Underrated Friday: Rouge by Hermes
July 21st, 2006
When I was looking for my next Underrated Friday pick, I wasn’t sure if Hermes Rouge would quite fit the category. I can’t ascertain if this is an underrated scent. All I know is that I never smell it on anyone around me, and it doesn’t seem to get much praise on online perfume communities. For being such an exquisite beauty as it is, I feel like it deserves more recognition. I’ve become acquainted with it just recently, mostly by spraying it on blotters in department stores. During our Chicago Sniffage, March sprayed some on her wrist, and I distinctly remember the moment when we were crossing the street, and I stopped in my tracks when I got a whiff of it. Of all the scents March had on that day, this stood out the most, leaving a most gorgeous sillage.
According to Osmoz.com, “the “Rouge Hermès” color, initially designed for leather goods (in 1934) has become a standard color in all domains. This new perfume from Hermès recaptures the rich symbolism of red (a color associated with poison, passion and seduction) and offers us its fragrance”. I can’t say I associate Rouge with passion and seduction. To me it’s an epitome of all things chic and luxurious. It demands a certain attitude, a certain poise that cannot be feigned.
Rouge features the notes of ylang ylang, rose, cedar, sandalwood, Bourbon vanilla, spices, resins, myrrh, and labdanum ciste. Rose and ylang ylang are gorgeously intertwined from top notes to the very drydown. Sandalwood and cedar serve as a backdrop, with just a hint of vanilla. There’s something here that gives the scent a certain kick, a slightly sour note that might be off-putting for many, I imagine. Perhaps it’s a mix of labdanum and spices. The overall effect is buttery, spicy, and warm. It’s slightly reminiscent of Guerlain Chamade but a bit more piquant in character.
Rouge is available at various online discount perfume sites as well as directly from the Hermes store.
Image source: www.parfumdepub.net
Entry Filed under: Perfume Reviews
22 Comments Add your own
1. Marina | July 21st, 2006 at 7:35 am
“Buttery, spicy, and warm” is a great description of Rouge! I must re-try this, because when I first sampled it, a long time ago, I found it incredibly heavy and strong…but my taste has changed dramatically since then, so who knows…Thank you for a great review!
2. annE | July 21st, 2006 at 7:43 am
Ina, I couldn’t agree with you more! “it’s the epitome of all things chic and luxurious” Amen. (I think 24 Faubourg is, as well.) I’ve never been able to understand the almost total lack of mention for this lovely fragrance on the boards.
And if I may chime in on yesterday’s post, which read just now, my favorite layering combo at the moment is SL Sa Majesté La Rose + Vetiver Oriental. Utterly gorgeous.
3. Elle | July 21st, 2006 at 7:54 am
I *love* this scent. It reminds me a bit of Chamade as it dries down. Yumm! But “a certain attitude, a certain poise”? Nervously straightens shoulders, goes to mirror to check for that certain attitude. I think I’m an imposter in Rouge. I’ll have to remember to order it only onlinefrom now on in case an SA refuses my cc for lacking that certain poise.
4. chaya ruchama | July 21st, 2006 at 8:03 am
Thank you, Ina!
I think that because of the phasing out of Parfum d’ Hermes, Rouge slipped under the radar, sadly. It is a lovely fragrance with a great deal of presence-and like opals, should be worn only by those who know themselves well…
Good morning to you, Ms. annE, you lovely,exotic petite creature!
Your combo gave your identity away- how delightful to encounter you here-
Have a lovely w/e, all…
5. Ina | July 21st, 2006 at 8:15 am
Marina, my tastes have changed, too, and Rouge is something I would have totally dismissed earlier. Yes, you should retry it.
6. Ina | July 21st, 2006 at 8:16 am
Ann, how nice to see you here!
We should make sure Rouge gets mentioned more often. 
What a unique combo! Must try that soon.
7. Ina | July 21st, 2006 at 8:18 am
Elle, I can assure you SAs are oblivious to this certain poise, so you’re safe there.
8. Ina | July 21st, 2006 at 8:18 am
Chaya, you have a good point about Parfum d’Hermes. I must try to find my sample and compare the two.
You have a lovely weekend, too!
9. Patty | July 21st, 2006 at 9:30 am
How can I have missed this one so far? Must rectify that.
And knowing how many scents March can spritz on, that you picked that one out as she was wafting down Michigan is a mystery and perhaps a testament to how it is unique, which makes me want to get ahold of it even more.
