Skip to main content

Series 2 : Red Sequoia by Comme des Garcons

Karo Karound, Rum, Oud, Mahogany, Leather, Opoponax.

It's taken me all this time to finally get around to sampling Sequoia. I was expecting an impressive scent and admit to walking away unimpressed.

Perhaps this is due to my trying some exceptional fragrances lately and anything less than that would appear mundane. It also could very well be that Sequoia simply is an average release that has succeeded in underwhelming me. Regardless of the reason, Sequoia smells adequate and that's not a crime. It really means it will never make it into my wardrobe as a purchase.

Sequoia possesses a very unique floral component that performs like a foundation that the rest is built upon. Sure, there's wood here, but all incorporated notes seem encapsulated in this floral perspiration that's present for the first half of the wearings. It's acceptably different, but does nothing to persuade me that Sequoia is a bottle worthy fragrance.

The suggestions of booze, oud, leather and even smoke are tuned so polite as to cause my interest to wander. By the heart and base, there's a developing herbal quality that reminds me of celery leaves. This subtle, but present note is actually nice and catches me by surprise. I expected wood, wood and more wood.

What I receive instead is light cedar enveloped in a rose-like dew, only to be augmented with the leaves of a celery stalk. This isn't what I had in mind, so my disappointment is evident.

On the flip side, Sequoia is pleasant and very wearable. It offers comfort, but sans any personality. That too isn't a crime. I suppose my purchases that border on the "ordinary" all have at least one component that makes it stand out. I find this lacking and my need to be "spurred on" goes unfulfilled.

Sillage is mediocre and longevity is approximately 4 hours plus on my skin. It's safe to say, after wearing Sequoia numerous times, that I shall post this review and move on with no consideration of trying this one again in the future. A very sincere neutral rating from Aromi and the recommendation to sample first in lieu of a blind buy.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Newport by Caswell Massey

Bergamot, Mandarin, Lemon, Lavender, Geranium, Muguet, Rose, Ambergris, Cedar, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Musk. After wearing Newport by Caswell Massey a few times and then reading what others had to say about this recent formulation, I found some of the opinions harsh. I have no way to compare it to the heralded vintage formula, nor can I use memory as I've never tried the original. Enter the current version. I do agree with some reviews that this rendition does not bring about the sense of beach and salt, but there's a long line of fragrances that fail to represent their depictions. However, Newport isn't so far off the mark that it's a complete misrepresentation. I can imagine wearing Newport ( or something similar ) in a beach setting. It smells classic due to the way Citrus, Lavender and Geranium are implemented. It's assuredly retro, but it seems to have that intangible I like that keeps me sniffing. Newport, at least on my skin, is top heavy in the sens...

Black Suede by Avon

Nutmeg, Clove, Amber, Musk, Moss, Wood Notes. Yes.........I am reviewing one of the Rodney Dangerfield's of fragrance. Black Suede has been gracing medicine cabinets, for better or worse, since 1980 my friends. If you're expecting me to inform you ( like others may have already ) that Black Suede is a nasty scrubber, you will be disappointed. On the other hand, if you're expecting a glowing review claiming it's a diamond in the rough, you won't hear that from me either. I will say though that Black Suede doesn't deserve the hate it's received and most of that is due to snobbery aimed at Avon products in general. I kid you not when I state that a close relative to this fragrance is Cacharel Pour L'Homme. The array of spice in both ensure comparison, but the "smoother" of the two is Black Suede due to its implementation of Amber. While wearing Black Suede, one can detect a hint of "drugstore". That quality doesn't manife...

La Chasse Aux Papillons Extreme by L'Artisan Parfumeur

I read many reviews before or after I do my own and I seem to be at complete odds with the house of L'Artisan. I have previously said on basenotes that for me, L'Artisan Parfumeur is the most over-rated house I have come across. La Chasse Aux Papillons Extreme does nothing to sway that opinion. Yet another linear, floral dominant scent that does nothing to stir me up or inspire me in any way. This house has "pleasant" nailed down to an art form......but damn...can't we go beyond that? The only attempt at polarization so far has been Dzongkha ....and I found it a jumbled mess. At these prices, move me, anger me, hate me.......but please don't bore me. Extreme in a nutshell is a toned down tuberose with assorted "blossom" thrown in the mix. Is it bad? No, it's an acceptable floral scent that's very timid and just lays on my skin smelling like....well....a toned down version of tuberose with blossom this or that added to it. I'm almost a...