Xeryus Rouge
Eau de Toilette, Givenchy (1995)

The vintage version before reformulation was just amazing! The current version in clear bottle is rubbish 👎

I'm not surprised at the number of negative reviews aimed at this nice misunderstood fragrance. It seems like it gets a lot of negative press because the comments are made by younger noses who seem to be saddened Xeryus Rouge doesn't smell like a candy bar but actually smells MASCULINE.





Enough said

Green floral scent with vinegar undertones.
Old school for age 40+. Average performance.

I'm surprised at the number of negative reviews for this one. I wouldn't rank Xeryus Rouge among my absolute favourites but I do like it a lot; the earthy, unusual cactus is unlike anything else in my collection.

I can't see it appealing to young men but this fragrance exudes quality and sophistication.

While this is not inherently bad-smelling, there is nothing about it that draws me in for a second wearing. The cactus fades into a powderyness that comes off a bit dated and "old-mannish". And the pimento isn't quite as spicy or distinct as I was hoping. Maybe it needs amber or something a bit heavier to hold it together.

Givenchy's Xeryus Rouge is a masterpiece if you're prepared to accept a few caveats.

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.

It's fickle. Applied sparingly, Xeryus Rouge is a luxurious and unique scent that possesses a round, synthetic, fruity opening that quickly dries down to sandalwood-dominated base notes with an occasional waft of cedar. Applied generously, it turns into a mess of synthetic geranium with very little of the red pepper accords. It can get very cloying very quickly. This is a two-spray-max sort of fragrance.

I cannot detect the citrus or musk notes that some other reviewers do: they're simply not part of the formulation.

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.

Sillage and longevity are above-average.