I love a fun scent, something offbeat, eccentric. Perfumers should be allowed to "go overboard" on occasion, so I was mildly intrigued (the most I can muster these days) by the new Clash collection from Comme des Garçons. The company describes the three-scent series this way:
Comme des Garçons' 10th Parfum series — Clash — focuses on fostering the strength of difference, bringing together elements that were never meant to be associated. Comme des Garçons perfume art director Christian Astuguevielle researched what comes when these two opposing raw materials collide, thus creating an entirely new form.
Chlorophyll Gardenia Perfumer Caroline Dumur | Cosmofruit, gardenia, spearmint oil, pink pepper, black pepper oil, Madagascar ylang-ylang, galbanum oil, Pea accord, musk
Reading Chlorophyll Gardenia's list of fragrance notes excited me: lots of gutsy aromas there! But the moment I sprayed the perfume on skin I wanted to scrub, scrub, scrub. It's not that the perfume is weird: it takes run-of-the-mill to extremes (one dab will scent a room and never wash out of clothing). What you get is a blinding, laser-bright fruity floral — a perfume bedazzled with hard-hitting unnatural chemicals. Chlorophyll Gardenia is obnoxious.
Radish Vetiver Perfumer Nathalie Cetto | vetiver, radish, cypriol, guaiac wood
Vetiver (the fragrance note) is so complex you can smell it and imagine many things: sweat, reeds, wood, smoke, earth, nuts, all things root-y. Radish? Sure, why not?! Comme des Garçons could have called this Vetiver Waffles and I would probably have detected a hot metal plate and raw batter somewhere in the mix. This is my favorite of the Clash scents: vetiver with a camphor-like edge.
Celluloid Galbanum Perfumer Domitille Michalon-Bertier | lemon oil, galbanum, jasmine, Cashmeran, dry amber, musk
This one is almost pure galbanum combined with a thick drop of lemon-peel oil. If you put nose to skin, you'll detect subtle white/tropical floral aromas. "Celluloid?" I'd need to visit a film archive to see if celluloid has a scent and if anything resembling that scent exists in Celluloid Galbanum. My guess: not worth the bother.
Verdict: disappointing and overpriced perfumes; Comme des Garçons, as a brand, seems exhausted — time for a long vacation followed by a major shake-up.
Comme des Garçons Series 10 Clash Chlorophyll Gardenia, Radish Vetiver and Celluloid Galbanum are $65 each for 30 ml Eau de Parfum.
Update: in 2025, the Clash series trio was relaunched as the Accident series trio.
I tried these on paper strips at the new LuckyScent in NY. I asked for a sample of each and was told snootily by a failed something or other looking for a change that I can only have 2 dabbers. ? okaaaay….I guess I don’t really need to revisit the store ever again. I will just continue to visit other friendlier boutiques and order online – no tax! (Well no tax for me anyway as I am in NJ)
This is sad. The Scent Bar in LA is so great and fun and everyone I’ve encountered there lovely. Too bad that the NYC store so far isn’t stepping up to the plate. I hate bad, or even indifferent,service when perfume shopping. It’s such an oddball, personal, and thought-requiring experience, and it takes time. Staff really have to get the right mix of being helpful, informative, knowing the perfumes, *and* knowing when to give you space — and samples — to make decisions.
I know, right? And I was there with several people who have relevant social media following and we all pretty much scratched our heads.
Wow , you sound like a charmer! I’m not surprised the SA was snooty with you if you treat all SA’s as a “failed something or other ” . How terrible that you were “there with several people who have relevant social media following” & their relevant social media following didn’t grant them red carpet treatment. Instead of scratching your head maybe you should look in a mirror & reassess YOUR attitude.??
Ha! I’m pretty sure there was no recognition of social media presence. No red carpet treatment expected but I expected the manager to know the market, especially for a new local branch of what many consider a great perfume boutique. I also expect the managers and SAs to be better-trained, more knowledgeable and courteous, particularly because a visit is very likely to be the first. Unfortunately, that wasn’t my experience. I’m sure there will be fans but I’ve taken myself out of that category. No big loss either way.
nathanthomas50, your comment is outside of our policy about being kind to other readers…it does not matter if you think the reader was being kind to an SA or not, so long as they were not being unkind to another reader, and even then, it is better to let me know than to pile on.
So let’s just stop this bit of conversation now, thanks!
https://nstperfume.com/about-now-smell-this/comments-user-accounts/
This is not the first comment I’ve read about poor service at the NY Scent Bar. Such a shame, as the LA store is very friendly, and there are many other perfume choices in NY to choose from. I’d hate to see them fail due to poor service.
This review made me laugh so hard 😀
Thanks Kevin
littlecooling: Happy to make you laugh!
Well, I have to say I am quite surprised with your review.
I agree the Celluloid/Galbanum is not really interesting.
I really like Radish/Vetiver just by smelling it but my skin never gives Vetiver a chance to smell great.
Chlorophyll/Gardenia was an absolute love at first sight… Always in between fresh and flowery scents, rarely altogether. I have soooo many perfumes at home and CG is unique. Funny fact is that many French perfume experts love it as well… Clash was first launched in Paris (at Dover Street Parfums Market) and it’s Chlorophyll/Gardenia that was everyone’s favorite!
Monbazar, no need for surprise; there’s never a unanimous opinion on anything, ?
Cosmofruit sounded promising. Looked it up. Found a reference to it on the Perfumed Court website: Cosmofruit, a bracingly tart new molecule born in the IFF labs which combines with the classic aromatic elements to completely recontextualize what a fougère can be.
Yep. That cleared up everything.
?
OF, I know…the part about fougere sounded downright foolish!