Wonderwood by Comme des Garcons

The 3ml sample arrived and on first sniff, pepper and cypress/cedar! What a delight, which is why I looked up the notes. Love at first sight.

I liked it on blotting paper but not on my skin afterwards. Although it is very woody, what I notice most is a cardboard smell, like opening a package. The sandalwood, black pepper, and incense notes are the most prominent. Sillage is moderate, almost low, lasting about five hours. It doesn’t identify me; it reminds me very much of Sarah Jessica Parker’s unisex ‘SJP Stash’, almost exactly.

My pitouary impression is of ecclesiastical wood, pine, incense, and a hint of camphor. It’s a fragrance marvel, though in this style I prefer BeauFort London’s Terror & Magnificent by lightyears.

I tested a 2ml sample and my verdict is brief. It’s a very linear scent with a perfectly executed wood note—I’m not sure if it’s cedar or cypress. It’s wood and more wood, with little evolution; it stays linear from start to finish. Longevity is adequate, around 5–7 hours, and the projection is weak, barely reaching half a metre before fading to skin-level almost immediately. It’s well-made, though not groundbreaking. Other options: Encre Noir is cheaper, has better projection and longevity, and I’d recommend it more if you like woody scents (I believe it doesn’t share the subtle incense note). If you already own Encre Noir à l’Extreme, Wonderwood feels redundant.

Wonderwood by Comme des Garçons is a woody fragrance and very masculine. At first, it smells of smoky woods and herbal tones: incense, vetiver, a touch of oud and cypress. The scent changes little during its development, which is good for me as the smell is rich and masculine (I don’t see it worn by a woman). The image it brings to mind is a forest with a bonfire. It’s ideal for work or personal enjoyment; I wouldn’t wear it with sportswear. Being woody, I’d use it almost all year round, though less in summer. It lasts around 12 hours, though without much trail. I like it, although it seems hard to find.

I was expecting something juicy and potent, but it caught me off guard. The opening with bergamot and cypress promises a beautiful forest, but within two seconds, the game changes: frankincense enters and, far from being soft, dominates the entire journey. On my skin, it smells more like a magical moor where spells are cast than a church; the woods are dry and lifeless. Eventually, it calms and reconciles the blend, though it constantly reminds me of burning cypress branches. It’s mysterious, enveloping, and enchanting—nothing ordinary.

Opening Wonderwood, one might think it’s a cousin of Encre Noire, less dark and more ‘diurnal’. It opens intensely, as if you were in the middle of a forest. I notice less incense than in the ‘CDG 2 man’, but it’s always in the background. Instead, the cypress is very clear. As it evolves, it reminds me of ‘Encre Noire à l’Extreme’ without that sour tone, and logically much more loaded with woods. I don’t find it as linear as some comment; for me, it evolves subtly. I think it’s one of those scents whose appreciation requires time, as it can deceive on the first try. Projection is discreet and duration is good, but quite close to the skin (its only drawback). I think these 100ml will last me a short while.

It’s not dry wood; it’s creamy, greasy, and slippery. It smells like a wood smoothie, a poultice with memories of speed and synthetic drugs: clubbing wood. It evokes my house dance outings, laser lights, electronic music, and that mix of Red Bull and whisky, sweat, and bodies rubbing together. It’s flirting, vanity, and good-looking people. For me, it’s one of the top five in Comme des Garçons’ affordable range. A very modern interpretation of oriental woods, an oily talc of cedar and sandalwood for people raised among cables and USB ports. It’s a gem, although the nose gets accustomed quickly and the trail fades on skin. Comparisons with Gucci Rush are evident, but this veers towards the nebulous, a cloud of ecstasy for hedonists of the now. A masterpiece by Antoine Lie that captures a state of mind rather than a genre.

I tried this blind gift today; so much fame and reviews made me succumb to temptation. The presentation is top-notch, with the bottle wrapped in a fabric bag ideal for travelling. The opening is strong and bold, dominated by sandalwood and cedar, with a touch of nutmeg and pepper. Then it nuances, with cypress, other woods, and vetiver appearing cleanly and warmly. At the end, when the perfume fades, the bergamot that was there from the start emerges. It’s masculine, clean, subtle, and full of distilled notes, though less potent than Lacroix’s Tumulte, which it reminds me of greatly. They’re twins with distinct personalities. Long-lasting with a moderate trail.

Oily and cedary, with a touch of talc that makes it very easy to wear. It’s identical to Lacroix’s Tumulte, and with all due respect, it’s dispensable because it adds nothing new to the landscape; a fiasco if you already know that scent. Rating: 4

From the very first moment, straight from the bottle, I noticed a good aroma and knew I would like it. Upon application, it smells like incense mixed with woods; the incense is the note that stands out most. I applied it at 7 am: it started very incense-like and pleasant, but soon gave an impression of a ‘noble’ fragrance, belonging to someone older. It didn’t bother me, but the start wasn’t optimal. Then it settled, lost that mature touch, and became pleasant again, maintaining the incense and a woody note. At 12 o’clock, I find it linear, with no major changes, but the incense starts to feel ‘fresh’ and vetiver appears. I know it sounds contradictory, but it’s as if it wakes up with a touch of freshness, perhaps vetiver and bergamot. The scent of incense and wood reminds me of naturist or esoteric shops with sticks of incense. At 6 pm, even up close, it’s noticeable; it remains linear and stuck in that incense, semi-fresh aroma. On my skin, the trail and longevity are medium, although at nearly 12 hours I still feel it very faint, almost imperceptible. NOTE: THIS IS WITH A 1ml DECANT; perhaps straight from the bottle it would last longer and project better. It is undoubtedly masculine, for cold or fresh climates. Today I used the decant in heat and it worked well despite the small quantity. I don’t see it for very young people, better over 30. It’s very formal, almost for special occasions; although tastes are subjective, I don’t recommend it for daily wear as it can get tiring. By the way, I saw an article saying incense smoke does more damage than cigarette smoke, so please try this fragrance, hehe!

Simply delightful: cedar, cypress, and dry woods. I can’t imagine it on a woman; it’s very sober and masculine, with notes similar to the discontinued Tumulte by Christian Lacroix. A formal perfume ideal for temperate climates. Comme des Garçons never leaves me indifferent; thumbs up!