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Series 6: Synthetic - Skai 2004

Controversially Rated Bottle
 
7.0 / 10 34 Ratings
A perfume by Comme des Garçons for women and men, released in 2004. The scent is synthetic-leathery. The production was apparently discontinued.
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Main accords

Synthetic
Leathery
Spicy
Smoky
Woody

Fragrance Notes

SuedeSuede LabdanumLabdanum CardamomCardamom GrapefruitGrapefruit SandalwoodSandalwood

Perfumer

Ratings
Scent
7.034 Ratings
Longevity
7.128 Ratings
Sillage
6.626 Ratings
Bottle
5.929 Ratings
Submitted by Sani · last update on 09/09/2025.
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Reviews

3 in-depth fragrance descriptions
Apicius

1328 Reviews
Apicius
Apicius
Helpful Review 2  
A Hurrah for German Engineering!
Sometimes curiosity prevails: after I had found a cheap offer on the net, I ordered four out of five of the Synthetics series. Samples weren’t available anywhere.

Skai is truely beautific. It is really ugly, nevertheless you feel tempted to sniff it – just like it was a certain sort of glue.

Imitation leather today avoids any outstanding artificial or synthetic smell – not so Skai as it was produced in the 70ies. I have a vague memory – I remember I always found it funny that commodities made of “Kunstleder” or “Knautschleder” (crumpled or creased imitation leather) had this strange chemical odour, and that people would accept such a pungent smell for the benefit of a leather-like item. You can still get Skai from Konrad Hornschuch AG – however, I very much assume they did what perfumers do – reformulate it! Quite interesting what stuff is still being produced with Skai.

The impression of smelly reddish brown imitation leather sofas, bootees or bags provided by the perfume is achieved by a kind of suede accord that has been altered for a more synthetic appeal. The perfumer has done well – Skai really deserves to be in a Synthetics line.

Skai is authentic and original, and only for its originality it has to be praised. With this perfume, Comme des Garçons payed a reference to a historical product of (German) chemical engineering. I like the thought of a perfume reminding the world of a profane, everyday material that is about to go. In a way, CdG’s Skai is an olfactory place of remembrance. This concept makes a considerable difference to some of their other perfumes known as synthetic: Odeur 51 are 73 are just horrible blends of different synthetic sensations, their burnt-dust-on-lightbulbs-accords do not point at anything in particular.

Skai is quite unwearable – unless you have a special fetish in imitation leather. Ironically, as for many monuments, people will not be able to make much use of it.

What else have the perfume Skai and the Konrad Hornschuch product in common? Both are washable!
2 Comments
Sensual

34 Reviews
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Sensual
Sensual
Helpful Review 13  
Concept art or surrealism?
That's what I think of when I wear Skai.
I find it is concept art in the sense that an artificial scent is created with natural materials,
but somehow it also comes close to surrealism.

However, it is my associations that this fragrance brings me, which give me surrealistic feelings,
because I feel a bit like a wax figure.
Right!
Like a lively, colorful wax figure from animated films (shout out to Wallace & Gromit, as well as Czech masterpieces) instead of something immobile from Madame Tussauds.
And somehow it is also a skin scent. Strange, but still. Human wax figure skin? Why not?

I think of those colorful modeling clays from kindergarten, and I remember my Lego cities that I built back then - they were really surrealist architecture - defying gravity; I had to try everything possible as far as I could - because I often built different cities from other planets when I still wanted to be a "space rocket pilot."
In doing so, I remember my simultaneous joy and strong concentration on the construction, as well as the inner world of what it would be like to live in those cities - maybe I should draw something now as an adult, as I can't remember so well what the cities looked like, but the feeling is all the stronger.

