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!

I found this to be too tart and astringent to pull off as an every day scent. I used to spritz this on very warm days, but there is masculine edge that always made me uncomfortable. White pepper is great in eggs, but not in a perfume at least w/ my chemistry.(UPDATE) I've since repurchased this perfume. It has an energy and aromatherapy effect on me. It is tart and sour, but I guess my chemistry has changed because it does have a soft side.

This is a forever love for me without a doubt. Perfectly tangy and juicy rhubarb that stays juicy all the way until the end (unlike another rhubarb favorite of mine Hermes Eau de Rhubarbe Ecarlate, which fairly quickly develops into a fruity white musk). This also has that recognizable Commes des Garcons fresh synthetic undercurrent that works so very well in this composition. One of those perfect perfumes that I love just the way it is.

I'm loving this stuff! I love to what it dries down. It takes about twenty spritzes, but after 12 hours I still smell a rhubarby, warm comforting scent. There is a Dechaufour signature - tiny bit of incense - but there's tartness that I enjoy. I'm always seeking tartness as I feel my skin turns most scents to powder. Addendum: today a friend gave me a slice of rhubarb and peach pie to take home. I just warmed it up - VERY close...

So tart & refreshing! The opening perks you right up & the lingering woodiness is cool & serene. Not quite July & I can already tell this will be a heat wave staple, like a crisp sour beer. The bottle's compact & tough enough to throw in a purse & reapply whenever needed. Might store in the fridge for extra chill power. UPDATE: Oh, no! Just read that this was discontinued. This keeps happening.

Love this in warm weather. Fresh, juicy, sweet-tart rhubarb. Realistic and summery. Fun to wear, but only lasts like 20mins. Bertrand Duchaufour, the nose behind this scent, also created Aedes de Venustas signature EdP. Both are rhubarb fragrances, yet completely different expressions of the same note. Try them side-by-side and be awed by Duchaufour's artistic range:)

This was the first perfume I bought for myself back in 2019 and will always hold a special place in my heart for that. Some times it lasts for 10 min tops, some days I can smell it the next day still. I love how it’s fresh, tangy but still sweet, and the quirky synthetic-y undercurrent. I don’t want to use it up now that it’s been discontinued! 💔

Delicious! I love tart rhubarb pie (rhubarb only, not corrupted by strawberries!) and tried a sample of this. It's everything I had hoped. Oh boy, now I want an entire bottle! Update: I will join others who say this does not last long. Fifteen minutes, to be generous. So sad, I love it. I won't be buying the bottle, now that my sample is gone.

Sweet, creamy, and green, yet tart and bitter. Really great casual scent for anyone who likes grassy, green fragrances.

Awesomely tart and crisp, but ever-so-slightly tempered by the vanilla and rose, really interesting. A keeper.

Sherbert series makes me hungry! Just wish it was longer lasting. Just like rhubarb crumble

Tart rhubarb, very fresh and a bit pungent. I like this and wear it not as often as I thought I would when I got it. Let me try to discover why. My only criticism is it soon fades to vanilla, leaving behind its originality and freshness. I still like it and I haven't had longevity issues once it establishes in that drydown. On clothes the tart part seems to linger longer (I'm rhyming everything haha) but nonetheless it is weak. I believe this would be a complete hit if the rhubarb stayed more since it is extremely compelling. I love that part. I love the smell of this fruit and find that Maestrale by Profumi di Pantelleria has a better development, not as astringent but nicer and without fading rhubarb away. The added salt makes that one effervescent and charming. These 30ml bottles seem perfect for the juice it delivers. I couldn't justify going for a bigger bottle. It seems more of a splash to my palate. Not having finished this tiny bottle in 3 years says something to me, however. Yes, definitely the vanilla ruins it for me to be completely honest. We need an edp of this without it. Come on Bertrand you did marvels with blackcurrant in Enchanted forest, now it's rhubarb time!

Okay, when I first sampled Rhubarb, I thought, “Not bad, but nothing special, either”, and I put it aside with all my others samples. But one day when bored with my other samples, I decided to wear it again. Rhubarb is perfect: not too sweet, not too tart. There probably aren’t too many men out there who love this note, but I do. Sweet Pea from Bath and Body Works also shares this rhubarb note, and I have actually always liked that smell, except Sweet Pea seems a bit over-the-top synthetic, while Rhubarb smells perfectly natural. And perfectly balanced. But one complaint, if you call it a complaint, is the name “Sherbet Series” sounds a bit juvenile, so that a serious fragrance connoisseur might easily overlook it. Yes, longevity is an issue (as with most frags), but if there is a better rhubarb fragrance out there, I’d like to know.

Very true Rhubarb smelling fragrance. Watery, little sweet, tart and sour - exactly as a real thing. The only problem - the smell disappears on my skin after 15min, leaving some scattered, faint, dry, sweet-vanilla scent. On my closing though, the original, unchanged aroma was present for a few days. I really like the smell of this fragrance, something different for summer. Really disappointed, though, as it doesn't last on my skin.

Ah, if only the opening could last forever! A blast of green-tart-sweet-fresh-juicy rhubarb. So energizing and delightful. I would smell this alllllll day. Much less 'shocking' than other rhubarb openings (like hermes) because the tartness is balanced by sweet & green notes. Alas, after 10 minutes, its a pretty, but not particularly special, fruity-floral musk that sticks around for a couple of hours. But that opening!!

