Series 2 Red: Carnation
Fragrance notes
Character
Comme des Garcons Series 2 Red: Carnation opens like a fistful of dried cloves ground into red pepper, all sharp heat and dusty spice. The carnation note is immediate, but this is no soft, pink carnation. It is a crushed, stemmy flower rubbed between thumb and palm, with red pepper giving it a prickly, almost metallic edge. A tense rose and jasmine appear soon after, lending a brief floral sweetness that feels nervous and synthetic, like a silk scarf dragged across sandpaper. The clove stays dominant, pushing the composition into a warm, aromatic territory that resolves into a resinous whisper on the skin. The effect is not sweet, not heavy, but dry and slightly abrasive, like a dried carnation pressed between the pages of an old spice cookbook.
This is a fragrance that feels intentionally awkward, proudly niche, and utterly loyal to the avant-garde spirit of Comme des Garcons. The sillage is restrained and the longevity is moderate, which suits its character: it does not shout, but it does not want to be ignored either. It is a scent for someone who appreciates tension, who wants to smell like a botany lab accident rather than a flower shop. Skip it if you crave creamy florals or easy compliments.
Wear it in the crisp air of autumn or early spring, when the light is thin and the wind carries the smell of fallen leaves. This is a daytime scent, a walking-around-the-city scent, for the person who does not need to announce themselves but who still leaves a distinct, pleasant splinter in the memory.
Smells similar
Built from the same materials — ranked by how unusual the shared notes are, not by how many.
