The Guerlain dynasty has always been deeply attached to horses. As proof, Jean-Paul Guerlain was himself an outstanding trainer and an accomplished rider. It was by drawing on this passion that he created one of his first perfumes: Habit Rouge. Since its release in 1965, this masculine fragrance has been considered an olfactory legend. In 2023, Habit Rouge continues to make headlines. It returns in a new, even more intense derivative: Habit Rouge - Rouge Privé.
While walking through the Rambouillet forest early one morning in 1965, Jean-Paul Guerlain was inspired by the fleeting appearance of a rider dressed in red, firmly gripping the reins of a thoroughbred. This is how he created Guerlain's Habit Rouge perfume. In 2023, the house decided to bring it back into the spotlight in a new, more intense and refined version, as the embodiment of man's mastery over the animal's strength. A breakdown of the composition of Guerlain's Habit Rouge - Rouge Privé.
Guerlain's Habit Rouge - Rouge Privé, a powerful and incisive opening
At first, Guerlain's Habit Rouge - Rouge Privé is like an untamed horse. Its spirit resurfaces in its top notes. What's more, in its first breath, Habit Rouge - Rouge Privé also recalls the morning freshness of the Rambouillet forest. To achieve this result, Guerlain relied on a duo of bergamot and ginger. Thus, Habit Rouge - Rouge Privé immediately releases a zesty, tangy and slightly bitter scent, paired with a more soapy and peppery touch.
The floral and luminous heart of Habit Rouge - Rouge Privé
Guerlain's Habit Rouge - Rouge Privé then evolves toward a more pronounced elegance. This time, the refined man seems to have taken precedence over the animal. Habit Rouge - Rouge Privé contains one of the noblest and most expensive raw materials in the entire perfumer's palette: iris. Generous and powdery, it gives this fragrance a slight retro touch. What's more, it is also brightened by orange blossom. In this sense, Habit Rouge - Rouge Privé also evokes the previous scent of its 1965 version. Indeed, at that time, Habit Rouge incorporated neroli, a close cousin of orange blossom essential oil.
The final animalic and enveloping scent of Habit Rouge - Rouge Privé
Guerlain's Habit Rouge - Rouge Privé ends with more bewitching and captivating base notes. These preserve the iconic accord of leather, patchouli and vanilla from the original Habit Rouge. However, these elements become, this time, more syrupy and oriental. As for the manufacturing secrets, the Guerlain house did not wish to reveal further details of its know-how. This further helps preserve an element of mystery.
Habit Rouge - Rouge Privé, a spirits-inspired creation
To create Habit Rouge - Rouge Privé, Guerlain's perfumers worked like virtuoso cellar masters. They thus imagined an exceptional vintage, with accents that are sometimes spirited or lively but always highly refined. The result is a perfume more refined than ever, in which the vanilla is deliberately syrupy. According to perfumer Delphine Jelk, Habit Rouge - Rouge Privé revisits the Habit Rouge myth with a new, exceptional blend. The signature leather facet, played in overdose and paired with bergamot and patchouli, becomes even more sensual and intense.