By Anton Constantinou
Mr Rouge is my fragrant depiction of Guerlain’s Habit Rouge EDT. An iconic oriental woody fragrance from 1965 with main notes of lemon, rose, leather, and vanilla. A fresh, bold and powdery scent that conjures to mind high society from days gone by.
The year is 1965. Location: New York. It’s wintertime and sunny outside, and a gentleman by the name of Jean Paul Rouge is entertaining at his home - a grand penthouse apartment overlooking Central Park.
Jean Paul is French but has lived in New York for the past five years. He’s handsome, smart, well-dressed and well-read, and has a panache about him. A sartorial excellence, to some polished and others pompous.
Jean Paul is from an aristocratic family and lives a mostly pampered life. He writes for a living, not to make ends meet but to satisfy his creative urges and to fill his free time.
When he’s not writing, he’s out and about - visiting galleries, attending shows, and dining at plush restaurants.
The party he’s put on has a red theme running through it: red placemats, red name cards, and a red tablecloth draped across a beautiful rosewood dining table. Even Jean Paul is wearing red - a bright red jumper with a black polo neck underneath.
Jean Paul adds the finishing touches to the party and welcomes his first guest - Miss Fanny White from across the hall. A recently divorced socialite with a propensity for furs.
As more guests arrive, Jean Claude decides to put on some music and selects an album from Henry Mancini. A popular artist of the day and one of his favourite composers.
Within an hour, the party is in full swing and Jean Paul is busy working the room. Elegantly gliding from one guest to the next.
Eyes light up as Jean Paul greets his many acquaintances. His beaming smile bright and bold like the first wafts of a recently squeezed lemon.
As his guests get close to him and indulge in conversation, his refinement becomes even more apparent. From his baby soft skin to his carefully coiffed hair, Jean Paul is the picture of elegance and sophistication: like a perfect rose or rose or carnation, with a warm and classical aroma.
The latter stages of the party are a smooth and sumptuous affair. Dashing deserts and stylish furnishings take centre stage as the party moves from the drawing room to the dining room, and from main course to pudding. A waft of vanilla here, a dash of animal skins there. And, at the centre of it all, Jean Paul, lounging effortlessly in a glorious leather armchair, disappearing into the background, but keeping charge.
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