Habit Rouge Eau de Toilette

It feels silly to even attempt to write down how beautiful this fragrance is, and even sillier to write something like that about a perfume. Pure art, dynamic development, kind of a miracle. It astonishes me that I am smelling this decades after release and it stands entirely alone - I can’t even imagine what this was like in its prime. But the modern formulation is breathtaking, and so I’m happy with that. A+

Love of my life

Pure regal splendour. Maximalism. Boldness - all delivered with such understated poise and refinement you’re left truly in awe. Surely one of the greatest perfumes that will ever be. Dancing citrus and effervescent florals underpinned by Guerlain’s expert use of vanilla and leather. You definitely can see why they were crown perfumers. You probably won’t appreciate it if you’re fond of tracksuits*

Surprisingly good performance in the hot weather, especially for Guerlain. The rose doesn't manage to push through, but the lime in the opening hangs around and when joined with the sandalwood patchouli and vanilla the combination makes for a pleasant clean freshness. Between cooler and hotter weather this behaves almost like two different fragrances which is very unique in my collection.

Received this in a trade. I will be putting it in my time capsule to open and wear when I am 75. Take that as you will.

I respect it but I don't like it. I do appreciate the level of quality and sophistication in the perfumery, but I think the concept of "floral amber" just does not work. This was supposedly the first amber ever, and in 1965 the world had not figured out what does make amber work. This 2005 reboot doesn't fix what the "floral amber" concept breaks. I also don't like this much sandalwood. It's a lot. Cartier Pasha is a gd hazardous material because of it, and this is too close to that level of sandalwood. Scrubber. And finally it's just too feminine. I like florals that are masculine, but this isn't. Scrubber.

6.3/10 Smells strongly like lemon sherbets. As such, the lemon is very present and the patchouli comes through early. I like it but for me it's not very wearable.

The key to this stuff is that it needs to mature for a month or so. When I first got it, it smelled kind old fashioned and dated. It slowly grew on me. After a few weeks to a month of maturation (and tbh kinda struggling with the scent) it's become my favorite. I get notes of sherbet, lime, pepper, spices, rose, and carnation, and it's all tied together with a nice soapy powdery smell. Imagine if vintage old spice was made from high-end ingredients and knew it was better than you. Not super manly, but it's not supposed to be. I get 6-8 hours with it (light skin scent for a few more hours) and an hour or two of strong projection: which makes it a great work scent/daily driver. If you're looking for something unique that's not oppressive, give it a shot. It's been my signature scent for a bit now, and I can't get enough of it.

We're in Chanel n°5 and Shalimar territory here, with a slightly more masculine leaning touch. Beautiful and opulent vanilla leading the way after the sharp citrus opening, Habit Rouge then develops into a classy, refined, glamorous and arguably old school scent in the best possible way. It's a masterful piece of perfumery, performs great but certainly ain't an easy one to pull off, especially if you're under 30. An essential buy for any amateurs of historical fragrances.

This is heritage, opulence, style and old money. Perfectionism and masterful perfumery and very very French. It will be a challenge if you only wear modern frags but please, if you're 40+ and want a stand out signature scent, buy this. It's 6d with wafts of transitioning scent all throughout the day. There's a story to be told within this scent! It's light yet has depth. It's an edt but lasts longer than some of the modern edp's and parfum's. Four sprays is the max and that's for when I'm outside. Everyday in the office, and two will do. Challenge yourself and try something new that is decades old. Just because it's not currently following the fashion trend, doesn't means it's wrong. P.s. I got 100ml for the price of two Arabian frags. It's a no brainer.

It's a nice scent but smells outdated imo. It smells dusty

Habit Rouge edt is a gorgeous, classic men's fragrance and although I do find it just a tad "Challenging" to wear, its only bc its is a VEEERRY classic fragrance and I feel that I could only wear this during a very upscale event with a fine-tailored suite or something. For those who aren't familiar with this fragrance, It opens with a smooth, beautiful Citrus which almost immediately becomes powdery and although it smells extremely refined, its an almost opulent wear bc of the strong-powdery presence along with hints of Vanilla, Patchouli and minute traces of Leather in the base.. it really is GORGEOUS! Also this is actially an updated review as Ive already reviewed Habit Rouge nearly 6 months ago when Id first gotten my latest formulation (Square Bottle) and I wanted to touch on the performance now that its had a chance to maturate.. The performance is now HUGE whereas initially it was good, but NOT like this! Habit Rouge edt is lmost Bombastic and if over-sprayed, can be VERY cloying so between 2 and 4 spritzes is great, but if ya do 4.I suggest waiting a good 20 to 30 minutes before leaving the house (Its like THAT! lol) and lasts a full 6 to 7 hours on skin and DAYS on clothes. So if anyone out here is afraid that the performance is bad for this latest formulation and are debating spending the $100 pricetag (If your lucky) then DONT BE! bv even with this latest formulation, its STILL worth the pick up! For instance, While I had something else on as my SOTD, I did just one spritz of HR edt on my arm yesterday for work just so I could sniff and enjoy throughout the day and I got a solid 6 hours off that one little spritz, and just that one spritz was reaching my nose despite of my SOTD which is antastic for an edt ESPECIALLY! Habit Rouge edt is a 10 outta 10 classic Gentleman's MUST OWN! Just need to spray a bit out your brand-new bottle and let it "Mature" in a cool, dark spot for a few months, its well worth the wait so that ya dont waste fragrance trynna get good performance. Now I just need to find the right occasion to rock this amazing scent at! Lol!

