Comme des Garcons 2

it’s not exactly robot in the Sorayama Gynoid sense like I get with womanity, but it’s almost... uncanny in a way? whoever said it was inhuman and post life is kinda correct. backstory to the purchase, I have a few performances lined up where I’m playing this futuristic technological pop star version of my drag character, and I needed a perfume to match. I found this at my local perfumery and even without the tester, something about the reviews and that simple, scribbled 2 on the box drew me to it (I’m coming back for floriental btw but that’s another story) I think the packaging drives a lot of that robotic aspect that people latch onto; it’s like Pat McGrath’s makeup packaging (the foil and sequins) where it’s Mylar and ration-y almost. the bottle is gorgeously simple, and the scent really just... wow. it opens up with an aldehyde blast that seems wetter than most regular aldehydes. it’s moist, slightly humid, steamy almost. sudsy. soapy. like a l’occitane soap from the future perhaps; almost reads like a precision blast of verbena. then the middles start coming in, and this is when it gets interesting. that precision blast weaves in and out with an earthy ink note that’s not as rank as, say, Zara’s supreme vanilla (now THAT’s a rank ink), but adds a layer of... dust? almost? there’s almost a faux warmth that never really translates, which is what I think makes this so interesting and futuristic. the caraway led spice combo really starts to show off too, laying out well with this waxy, bodied magnolia note; which again, kind of feels like a precision engineered magnolia. something birthed by a lab. god I sound so pretentious but the drydown is something out of a post-life thing. I think there’s an aftertaste from the mid notes that reads like a cumin note, cause to me the dry down feels like an uncanny valley human in a really good way. that faux warmth with the spices really shows here where the base just feels refreshing, like holding onto a cool metal railing in the summer. I get the comparisons to old school perfumes, cause in my mind this also struck a strange chord of “wait did my grandparents or relatives wear this perfume?”; I think it really is the uncanny resemblance to older style perfumes that really drives home that feeling of post-life. honestly, I really love this perfume. there’s something about it. it’s rather translucent, but I think for winter that’s what I might need! longevity is pretty great (as of writing this it’ll have been 6 hours since I sprayed it on my hand and it’s currently in the drydown) and sillage is good for it being an airy perfume, though it does become a skin scent over time. approved! (ps I saw someone say this was like two robots giving backshots and I guffawed. not exactly diva but good effort!)

Having a glass of unsweet iced tea on a dewy spring morning in a metro park, drawing the various fellow park goers with your ink pen. A bright, sparkling opening of aldehydes, tea, and dewy, green angelica all supported by inky and floral magnolia. As it dries down, the magnolia and ink accord wrangles the focus from the aldehydes. The supporting freshness of the opening being replaced by a variety of fresh spices and woody notes; coriander, nutmeg, and cedar being the most noticeable to my nose. Once it dries towards its base, the fragrance begins to almost thicken up, like freshly poured concrete in a city park on a hot summers day, the smell of the greenery, trees, and florals smoothing out the edges. As an artist, there is an undeniable dip pen/newspaper ink accord in here in the opening and mid that is wildly unique yet so easy to wear, especially with all the fresh notes that buff out any possible rough edges that might appear. I'm really taken aback with how addicting this fragrance is to me, but all the while being so easy to wear. If you're just getting into the house of Comme Des Garcons, or are just beginning your adventure down the rabbit hole that is niche perfumery: this is a great starting point. I have worn about 35% of my 100 mL, and this summer it has quickly jumped to my second most worn fragrance of all time. I cannot recommend this enough if you want something super unique, while being super versatile and likeable, the only situation I don't see this excelling in is going out. Gotta get your nose on this if you haven't already. I cannot speak to past formulations, but my 2023 batch lasts a fantastic 8-11 hours with strong to moderate projection for the first 3-4 hours depending on the heat and number of sprays, sinks to moderate/intimate for the rest. Very nice for the profile. 10/10. My signature scent as of rn. Song vibe - All I Need by DYVN TLDR - Sparkling aldehydes, tea, and greenery mix with floral magnolia and ink in the opening to make for one of the most unique versatile fresh fragrances on the market right now. As it dries the ink becomes more apparent and mixes with aromatics and woods to soften out the edges. And while it might take a couple of full wearings to understand it, once it's got its hooks in you, it will be hard to stop reaching for it.

