much there and it becomes increasingly similar. It gives a dandy / gentlemanly impression of roses and fine leather - Mr. Pamuk from Downton Abby (I imagine him dying happy, but that is OT.) I am very excited - as far as I can see this is a limited edition, dare I hope they will be going in the direction of Shalimar, with the “Millésime” limited releases? Not sure my wallet will be happy but it is a better direction than trying to go too “mainstream” as with L’Instinct. An hommage to Habit Rouge - made me believe that all hope is not yet lost.

I'm going to echo many of the reviews below and say this is a masterful reworking of Habit Rouge that has exceeded my expectations, it's simply a 10/10 fragrance! I love the original HR edt, but there's no denying it can at times feel from another age, and require a particular mood and effort to confidently flaunt its dandy powdered citrus and rose. Rouge Prive stays true to the original in smell and structure, but does so in a way that makes the wear effortless and imbues confidence, rather than demanding confidence. Essentially, the hazy powdered filter has been toned down and detailed clarity conferred to the individual notes which gives a modern sheen to the composition. Additionally, the Guerlinade vanilla has been amplified and aspects of the delicious HR Dress Code included, the leather is slightly amplified and modernized which gives a more masculine edge, and the drydown shines with a crystalline airy clean patchouli, almost boozy spirit vapor like, which made me think STHE. Finally the molecules themselves feel higher quality and have a particular fullness and richness that is just outstanding. A perfect flanker that in my opinion improves the original.

This should be a permanent flanker. WOW! Absolutely incredible. I watched several positive YouTube reviews of the Rouge Privé and had to have it. I found a bottle on eBay from Europe (since it wasn’t released in the U.S.) and once I received it, I loved it so much that I searched and found another one - and ordered that one! I e-mailed Guerlain and asked them to log into YouTube and watch the videos of what people were saying and to hear how much everyone loves it. And I also suggested they release it as a permanent flanker and in the U.S. Of course It will never happen, but that is how much I love this! The juice: Tangy Lemon, Spicy Ginger, Creamy Vanilla, and Rugged Leather. There’s a warmth to this, unlike the original, thanks to the ginger. I find Rouge Privé be a more distinctive and refined edition than the original Habit Rouge EDT/P. The leather accord is more elegant and intense. The citrus is still there, but the lime is toned down and the Lemon is turned up. The Vanilla is creamier and more rich. I hope Guerlain brings this back. It’s simply amazing!

I’m a man, and a big Guerlain fan, but it’s been the classic “feminine” perfumes that I love: L’Heure Bleue, Vol de Nuit, Jicky, Mitsouko, Shalimar... Except for Héritage and L’Instant pour Homme, which I do enjoy, I haven’t spent much time investigating the “masculine” fragrances. This new edition of Habit Rouge, however, really caught my fancy, and it’s become a love. (Gender distinctions in perfume are absurd, of course, but remain encoded in advertising and bottle design. How about a dissertation on this, something like “Gender and the Semiotics of Scent”? Kidding, kidding!) I agree with reviewer demartin below; this is almost a flanker of Shalimar – a Shalimar with the sweetness dialed down and the leather amped up. It’s a stunner, and if you love Shalimar, I think you’ll love this, too. And since Habit Rouge Rouge Privé has me feeling masculine today, I’ll go with a baseball metaphor: Delphine Jelk really knocked this one out of the park! If Guerlain is smart, they’ll make this home run more widely available.

I have no experience with the previous habit rouge. I also don't have much experience with perfumes where leather dominates. in this category I have only ferragamo bright and intense leather (a few more but where it is not so obvious) so when i smelled prive, i felt it as strong dominance of leather with citrus on top. good quality well blended but nothing amazing. the first two times I couldn't even appreciate them properly. just when I compared hr prive with Tuscan Leather, which are much stronger and heavier, I felt the HR quite differently. now they seemed fresh, gentle, you can still feel the dominant leather, but it's like putting guerlain ideal cologne on that leather. interesting perspective, and I completely changed my mind, With the impression from the heavy perfume of leather dominance, to the bright fresh light I could say it's edt and TF Tuscan Leather is edp performance is good if anyone likes such leather vibes then it's worth at least testing.

In my humble opinion, this is the Habit Rouge Jean Paul Guerlain wanted to create in the first place. What an elegant fragrance! It certainly is Habit Rouge, but tuned to be the masculine, red coated rider perfume that was originally intended. I have used the original EDT for several years, and it is certainly challenging to use. Don’t get me wrong, it is a masterpiece of perfumery, but it takes a while to rock it. This new one when you spray it for the first time, doesn’t really amaze, as you smell the same DNA and you think it is exactly de same smell.... But wait and it doesn’t get too sweet... it smells modern... No longer ambiguous or unisex... the leather is manly, authoritative.... You are the boss.... Of course there is vanilla, but it doesn’t go overly sweet, kept in check by the patchouli, and this combination smells wonderfully modern too. The Leather is the star of this perfume! Wow! What a Leather! This is a 10/10 fragrance. Highly recommended.