Acqua di colonia. Limone 🍋 limone 🍋 e ancora limone 🍋. Se, come me, la nota del limone tende a cancellare l'olfatto, non acquistarlo.

I wore a vintage sample today from the 90s. It's a powdery citrus rose scent with woods and a touch of sweetness. Very old school scent form the 60s. It is refined and elegant, mature and classic. It does smell rather dated, however. Longevity is average. Overall rating 6.5/10.

For me is the equivalent of no5 for men… love it and share it with my hubby same way we share no5. Ok is mature but so we are 😇🤣

Pretty much everything from Guerlain is dated and depressing and incredibly fussy smelling. It is typical French in that its loaded with different notes in the something good comes out of it. Hard pass for me.

Starts with intense lemonade coupled with a significant dose of carnation, which later on transforms into clean, vintage powder. This powder reminds me of Chanel №5 aldehydes if they were dried out. Despite this vintage feeling, it's addicting and smells wonderful. It feels fantastic for some reason, and the scent bubble for EDT is enormous. The wood and vanilla appear way later in the drydown, and to say the truth, they don't seem significant for me.

This is an experience - it is a journey. Most fragrances nowadays are initial blast of something bold for 5 minutes then bang into the dry down for the next 6 hours. Linear. Habit Rouge hits differently - this is how fragrance should operate - it flows and changes and surprises across its wearing. It even changes across different wearings. It flows and bends and shifts almost depending on the day, time, occasion, mood. It is something I will never bore off and will always come back too. It is not old fashioned, but certainly old school - but in a modern way. Even trying to describing it is a journey! This stuff is simply magic….in that quintessentially French manner. It is the definition of ‘timeless’. A masterpiece. It sits in this regard alongside a limited few other classic greats that will never die. Most aim for such status…..few get close….only the elite make it.

Habit Rouge to men is, What's Chanel No5 is for women. Timeless classic. I managed to finally pull the trigger and add the Edt version in to my collection today. The scent draws a picture of a leather belt, leather shoes, fully suited, well groomed, middle aged gentleman. This is a perfume for perfumers. It's not an everyday scent. But.. I'll rock it when I get the opportunity to dress up. It will, I hope upscale my taste of classics. It's not for everyone. And it definitely is not for every moment. It will need its moment. Ohh by the way.. don't buy it if you're under 30 year old.