This little interesting scent got my attention immediately. What a weird bottle for a perfume! There is definitely some similar scent to rhubarb, not quite like the natural scent, but quite close. Also, green notes and a little bit lemon. Not sweet at all, not a tiny bit. It smells a bit masculine for my taste, but it's definitely worth a try anyway.

Hey, all of you other rhubarb fans (such as myself), I found a hand soap that smells almost *exactly like this CdG fragrance: Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Rhubarb Hand Soap. (It won't let me post a link, but I bought mine at Target.) Update: I seem to have an allergic reaction to the soap, can't even use anymore.

Of the three scents in this series (Peppermint, Cinnamon, Rhubarb), this is the most interesting. Very rightly described as tart and sour, trailing off to a pleasant sweetness, but all the time staying a natural smell, avoiding associations with fake fruit or candy.

I have a sample of it. When I apply, it smells absolutely identical to fresh rhubarb, but with just a bit of sweet that softens the acidity. It really is what I expected, until 5 minutes after applying, when... it's gone. Entirely gone.. What a shame :(

I adored how green and natural it felt. I fell in love immediately and was about to start saving for a full bottle. But then I found out it lasted for about half an hour. So disappointed.

tart, green, bit tomato leaf like rhubarb not sweet then vanilla and some oak; doesn't last for shit

Exactly like rhubarb - sweet, a little tart. The sweetness I find a little cloying though and the whole thing has an air of the vegetable patch about it. Not for me.

My final scent in the sherbet series and I was looking forward to this one so much! Thankfully it didn't disappoint...I love rhubarb the taste the smell, the synthetic apple based flavouring in sweets...whatever I love it! Every fragrance I've ever encountered with a Rhubarb note has been an instant hit with me but this one takes the biscuit. This doesn't appeal to my slightly snobby fragrance head this goes straight for my childlike soft centre and makes me love it uncontrollably, as much as I love Rhubarb pie! My oh my... it's absolutely beautiful sharp, sweet Rhubarb but just like the rest of this series surprised me with subtle complexity of very mellow, exotic floral notes from orchid and the tiniest hint of vanilla. A strong woody base would've grounded it and maybe lent some more substance to the fragrance but I didn't detect any. All that positive stuff but then a huge negative is that the longevity is pathetic! I don't think I've ever used that adjective to describe even the most feeble of juices but this really is gone in Minutes rather than hours, never known anything like it! If Mark Buxton's devil in disguise is similar I need to hunt that down and see if it lasts better because otherwise I would've bought CDG Rhubarb in a heartbeat! Such a shame.

I really like this, but not as much as CdG 3 that it reminds me of. In Rhubarb Sherbet I think it is moore of everything, moore green, moore flowers and moore wood. The topnotes of rhubarb and litchi is pleasant, crisp and fresh... sorry enough they fade away quite fast. I miss the mysterious feeling I ́ve got from CdG 3... this is much moore straigth forward and easier to get a grip on. A really fresh fragrance, best suitible for summer and for both man and women. Stayingpower is really good, more than 5 hours on me...

Very citric rhubarb, I am not sure I like the smell, not sure it smells like rhubarb to my nose either..it gets a distinct masculine vibe rather quickly, so it is more masculine than feminine to my nose...the notes seem to clash more than anything, the result isn't overall pretty ..it doesn't smell like a perfume to me...it reminds me of a cologne my dad used to wear, why it is called rhubarb I don't know!!! Don't like it!! More a concept than anything else, like Duchaufour is experimenting lots with notes.

HMU IF YOU HAVE THIS OR KNOW WHERE TO FIND IT. I AM DESPERATELY TRYING TO FIND THEE RHUBARB SCENT AND I THINK THIS WOULD BE IT. I haven’t had any luck finding the one yet. Let me know if you have any recommendations besides 4160 Rhubarb & Custard, Rhubarb My Love The Zoo and Tangy Rhubarb by Jo Malone. I want that rhubarb pie smell that fills my house when I make it. That smell of rhubarb cooking down on the stove with sugar. Sincerely, an Alaskan rhubarb grower, canner, pie maker and most of, worshipper.

Lovely tart rhubarb opening, which smells like a cross between green apple and snapped green leaves. Very refreshing. Can't say I smell the litchi much. Then the scent changes to more of a dewy green floral with tart fruity nuances. The camellia is quite smooth and feels pink somehow. I enjoy this scent but I wish it were rhubarb all the way through. I think the rhubarb note must be just a topnote, but I'd love a scent that smells like fresh rhubarb or rhubarb cobbler for the duration of the scent.

To me this is more pinetree resin than a rhubarb and more masculine than unisex. And that's a really shame, because true tart, zesty rhubarb scent woud be so nice.

Smells exactly like rhubarb in the opening and quickly transitions to a clean scent on me, but I wish the sharp rhubarb scent lasted longer than 10 minutes.

I bought this in the cream version, it was very long lasting and as I love the odour of rhubarb, I was delighted with it as a summer fragrance.

Not a review: I'm selling my bottle of this fragrance now on Mercari if anyone's interested.