Concrete

Comme Des Garcons have done it again! Another ring-a-ding-ding of a scent, which defies and defiles all of perfumery, as it presents the unadulterated scent of wet concrete. It is a truly excellent piece of olfactory art. I am a massive fan of CDG, and it's scents like this one that explain why. They take a simple, normally dull concept, and they elevate it so much, that they turn it into something fascinating, stark and highly artistic, which transcend the norms, and break all of the rules. In fact, they rip the perfumery rule book to shreds, before burning it's remains. If you can't understand what is good about this perfume, then you are no better than the slugs that buy Shitvage, and I feel sorry for you. It is definitely unisex, and better used during the day. The sillage and longevity are not the best, but as the subject matter is something that doesn't really have a discernible odour, it's performance is irrelevant. My only gripe - the fucking bastard bottle doesn't stand upright. Ever. That really pisses me off, but I can appreciate how it also sticks up two fingers to normal concepts - even the bottle is a cocky, challenging little cunt. CDG do have a few perfumes that are utter dross, but Concrete is not one of them. Buy it. Now. 9/10. Not quite enough horsepower to be a ten. EDIT - 23.02.26 I now have a full size bottle of this and have decided to nip back on here to upgrade it's rating. I absolutely love how they present the full size bottle ; each bottle is unique in either shape, finish or texture. It also comes with a card that explains this, and that it is kept in a bubble wrap pocket. I didn't have the heart to separate the bottle from it's boxed home (partly because the cunt doesn't stand up on it's fucking own - it has to lay on it's fucking back like a wounded seal) so it now sits atop my perfume cabinet in it's box, where it will remain forever. I must say, now that I have been able to spray Concrete with less care (I was very careful with the 2ml sample I had) it has only improved. What starts as a wet concrete smell, quickly mellows into a warm, peppery, spicy treat. It has very good sillage when worn properly (five sprays - two on each side of the neck and one on the back of the neck) and it lasted a 2 hour dog walk in fierce winds, so it has some pretty decent longevity too. I hereby upgrade Concrete to 10/10. Yes Sir.

I have read reviews here for years and I know very well how precise and articulate this community is. I don't quite have those skills perhaps but I do have strong opinions on scents and often find agreement and also no correlation to what others do experience.. so heres my 2 scents ;)... My experience with concrete is limited because it is obviously new and not even officially released to stores yet but ive acquired a sample from the brooklyn event and have been wearing it for 2 days(with separate application) As others have noted elsewhere this smell evokes nothing about concrete or even NYC to me and since I grew up there I think I can fairly say this.. BUT as with CDG, of whom I am a big fan of some scents, this is a unique and strangely wearable unisex fragrance. I think a bit more feminine but its close either way. I cant pick out each note element like many can but overall my feeling is that I dont get a whole lot, if any woody notes. Sandalwood perhaps but mainly it feels to me like a softer gentler powdery version of "Happy Pillow" with a Magnolia in it that stays until drydown..I have edited my 1st comment because in drydown the soft powdery sensation really takes over here like a fluffy soft cloud... I'm sure this is intentionally and playfully ironic by CDG creating the exact opposite sensation of what concrete is. Anyway, its really nice in drydown even if it is still more feminine. Theres also in the beginning a tiny touch of the Standard Artek opening vibe in here i think as well, (without the cedar drydown later of course). In fact Concrete doesnt change very much until it's late powdery chrysalis... in CDGs seemingly random synthetic style this one remains fairly consistent many hours in and then the soft clouds float in.. the good news it is pleasant and mysterious and I find myself repeatedly smelling it. Happy Pillow is much stronger in longevity and sillage and it is also more complex so it remains in my top CDG but Concrete is going to be well received by most people! While I wont wear it very much it will certainly be in my rotation for when the mood strikes. I could have written more but being my 1st review I will keep it simple and just share with you my general impressions since there isnt much actual feedback out there yet. Cheers!