There are some occasions when you review a fragrance that feel very conflicted and Habit Rouge is one example. It is one of those fragrances that feels as though it has been around forever and yet none of us know anyone who wears it. I've tried it three or four times in the past and it has caught me in a mess of indecision every time. I still have no idea whether I like, love or loathe this fragrance. It reminds me a bit of one of my ex-girlfriends. She didn't wear this but it sort of feels like something she'd have worn, literally and as an avatar for her, emotionally. So the opening is undeniably screechy and has all the citrusy notes here (yes, all of them and a couple of them twice it feels like) working with a very, very strong rose that is only partially reigned into politeness by some jasmine in the heart. The effect is a soapy citrus opening that seems too strong for itself, as if it is never truly under control somehow. The opening is polarising. I find the rose a bit too strong and it pushes this a bit too floral in the opening. You find yourself trying to justify it. But the drydown is a much calmer and more careful experience and I think this is where the beauty of this classic Guerlain comes into focus. The florals back off just enough as the myriad citruses start to die off and you get this gorgeous, rich patchouli and some spices that take this off its tracks completely and into territory I enjoy greatly. There is a slight creaminess to the base from the vanilla, labdanum and the amber that makes it go almost powdery and the patchouli does yeoman's duty in keeping this from careening off the edge and into a ravine of madness. I especially enjoy the way the oak moss and slightly musty leather in the base add yet another facet, again helping this from being too sweet and powdery. It is a funny one, this. It never stops being impossibly rich and powerful to an extent I don't think I've ever seen in an EDT concentration before, but the richness becomes more agreeable and plays better with others as it settles. I'd certainly recommend giving this one 30 minutes on your skin before making a judgement. This is not a fragrance you could or should ever make a decision on from the tester strip and if that isnt a metaphor for the aforementioned ex I don't know what is. I get a solid 7-8 hours off this and it projects solidly the whole time. Everyone around you knows you are wearing this. I've never tried the EDP or other heavier flanker concentrations of the Habit Rouge line but lets just say: at no point during the times I've worn this have I ever wished for it to be more powerful or to reach out and touch people from the parking lot. Would I wear this? It is unisex but leans quite heavily feminine for me and very powerful, extremely full-on, slightly cray-cray feminine fragrances can be a difficult reach. Habit Rouge EDT is a little bit in-your-face-bouquet floral for me so would be a daytime only thing I think, but at the same time it is very powerful indeed and would be a statement maker to wear to the office or boardroom. I'd need to be in the mood for it, although I quite enjoy the effect of wearing retro fragrances to work like Egoiste Platinum, Paco Rabanne or Antaeus. I see Habit Rouge as very much in this bracket and that isnt a criticism, merely an indication of where and when I would reach for it. But I would reach for it. I think most of all this is an interesting bit of perfumery that gives your nose a real workout. You sometimes have to talk yourself into liking it, especially when she is out of control and spinning in chaos in your personal space. Habit Rouge is a serious fragrance with serious performance you may not be expecting from an EDT, and is a nice example of a the way florals, citruses, woods, mossy notes, textured resin-ey notes, sweet, sour, bitter and so on can all be turned up to full volume and be made - compelled through sheer force of will at times, it feels - to work together. In the end, my ex and I never worked out and we arent in contact any more. But Habit Rouge EDT retains a spot in my collection for those (rare) moments where I crave the chaos and drama. Three Word Summary - A Rare Craving Scent - 6/10 Drydown - 7/10 Sillage - 8/10 Bottle/packaging - 7/10 Performance - 9/10 37/50

@nathan86 that is some review mate, wow. Awesome stuff.

Beautiful, but very, very old school. It smells incredibly natural, and the longevity is excellent, but unfortunately for me, it's just too dry and carries this air of sadness to it that makes it difficult to wear. It reminds me of sticking your nose into a lady's wool coat that has been sitting in a closet for a decade. The citrus is super bright and lasts for a surprisingly long time, but it just feels dusty, dry and lonesome in the dry down. I feel like the note breakdown also supremely downplays how powdery this fragrance is. I think that's where the "dusty" sensation comes from. A classier and better blended lemony baby powder. The costume room in a historic french theatre probably smells alot like Habit Rouge. Some will absolutely love it. Others, like myself, will probably find it too niche to wear. Worth trying.

I sampled this from a decant from Fragrancenet and kept thinking surely this must have been a mistake. However, there are other reviews, in the minority, that match my negative experience. Both my wife and I evaluated Habit Rouge EDT on two separate occasions. We recently embarked on a fun fragrance journey and ordered over 100 samples of masculine, feminine, and unisex fragrances to try. Thinking there must have been some contrast effect bias that led both of us to perceive this fragrance negatively, we both sampled it the following day early in the morning before smelling any other fragrance. We both had the same negative reaction. I keep wondering if there is a bad batch that exists, and I do plan to sample this again from a store to see how it compares to my decant sample. Both my wife's and my first impression is a rose-forward, powdery scent reminiscent of a grandmotherly fragrance. My wife kept repeating that she knew this smell, then her eyes lit up with recognition, and she stated, "I haven't smelled this in years, but it smells like Johnson and Johnson Baby Oil." As soon as she said it, I immediately associated the same fragrance. Of course Habit Rouge has more complexity, but that's the heart of what we both smell. If someone wiped down a vanity counter where Johnson and Johnson Baby Oil and Chanel No 5 Eau Premiére had been used, the cloth would smell like what we get after 10 minutes of dry down of Habit Rouge EDT. I love powdery iris masculine scents, so it is not that I'm opposed to what many consider feminine-leaning notes. I also enjoy Amouage Reflection Man (and 45). Dior Homme Intense and Prada L'Homme Intense are two of my favorites. But Habit Rouge EDT smells like bottled great-grandmother. My wife can't tolerate being within three feet of it, and I could never imagine wearing this.