To expand on @wornatlantic comment below, CdG 2 smells like a very specific kind of fancy artist apartment. The kind with concrete floors, a single Eames lounge chair used exclusively as a place to drape scarves, and books that are definitely unreadable but extremely intentional. There’s incense lingering in the air, a half-empty espresso cup from yesterday, and a window cracked open “for atmosphere,” even though it’s Québec and 42 degrees outside. This is what cool people smell like. Not trying to be cool, but rather effortlessly and irritatingly cool. The sort of person who says things like, “Oh this? I found it in Berlin,” and then refuses to elaborate. The scent doesn’t shout; it leans against the wall, crosses its arms, and judges you gently while not scolding you for your life choices. . . yet. It simply makes you aware that somewhere, someone with better taste is wearing all black and doing less for more money. It’s the olfactory equivalent of a quiet pause after you speak, followed by, “interesting,” said with genuine curiosity and mild concern. Spray it on and your girlfriend won’t just like it, she’ll start eyeing your jacket, your sweater, possibly your entire identity. Suddenly your clothes look better on her, your couch looks more photogenic, and you’re no longer allowed to own this fragrance alone. CdG 2 doesn’t just smell like an artist apartment @wornatlantic; it turns you into a shared aesthetic.

I’m in delight! Wanted to test it long time ago and just got a decant today. And it’s... beautiful! This frag is an intimate one, it holds close to your skin, but it’s not a problem for me personally as I planned to use it while relaxing. It’s chilling in a calming way, it makes you feel safe and comfortable. It also awakens a beautiful scene and that’s what I like in frags! Number 2 puts you into an old apartment or even a house, it’s from you memories - like a returning to something old and drawing in the meaning of “alluring” not “seductive”. The dust dances in the rays of fading light percolating through the curtained windows; cooled down mate tea with mandarin zest awaits you in the kitchen next door; and you can notice that there were some flowers in the bowl in the room, you can clearly smell their later presence; you can smell the stained glass of an old sideboard and even some vintage perfumery kept in this house by its former owners. Thanks I can smell zero cinnamon as I’m in hatred with this note. It’s mostly about laudanum, angelica, aldehydes, mandarins, different tea varieties, ink and magnolia. It’s not sweet and clearly unisex, out of age and time. It really feels like the time is stopped around you while you smell this frag. Delicious! Pure perfection! I’ve expected something like this and I got what I wanted. 10/10, I swear.

I think your taste in perfume really changes your perception of this. a lot of people who prefer heavy dark spicy scents called this a aldehydic floral old fashioned grandma scent (which is what i personally love), but to me this is quite the opposite. Yes its aldehydic (thus sparkly and 'light'), but it smells extremely camphorous and earthy to my nose. The floral touches are kept minimal it really works well here. Its still very hard to describe however. I cant say a certain note pops out more than the other (besides aldehydes, patchouli and incense). Its very cool and breezy, but not sharp or crisp or fresh. the earthy touches arent dirty, it smells a bit like soil that hasnt been taken over by mold yet. the incense is unlit, so theres no form of smokiness here. its an unburnt incense but its not church-y. i find church incenses to smell a bit musty and rotten sometimes, but this is an oily and freshly made camphorous incense. Maybe i need to spend more time with this to understand it better. I feel like i pick up on the mate if i really look for it. I dont notice the ink but i dont really know what ink smells like so.. I would consider this a chypre without the dirty musty oakmoss. Im still very confused by it and my review may be all over the place. but i think that suits this perfume. Perfect for fall and winter i believe

