Guerlain marks 60 years of Habit Rouge with oak-barrel-aged Spirit expression

Guerlain (LVMH Beauty) is marking its male fragrance Habit Rouge’s 60th anniversary with a limited-edition release called Habit Rouge Spirit.

Introduced in 1965 by House Perfumer Jean-Paul Guerlain, the luxury beauty house claims that Habit Rouge is the first amber fragrance for men. The original scent was inspired Guerlain’s passion for equestrian and blends leathery and tobacco notes with vanilla.

Habit Rouge Spirit pays tribute to this heritage while introducing an oak-barrel-ageing technique more typically associated with spirits and winemaking.

Crafted by Guerlain Director of Perfume Creation Delphine Jelk, the fragrance is matured over several weeks in two oak barrels, chosen for their age and olfactory characteristics. According to Guerlain, the process allows the scent’s ingredients to evolve slowly, adding depth, complexity and woody notes.

Habit Rouge Spirit retains the original scent’s citrus and bergamot top notes but introduces an iris and nutmeg heart. The base remains anchored in amber and vanilla, using both tincture and absolute forms produced at Guerlain’s Orphin facility. The result is a reinterpretation of the original scent’s leathery-amber signature, layered with pronounced woody accents from the oak casks.

The Habit Rouge flaçon has been updated with a deep-red wooden cap and veined label to reflect the barrel-ageing theme. It launched in global travel retail at the beginning of April with an RRP of €171 for 100ml.