Habit Rouge by Guerlain

Today I am wearing Habit Rouge by Guerlain.

Instantly it reminds me of a tangy sherbet lolly, something I used to eat as a child (in the days of not giving a fig about calories and dentists).  I instantly love this scent and feel comfortable wearing it.

But what’s this, someone has dipped my tangy sherbet lolly in paprika as it very quickly takes on a chilli aroma.  Lovely lovely lovely in my nose, I find this smell enormously engaging but the memories of the lolly are popped and gone, who would eat a chilli sherbet lolly even on Halloween?  Definitely more trick than treat.  A perfume of contrasts.

Sold as a man’s scent (but you know my thoughts on that, scents are genderless, if you like it, wear it) but I do agree with the sentiment that there are some scents more suited to a younger generation and this is not one of those.  Somehow it sums up older rich man who is trying to make an impression on younger attractive female.  Contrasts.

And when I think those thoughts I’m not sure I want to wear it anymore.  Grand and aromatic it may be but there is a powdery sweet dry down that I find troublesome.  It’s almost as if the scent is trying to tempt for all the wrong reasons.  

I like the citrus, zesty, candied opening and when the chilli kicks in it gives the scent a wonderful almost amusing edge.  But once the orange, bergamot, tangerine, lime, cinnamon notes are through the layer becomes floral for a fleeting moment…but beyond the seduction with flowers, we are left with leather, oakmoss and sweeter notes of amber, benzoin, labdanum and vanilla.  Something isn’t sitting well with me.  Contrasts.

Now it could be simply the end of an evening – a spicy meal, flowers and now a box of chocolates but somehow I sense something more sinister and mistrusting.  Perhaps it is the deluge of trick or treaters that we had yesterday, or maybe I’m being cynical but I don’t think I could trust a man who was wearing this.  It's too contrasting - I get the spiciness, but the powdery sweetness doesn't seem to be the same man at all.

I need to find a gentleman that I adore to wear this to dispel my thoughts. Let him be spicy and hot, let him be sweet and powdery, let him be all these things but overall, let him be lovely. Always. No contrasts.