When I tried this in the CDG store, for some reason I really loved it. Like, seriously. It was one of my favorites! Then I looked up reviews for this and people seem to really dislike this. And I get it. It's super sweet, powdery, almost cloying and in warm/hot weather it's basically unwearable. There's no real wet concrete note to it either. To me it has a strong shower gel type but not an ordinary shower gel, more like a special, expensive one. It smells super "dry" and is extremely powdery, almost to the point where I'd consider it more feminine. Like smelling makeup basically. There is no concrete note to this but the powdery thing kind of reminds me of concrete, so I see the association here. Although that's more interpretation and less actual smell. The bottle is cool but the price is crazy. It's more expensive than most flagship scents from CDG and I'm talking the 100ml ones. This one only contains 80mls, seems less refined and doesn't really have that CDG DNA. It seems rather experimental, which CDG does a lot. But this time it doesn't seem like something truly different and daring. Instead it's one-dimensional, extremely sweet and not very challenging. I see why many people dislike this. Totally. But for some strange reason I still really like it - and I hate myself for that because of the rather low quality. I'm not sure if I'll own a full bottle of it at some point but I have the feeling that I will. It's not good. It's not even experimental or weird enough to justify the price. It's simply overpriced and the performance is rather poor. From an objective point of view I'd say don't buy it. Don't even try it. If you try it and you like it, you'll hate yourself for it because you want to buy it. Even though you know the quality is bad. It's a dilemma. (If you want something more concret-y and something of better quality, try Serpentine from CDG. Much better!)

I am really shocked to see so many bad reviews about this perfume. I instantly loved it. It’s fresh, clean and musky, creamy sandalwood, a bit of rose, yet metallic/dry and cold, all at the same time. I find the perfect balance for a person that loves woody spicy notes, this one is so light. I doubt it was intended to literally smell like concrete. At first sniff I feel the dryness, chalkiness, and coldness—it reminds me more of the look of concrete, not of how it smells. Then I notice the Rose Oxyde which adds to the chemical feel, it's even a bit metallic. But then the spices and woods kick in, and god, it is so good! All those are enveloped by the musk that make it fresh, clean and crisp. It's a balance between cold vs warm, flowery vs spicy, chalky vs woody. That’s also why I think is great for each season. It does give me this freshness during the hottest summer days and has a cooling effect. And it does work for winter too, because of the sandalwood and spices. It is true it is not super lasting but it does activate strongly when you warm up during sport etc. I absolutely love it and think it doesn't deserve all the negative reviews. I think there are way more overhyped and overpriced scents out there that literally disappear after 30 mins and never reactivate (looking at you Tam Dao). Notes are: Top: Cumin, Cardamom and Clove Heart: Rose Oxyde and Jasmine Sambac Base: Sandalwood, Cedar Wood and Musk

I got sold. This is such a nice blend. There's something romantic about the Rose-oxide note, the dry rose scent is centered as the whole blend just feels so beautifully dry, not chalky dry but softly dry. It's like cemented flowers, in reminisce of some age when forests were no-mans land and now the same green full of life forests are big cities with skyscrapers, choking on cement and the color grey. If you think of it, this scent is exactly what I just said. Grey. And I can't comprehend how hard that was for the perfumer to manage and to do such an accurate depiction of this. The scent is beautiful, I can agree on some degree about what people say, it too monotone for you to wear it the whole day, but you wouldn't expect something else from an Avant-Garde way of thinking of CDG (And that's a good thing), CDG portrayed (Not a masterpiece) but definitely an art project into a truly niche worthy creation. Note: In the packaging comes a note that reads: CONCRETE by CDG Is a precious scent contained within a shell of concrete and glass, hand-finished and held within a pocket of bubble wrap. Each bottle is totally unique with subtle differences in texture, deformity and finish. Concrete is a natural material which may change and evolve over time. Please avoid contact with liquids which may stain the surface. That's just fricking awesome.

this is so bizzare of a fragrance to be honest, like to me it was so nostalgic, it smellt like my old art room in primary school (yes with concrete floors, lol) and i mean it really smelled like it, shame about the price, it was something i knew i would probably never wear as even tho its a nice scent, concrete to me is just something i cant figure out how you would pull this off, as other fragrances are so upfront with whether they are classy or formal or sweet or fresh and u can kind of picture when you're able to wear it, this however i just cant get a vibe as to who it would suit most or what clothing/weather it would suit most etc, i pretty much bought it for the nostalgia alone as i am crazy about a scent that reminds me of a time and/or place. but because of that associated nostalgia it kind of to me smells like a room rather than a body fragrance, if that makes sense?!. this may be weird but i do think due to my memories with this smell it may very well indeed smell of concrete in a way, a way thats reminiscent of wet concrete, also wet clay, and wet cheap paint. Hahahaha actually you know what now that ive said wet clay yeah it really does remind me of that scent too.

