Comme des Garçons Parfum (1994)
by Comme des Garçons

This is a strange, spicy fragrance, not at all what I was expecting yet at the same time, something more.

Its own ad copy states "Works like a medicine and behaves like a drug", and that may well be the case, but unlike some other reviewers I haven't found this to be a strongly medicinal fragrance. Perhaps it's because I associate "medicinal" with herbal, camphorous smells, and this is more of a spice-cupboard to my nose.

The top notes come on strong and almost a little fierce, clove, cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg leading the charge. They're somewhat moderated by a honey note, and accompanied by a very peculiar note I can only describe as being the olfactory equivalent of Thrills chewing gum.

Thrills are supposed to be rosewater, but taste nothing of the sort. This note likewise smells nothing like rose, but a great deal like Thrills. Perhaps this is the rose listed in the official notes...?

The heart of this fragrance takes one of the most dramatic left-turns I've seen in a fragrance. The spices fade, and in their place is a sandalwood note that manages to be both smoky AND soapy.

The base is the least dramatic part of this fragrance. It's a fairly pleasant sandalwood and honey combination, the honey taking on a peculiar salival quality.

The sillage and longevity are both moderate on my skin.

If you like spicy fragrances or just odd fragrances in general, try this. Even if you don't like it, it's definitely a conversation piece, and you'll smell nothing remotely similar on the market.

Personally, it's become an instant favorite of mine, and has been added to the ever-growing category of "must-have" bottles.

This smells largely of a snuffed, scented candle, and it's just a bit "soapy." Very strong stuff, so I diluted it with vanilla extract and "tamed" it. I like the smell of my concoction better. The small amount of added sweetness with the vanilla smooth it out nicely (the vanilla extract I used has corn syrup in it). So I've got to give it a positive rating, though I'm actually giving myself one too (is that a conflict of interest? LOL). Anyone, if you get this or try this, I suggest just one spray for your first application.

Not my biggest CdG favourite. It`s not bad, it`s quite interesting as well, but after few full wearings I just noticed a big *blah from my side*. It`s sharp, very spicy, and eventually little bit boring. Cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, styrax and pepper - something which reminds me of Piper Nigrum by L.Villoresi.
Quite christmassy scent, and I like that, but after all this smells something that is unable to rock my world. Somethings wrong, personally speaking, but at the same time I must say that I would love to smell this one on some woman. I presume it would work in wonderful ways.

A great bottle!

Damn!!! Yes....that is my impression of this fragrance. The first few minutes I thought I uncorked an opening of Cepacol throat lozenges, only to realize it was nothing more than a major league blast of Nutmeg.

The intensity of this one note is overpowering on my skin and it is at the expense of all other notes. Too bad........I wanted very much to like this.

Comme des Garçons EdP is still my favourite CdG scent after trying them all! It's a unique powerful spicy concoction, that makes a statement and has a HUGE presence, definitely not for the faint of heart...
Since I've managed to fight off an upcoming flu with it twice I can only repeat what Rei Kawabuko herself has said about it: "A perfume that behaves like a drug and works like a medicine."

I love the fact that Comme des Garcons Original is not illusive and doesn't make you fight to understand it. It is what it is: an intoxicating blend of spices working together to create a very well balanced fragrance that is as far away from any possible connotations of the words "perfume" and/or "cologne" that you can get.

I understand the idea of medicinal but it doesn't smell like any medicines I've experienced. Rather, it reminds me of the Yogi teas sold in health food stores or spicy Chai so perhaps medicinal meaning traditional herbal medicines. But this is all about woods and spices, evocative of those used in traditional European holiday cooking and baking rather than of Asian and middle eastern foods. Though just when I think this is a tame blend of friendly (yet very strong) spices, I get a kick of dry cumin that flips this around and takes it in another direction for a while. These are some seriously tangible spices. You can almost feel their ground texture in your nose. I love the way it gives you a nice slap in the head at the beginning and leaves you to recover and think about it. But in the end it takes you in its arms and says, "it's ok it's ok... it's all over now... here, have some of this nice calming spiced tea I've made for you... I put some honey in just the way you like! This should make you feel aaallll right!"