Super Cedar Byredo 2016

I’ve smelled every single fragrance that Byredo has released and I’ve always come back to this one. Something about how simplistic it is, it’s intoxicating. It’s abundantly fresh but not in a blue or green fragrance kind of way— rather like stepping into a pool of pure ISO E Super, assuming where the name of this fragrance comes from. Many have compared it to Molecule 01, which I haven’t smelled so I can’t speak on it, but I find myself in love with the minimalism of this scent.

My only real qualm with it, which to be fair is a very notable one when purchasing a fragrance, is its longevity and sillage. As incredible as it smells, it’s much more for your own enjoyment than it is a room-filler or crowd pleaser, because it has very limited range. I’ve tried spraying a comical amount onto myself and in half an hour the smell is gone. If this had more longevity and sillage, however, I’d own 20 bottles of it.

If someone is close enough range to get a whiff of it, I’ve always received compliments on how nice it is, but don’t buy this expecting to be noticed as it’s a very subtle statement.

“Small is big for the smaller”
- Mehmet Murat ildan

Is it a perfume? Is it a plane? No, it's Byredo's Super Cedar… sorry, I couldn't resist.
Now, what do you want me to tell you about this "perfume"? I will start with the positives:
Pleasant smell? Check
Funny minimal packaging? Check
Interesting name? More or less Check.
And that's it, because the Super Cedar "kryptonites" are many and strong. Let's start with originality. It smells too much like MS Molecule 01, which only means one of two things, either I have my nose totally wrecked or it's full of Iso E super.
Now, let's talk about performance. Time is the enemy of all linear fragrances, but this one in me is completely "destroyed" in a blink of an eye. 30 minutes after application and the initial, strong, tall cedar trunk turns into a musky toothpick, with notes of vetiver… skin scent is his middle name.
Finally, the price. 110 euros for 50 ml of Iso E super? If EM 01 price is already an outrage, this one is even more “pornographic”. This "super thingy" is nothing more than a little thing pretending that it another thing completely.

I understand that some people are anosmic to ISOe. So if you are, I totally get why this is not working for you. I detect it plenty, apparently, since I actually find this sharp and assertive.

For me this perfume is cleverly named. Super is a nod to ISOe, obviously--which has a cedar smell. The brilliance is the rose note that quietly floats around and then when you least expect it, it jumps to the forefront and supersedes the cedar.

It's a fun wear.

Super cedar starts with a blast of white musk, evolves with a hint of cedarwood accord, and dries down with white musk. All in minutes though...

Well and wow...

No projection and sillage at all. Tried to wear from 4 to 12 sprays myself and zero existence, tested it with many other people but no joy.

This is pure nonsense...

My favourite Byredo. It's very difficult to describe it, since for me it has very synthetic smell of a plastic. But at the same time it definitely smells very woody and creamy, which makes it very wearable and interesting. And funny that it has a rose in the pyramid, but i usually don't like roses in perfumes, here i don't smell it.