Extremely artistic. Like all CdG do, honestly. Not disappointed. Surprised and impressed. I expected something totally different yet somehow... they hit the spot. I do get associations with concrete but I didn't expect this much sweetness. It's hard to explain or describe. I see a fully white concrete building in the middle of a hot sunny day. Incredibly blue sky, flowers in a flowerbed at the bottom of it. Somehow this building is very important, in a good, nonthreatening way, even joyous. More of an impression than a perfume. It's like describing a dream I once had as a kid. I can't decide if it's a dream or a memory. So happy to be exploring this brand beyond the Series 3 which was what originally attracted me to Comme des Garçons. Again and again they keep proving that perfumery is art. Also, Concrete has a surprisingly strong sillage and longevity, not what I usually compliment about CdG's fragrances. P.S. To people who appreciate things like this I highly recommend checking out Andrea Maack's Ceramic. I had similar feelings and reaction when I discovered it.

Tested on a paper strip, my general impressions were: Very dry spice Mossy undertone Some wetness While I totally understood how this connects with the concept of „concrete“ I did not get any of the sweetness described by other reviewers. Maybe this just unfolds on skin? However, I’m very much intrigued by this fragrance. Out of all Comme des Garçons perfumes that I currently don’t own, this one and „Copper“ are the ones that I would like to buy the most. Both have a bit of a similar vibe though ( not so much in the notes as in their broader character/ concept) which is why I don‘t know if I will get both or just one of them. However, this is a great, unisex/ masculine leaning fragrance that I, at least from this first impression, would challenge many people at least to test. Very conceptual and interesting! TL;DR: Designer concrete

The bizarre thing about this fragrance is that it doesn’t smell like anything else, but it somehow still has a “perfume-y” composition. As someone who can’t stand 95% of the fragrances at Sephora, but who is still turned off by a many niche experimental fragrances that try too hard to be unique, this one strikes an incredible balance. Rose is the most prominent note I get from this, but it is a decidedly artificial rose. It is complimented by a vague spiciness. You’d think this pairing would smell something like Le Labo’s Rose 31, but that one has an air of elegance whereas Concrete is casual through and through. Not schlubby, but casual, cute even. Dare I say, dainty? But in a totally brash way. Think Shushu Tong or Simone Rocha. The closest musical analogy I can find to the experience of this fragrance is Regina Spektor.

This is a strange and fascinating smell. It has really grown on me. It doesn't really smell like concrete; it's more like a green spicy-woody Oriental type. It has curious herbal/peppery qualities that offset the warm-spicy quality of the sweet-ish, powdery/bubblegum drydown. It's an ultra-sophisticated, immaculately blended perfume. Its idiosyncrasies will make it special for those who prize its unusual profile. Not listed, but oakmoss is definitely part of its makeup. Definitely niche in feel, completely unique, definitely not a mall or drugstore masculine. I kind of love it; reminds me of nothing I've smelled before. As others have stated, seems oddly nostalgic, alluding to something from my childhood, I know not what. I suspect this is a number that women will love on a guy.

I learned of Concrete's existence from a clickbaity YouTube video, something like "the ten CRAZIEST fragrances" and thought to myself, I need to try this. Ordered 1ml from a samples website and waited patiently. Well I was very pleasantly surprised. It doesn't smell *of* concrete, but rather *like* concrete. My feeling is that there's something autumnal about it, but a warm, balmy autumn, with most leaves on the turn and just the first couple fallen. Fallen on concrete. Easier to sweep up. Sniff the dustpan. We're getting close. Do zucchini blossoms have a scent? I don't think they do. But let's pretend they do, because I do detect a note of that imagined aroma herein. Yeah, early autumn, like a Tuesday in September, when it's quiet.