Mark Buxtons 1999 masterpiece does not just stay on the skin. It actually changes the air around you. A lot of people think CdG 2 is an industrial scent.. To me it is a very emotional and unique fragrance. It is an example of how two things that are completely different can work together. The start of the scent is very strong and striking. It has an frozen smell, along with a bitter smell from the angelica root. There is also an smoky smell from the black tea.. The really amazing part is what happens next. The Sumi ink accord is not harsh or chemical at all. It is actually very smooth and a little sweet. It is especially nice when it is combined with the magnolia, which smells bright and beautiful. The floral smell is not traditional or pretty. It is like a structure that has been preserved. As the scent settles it starts to smell darker and more quiet. The ink smell slowly mixes with a mineral incense smwll. There are also smells of vetiver and cedarwood. It smells like paper drying in a room where resins have been stored. I think CdG 2 is brilliant. It is an unique scent that you can still wear every day. It is a masterpiece that pushes the limits of what perfumes can be. I would give it a score. I love Mark Buxtons CdG 2 so much that I will always have a bottle of it. Mark Buxtons CdG 2 is just that good.

There are so many notes listed and almost no flowers, but in a way this is also a floral perfume, although it's a lab flower from an utopian future. Magnolia, bay, freshly squeezed orange juice and aldehydes create something which, technically speaking, smells equally clean, floral and spicy, but these tags don't explain the impression of something unnatural and yet totally approachable. This is Comme des Garcons' idea of sci-fi cleanness with a human soul. At the bottom of this composition there's an emotional accord of resins, wood and patchouli that never dominates, but makes it more complex and ornamented, as if the foundations of this imagined futuristic space are made of natural materials. I was wondering what do we mean when we use words like "urban", "futuristic", "utopian". And my guess is that these are all architectural terms. Perfumes like this depict a surrounding. The closest way to experience future like this in our time are high tech hotels. They combine purity, disinfection, state-of-the-art technology and materials with a welcoming natural aura of wood, stone and plants. Of all the creations I've smelled since CDG 2, there are only two that intentionally combine natural and unnatural with the same level of complexity: Panorama and Ghost in the Shell.

I've worn this perfume every day since I've gotten it. It is really a perfume that can be worn year-round, day and night. Since I began working in an office environment, I felt like I couldn't keep on wearing Angel, and this fragrance is likely going to become my new signature. To me this scent is pretty linear. The top notes are what I get from it, and they persist until it fades (more on that later). I think the ink note draws quite a bit of attention to this perfume, but I really only get that "inkiness" through the sharp tea, citrus, and aldehydes. I.e., it's not its own thing. For comparisons, this perfume is as if aromatics elixir and diptyque tempo had a child that wore a single spray of Chanel no. 5 l'eau. My only gripe with this fragrance is its longevity. By lunch time I am only getting hints of it, and by the end of the day it is quite literally gone unless I bring my shirt up to my nose. I also am suspicious that it has a weak sillage period, but I've only worn it "freshly-sprayed" in the office, where it is generally frowned upon to tell someone they smell good. What a shame!

This is very easy for me as CDG2 has been my signature fragrance for more than 5 years back in 1999. It was a groundbreaking release and a landmark in the Comme Des Garcons collection. I won't describe this perfume in the usual way as I think, wether you'll like it or not, it deserves a try if you want to completely understand CDG's path. In this fragrance Mark Buxton reached the perfection he was looking for in both CDG Original and White adding an extra touch to the maison's already distinctive hallmarks (translucency and minimalistic-incense). Everything is perfect and the classic "rough-caress" feeling of almost every CDG perfume is pushed to the limit. Absolutely distinctive, unique, unusual but at the same time very versatile and not aggressive. It's just up to you where and when, and it will surely follow. A complex-minimalistic masterpiece and another all time favourite. One more thing: If you approach CDG2 today for the first time it may not result so unconventional and groundbreaking, but try to put it in its context as in 1999 things were much different. Rating: 8/10

The comeback of the fangirl from Comme des Garçons, episode 128. Well... as usual, and no matter which nose is behind the creation, it's very very good. Beautiful, light, almost floral-fruity tea-magnolia top notes, overlaid (really an overlay, not replacing one with the other) with drier, more laurel-coriander, very lively notes; then an opening with both cedar-mate-vetiver notes... ah... I love it. I have a very indescribable almost mushroom-like aspect in the background, which adds to the long list of mystery notes that are the hallmark of the house. The drydown is extremely complex, and relatively impossible to put into words as well (windy, wet, metallic, dry and dark green spices closet, lye), but it's a very big treat. In short, completely approved and savored. Thank goodness they're here, sometimes. On the other hand, my +1 thinks it's too "sweet" (I don't know if that's the best way to describe it) for her expectations, so test anyway before you buy. As for me, it suits me perfectly. In any case, I'm going to dig a little deeper into Mark Buxton's creations.

