Habit Rouge L’Eau by Guerlain

Hi there Posse. As perfumistas we often talk of fragrance having no gender boundaries. You know, we hear stuff is marketed to men or women but I’ve never heard the perfume complain about who is wearing it. Anyway, here’s another in the list of made for dudes but should be embraced by the chicks. Habit Rouge L’Eau is a softening of the original (to my memory, it’s been a long while since I wore it). I’m finding it so wearable and it will go perfectly with the northern hemispheres summer. Also it’s available at the discounters for next to nothing right now, suggestive that it’s probably on the way out. I’m so cheap I bought a Tester. Interestingly, on Fragrantica it is compared to CHANEL No 5 premier and Eau de Shalimar.

Just as an aside March went to Paris a few years ago and tried EVERYTHING at Guerlain. It’s a fabulous read.

Habit Rouge L’Eau by Guerlain 2011

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Jasmine, patchouli, vanille, bitter orange, hazelnut, green notes

Habit Rouge L’Eau is as comfortable as your favourite old shoes and smells infinitely better. I can’t remember whose I smelled but it was instant love. Not because my eyes were rolling. Not because it broke new ground. Definitely not because it’s a stand out winner. This was because the moment I sniffed it I thought “this is something I could wear every day, forever.” A fine fragrance that sits beautifully. It’s not announcing itself to the world. Only to those lucky enough to be standing or sitting nearby, or who you walk past in the office or restaurant. Softly, subtly resonant. A whisper that engages.

How does it smell? The opening is citrus and I could sweat lavender but there is no mention of it in the notes. Habit Rouge L’Eau smells like a refreshed, 21st century version of Jicky to me. The jasmine has a lovely breathiness and I can definitely smell some resinous greenery that gives me a very basil and cardamom with galbanum image. Patchouli, vanilla and hazelnut don’t really show much for me in the heart or even onto the dry down, the must be underpinnings or maybe it’s just the way my skin throws this fragrance. The bitter orange is the main star all the way through, yet never a star performance, much lower key.

Longevity is good but the base that lingers is a slightly citric white musk, competent but not dazzling. After about an hour it becomes a wash of clean that pumps itself out for ages.

Surrender To Chance has a selection of Habit Rouges, including vintage.

Have you tried Habit Rouge L’Eau?
Portia xx