Starts of very potpourri like, If you were around during the 90s you’d know what that smells like as it was making a comeback at the time! This fragrance definitely heavily shares characteristics of candles and potpourri around that time, especially the rose. The rose here is not jammy but instead pretty dewy and light, almost like rose water. As the fragrance progresses a white talcum like powder emerges until it finally reaches a very light sandalwood musky base. It kind of gives the impression of potpourri on rain laden freshly cured white cement. I think this is nice but the more I’ve sampled it the less interesting it seems as it’s somewhat linear. Also the performance is abysmal! 2-3 hours max

This is absolutely glorious. It DOES smell like, or of, concrete when first applied - with a wonderful powdery texture, bits of dust all over you. Gradually the flowery aspect of the scent makes itself present - the brutalist building, perhaps the Brunswick Center in Bloomsbury (to those who remember it pre-renovation)- is being painted a subtle and tasteful shade of pink, or at least rose - I'm not getting into a discussion about laetare Sunday here), before the sandalwood aspect emerges, with the fundamental powderiness never leaving. This is a true work of art, and a beautiful and enduring one. I confidently predict that its appeal will outlast art brut.

I bought this a couple days ago and there's this just this addictive quality to it that I can't get enough of. While to me CDG's Concrete conceptualizes the essence of concrete (dry, powdery, sort of chalky), there's this freshness that I assume comes the rose oxide that makes this very wearable for me. This has quickly crept into the top 5 in my fragrance collection. I am a big sandalwood fan (my two favorite fragrances are musk therapy and gris charnel) so this makes a lot of sense how it climbed the ranks so quickly. A very unique fragrance that not everyone will mesh with but if it works well with your nose, man it can't be beat.

mother's milk... dusty light pink striped wallpaper... still drunk in the morning... the panda bear stuffed animal you used to hump in fourth grade, abandoned in the closet, forever smiling :) this makes me feel like a sexy, primped + powdered magician clown that never washes her hoisery, and you can bet that a cloud of powder and dust blooms from my crotch when i snap them on like a sexy nurse with latex gloves. my clown car is made entirely of marble and steel, and has one of those "new car smell" tree air fresheners hanging on the mirror. this scent will OOZE from you! YIM YUM!

I expected something harsh, dry and powdery, like smelling crushed concrete... But this smells like fruity iced tea! Very pretty. I smell peach and some kind of a generic sweet citrus, maybe sweetened pink grapefruit. It reminded me of Pink Molecule. It would also fit the Bvlgari Omnia line. This is not natural fruit, but pleasant nonetheless. Not at all the mood that I expected. Update: I am testing this again in autumn. While in summer there was something chemical about Concrete, it is much better in the cold: bubbly, sparkly, fruity and uplifing like a glass of lemonade.

Starts out smelling like wet pavement after a sudden rain pour on a humid day. Sweet, chalky, industrial. That stays for a bit before evolving to something a bit more green and aromatic. All of those come together and balance out in the end with the sandalwood that comes up. The finish is true to the CDG perfume lines - synthetically beautiful. Perfect for fall and winter. Too sweet and musky for spring or summer. I can see why people say it smells like a cola because it does give off that scent. But it’s so much more than that. 10/10 scent.

One of my go-to spring/summer fragrances. Tried this one on at Scent Bar and fell in love. Definitely a compliment attractor for me. On my skin, it initially smells like almost too-sweet bubblegum exploding on hot concrete then mellows out to a powdery and musky sandalwood. It’s warm but oxymoronically sterile at the same time from the rose oxide. Bizarre but beautiful. Concrete lasts about 6-8 hours on my skin with decent sillage. Definitely not a safe blind buy but worth smelling if you stumble upon it.

This reminds me of when I used to hug my father after his week on the field as a concrete pourer, I'd run up to him and catch an unpleasant sniff of him, but I did not care because him being there for me was sweeter than the concrete I smelled. This perfume has the sour, musky, and sweet scents associated with Portland cement. Though lacking in the peanutty top notes that take back to my time in my construction crew, its sharp and static notes more than make up for it.

My favourite frangrance since its release and my daily driver, even in summer :). I really don't get the bad reviews. I totally love it. And it gets me compliments every time. To the point that one day I met my friend and I was not wearing Concrete and she was like: What's wrong with you? why dont't you smell as good as always? Been trying to find something similar just to spice things up but I'm not able to find anything that smells on me as good as this one. Anyone?