10. Ina | July 21st, 2006 at 9:32 am
Patty, methinks you’ll really fall for this one.
11. Judith | July 21st, 2006 at 9:46 am
Wonderful reivew of a wonderful scent! Actually, I’m realizing that I pretty much love (or at least like) all Hermes scents, male and female.:) And I completely agree with Ina regarding the poise of SAs, and have always found that that they are happy to sell to me regardless of mine,
12. Ina | July 21st, 2006 at 9:48 am
Thanks, Judith!
13. violetnoir | July 21st, 2006 at 10:56 am
Oh , but you have to try Parfum d’Hermes, Ina! I love Rouge, too, and thought about buying a bottle of it. But somehow it feels like I am wearing Parfum d’Hermes Light. The latter is a notch more beautiful, richer and sexier, enough so to make me prefer it to her lovely younger sister, Rouge.
Send me your address again through MUA, and I will be more than delighted to send you some Parfum d’Hermes.
Hugs!
14. Ina | July 21st, 2006 at 11:03 am
Robin, thank you! I think I had a sample but I’m not sure now. I’d love to try it!
15. March | July 21st, 2006 at 9:43 pm
So there I was staring at the bottle on Thursday night, but I got sidetracked by something and failed to re-try it… now I will make a special note to give it another sniff before I’ve smelled 15 other things. My devotion to Hermes is relatively new; somehow it took me awhile to work my nose into appreciating them. Now, of course, I just shake my head at my foolishness.
16. Katie | July 23rd, 2006 at 7:22 pm
Hey, you must be reading my mind lately… First, Asja, and now Rouge! Rouge (in edt at least) has a distinct metal ping on my skin, which is weirdly what makes the scent a winner in my book. I can’t say I get buttery, but I get smoothness like the texture of a good lipstick. Nevertheless, it’s definitely the metallic ping tucked around it that gives it interest to me
17. Ina | July 23rd, 2006 at 10:22 pm
March, you crazy woman, you! This smelled DIVINE on your skin! You MUST own this.
18. Ina | July 23rd, 2006 at 10:22 pm
Katie, I totally get that ping, too! Yes, it’s that smooth texture, I agree. Glad you like it.
19. Aromascope » 10 Hot&hellip | July 27th, 2006 at 10:58 pm
[…] How you doin’! Huh? HUH? This is an ad for Parfum D’Hermes, folks. The one that was shamelessly reformulated into today’s Rouge. A big fat “WHY?” is all that comes to mind when I think of it, and when I look at this ad. WHY? […]
20. Tommasina | July 28th, 2006 at 9:03 am
Ooh, I adore Hermès! I was SO excited when I tried Rouge for the first time in Sephora the other day, especially when it initially reminded me VERY much of my beloved, d/c Parfum d’Hermès (of which I have about ¼ inch left ). However, after a wonderful,. gorgeous beginning (yes, buttery - but golden, to ym nose, not rouge), unfortunately it turned on me, as Ina suggested it might do on some people: it became sour, and actually obnoxious. I guess it was the mixture of the labdanum and spices and my chemistry; and I guess it makes sense that my chemistry is somewhat different from normal right now bcs I’m on heavy steroids – ICK. But I was SO disappointed – not to mention feeling as if I’d been slapped in the face!
Back to searching the internet for the remaining bottles of Pd’H…
Aside: I always felt like wearing bright green when wearing PdH – not that I think of it as a green scent at all, but it ‘feels’ bright green in mood. That may be bcs I came across it when it was first out, in a misty / bright Italian autumnal landscape the year I was teaching (hah!) English to Italian high-school kids, about 20 miles SW of Milan…
(Sorry I wrote too much: I get carried away on the wings of memory – at least when I have any memory left!)
21. Ina | July 28th, 2006 at 9:07 am
Tommasina, thank you for your comment! Nice to see you here!
I just got a decant of Parfum D’Hermes this week, and I can’t believe how much MORE I love it than Rouge. What a shame it’s been reformulated! I’ve seen some bottles on ebay, though. You can share your memories here any time - I love reading them. 
Also agree on your color association - PdH is more green than red.
22. Ann E Altermann | November 30th, 2007 at 1:37 am
I have been wering Rouge for many years. The hardest thing though, is to find any bath and body products that go along. I had soap and the thick body cream but sadly, they are now used up. Where oh where can I get more? Checking the Hermes site, Rouge is no longer listed.
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