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The Original Spice Bomb
The original COMME DES GARCONS is a serious spice bomb. No surprise, really, given the line-up of notes: pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, coriander, and, it seems to me: CLOVE!!!!
This perfume--and concentration-wise, it is a perfume, not an eau de parfum--reminds me vaguely of Kenzo JUNGLE L'ELEPHANT. To be more precise, COMME DES GARCONS is like the spice core of JUNGLE L'ELEPHANT, without any of the moderating elements, the fruit, the vanilla, the patchouli.
It is unclear to me why anyone would categorize this creation as a chypre, given its lack of patchouli, oakmoss, etc. Yes, there is a bit of labdanum, but it is overwhelmed by the styrax, with the result that, to me, COMME DES GARCONS could actually be the Platonic Form of Oriental Perfume in which all other aspirants vaguely participate.
Intense, is the word to describe this composition, which must be applied very lightly in order to be appreciated. Lacking, as it does, a significant base--or perhaps it is simply overwhelmed by the spices?--this perfume blends well with straight-up ambers to make a somewhat more wearable composition.
I like COMME DES GARCONS, but it has not induced in me the sort of eschatological delivery reported by other reviewers.
This perfume--and concentration-wise, it is a perfume, not an eau de parfum--reminds me vaguely of Kenzo JUNGLE L'ELEPHANT. To be more precise, COMME DES GARCONS is like the spice core of JUNGLE L'ELEPHANT, without any of the moderating elements, the fruit, the vanilla, the patchouli.
It is unclear to me why anyone would categorize this creation as a chypre, given its lack of patchouli, oakmoss, etc. Yes, there is a bit of labdanum, but it is overwhelmed by the styrax, with the result that, to me, COMME DES GARCONS could actually be the Platonic Form of Oriental Perfume in which all other aspirants vaguely participate.
Intense, is the word to describe this composition, which must be applied very lightly in order to be appreciated. Lacking, as it does, a significant base--or perhaps it is simply overwhelmed by the spices?--this perfume blends well with straight-up ambers to make a somewhat more wearable composition.
I like COMME DES GARCONS, but it has not induced in me the sort of eschatological delivery reported by other reviewers.