(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. Not

Had a 1990s vintage sample. Wowee that's a blast. Lemon sparkle magic right up my nose. The first second is sharp lemon before orange blossom and bergamot slide in the front door that lemon kicks in for them. What's interesting is how the lemon tricks you. If you've ever boxed it's like when you take a quick disorienting jab on the chin and have to recollect your thoughts because I thought I was smelling ginger, pepper, and some sort of cinnamon. The cinnamon does come back a little back in the middle but it's intriguing how it played tolu balsam peek-a-boo announcing presence but then disappearing until later. On second spray and close up I get vodka, but like the type that I drank in high school...bottom shelf in a plastic bottle lemon Popoff that the clerk didn't care enough to check my ID over, oh the lack of memories we had kids...but it's also mixed with a premium rum? In this spray I can pick up that carnation note a lot more clearly now that I know the lemon's opening volley of precise strikes. Can't get me twice buddy! I'm getting jasmine as well as it progresses. Nice. The base is considerably more subtle than the open. I'm always searching for patchouli and cedar as they're favorites of mine, but what stands out is something of a feral oakmoss, if that makes sense. There's also a powderiness to it after it settles; I had to consult someone as to what might contribute to that and was told it was a combination of carnation, vanilla, musk, and florals, but it's intriguing in how it differs than say the powderiness found in Amber Eternal or Deauville. I think if I had done skin sprays the top and heart notes would stick around longer; it was a fun 30+ year throwback on how the citrus scents were done, which is to say with more open aggression -- there's a reason I picked up Pierre Cardin Pour Monsieur EDC, Giorgio Beverly Hills Giorgio for Men EDT, Ralph Lauren Safari For Men EDT, et al.

***Update from 8/19/25*** So, when Id first recieved/tried Habit Rouge edt I dont think I was ready for how powdery and "Classic/Old Fashioned" it smells, but Ive really grown to appreciate the classics the more my Pallette has evolved I even find them so much more fun to wear than modern perfume is. In the over 6 months Ive had my bottle, its "Maturated" into a NUCLEAR BOMB! LOL! This is very strong, the sillage is huge and it has fantastic lingering power, ESPECIALLY for an edt! (Beats the breaks off of my bottle of Shalimar edp) Very little goes a long way and I'm so glad that these newer "Square bottles" have such great atomizers bc its easy to control how much they spray out allowing for me to do half spritzes. A small half spritz on either side of my neck and one full spritz on my shirt will carry me through a full 8 hour work-shift. Super classy, most certainly NOT "Blind-Buy safe", sophisticated, elegant and the Epitome of Gentlemanly Perfumery! Just WOW! A 10 outta 10 fragrance within the (Masculine-Classic perfume) Gengre for sure! So folks, if ya'll are concerned about the performance of these newer Square bottles from Guerlain's men's line, DONT BE! Since Ive began collecting 3 years ago Ive purchased about 8 different dna's and they ALL have above average to great over-all performance! Just remember to be patient bc "Maturation" is a thing and can make a world of difference with performance! CHEERS!

The drydown is nothing but Lime and carnation. This is a decant from fragrancenet. I let it sit for around a month . Maybe it's off. *Edit About an hour later, the rotten lime is gone and the dry down is absolutely worth it.

This is a tough one. To get the real gorgeous drydown and better performance. I have to go heavy in one spot. It opens harsh with a insecticide smell. Citruses and soapy floral aldehydes*. This was always the hardest part. I was never very fond of this one. These 80s aldehyde scents used to scare me. It took some time and wears to appreciate this. The drydown is stellar. The transition is outstanding. Playing with the spray routine was key to getting to this amazing experience. The drydown is reminiscent of some of my favorite rose leathers. Very well done. It's a time and place frag for me. Special occasions. Me time. It has that 80s thing without being an aldehyde bomb. If you want unapologetic 80s power get kouros. This is much more refined and way less in your face. 8/10 because I'm very familiar with the organic insecticide smell.

A very artistic fragrance. Absolutely love this one*.

For me this is an all-season dumb reach. It's never not right, never too much. In the abstract, I wouldn't say I'm a fan of candied lemon, but this does that thing with it that I think of as classic Guerlain, building a structure around the sweet sharp citrus that shows you something new it - counterpointing it, echoing it in background flowers or resins. When you see pictures of Keith Richards shattered but impeccable wandering around an Afghan-carpeted chateau this is what he smells like. Balanced but not totally safe. The more interesting cousin of Pour Monsieur. (Side note: when people talk about fragrances made for smokers, I think the idea is usually covering up the sour smell of stale cigarette odor, but if you've ever smelled a sweet dry lit tobacco on the air, out of doors, and thought it smelled kind of nice, and then thought, what might elevate that smell even more, it's much more that kind of thing. And people once did that, in fact. In 1965 or so. I don't smoke.)