A Wren Says

I am smelling my arm, nearly 12 hours later. I sprayed Rouge Chaotique by Byredo on my wrist before bed. The scent has lingered on me into the next day, leaving behind the scent of patchouli or oud, with a touch of sweetness.

Let me get a fresh spray on my skin. Now, this will make sense only to me, but it smells dripping and round. The name Rouge seems fitting; it does smell “red”. There is something quite berry about it. And as I read the notes, I can recognize the citrus and plum playing with the woodier notes. Perhaps they chaos comes because I don’t know what to make of it. There is something about it that I want to keep smelling, keep trying to understand. Is it too much? Will it overpower? Or somehow, is it not quite enough? Would I bury my face into the neck of someone wearing this, or would I push away?

Rouge Chaotique extrait de parfum

$400 for 50mL

Notes:

Top: Bergamot, lemon, saffron, cassis

Heart: Plum, Praline, Upcycled Oakwood

Base: Papyrus, Upcycled Patchoud

(Other notes they mention in the description include blackcurrant, oud, and leather.)

As I imagine where one would wear it, I think of luxury shopping. For me, it is imagining a space where you casually assert what you want and recognize you have the confidence and competence to get it. Even though it might seem unattainable to others, or even you in your former life, you go forward with no apologies.

This is a fragrance for people who love fragrances. Because it is not an easy yes or no, it takes a person who will appreciate it as a work of art, beautiful yet polarizing. If that describes you, I suggest you give Rouge Chaotique by Byredo a try.