Avant-Garde

Avant-Garde by Yohji Yamamoto is a bold and unique perfume. It starts with strong leather notes that really catch your attention. As you wear it, unexpected iris and violet leaf come in, adding a surprising floral twist. Later on, warm sandalwood and smooth musk create a cozy yet daring feel. This scent feels rebellious and different, inviting you to embrace the unconventional.

Avant garde is a very pleasant floral leather. The actual leather accord in here is a very nice one, accurate to the smell of real leather but with a strange and fleeting banana note in the top, which I'm assuming is perhaps from a heady floral like jasmine or ylang which often evoke this banana sensation. It mellows to a dry, iris on my clothes and occasional wafts of violets but not in any sense overt, this is a floral leather with the emphasis on the leather. Having tried lots of leathers and Irises recently it doesn't take me a lot to get 'up for' one and I'm immediately down with this, loved it on the strip and it's a pleasurable wear. It's got a synth, future, plastic and wood vibe, with some sweetness it's very in keeping with the brand's carefully nurtured aesthetics. I like it, I just wish I loved it, but it needs to make more of a statement to stand out for me. Good but it's a bit like my report card at school, has potential but needs to apply itself. :)

Besides the before mentioned notes/accords it reminds me the smell of fresh hot tar and hashish. It is a very edgy perfume, don't let the score fool You and test it out on Your own. It's not too overpowering but becomes pretty faint in 3 hours (on dry skin) and quite one sided. I could say it evolves into mild leather-mild spicy-powedery scent. Still like it but would prefer it to stay more adventurous.

Very sharpened leather. Edged and aggressive. Very impressing.

This is a woody/leathery cold weather scent leaning to masculine scents. All I get is smoke, rubber, harsh leather on a woody base. It reminds me slightly the Duro by Nasomatto but it's not as pleasant as Duro. After some hours all I get is a mild combo of smoky rubber. Not my thing. Good longevity, moderate sillage.