Since I can remember, from about the age of 3, I have apparently had a perfume virus in me, so it was inevitable that starting from the age when I received pocket money, I particularly enjoyed wandering around the perfume departments of department stores after school.
RED, a discovery at Parfumania NYC in the 80s. On this trip to the USA, I was traveling alone and could spend my time exactly how I wanted.
I discovered, among other things, Parfumania, a chain with many branches all over the USA. There were several fragrances that were completely unknown to me at the time, which were not available in Germany or only much later, such as ANNE KLEIN II, ISADORA, DECADENCE, GLAMOUR by GALE HAYMAN, and of course RED by GIORGIO BEVERLY HILLS.
For me, it was a perfume paradise at moderate prices, being able to test and try without being constantly pressured by pushy salespeople, and I indulged until my credit cards were glowing. While shopping, I of course didn’t think about re-entering Germany with customs, that came later. When the time came, I was very lucky to walk through with my heavy luggage unchecked.
RED was an 80s fragrance, without the exaggerated attention-seeking antics of the time. For me, it became a valuable, unique, noble classic.
Upon first testing, I was almost immediately captivated by it, and I still like it just as much.
In my perception, a complex, oriental Chypre, mysterious with soul and character.
RED starts with a lot of aldehyde, which I am used to and does not bother me; it is like the overture and feels like a drum roll.
Attention! Attention! Please welcome a wonderful Chypre. It is followed by a voluminous, unusual, finely spicy sea of flowers and fruits, without any sweetness, unlike anything I have experienced with any other fragrance, new, exciting, comparable to excellent Indian cuisine, where I can always marvel at how it can lead to new incredible taste experiences.
It confuses and thrills me, as if one were beginning to unwrap a huge package and beautiful smaller packages keep coming out, until finally a tiny one remains with a brilliantly beautiful, perfectly clear diamond.
RED is an excellent Chypre without disturbing factors, immediately present, with enormous longevity, without overwhelming projection. The composition of flowers, fruits, and spices is perfectly balanced, with none pushing to the forefront.
The base, of course, features the essential, unfortunately negatively connoted and banned oak moss and many other fine spices, woods, and fragrance specialties perfectly completed.
This fragrance did not skimp or hold back. It is said to contain more than 80 ingredients.
I really like the complexity with so many components when it is so well done; it makes this fragrance mysterious, precious, and absolutely unique.
It vaguely reminds me of MYSTERE DE ROCHAS, HERMES ROUGE, and GEM - VAN CLEEF & ARPELS.
It is the same fragrance family, the spicy-floral, chypre-like, which has always intrigued me since the beginning of my perfume affinity and runs like a red thread through my perfume life.
I usually succumb to such fragrances immediately; there is no need for consideration or multiple testing. An essential criterion, RED does not need any special occasions or wardrobe and fits into every season.
No question, RED is one of my top favorites that I can always wear whenever I feel like it; my skin interprets the fragrance perfectly, as I am often confirmed by compliments. Last but not least, I always feel 100% comfortable with it; they become a part of me or vice versa, the best a fragrance can offer me, I need nothing more.
The bottle is simple, classically beautiful, and user-friendly.
The new variant was a wish Christmas gift, that was before PARFUMO; at that time, I didn’t know that it had been changed, reformulated. I have since given it away because what I read about it suggests that it no longer has much to do with the original, and I wanted to spare myself the disappointment.
Lucky for me, thanks to the internet, I was able to procure the RED Vintage Original again.
Top Notes 
Aldehydes
Orange blossom
Bergamot
Cherry
Hyacinth
Osmanthus
Peach
Ylang-ylang
Blackcurrant
Heart Notes 
Carnation
Lily of the valley
Gardenia
Iris
Jasmine
Rosemary
Tuberose
Lychee
Rose
Base Notes 
Oakmoss
Amber
Myrrh
Vetiver
Cedar
Frankincense
Patchouli
Sandalwood
Tonka bean
Vanilla
Elysium
Pinseltown
FrauKirsche
Salva
Pollita
Stulle
SchatzSucher
Verbena
Hallodri
Rieke2021
