parfums*PARFUMS Series 6 Synthetic: Skai (2004)
by Comme des Garçons

I recently explored the Blood Concept line and comparisons to certain Comme Des Garcons compositions were inevitable. That's why while revisiting SKAI, I made my belief stronger that when it comes to the binomial weird/wearable, there's nothing like CDG.

I've to be honest, I'm not able to detect many notes in this composition as SKAI strikes immediatley as one of a kind. PVC (cellophane), lemon, ozonic notes and...incense (of course). Smells of brand new, sort of "just unpacked" with an airy feel given by the ozonic undertones. Incense works as a signature as in most of the CDG's compositions while a barely sweet "lemon-ish" note on top provides an energizing feel.

The ability of Comme Des Garcons is to turn potentially unappealing chemical elements into very enjoyable/wearable ones. Notes that usually make you think about everything but a body fragrance, turns immediately wearable and "natural".

If your idea of "clean" resembles the concept of "brand new" instead of "just showered" there's nothing better than SKAI. Unique and very distinctive.

17th October, 2011.

It 'is', of course, the smell of a rubber swimming pool the moment you unwrap it, and the smell of burning paper extinguished in body cream, and the fake grapefruit normally starring in designer fragrances' summer editions; but it's also denser than that, and it's abstract.
Only when I really went clubbing with this scent that I got the 'great for clubbing' thing. It's that state of unawareness, light-mindedness and confidence that go so well with Skai.
Warmness is usually a thing that comes from the past or from another time: one either recalls ancient rituals and pleasures or cozy memories from his own past, fireplaces, kitchens, sweets and cakes. A warmness that is actually in the present or even the future is a rare thing. This is on the edge of being cool, non emotional but it succeeds.

1st May, 2011.

I haven't tried them all, but I'm sure that even if I did this would still remain my favourite Comme des Carcons fragrance.

I believe this was made by Martine Pallix and Anne-Sophie Chapuis, the same duo that's behind Odeur 53 & 71. And certainly there are some similarities.

I must thank these ladies for making this since there are not many other fragrances available which I feel have my name written on it - with a huge font, even.

Skai (what a great name) is an oddball, but to me it's extremely wearable and unpretentious. Subtle and long lasting energizing delight.

I'm not sure what's in it, and I don't care. It smells wonderfully fresh and warm at the same time, and for sure a dream come true for a science fiction romantic such as myself, this space age fragrance.

Skai makes my imagination run, it creates many different scenes, all the way from white shiny space leather to the atmosphere of faraway planets, down to a more everyday smells of my local paper mill and a new car smell of the interior of an all white Lamborghini Gallardo :)

14th March, 2011.

I bought this 5 years ago, it was my third perfume purchase and I thought it was a surprising yet wearable fragrance, I was really into finding unusual one of kind scents and CDG was a hot house of talent.

Today I got a gift of Chanel N 5 Eau de Toilette. I gave it a try and I was surprised by the familiar aldehydes..wait that smells llike Skai!!! I've heard that Chanel has reformulated both the EDT and EDP so I don't know who inspired whom, but Skai smells warmer and fresher and more hip. Give this perfume at least 30min. to develop. The Aldehydes, coumarin and other synthetics create a plastic flower scent that is quite intriguing. This is not a pretty perfume.

17th February, 2011.

One of the great overlooked perfumes, Skai features a striking arsenal of scorched plastic, leather, PVC and synthetic fruit notes. The 'bottle' looks like an aerosol can. It's just not what you expect from a fragrance and has an extraordinary synthetic, odd character... a bit like opening up a new paddling pool from the cardboard box - then wearing it.

Great for experimental, electronic gigs, gallery private views, poetry readings and local Dadaist meetings.

Sadly discontinued as of early 2011 - so snap up a bottle if you see one. Sure to be collectable...

10th February, 2011. (Last Edited: 4th September, 2011.)

I like to wear this one in the summer. It's a good fragrance, though it's a shame the bottle is cheap and messy.

6th January, 2011.