Comme des Garcons Series 5 Sherbet: Rhubarb

What can I say, I fell in love with that perfume the first time I sampled it. I love rhubarb, and I was absolutely thrilled to find a perfume that really highlighted that note instead of burying it among others. My expectations were high, and I was fully ready to be disappointed: I expected a somewhat artificial, candy/bodywash scent, where the vanilla would quickly overpower everything. I was so wrong. On me, Sherbet Rhubarb is crisp and tart at first, perfectly balancing astringency and sweetness. The litchi is a lovely addition here, as the delicate rose-like notes you find in it work wonderfully with rhubarb, without overpowering it. As it evolves, the vanilla starts kicking in, giving the blend charisma and presence. The drydown is definitely somewhat generic, but on me, longevity was quite good - I was actually surprised since I expected to get an hour's wear at most out of this. I managed to stretch it to almost four hours before feeling like I needed to reapply some, which is amazing given that my skin has a tendency to eat perfume at a desperatingly quick pace. The only criticism I could formulate is that I would have liked the rhubarb to be a tad earthier, but I'm honestly nitpicking here. This is a natural scent with character, and every time I use it, I find something new to love about it. A must-try for all rhubarb lovers.

Is rhubarb a fruit or a vegetable? It's a vegetable OF COURSE and this scent makes the very most and best of that - at least at first. Really surprised at the note pyramid listed here, as to me this is definitely stronger on the green, acidic, stalky, juicy, astringent side of rhubarb for me, and all the better for it. Didn't detect any lychee at all (just as well) though the vanilla does kick in on drydown. The notes mentioned above made me think it would be much sweeter and more floral than Hermes Eau de Rhubarbe Ecarlate (which I also have and love) but in fact it's the reverse - the CdG is in fact the sharper and zestier of the two. Contrary to my expectations it also seems more 'natural', more garden-y than the Hermes, which is odd as CdG are more famous for abstraction and verging-on-chemical smellscapes. Sadly it's another weak performer from CdG (or maybe my skin just bullies most of their scents into submission) - but on me the great sharp tart tangy burst of scent at first lasts only about half an hour, collapsing down to softer, slightly more powdery and vanilla-scented loveliness for a couple of hours more. So it's just a brief but delicious interlude of dewy, garden-fresh delight. Yum yum yum, but do I wish it hung around for longer.

I really like this! I agree with other reviewers that the opening is lovely: at that stage it's a wonderfully tart true rhubarb, very green and juicy, perfect for summer! Unlike a lot of others though, I really can't complain about longevity. It's true that this Rhubarb does fade into a rather generic (but nice!) soft vanilla in the end, but on my skin it takes a good couple of hours to get there - and that transition is probably my favourite thing about this fragrance. In this intermediary stage the vanilla becomes more and more prominent, mixing with the rhubarb (and probably the other fruity notes as well) to form an original and altogether delicious scent. Although it doesn't smell edible exactly, I guess this part is where the sherbet reference comes true, and I really love it... So this is going straight to my wish list; and with small bottles available at an affordable price I'm sure it won't be on there for long...

This is a beautiful summer fragrance. Not necessarily my go-to, but one to which I always love returning, even after 5 or so years with my bottle. It opens with a pitch-perfect tart, sweet, juicy rhubarb, simmering as if its own sugars are beginning to caramelize but still retaining all of its green vegetal brightness. It's quenching, almost like a rhubarb syrup in seltzer. It dries a lot softer, some vanilla and milkiness creeping in, but just enough to keep the rhubarb pink rather than a murky green. It reminds me a lot of a straight rhubarb pie—sweet, yes, but still tart and savory and deep. Like most CdG, longevity leaves something to be desired, and the base of this isn't quite as rewarding as that sour green intro, but still very pleasant. Totally unisex in my opinion, and one of the few fragrances I love that people have ever commented on. (8.5/10)

Gorgeous sweet rhubarb and lychee, with a fragrant peony and exotic orchid, enhanced by vanilla and a lovely exotic wood, which gives it a gorgeous dry-down, that lasts and lasts! It's smooth, tart, sweet and creamy - what more could you want? And very very fragrant!!! It's a glorious rhubarb perfume!!! It's just so much like my mum's rhubarb pie, with custard! It's really scrumptious! I love it, and I get heaps of compliments. Everyone loves it on me. It's terrific!