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.