Reviews of 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.

For once every review is pretty much dead on:
Dark, Evil? Spicy blast, Like nothing else, Chai tea, Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmeg...
All very correct. Certainly reserved for fall and winter as the combination of spices tends toward the smoky, too close to the fire place kinda thing. It is very strong and not recommended for casual use. It does settle down nicely on the skin, but it is certainly NOT for everybody. I wouldn't necessarily name is Christmas though...there is no pine present, and I don't think there is Christmas without pine.

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.

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!"

Waouu ! Such a USO (unidentified smelling object)! Love it : absolutely medicinal and addictive ! I'm in love with this brand I recently discovered : it is so far away from conventionnal fragrances you usually buy in Europe (Dior, Channel...). If you like USOs and sea scented perfumes, try out "Rem" from Reminiscence...

Can't believe I still have this. It's better with time. When first experienced this it was too sweet, even the dry down, Christmas-y and almost too young for me - in my Chanel No.5 and pearls period. with time it's aged (?) so that the spice I was afraid of, makes more sense now. first moments it's definately clovebud, cederwood and cinnamon but the drydown is warm,honey and earthy. it went from being "too much" to being autumnal and warm but also risky. with notes not usually attributable to women's scents. I love it now, wearing it with pearls & gold, sweaters and wool. Although,less is more here.

It certainly grabs your attention. That clove, nutmeg, cedar, and labdanum opening knows how to make its presence felt. ‘Christmas potpourri’ and ‘medicinal’ seem to be the most common descriptions here, and, ok, they sort of fit the scent straight out of the bottle, but on my skin this opening is an agreeably strong spicy-aromatic accord supported by woods and resins, which smells like neither Christmas nor potpourri. That strong initial note settles down very quickly to a middle that reminds me of a weak Le Dandy—actually very pleasant. Finally the long lasting dry down appears as a subtle wood accord with a bit of clove and a bit of honey and a lot of charm. Except for the first five minutes after application, I don’t think Comme des Garcons (Original) is some sort of weird extroverted scent. It’s a spicy, woody introverted fragrance with a wonderfully effervescent sense of humor.

This isn't bad if you like christmas potpurri. It is definitly noticeble. Not my favourite, but a definite try during winter.
benb

In order to truly appreciate this fragrance's "in your face" avant-garde ness i think you have to put it in context...imagine 1994. this smells like 1994. More specifically it smells like Comme des Garcons fashion circa 1994. Finding a unique and somewhat outlandish moment between traditional arts and a vivid imagination...spices, remixed, minus the comfort.

"You smell, um, interesting," was how my valet put it after my first try of this powerhouse parfum; and that was the next morning, mind you! CdG EDP is not for the faint of heart, that is for sure, but you will be treated with a very high quality, powerhouse of a scent, certain not to smell like those around you. There is an initial spicy profusion of a blast! Apparently cardamon leads, but the other spices in the mix make it evocative of cloves to my nose. These spicy headnotes last and last, finally allowing the labdanum, olibanum, cinnamon, cedar, and black pepper to emerge. In other words, yet more spice! I personally like the effect a lot. Two shots low on my thorax and I still get lots of sillage. This would probably be best for fall/winter days, but like Tigrushka says, if you've got a cold use it anytime, for I imagine it really does have medicinal properties.

Powerful DARK, evil fragrance

Christmas potpouri in a bottle. But I like that and that's why I own it. Sometimes you just gotta smell like a spice rack.