parfums*PARFUMS Series 2 Red: Rose (2001)
by Comme des Garçons

A very nice scent — a realistic rose note with lots of raspberries for sweetness and musk for sweetness and substance — it’s a good combination — it’s a safe combination. It’s not the sort of combination that one pays niche prices for. As for the other notes, I don’t get the pepper that is supposed to be in the accord. Overall I would say it’s more feminine than not — not because of the rose but because it’s so berry sweet. I find this scent especially linear with very little happening, except for the lessening of the rose / berry accord from the strong opening salvo until the ultimate expiration, which comes all too soon. Although it is a pleasant scent, I find nothing really outstanding about it — in fact, I think that several (much less expensive) designer rose fragrances could easily compete with and be judged better than this fragrance. And, as far as other niche rose fragrances go, well…there are many niche rose scents that are superior to CDG’s Rose. Rather short-lived.

Rose scents, for me, generally conjure up images of Grandma trying to look sexy for Grandpa's 75th birthday, complete with lingerie and too-red lipstick, an image which I would like as far removed from my brain as humanly possible. CdG's take on Rose, however, sidesteps this nicely, being neither old lady-esque or overtly sexual. And while the combination of rose and raspberry sounds uber-feminine, it just takes a little panache for a man to pull this off. A unique addition to any fragrance wardrobe.

A modern rose fragrance to be used any time. It's one of those fragrances I grap when I can't make a choise. It's not overpowering, fresh, good staying power. I like the combination with the fruits which makes it not old fashioned, what many rose fragrances have.

A rose by any other name wouldn't smell as intoxicating. Rose is merely an accent here combined with raspberries and musk. Light, fresh, and unmistakably CDG.

A stroll through a rose garden...deffinately a bit more on the femenine side...a day in the court of a beautiful queen, admirers come from all around just to drop rose pedals at her feet, the intoxicating scent fills the fresh crisp breeze that seems to have come from another time...when the earth was young...relaxing, sexy, almost regal...CDG does it again!!!