Habit Rouge opens with a sharp, bright burst of bitter orange and green lemon—crisp and almost aggressive, which can feel abrasive if you're expecting something immediately comforting. But this citrus...
**Performance is genuinely impressive across all concentrations**, especially the Parfum, which projects strongly for hours and clings to clothing for days; the EDT offers solid longevity for its type, making it versatile depending on your commitment level.
**Fall and winter are the obvious seasons**, though opinions split on whether it's too heavy for warmer months—its spicy, powdery warmth reads as cold-weather dressing, not summer lightness.
**The vintage versus modern divide shapes perception**: older batches reportedly have a softer, more atmospheric quality, while current formulations skew sharper and sometimes harsher in the opening, which affects whether people find it elegant or abrasive.
**Best suited for formal occasions and evening wear rather than daily rotation**—birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, and nights out, where its mature character and strong projection feel appropriate rather than overdone.
**Comparisons to Guerlain's Heritage often favor Heritage**, and it shares drydown DNA with Shalimar, though Habit Rouge's leather and patchouli give it a distinctly spicier, less sweet identity.
