Comme des Garçons launched its first fragrance in 1994. That launch was as unexpected and as deliberately unconventional as everything else Rei Kawakubo has done with the brand since she founded it in Tokyo in 1969. The perfume was not designed to smell beautiful in the conventional sense. It was designed to challenge what a perfume was supposed to be.
Comme des Garçons Eau de Parfum 1994
The original comme des garçons fragrance, simply called Comme des Garçons, launched in 1994. It was created in collaboration with perfumer Mark Buxton and it departed from conventional fragrance construction in the same way the mainline fashion departures from conventional clothing construction.
The scent was built around unusual notes that most fragrance houses at the time would not have considered commercially viable. Ink. Dust. Wood. Synthetic materials that had never been used in mainstream fragrance. The result was a scent that smelled like nothing else available at the time and that divided opinion immediately — which was exactly the intended response.
The fragrance communicated that Comme des Garçons was not entering the perfume category to sell conventional luxury fragrance. It was entering the category to ask what perfume could be when the designer making it had no interest in conventional beauty as a goal.
The CDG Parfums Philosophy
The 1994 launch established a philosophy that has governed the Comme des Garçons fragrance operation ever since. CDG parfums consistently releases scents that challenge conventional fragrance norms — using industrial materials, unusual synthetics, and note combinations that the mainstream industry avoids.
The fragrances are not designed to be universally appealing. They are designed to be specific, interesting, and coherent with the broader CDG identity. The same intelligence that goes into the clothing goes into the fragrance. The same unwillingness to compromise for commercial accessibility. The same commitment to doing something genuinely original rather than something guaranteed to sell.
Other Significant CDG Fragrances
The 1994 original established the CDG fragrance world but the brand has built one of the most interesting fragrance libraries in contemporary perfumery since then.
Odeur 53 launched in 1998 as one of the most radical fragrance statements ever made. It was described as a fragrance with no human or natural smell — built entirely from synthetic materials including metal, sand, nail polish, and flashbulb. It became a reference point for conceptual fragrance and remains one of the most discussed CDG releases.
2 Man and 2 Women followed as more accessible but still unconventional interpretations of gendered fragrance. The CDG approach to gender in fragrance reflected the mainline’s approach to gender in clothing — questioning the categories rather than accepting them.
Wonderwood became one of CDG Parfums’ most commercially successful releases, a dense woody fragrance that balanced the brand’s conceptual approach with broader wearability.
Where CDG Fragrance Sits Today
CDG Parfums has expanded into multiple sub-lines including the Series collections, the Synthetic series, the Luxury series, and various collaborations. Each collection approaches fragrance from a different angle while maintaining the conceptual foundation the 1994 original established.
The original 1994 Comme des Garçons fragrance remains available and remains the reference point for understanding what CDG Parfums is and what it has been doing for thirty years. It is not the easiest CDG fragrance to wear. It is the one that most completely expresses what Rei Kawakubo was trying to say when she decided to make perfume.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the first Comme des Garçons perfume?
The original Comme des Garçons fragrance launched in 1994, created in collaboration with perfumer Mark Buxton. It was built around unconventional notes including ink, dust, and synthetic materials that challenged what a luxury fragrance was supposed to smell like.
Is the original Comme des Garçons perfume still available?
Yes. The original 1994 Comme des Garçons fragrance remains in production and is available through CDG Parfums stockists and the brand’s own retail channels.
What does Comme des Garçons perfume smell like?
The original 1994 fragrance is built around unusual synthetic and industrial notes rather than conventional floral or woody fragrance construction. It smells unlike most mainstream fragrances — deliberate and unconventional in the same way CDG clothing is deliberate and unconventional.
What is the most popular Comme des Garçons perfume?
Wonderwood is frequently cited as one of CDG Parfums’ most commercially accessible and widely worn fragrances. Odeur 53 is the most conceptually significant. The original 1994 fragrance remains the most historically important.
Where can I buy Comme des Garçons perfume?
CDG Parfums is available through Dover Street Market locations, authorised fragrance retailers, and the brand’s own channels globally.