Xeryus Rouge by Givenchy

This fragrance is pure polarity: you either love it or it kills you. I’m in the love camp, even though it’s not for daily wear because it challenges me with a contradictory aromatic blend that’s hard to pinpoint. It’s simply different and that’s what fascinates me; it doesn’t follow trends, it’s unique and divides perfume lovers, which isn’t a bad thing. The opening has style: citrusy, spicy, green, and sweet like a sugary drink, but the real star is undoubtedly that juicy cactus, fresh kumquat, and pink geranium in the heart that emerge quickly. Sounds weird but it works wonders. Over time, the sweetness fades and the musky, rosy, and woody notes take over. It’s unconventional, strong, yet deep and characterful, radiating sensitivity and warmth. For me, Xeryus Rouge embodies a relaxed, uninhibited masculinity: a jaded womanizer who sits down to think but is still charming and sometimes a bit rude. Perfect for those who love oriental scents but are tired of the cloying and generic stuff. Two or three sprays (vintage version) deliver a spice explosion that lasts six hours without overwhelming, though it does feel a bit synthetic. Ideal for feeling carefree.

Years ago I owned this in its original presentation: rectangular bottle, sharp angles, translucent burgundy-crimson color, just like the Xeryus of the time but with a different tone than this relaunch, which is less dark. It was an excellent scent, incredibly potent in the style of back then. It never had extraordinary longevity, but it lasted much longer than the current version. The tarragon was strong, herbal, and spicy, and the woods stood out too. The current version is good but washed out, soft, and faint.

Lots of pepper and woody notes come through. The quality-to-price ratio is more than decent. It fits perfectly for semi-formal or formal settings.

If you want to smell different, this is the perfume for you. Prickly cedar with pepper, tarragon, and that cactus note (which I discovered in Bvlgari Man Extreme) make you smell clean and elegant at the same time. The evolution is slow; those three notes last the entire life of the perfume and only in the fourth or fifth hour does the musk take center stage. The opening is overwhelming with great projection, a trail of at least three hours, then it fades until it’s only perceptible at 30 cm. With that opening, you’d think it would be a beast mode in terms of longevity, but no, it dies out by seven or eight hours even on clothes. In a way, this is welcome because it could saturate or tire due to its sharpness. Ideal for the office, sports, or with a suit, all seasons, with some night-time potential. Can get tiring with repeated use, so test it out first.

I bought it partly for the accessible price in Mexico and because Juan from Huéleme reviewed it highly; I found it interesting that it listed notes like cactus or pepper. The women I’ve asked if they like the scent have commented that it’s an unusual but rich smell. Personally, the aroma changes moderately once atomized on my skin, accentuating the bell pepper note, since it might be the only fragrance that possesses and includes it. I’d like the opportunity to try it in different circumstances to verify the wonders spoken of it. I recommend it as a signature fragrance. Greetings.

Hey, Givenchy’s website claims the new Xeryus Rouge bottle preserves the original, unaltered scent. Sounds good, but then the olfactory notes list ‘Aromatic Woody’ with grapefruit and cedar—nothing even remotely close to the original amber fougère, cactus, and pepper! What the hell is going on? They say the packaging is new but the smell is the same, right? I bought the new one online without reading this to see what I’d get. In the end, I returned it unopened and went for the original on eBay at a decent price.

I didn’t know it, picked it up because of the reviews since it’s unconventional. It’s amazing, one of those scents you want to wear all the time. It lasts hours, which is what matters. My only complaint is the projection; I wish it reached further. I’d say it’s my best blind buy.

If everything were colors and sensations, this would be one of them. Red, vibrant, spicy, and seductive. A citrus red, fresh and spiced. A true fougère classic. I haven’t heard anything like it; it’s a bold and successful gamble by Givenchy, far from their sweet scents or the overused iris. I knew it as a child, heard it in my teens, and now it’s part of my olfactory memory. It’s a timeless vintage jewel. If you haven’t heard it, you’re missing something unusual with that touch of habanero pepper and cactus that gives it a peculiar vibe. It’s versatile, perfect for a date, a day out, or just for going with your head held high and smelling different. It carries an animal touch but not an invasive one, very personal and intimate. It’s one of those fragrances you want people to smell near your neck to steal a sigh or a smile. It invites flirting. Although it’s French, it reminds me of the personality of a cheerful, charismatic Latino, an extroverted and bold gentleman. I can’t imagine anyone quiet or shy with this. Originality: 10/10, Versatility: 8/10. Price: 9/10. Longevity and projection: 7.5/10 (my bottle is from 2015). Does anyone know how the new transparent bottle is doing in 2023?