I need to sample it some more so take my review with a grain of salt. Wow. This is special. As others have said, very futuristic. Artistic. Modern art gallery. I worried that it would smell overly chemical or headache inducing, but this is not the case. Opens up with an aldehyde bomb. Very fizzy. Fresh like tonic water, but tinged with an unmistakable ink note that keeps it grounded. Maybe some of the fresher parts of mate too. The aldehydes don't read as old school to me at all. Then, I get a lot of bayleaf in there. A dark green, borderline savory (but not marine or bitter) base. Green tea. Its comforting, and keeps the fragrance from becoming harsh in its futurism. It's a friendly, futuristic robot working in an airy cafe. Unisex for sure. Actively androgynous, I would say. In the way some fashion models are. Not blind buy safe because it's so different. Great price for something so different, I think. Will have to report back on longevity, but sillage seems quite big (airy and intrusive though. Signature scent worthy.

CDG2, like a diamond from the rough: Earthy floral opening with hints of caraway, while the bay leaves worked so well to politely conversate with the florals... then shrouded in warm radiating cardamom tea bliss...Spicebomb OG ? The caraway note only lingers in the background momentarily. As the skin acclimatize to change, it then dissipates and segues into richly matured flowers, like opening an old make up cabinet. Towards the very end it shares a drydown that is similar on Habit Rouge - fortunately CDG2 is not as dense and does not reduce to the weird musk. No robots / computers for me, maybe you guys just romanticising on the design, though I must applaud its Dadaist/Futurist display - like a space drink in that silver foil packaging. I think CDG2 is a fantastic introduction to the caraway/cumin note in general because it's airy and light like tea. As someone who finds cumin too potent, CDG2 carries a rarity in refinement instead, by transforming beautifully on skin. I can see this easily becoming a daily staple.

This has been my every day wear since summer of 2025. I first had the chance to try it in person while visiting the NYC location of Dover Street Market. Frankly, I don't understand the reviews that allude to the post-human, metallic, or computerized vibe of this fragrance whatsoever - it smells quite cozy and human to me. What pulled me in and made this alluring to me was the fact that it smelled quite similar to a paired-down and unisex version of Clinique's Aromatics Elixir that my mother used to wear. Huge burst of fresh aldehydes and spice that dries down to a fizzy cola vibe that sits close to the skin. Kind of reminds me of glossy magazines. One spray on each wrist and on the neck is perfect for the office or a date. I spray a metric fuck ton of it when I go out dancing at a nightclub/festival/rave. Once I had an Uber driver from Colombia who asked about this fragrance when I was heading to a club to meet friends. Described it as "extremely clean", "fresh from the shower" and "luxurious".

very amorphous fragrance, difficult to identify a single note or a general vibe but it works. I feel like I’m stupid on drugs when trying to figure it out because one note will easily be mistaken for another. To me, it’s bright, clean (mind you not in a formulaic, overdone, social-media-born fragrance kind of way), inoffensive, and unique which is what I was looking for. reading others’ reviews and I’ve seen distinct, polarizing descriptions such as: bubblegum, freshly chopped wood, sushi, orange peels, warmth and although these are not the first things that came to mind for me, I can see where they’re all coming from which is part of CDG 2’s charm and appeal. However I think the bottle’s appearance is doing the heavy lifting with the “cyborg” and “posthuman” feel that’s being attributed rather than the fragrance itself. Call me boring but I just like to think of the original marketing and context it was made, the ideas surrounding ink and contrast, etc. Yes I’ll be buying a bottle.

