Comme des Garcons Series 3 Incense: Avignon

17 reseñas

Mostrando las más recientes primero.

• blackened

  July 22, 2015

  

  Too correct an incense; it smells more like a dead pencil than the mysterious, living halo one expects.

• atman

  August 25, 2015

  

  Essential for incense lovers. It carries that same sweet nuance shared with Cardinale and Full Incense by Montale. A nocturnal scent that, with a single spray, should leave a trail for hours. Solid work from Comme at a fair price. 8.5 out of 10.

• gelo999

  August 25, 2015

  

  Avignon is one of the four incense fragrances in the CDG series. It represents Catholic religion and the smell of cathedrals. This blend of incenses, spices, and smoky notes makes the fragrance ethereal, as if you were flying; elemi gives that pleasant lemony touch, while myrrh, other balms, cedar, and musks complete the cloud effect. It’s very well crafted; Duchaufour achieved it. Avignon is a good fragrance. However, being critical, I find a major problem: How do you defend smelling like the inside of a cathedral, like an incense burner, or like a procession step? I don’t know. It compels me not to wear it because it makes me think of these things, even though I like the smell of incense, but in a different way where it doesn’t feel so religious and austere. Within this house, I prefer CDG2 Man, which has incense and leather, or also Odin 7, Encens Chembur, or even Ambre Fetiche. Rating: 5.

• gelo999

  September 4, 2015

  

  Avignon is one of the four fragrances in the CDG series dedicated to incense. It represents Catholic religion and the smell of cathedrals. This blend of incenses, spirituals, and smoky notes makes the fragrance ethereal and gives the sensation of flying. The elemi provides that pleasant lemony touch, while myrrh, other balms, cedar, and musks complete the picture to produce a cloud-like effect. The fragrance is very well crafted; Duchaufour achieved it, and Avignon is truly good. However, being critical, I find a major problem: How do you defend smelling like the interior of a cathedral, an incense burner, or a procession? It coerces me into wearing it because it makes me think of these themes, even though I like the smell of incense, but in a different way where it doesn’t feel so religious and austere. Within this brand, I prefer CDG2 Man, which has incense plus leather, or also Odin 7, Encens Chembur, or even Ambre Fétiche. Rating: 5.

• Bofifa

  October 22, 2016

  

  Avignon is a flat perfume, built on a dry, omnipresent frankincense note. The composition is a photorealistic image of the interior of a church; it smells exactly the same with barely any evolution from the first application. I consider this what makes it unique. There are no other nuances, just frankincense, more frankincense, and ending with frankincense. To me, it’s perfect; it’s what I’m looking for without becoming heavy. Its smoky, spiced aroma stands out quite a bit and will intrigue those who smell it, which is easy because the sillage and longevity are considerable. Its ruthless cathedral smell, taken out of context and applied to the skin, feels original, elegant, and sophisticated. Sometimes it gives the impression of smelling like pencils. For me, it’s unbeatable in its style. Note: 10/10.

• Espartaco

  December 5, 2016

  

  Between nearly emptying my 50ml bottle of Nu and the Comme des Garçons incense lineages being discontinued, I need to find an alternative. I just checked the price of Avignon, and the joke is that the 100ml bottle is around 170€… I don’t know what’s wrong with me this autumn; I just want to wear incense, I’m obsessed. Edit: there is no 100ml bottle; the entire incense line is sold in 50ml.

• Espartaco

  December 13, 2016

  

  Good heavens, I’ve been resisting this Avignon for years because of the horrible bottle. It looks like the Sport Man cologne, left to rest… I can imagine it in a beautiful classic bottle, even if it were a basic like Demeter’s, and I’d buy it. But this lacquer hair bottle? Comme des Garçons usually doesn’t get the design right in the Series, quite the opposite of the rest of their products.

• Espartaco

  November 25, 2017

  

  Avignon delivers on its promise of frankincense. After checking the notes and wearing it for several days, I can’t detect any of the fourteen notes beyond pure frankincense. It’s a dry, rasping scent, like a cat’s tongue, which then sharpens into something acrid due to the labdanum. Yes, it is cathedral-like to the extreme. It smells of church and procession from every angle, without any nuance of candles, heavy fabrics, or musty dampness, only the smoke from the thurible. It’s a marvel; with your eyes closed, it feels as though you’re dead while being begged to God. It’s a feast for lovers of frankincense, gothic, and mysterious perfumes, linear from start to finish, even solo. The longevity and sillage aren’t great; it’s not weak, but it’s not a wonder either. It’s tremendously expensive, costing 80/90€ for just 50ml. For 200€, a family of six could pay a winter electricity bill. It’s a luxury product; the consumer decides if it’s worth it. As a lifetime signature scent, it’s more expensive than a foolish child. I like it, I love it, but I think Avignon isn’t for everyday wear; it lacks nuances. When it comes to frankincense perfumes, I have no doubt about the Nu EDP from Saint Laurent; until I try others, it’s the best I’ve ever worn. It seems Comme des Garçons has discontinued the line, though I’m not sure if they’ve returned. I see it again online alongside other series like Synthetic or Red, now edited in a new bottle under the title Olfactory Factory, which I’m very pleased about.

