Red vs. Red

In light of Comme des Garçons new release, Wonderwood, I thought it would be worthwhile to revisit two of their previous woody scents. These are both from the 2001 series "Red", which is a tribute to various red-themed notes. In addition to the ones below, there are Carnation, Rose and Harissa (spice).

Palisander
Palisander wood, red cedar, red chili peppers, saffron, myrrh
This is a really lovely wood scent -- deep, rich, very slightly sweet. At times there is an almost leathery quality at work, suggesting old burnished leather and wood chairs in a club. At other times, there is a moist, earthy forest floor character to be found. The spices add an intriguing accent, suggesting something almost like cinnamon. The myrrh adds a languid, heady note. This is not a dry scent, but it is so elegant and adept that it does not suggest anything heavy or cloying. As you can see, I like this very much.

Sequoia
Red rum, kara-karounde, agarwood, mahogany, redwood, (and perhaps opoponax).
It took me a while to figure this scent out. Learning about oud (agarwood) was the key to understanding this scent. Originally, I just thought it had a somewhat brash boozy note. Now I understand that oud is contributing its usual bright, medicinal, tangy-sour yet oddly appealing presence. My slight reservation with this scent is that the oud (predictably) dominates. It is very difficult for me to detect the other woody notes. Only after a few hours does the oud settle enough so that I can find the other notes. The oud never disappears, but it works with the wood notes to create a truly excellent wood dry-down.

I think CdG does wood well. Not even counting the woody Incense line, or the Hinoki and now the Wonderwood releases, there is much to appreciate here.

Any other comments? Does anyone else find that oud dominates in Sequoia?
Cheers, ody

"Oriental" to my mind suggests patchouli, spices, some sweetness, often vanilla... an exotic character.
Here, I find that the agarwood brightens what might otherwise be dark wood tones. To me, agarwood functions something like violet leaves -- providing a piercing, bright, silvery sort of note. At least the agarwood/oud I've smelled... I know that there are many kinds, some of which have a darker, earthier quality.
So no, I don't find Sequoia to be oriental in style at all. The spices are more prominent in Palisander, and even there they are restrained but interesting accent rather than a main feature.
Hope this answers your question.

Interesting comments, mike. Very interesting!
* Palisander. I was intrigued by you finding rosewood there. I didn't get a pronounced note of that. Have you tried Elixir by Penhaligon's? Now THERE is a scent which shouted "rosewood" to me! And I found that to be too much, there. Curiously, I have a scent by Lothantique called Bois de Rose which is nice and woody, without that furniture polish, heady-sweet character.
* Sequoia. Do check it out for the oud. And I will check out Pomegrante Noir for its oud. I've enjoyed the samples I've tried, but can't remember oud there... but I think I have a vague memory which agrees with what you say. The oud could brighten and even mentholate the Pomegranate, and that would be alright with me.
* Harissa. I haven't tried it. I think it was your review which called it a kinder, gentler Piper Nigrum. I should like PN but can't quite accommodate it. The tomato leaf in Harissa should appeal to me. I wonder if it is anything like the note in Sisley's Eau de Campagne. "Seasoned palate"... hmmm, well-seasoned!
Cheers!