The ‘little red’ old-school Givenchy that sets it apart from everything, especially the Gentleman saga. Xeryus Rouge has a complex scent: bitter fougère, spicy, seasoned, strong, dark, dry, mature, and elegant. It’s not for everyone. It’s nothing modern, commercial, or sweet, nor does it have those current fashion touches. If you’re looking for easy compliments or a standard scent to hit on millennial girls at a club, this isn’t for you. In my opinion, it’s one of the few left that is old-school, different, interesting, and high-quality within commercial perfumery. In fact, it smells quite niche to me. It’s a typical 90s EDT, strong and with personality, for men who weren’t rich, collectors, or cheap guys wearing anything. It’s for guys who wanted to mark their territory with something unique. They say it’s very similar to Davidoff Hot Water, but Davidoff is more commercial, vulgar, softer, and doesn’t last as long. To me, Xeryus Rouge feels like taking the regular Xeryus, with big-scent vibes like Opium Pour Homme, but ‘doping’ it with niche fougère notes of cactus, habanero pepper, and musk that give it a very masculine, fresh-earthly, bitter, and elegant touch, making it unique, seductive, and provocative. Versatile? Depends. In the heat, with Bermuda shorts and flip-flops, better not. Signature scent? Perfect. For brave men with clear ideas, over 35-40, who want to smell different from the crowd just because. Moderate price. 90s-style performance: 7-8 hours without issues, moderate projection of about half a meter for an hour, then personal aura. If you can, buy it with the classic red bottle; it looks better. The new 2023 transparent one is boring and impersonal and has stripped away the red fragrance touch.

I certainly wouldn’t recommend buying it blind. It’s an uncommon scent; to me, it’s very creamy and not too masculine, with a slightly dated nuance that doesn’t attract me. The dry-down and the scent on clothes are more pleasant, but you don’t wear perfume just for that. There’s a YouTube reviewer who says it’s extremely attractive to the female public. I have no field data; I wouldn’t even think of wearing it on a date, but I doubt it will make a big impression on most. Let’s not talk about pheromones and perfumery unicorns.

I first knew this when I was little, thanks to my older brother. People say it alters pheromones, haha 😂. Women come closer because of the sweet notes (not caramelized), while men look at you weird because you smell different from generic masculine perfumes. Halfway through a gathering, you’re surrounded by girls 😏, while friends talk football in the background… 😂. I think the square bottle version was even more potent…

Magnificent, overwhelming, a beast. It captivates from start to finish regarding projection and longevity. Pepper, citrus, musk: a festival of memories. It’s unmistakable from day one. It gives you personality and people constantly ask what you’re wearing. Enjoyable at every level. Highly recommended. It was my perfect perfume from 1998 to approx. 2005. -Immortal -Unique -Out of this world. You must have it…

I have the new version (2017-18) and today the vintage with the red art deco bottle arrived. It’s from a 1996 batch, so it’s the original formula. Both are spectacular. The ’96 one starts strong, fruitier and sweeter with that acidic, spicy citrus. It evokes the red. Then it turns powdery, and you notice the cactus and pepper timidly. So original and spectacular. Longevity is above average, though I think the original lasts a bit longer… but I need to test it more. Fortunately, there’s not much difference after reformulations, although I’d a thousand times rather have the rectangular bottle over the expressionless current one. Edit: definitely the vintage is much more long-lasting. With 3 sprays on the neck, it lasted the whole day and the scent is impressive… It’s 10 times cozier. The current one is a good imitation that keeps the nostalgia. Edit 2: I like both (1996 and 2017), both have good longevity (1996 wins by a hair), both are incredible, but ultimately the one I like most is the 2017; they did a very good reformulation in my opinion. I need to try the 2023 one?, but definitely it’s a scent you must try, in any version. Unmatched.

To my nose, predominantly herbal, although most of its declared notes aren’t actually herbs, with a warm touch perhaps due to the pepper (I can’t distinguish it), and a dry down that turns soapy, flawless throughout its development. My brain can’t help associating it with drinks like Bitter Kas (that’s the best description I can come up with). Surprising and atypical, cheeky without losing elegance; I keep it as the undisputed “rascal” of my collection. Subjectively, it seems very versatile, matching all types of outfits, as I associate it with a “playboy” mood, ironic and uninhibited: I don’t care if I wear it with a suit or lumberjack shirts and jeans, as long as I woke up happy and fun.

Fragrance with a distinct top and heart, but it didn’t convince me or stand out. The top smells like very sweet pepper, like you put jam or pepper liquor on yourself. It’s different. Then it becomes more conservative with that classic combination of cedar, sandalwood, and musk that never fails. I never managed to distinctly feel the woody part; it’s there but doesn’t shine because the heart notes cover it up. There’s a pepper note that gives it a spicy touch. It’s sweet and for my nose, it crosses the line from enjoyable to DISGUSTING. Maybe in the dry down it’s more enjoyable, but it becomes just another perfume. Longevity: moderate, no more than 6 hours. Projection: moderate to low with 4 sprays. It persists but fades in the last hour. In Argentina, Givenchy perfumes aren’t cheap. I advise trying it first. Personally, I didn’t like it, due to its excessive sweetness that drills into my nose. I don’t feel it’s masculine, but rather feminine or unisex, except maybe in the final phase where the wood emerges. I don’t consider it elegant or for special occasions. It’s an urban perfume in my humble opinion. I bought it to have something different, but I wouldn’t buy it again. Anyway, I’ll give it many chances until I finish the bottle; maybe some compliment or close encounter will change my olfactory sensitivity.