• Darkbeat

  April 17, 2018

  

  Avignon is a super realistic liturgical and cofrade incense, slightly monotonous due to its linearity, but a delight for those who enjoy this type of composition. I love the scent, but not its performance. I am from a very cofrade Andalusian town; I have the smell burned into my memory. Here, each brotherhood uses its own incense, a blend of resins, petals, spices, and wood, so they do not all smell the same. This smells like palio incense, for carrying the pasos. It is more refined, sweet, and slightly floral, a wonder, but it is not the liturgical incense I seek. I look for something more like Ambre Fétiche, throne incense, more smoky, bitter, and rough. I hope Full Incense will be more similar. Performance is correct; duration is good but the sillage is very close to the skin from the start, perhaps reformulated. Usage is hard to define; the scent is very specific for special occasions and cold climates. Nighttime, although its softness makes it suitable for the day. If you are an incense lover, it is a must-have, but beware, it is too expensive for what it offers: 80€ for 50 ml of EDT. I rule it out for my next purchase, though I do not rule out buying it on offer.

• Darkbeat

  April 26, 2018

  

  Avignon is a super-realistic liturgical and cofrade incense, slightly monotonous due to its linearity, yet a delight for those who enjoy this type of composition. I love the scent, though not the performance. I’m from a very cofrade town in Andalusia, and these aromas are burned into my memory. My brother is a costalero, and although I’m not very religious, I’ve carried that same burden all my life. Here, each brotherhood uses its own incense—a blend of resins, petals, spices, and woods—so none smell alike. This smells like the palio incense, the kind used for the steps of the Virgins. It’s more refined, sweet, and slightly floral, a genuine marvel, but it’s not the liturgical incense I seek. I’m looking for something more like Ambre Fetiche, which evokes the incense of the thrones and mystery steps: smokier, bitter, and rougher. I hope Full Incense, which is on its way, will be closer to what I’m looking for. The performance is decent; longevity is good, but the trail clings to the skin almost from the start. I don’t know if it was reformulated in this Comme relaunch, but on me, it hasn’t delivered the great performance others mention. Usage is hard to define; it’s a very specific scent, not for everyday wear, but rather for special occasions and cool or mild climates. Nocturnal, though its softness makes it suitable for day too. If you’re an incense lover, it’s a must-have, but beware: in my opinion, it’s too expensive for what it offers, around €80 for 50ml of EDT, not even EDP. Perhaps it compensates, but given its performance, I ruled it out for a future purchase, though I don’t rule out buying it later with a discount.

• Metaleroenésimo

  May 28, 2019

  

  The Japanese house Comme des Garçons is known for its ‘innovation’. While it is debated whether it is niche or designer mixed with niche, I cannot offer an opinion as I do not know many of their fragrances. Avignon is a French city in Provence, a historical papal residence due to the Western Schism. I suspect the perfumer was inspired by that religious context. It is the most intense and realistic incense aroma I have encountered, followed by some creations from Amouage. I have not been to Seville during Holy Week, but I know Avignon smells like pure church. It has little evolution and is linear. What is most perceived is the incense and resins. It is totally niche, different, and unisex. I do not see it for summer or common occasions. Longevity is decent, with moderate projection and sillage.

• Metaleroenésimo

  May 30, 2019

  

  The Japanese house Comme des Garçons is known for the ‘innovation’ of its fragrances. Although I’ve read it’s debatable whether it’s pure niche or designer mixed with niche, to be frank, I can’t form an opinion on that as I know few fragrances from this house. I haven’t had time yet to properly appreciate the quality. I only know this and two others, but based on descriptions and my short experience, they are fragrances that stray from convention. Avignon is a French city in Provence, a historic papal residence between the 14th and 15th centuries due to the Western Schism. I don’t know if the perfumer was inspired by that context to create something with a ‘religious’ character. It is clearly eminently ‘liturgical’. It is the most intense and realistic incense aroma I’ve found, followed by some creations from Amouage. I haven’t been to Seville’s Holy Week, hoping one day I will, but I know Avignon smells like pure church and everything that entails. It’s not a fragrance with much evolution, quite linear. What is most perceived is the incense and some resins. In short, a totally niche, different, and unisex fragrance. I don’t see it for summer, and occasions are very specific given the peculiarity of the scent. Longevity is decent, though projection and sillage are somewhat moderate.

• Nivek

  December 2, 2022

  

  It’s practically a 98% Montale Full Incense; I own both and barely smell any difference. In my view, Full Incense is the better buy: 100ml often comes out cheaper in some cases than the 50ml of Avignon, plus Full Incense lasts days on clothes, although it doesn’t project much.

• Nivek

  December 14, 2022

  

  It is practically a Montale Full Incense at 98%. I own both and barely smell any difference. In my opinion, Full Incense is the better purchase: 100 ml are cheaper than the 50 ml of Avignon, plus it lasts days on clothes even though it does not project much.

• Psicostasis

  January 12, 2024

  

  Very accurate. I do not think it is totally linear; it has burnt nuances and sweetness, but ultimately it is. Often that is what we seek in church incenses: photorealism. I detect a hint of chamomile, a cardamom touch, and something coniferous, though it may be my imagination. Everything folds into the scent of burnt Boswellia resin.

• Psicostasis

  January 15, 2024

  

  Very correct. I don’t believe it’s totally linear as certain burnt and sweet nuances come and go, but… at the bottom line, it is quite linear. And often that’s what we seek in church incenses, to give us photorealistically what they promise. I think I perceive a hint of chamomile in the background, a cardamom touch (I imagine due to shared lemony molecules between this spice and incense), and perhaps something coniferous, but maybe it’s my crazy imagination. In any case, everything folds into the scent of burnt Boswellia resin.

• Mithrandir

  March 8, 2025

  

  The purest ecclesiastical incense I have heard of so far. Upon spraying, it smells like a sacristy boat, pure white boswellia with no blends. As it warms on the skin, it becomes more amber and smoky. Its purity and realism limit its versatility and it can become tiring due to its linearity, but aromatically it is flawless. It is very liturgical and Western. To enjoy it, you must love incense; otherwise, it will seem excessive. I love @Espartaco’s review of the bier and the requiem; I agree, XD.