Comme des Garçons 2 Man (2004)
by Comme des Garçons

Love the opening! Smokey incense that takes me back to burning leaves as a child. A very light smoke mixed with pantry spices and vetiver. The smoke burns off too soon and the whole mix turns into a lighter version of Encre Noir after a couple of hours. Too bad as that smoke is why I like it.

I had high hopes for 2 Man but this is absolutely loaded with smoke and nutmeg (I believe). The first 1 hour of this was quite bad to me. Later on the vetiver comes in and the smoke goes away and it turns decent.

Revisiting CdG2 Man after a few years, I'm struck by how classic it smells. Perhaps this cross-over-from-artsy-to-mainstream CdG creation will survive all the other, more difficult ones in the CdG line-up.
I also got the shower gel, which is very bright and invigorating - everything I want out of shower gel.
This is truly one of Mr. Buxton's enduring gems!

Reminds me of eating grapes when they're still very small, tough, and sour. It's well made and unique - I do not agree that it smells like Gucci PH - but still not for me.

An inoffensive wisp of wood smoke and vetiver. This begins meekly with a dry nutty edge, but there is little to enjoy, no nuanced notes tantalizing the palate, just more of the same. This has negligible sillage, below average longevity, and has almost nothing to say.

Comme des Garcons CdG2Man

Back in 2004 Comme des Garcons asked Mark Buxton to create a male version of their very successful CdG2. As in so many art forms the sequel is not as interesting as the original Mark Buxton creation but it does carry its own charms. The top dives straightaway into the olfactory spice cabinet as cumin takes the lead along with saffron and nutmeg. The latter two are really there just to soften the rough edges of the cumin. The progression into the heart is where this one really comes alive as the spices slowly recede and a smoky wood accord takes over. This has been compared to the smell of a fireplace in other reviews and that is a spot-on description of what I get. It is like the memory of last night's fire on your sweater, very unusual and very comforting. Vetiver takes the lead as we head into the base and the woods become less last night's firewood and more today's log, ready to be thrown on the fire. Mark Buxton is becoming the perfumer who I think I should like much more than I do, his creations use many of the notes that I appreciate but for some reason don't mesh to make me go all giddy with praise. I can't say that I've found any of his compositions boring they just haven't lifted my spirits as high as I expected.