Starts out with a unique opening that’s dry, citrusy, woody, and slightly green. Then I start to smell cumin and coriander along with something sweet and almost candy-like. As it dries down the citrus and spices bcome a little more prominent, along with the strong, slightly salty vetiver base. It’s a comfortable, well-blended citrus-herbal-spicy scent in which no one component stands out. That’s quite a feat given that it’s supposed to contain cade and West Indian Bay, two attention whore materials that will take over if used in more than miniscule amounts. There’s considerable sillage, but it’s not in any way overpowering. It reminds me a little of TDC Sel de Vetiver, but I think I like it even better. This was one of those pleasant surprises that make perfume sampling so much fun. If you like non-sweet, non-floral vetiver scents, CDG2 is a must-try. It could easily become the staple vetiver scent in my rotation.

This fragrance exemplifies what Comme Des Garcons is as a brand. There is an avant garde tone through the inky, fresh spice in the mid notes built on a strong, populist foundation of incense and wood. It is, to me, a black scent. Dark, spicy, and challenging, but certainly fresh and aromatic. It reminds me of - and would pair well with anyone who wears - Comme Des Garcons Homme or even Yohji Yamamoto. Maybe Ann Demeulemeester too? CDG2 would be great to wear to an art gallery or in the concrete city streets for a walk in spring or autumn. There is a pretentiousness to this fragrance. Not of superiority in morals, but perhaps in taste. The scent is sure of itself and relaxed. It is expensive but grounded, not ostentatious. It has more rigidity and structure than other fragrances I've smelt.

I’m a big fan of CDG and on a recent trip to Japan I stopped into a store to try to find something to treat myself to. I was looking for a fragrance that would remind me of my trip there and this fit the bill. It’s extremely unique and encapsulates Commes des Garçons in style. I tried a number of their perfumes and I liked this one the best. It’s a little “cold”, but futuristic and unique. It’s definitely not for everyone or a safe blind buy but something about it projects smoothness with my body chemistry. After getting home, it’s quickly become my signature scent which I’ve been looking for! It’s also a good value for the money, takes me on an olfactory journey in the same way other niche perfumes have, and at a reasonable price point. Definitely a 10/10 for me, I absolutely love it.

I received a bottle of CDG2 over 20 years ago and it immediately became my signature scent. I love how this perfume smells on me, others have tried it and it doesn’t smell as good on them. I used to work front of house at a theater in California and every single time I wore this I got many compliments, and at least 10 people each performance would ask which fragrance I was wearing. It is such a unique scent and a little goes a very long way, I normally am a heavy spritzer, but not with this one, a single spritz will do, it lasts all day long, and when I’m showering after wearing it and the steam starts to fill the air my entire bathroom smells like CDG2. I have been trying to find other scents that I enjoy wearing, but so far this is my #1

I have to be honest, I know nothing about perfume. I just started using it because I quit smoking and I want to smell better. I feel like there's a lot of ridiculous reviews all across this website, overly wordy, extremely pretentious, the whole works. Maybe my nose will get better one day and I'll actually be able to tell what's in this and that it smells like "calligraphy." But today, I'll just say - this is a great perfume. I have no clue what it smells like, but I, as well as the people around me, greatly enjoy it. It last a while, and people near me can smell it without telling me it's too much. I enjoy the bottle design a lot. I am glad I purchased this, and will probably start my newfound hobby with another CDF perfume.

I used to wear this when it first came out and, at the time, I was listening to the then popular Gorillaz album on repeat in my CD player. When I think of this perfume, I smell Sunday morning newspaper ink, incense and faded amber perfume from the night before. But most of all I hear the lyrics of Clint Eastwood droning on in my head. It leaves me with a sense of wonder that I was ever that young person, in my kitchen, making coffee in my house, listening to albums, reading the Sunday paper, doing the most ordinary things but also being exquisitely aware that I wouldn't forget that particular moment in time. I'm useless but not for long the future is coming on it's coming on it's coming on it's coming on it's coming on