This past June, M. Micallef launched two fragrances as part of their Art Collection; Rouge No. 1 and Rouge No. 2. It’s always good to start at the beginning, so today I’ll be reviewing Rouge No. 1.
WHAT I SMELL: Rouge No. 1 opens with a tangy peach that is quickly overtaken by beautiful ylang-ylang. The peach keeps the florals slightly at bay with a bit of a bite. But Rouge 1 is not shy and it eventually starts pumping out a milky warm and inviting floral bouquet that is thick and almost slightly honeyed, which I believe is the vanilla at play. Wrap this all up with a white musk base and you have a fragrance that doesn’t develop all that much, but provides you with a floral loveliness with some lasting longevity and some pretty big projection.
From the 2013 M. Micallef Art Collection press release:
Head note: peach, tangerine – Heart note: ylang-ylang, rose, jasmine – Base note: white musk, vanilla, benzoin.
Floral-fruity eau de parfum, Rouge n°1 combines delicious yellow fruits and a generous bunch of flowers heart, warmed by the vanilla and white musk base.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: The large bouquet in a formal foyer of a beautiful home. It’s beautiful, inviting and welcomes the visitor in.
THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE ROUGE NO. 1: proper, elegant, warm
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ROUGE NO. 1: As the Micallef Art Collection was released this past June, I was not able to find any other reviews.
BOTTOM LINE: Another beautiful perfume from the house of M. Micallef. There is some similarity here with one of my all time loves, Givenchy Ysatis, although Rouge No. 1 seems to exist in more of a subdued gauzy haze vs. the louder and sharper edges of Ysatis.
- Bone Rating: 3.5 out of 5 possible bones
- Scent: Floral Fruity
- Classification: Feminine
- Expense: $245 for 100ml EdP
Sample provided by Hypoluxe, official distributor of M. Micallef products.
The Scented Hound 
August 20, 2013 at 6:23 pm
I was curious when you said it was similar to Ysatis, but then I saw the price. I’ll stick with Ysatis.
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August 20, 2013 at 6:47 pm
Dear Poodle…yes, the price is rather “pricey” 🙂
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August 20, 2013 at 11:39 pm
I am just not a lover of the Floral Fruity perfumes. But I do smell them none the less to keep my nose open. Maybe someday I will find one I like. But your description of it being like a large floral arrangement in a formal foyer… I do like the sound of that.
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August 21, 2013 at 5:48 pm
I think this is much more floral than fruity…fruity to me usually means excessive sweetness and this is not. Maybe you’ll get a chance to enjoy this…more to come 🙂
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August 21, 2013 at 6:07 am
sounds too gourmand to me but I might give it a try
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August 21, 2013 at 5:49 pm
Welcome back Lucas!!! This isn’t gourmand at all to me. Very sophisticated and muted (but large) floral… I think you might like it 🙂
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August 22, 2013 at 4:48 pm
Peach is a difficult note for me: it doesn’t work on my skin more often than it does. But since I have kind of a favorable opinion of the brand I’ll try this one as well if I get a chance. Especially since you didn’t “kill” it with your review 🙂
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August 22, 2013 at 6:48 pm
It’s not too peachy my dear. Look for a post this coming weekend and you may just get a chance to try it for yourself 🙂
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August 26, 2013 at 4:42 pm
Testing this right now… it’s been on for about 7 hours and I am getting mostly floral, not much fruit. The fruit burned off pretty quickly. It does in fact remind me of Ysatis, which I wore back in the 80’s (although I haven’t smelled it in years). I am actually liking Rouge No. 2 better than No. 1 today… it has a really addictive sweet powdery candy note. 🙂
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August 26, 2013 at 6:53 pm
I didn’t get much fruit from this either, but you can take No. 2 because No. 1 is for me 🙂
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