This really spoke to me way back in December 2023 when it arrived to Argentina.. I was searching for another perfume when I noticed this in the lower shelf knew I needed it right from the first spray, I love vintage perfumes, specially fougeres and chypres, also a leather lover so no wonder I fell for this. The citrusy smell in this I compare it to a smoky lemon, like when you put a lemon in a grill full of charcoal not to burn it but to smoke it, absolutely gorgeous! I also found this kind of smell in Acqua Allegoria Oud Yuzu. Then we have this lovely animalic leather paired up with Iris making it powdery with hints of roses, also paired with orange blossom for an animalic feel... Last but not least is this vanilla a la Guerlinade, also carrying this feeling of a smoky vanilla. Performance wise is atomic, on my skin it lasts 12hs or plus and projecting heavily the first 3-4hours. Smelled it, loved it, bought 1 and 2 back ups.

Habit Rouge is one of my all time of my favorite fragrances, and I appreciate its place in scent history. I have the EDT, EDP (which I love) l'eau (its fine) and Dress Code (love it when I'm in the mood for it). Based on friend's recommendations and the raves here, I purchased from a Euro website instead of waiting to see IF it will be released in the US. After only 2 wearings - it may be my favorite version of Habit Rouge. Is a less baroque version of EDT, less dark than the EDP, and a nice lift and 'sweetness' (but not sweet). The added leather is fantastic, and while it feels more streamlined and modern, its not the lesser for it, as what usually happens when brands 'modernize' something. Its really a Habit Rouge for a new age, straddling a classic house with new niche sensibilities. Perhaps they felt they needed to make up for the 'instinct' version from last year that didn't make people happy? A total home run.

I’m trying Guerlain Habit Rouge Rouge Privé at last and... At first, my nose is a little confused. It’s Habit Rouge...and then it isn’t. And then it is again. Opening with the tart citrus I expect, but then, it goes into florals I don’t expect—iris? And then, it goes through this odd bandaid accord phase which makes me question my choices—and then the leather, vanilla, wood, and I think some spices and patchouli come through and at long last (okay, maybe 10 minutes)...it’s love. 😍 If you’re expecting a reincarnation of Dress Code, you’ll be sorely disappointed as it’s not gourmand in the least. I got a lot of lemon bars from my 2015 Dress Code. Rouge Privé has vanilla, but dialed down quite a bit from Dress Code’s level. In the final phases, it’s drier, and I see how it’s being compared to L’Éxtrait. Also, like Dress Code and L’Éxtrait, this is a limited release so...🤔

Guerlain Habit Rouge Prive (2023) - remastered leather - #jeanpaulguerlain created the original Habit Rouge that has an incredibly well-calibrated accord that is both fresh, yet warm and oriental. #thierrywasser in Dress Code overdosed on the vanilla and resins. While in this perfume #delphinejelk didn’t mess with the original formula and also overdosed certain elements. It still starts with a trio of citruses: Lime, Orange and Bergamot. Then the florals come out: Rose and instead of Carnation, I get dry & powdery Iris. But that doesn’t last long as its main heart: spicy leather, sandalwood, amber, and vanilla. In this flanker, the leather becomes more prominent, meshed with Patchouli. Suede-like, earthy with slight animalic touches. Each accord distinct in its story, yet is able complement the others. Modern Masterpiece.

Habit Rouge Rouge Prive (HRRP) has changed my experience with HR. For the past 15+ years of owning a bottle of HR EDT I have not understood how HR was so highly regarded. Periodically (every couple of years), I would apply a light spray, hoping my nose had changed. I wanted to like it, because Guerlain (along with Chanel) is one of my absolute favorite houses, but it never happened...until I tried HRRP. HRRP really IS the masculine Shalimar! It is the perfect connection between HR and Shalimar. HRRP is denser and smoother than HR EDT and has an oriental quality similar to Shalimar with leather added. HRRP has bridged the gap to HR EDT for me. Yes, now I can appreciate HR, and dare I say, HRRP may become a signature scent for me! A backup bottle has been ordered.

If you’re a young thing watching influencers on TikTok, please move on; this is not the scent for you! Comments that this is a “grandpa” scent is typical of young men who now equate sweetness with acceptable. I’ve been wearing Habit Rouge since my thirties. It’s distinctive, elegant and gentlemanly. No teen can pull this off; I’d even say most men can’t. This Privé is a Limited Edition and is a masterpiece. I got the last bottle I’m told in Kuwait and paid full retail for it. To my nose, it’s closer to HR Dress Code than the EDT. It’s also close to the new HR Parfum. I hope this is re-released just as Derby has been as an exclusive. Maybe I’ll have to fly to Paris to find another bottle. This is a 10/10 and ignore the facile comments from the TikTok brigade.

Leather amped up, dusty candied lemon toned down. That’s the difference with this version. I actually really like how Guerlain has tinkered with this iconic fragrance over the years. Sometimes the result was less than stellar, true, but they know this DNA is special enough to keep evolving it. I find it so admirable that they have kept the original EDT in production the whole time, too. Guerlain is aware of its place in perfume history but keeps evolving with the times, without caving in to boring trends... and that is much harder than it might initially seem. What a fantastic house! If you think the OG Habit Rouge is too old fashioned for you but enjoy the DNA, this just might be what you’re looking for. Unmistakably Habit Rouge but for the modern soul.