It is very difficult to pick out individual notes.
At first, Skai is very artificial, I say that right away, but over time it becomes softer, a bit more natural.
I sense some flower, which I can't name, it is more of a hint than a direct perception.
Before my mental eyes, I see modeling clay again, blue! This time decorated with little meadow daisies,
the little girl is making something romantic for mom or sister - a calm atmosphere.
If I absolutely had to name a flower, it might be arnica, but actually I don't know much about flowers, and with Skai that shouldn't be a problem, since it is supposed to remind one of artificial leather anyway. However, it reminds me most strongly of modeling clay.
Yet there is a bit of summery floral warmth, especially with the passing hours, where it becomes ever softer.

Despite all the "artificiality" and my own modeling clay and Lego associations with this fragrance, I have even received compliments when wearing it. Perhaps that is the secret why - it has something lovely, only what exactly it is, I may never really be able to say.

To say it is unisex would be somewhat wrong for me, as for me it is as far removed from sex as it can be, unless someone has a strong artificial leather or modeling clay fetish. Rather, it is completely asexual. But that's quite alright.

I didn't find it so great at first sniff, but something kept drawing me back to sniffing it, and it just wouldn't let me go. And like with Gentilhomme, Skai also has something familiar and cozy for me...
Maybe it was my associations that were so strong and cozy, while also being somewhat creatively stimulating and yes, even silly. If someone is looking for something serious, then definitely not Skai! But that is also ensured by the bottle, which looks like a bio-hazard container for disposal - that also reminds me of art school, as we all collected turpentine and whatever mixtures in special canisters.

After all, it is almost impossible for me to name a suitable target group or situation where one could wear it.
For me, I can best imagine a party in an art school, where no one (not even the students) stays there for life, perhaps then an exhibition, especially when it comes to concept art, or something along the lines of gaga in the sense of avant-garde, no matter which direction - dance, film, fine arts, music... And, of course, first and foremost! Just for oneself!

Maybe Skai is indeed most avant-garde? I might know that someday, maybe not. I think with Skai it doesn't matter.
6 Comments
Gentilhomme

120 Reviews
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Gentilhomme
Gentilhomme
9  
Eau d' U3
After Skai finally made it into my collection (it had been on my Most-Wanted list for a long time), I am more fascinated by this fragrance than ever...

For me, it is the best from the Synthetic series by CdG; it evokes memories of the familiar and beloved. On one hand, Skai has the wild leather note that I remember from Fuel For Men by Donna Karan (my favorite from the 90s), and on the other hand, Skai is quite comparable to the scent of old subway trains in autumn rain, specifically those with Skai seat covers, like the Hamburg Hochbahn still uses on the U3:-)
Next stop: Longevity and sillage
On my skin, Skai clings incredibly well, and the daring mélange unfolds unobtrusively... With Tar, I find a certain intrusiveness, or specifically with Garage, let me quote an announcement before the subway departs: Please stand back! :-)

Unfortunately, I have not yet had the chance to test DryClean and Soda, although I believe that these could also become socially inappropriate and dangerously enticing for me...
4 Comments

Statements

8 short views on the fragrance
15
10
Here, the name says it all. The scent of faux leather from the '70s. Of course, it's different, but definitely wearable. Synthetic done well.
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10 Comments
11
3
Smells way better than my breakfast placemats from the 70s!
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3 Comments
8
2
Artificial leather elevated to the absurd-avant-garde with various synthetic ingredients. Interesting as a test subject, impossible as a fragrance.
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2 Comments
8
2
A strangely diffuse, synthetically leather-like scent in an industrial style.
CdG has better options in that direction.
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2 Comments
3 months ago
7
8
I just tested it.
My John Lennon record from 1971 smells just like this.
Only with grapefruit.
Is that bad? No. Exciting!
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8 Comments
4
4
This pink grapefruit sat in some strange-synthetic liquid spices for a while and was then stored in a leather pouch. After 2 hours ...
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4 Comments
3
2
A lot of leather, which I like. But then a smoky bacon note comes in that I really don't like.
The base is a bit more forgiving.
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2 Comments
2
2
Interesting? Definitely! Wearable? Well! A bit reserved! Reminds me of Psychotrope by PG!
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2 Comments
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