Which fragrance I like I know now, if it weren't for the 70s and 80s which steal so many scents from the show. This fragrance projects; it lasts, and smells very, very good. It is unique and its just not all sweetness, but it is very sweet. Again, this is red in a bottle.When you look at red medicine, you know its sweet and will taste, well, like something red. Growing up, Middle notes: Cypress, Juniper Berries, Carnation, Geranium, Tarragon, Sandalwood, Cyclamen, Coriander, Petitgrain and Cinnamon; I cannot detect the citrus or musk notes that some other reviewers do: they're simply not part of the formulation. There you can see that a good oriental fragrance does not necessarily have to be sweet. And that's exactly what makes Xeryus Rouge so unique. If you are looking for an oriental fragrance, you will often get a good portion of the oud resin put on your nose and often rounded off with a more or less loveless vanilla base note. Sometimes I have the feeling that when our fragrance composers can't think of anything else to ensure a longer shelf life, a little vanilla comes underneath and you write eau de parfum on it >> everything fine. This fragrance shows that vanilla is not necessarily needed for a legendary shelf life and sillage, and this as an eau de toilette.

One point of criticism; the off note is present in both formulae but in XR its more intrusive, stronger and longer lasting. There's no place for the off note to hide in the compact profile of XR, but the broader and more fluffy body of OU manages to cover it up sooner. And so, to be consistent I've had to mark XR down.

This is a great smelling cologne with many hours of staying power. It's clear to me why Givenchy has been producing Xeryus Rouge since the mid-1990s and why it has stayed popular over all this time. It's a modern smelling classic for men. A bit expensive, yes, but you will certainly get your money's worth. Buy it and enjoy the many unexpected complements you'll get from women you don't even know. It has a bouquet that tends to straddle the space between a milder day-time cologne and a much stronger/fuller nighttime cologne. It’s not one of those scents which everyone knows or owns, so if you like this then it’s likely you’ll be the only one wearing it among your friends, giving you an individual edge. OU diverges from this pattern because its a regular three part structure with a fully worked out base. The base is where OU reaches its climax, a dark woody sandal and amber overlay accompanied by a strengthening warm spicy note. There's also possibly vetiver to give an extra demerara sugar fullness to a much richer and more successful drydown.

I buy 3 different colognes to place on my shelf as "keepers": (1) Nautica Voyage as an inexpensive and mild 'aquatic' day cologne for use on most work days, (2) Givenchy Xeryus Rouge for those special daytime occasions and also for frequent nighttime use when going out on the town, and (3) Vera Wang for Men for those special nights that require a strong, exotic, very complex scent.In comparison to today’s alternatives it does posses some very unique and individual qualities. It doesn’t really smell like anything which I currently own from the modern day, which makes it a good one to wear when you want some individuality and something different. OU evolves in the direction of sweetened geranium. This makes for a decent transition which moves the profile through citrus down to the sweet ambery powdery base.

I procured a sample of Xeryus Rouge as a teenager in the mid-90s. I remember it being magical and I often wore it to bed for comfort while reading on rainy nights. It's certainly capable of eliciting wonderful memories and associations; it's not a scent that you'll easily forget. While I give Xeryus Rouge an unequivocal thumbs up, be aware that you must apply it judiciously and it is definitely NOT a safe blind buy. However - perhaps due to a certain degree of nostalgia - this strong, fruity, flowery, and woody fragrance holds a special place in my collection.

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The opulence of woody orientals is absolutely irresistible. The spices and resins are extremely complementary, enhancing each other's aromas. When this particular product is first applied, terragon, kumquat and cactus come to the fore. These follow through with heart notes of cedar, geranium and pepper. As the fragrance matures, a billow of sandalwood, musk and cedar arises to round out the olfactory experience. Givenchy Fragrances: Price UK

If that sounds like something you’re looking for I would consider this, I would advise testing it over blind-buying as it is quite different to most other scents. Although it’s nice and pleasant to smell it’s never been a firm favourite of mine, it’s not something which I’ve fell in love with, but it is nice and not offensive.

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What does this scent most remind me of? You know those ruby ring candies? The red ones? Pretty much that is what is reminds me of. It's not for everybody. Xeryus Rouge has one of the sharpest, most pungent openings of any fragrance I've encountered. It's likely to offend those with olfactory sensitivities in way quite similar to Fahrenheit. Cactus and tarragon dominate the top notes. Another point; Ouragan is available in supermarkets and costs a third of what Xeryus Rouge was selling for in the perfume shops.