Aromatic
Leather
Spicy
Woody
Notescurly mintincensekumquatleathermahoganynutmegsaffronsmokevetiver
Tags
#beast
#smoky
Style
unisex
This vetiver incense starts off angular, an arresting amalgam of sharp frankincense, aldehydes and smoking candle wax. It softens on the skin with the appearance of saffron and nutmeg, the spices heralding the deep bassline of mahogany wood and leather.
Perfumer: Mark Buxton
All about this fragrance
Vibe check
It suits the absorbed tempo of an afternoon spent making something by hand, with sleeves rolled back and conversation kept close. Sharp, waxy incense gives the opening an austere edge; the warmer wood and leather beneath make the presence feel tactile rather than ceremonious.
How to wear
Start with one or two sprays on skin, particularly in cool or mild weather. Give the angular incense opening time to settle before adding more: the spices, mahogany and leather bring a softer warmth underneath. In warm conditions or close quarters, keep the application light so the smoky character does not dominate.
Who it’s for
For those drawn to dry incense, angular aldehydes and leather rather than sweetness or polished freshness. It rewards a taste for industrial textures and woody fragrances with an unconventional opening, while its warmer spices offer a less austere counterpoint.
Release year
2004
The nose
Mark Buxton is known for unconventional compositions that combine abstract effects with immediately recognisable materials. His work helped define Comme des Garçons’ olfactory identity, notably through the original Comme des Garçons fragrance and Comme des Garçons 2. In CDG2 Man, his contrast-driven approach places sharp incense and aldehydes against warmer spices, woods and leather.
Comme Des Garcons’s story
Comme des Garçons treats perfume as a medium for experimentation rather than a set of established beauty codes. Familiar materials meet unexpected textures and industrial associations, challenging what a fragrance should smell like. CDG2 Man brings that attitude to incense, woods and leather without smoothing away their angularity.
CDG2 Man’s concept
Created as a follow-up to Comme des Garçons 2, CDG2 Man centres on the idea of a worker who loves his work. Its inspiration is deliberately everyday rather than romantic or escapist: smoke, spices, wood and leather give the concept a material presence, distinct from the ink-led contrasts of the original CDG 2.
Extra info
The amber bottle carries an upside-down A in “MAN.” At launch, the fragrance was accompanied by aftershave gel, shower gel/shampoo and deodorant. Mark Buxton later included 2 Man among the perfumes he particularly admired, acknowledging it as his own creation.
Celebrity connection
Photographer Richard Burbridge described CDG2 Man as part of his personal uniform, associating it with comfort rather than conventional virility. Stylist and fashion director Imruh Asha has also identified the brown-bottled fragrance among the Comme des Garçons scents he has worn.
Notescurly mintincensekumquatleathermahoganynutmegsaffronsmokevetiver
Tags
#beast
#smoky
Style
unisex
This vetiver incense starts off angular, an arresting amalgam of sharp frankincense, aldehydes and smoking candle wax. It softens on the skin with the appearance of saffron and nutmeg, the spices heralding the deep bassline of mahogany wood and leather.
Perfumer: Mark Buxton
All about this fragrance
Vibe check
It suits the absorbed tempo of an afternoon spent making something by hand, with sleeves rolled back and conversation kept close. Sharp, waxy incense gives the opening an austere edge; the warmer wood and leather beneath make the presence feel tactile rather than ceremonious.
How to wear
Start with one or two sprays on skin, particularly in cool or mild weather. Give the angular incense opening time to settle before adding more: the spices, mahogany and leather bring a softer warmth underneath. In warm conditions or close quarters, keep the application light so the smoky character does not dominate.
Who it’s for
For those drawn to dry incense, angular aldehydes and leather rather than sweetness or polished freshness. It rewards a taste for industrial textures and woody fragrances with an unconventional opening, while its warmer spices offer a less austere counterpoint.
Release year
2004
The nose
Mark Buxton is known for unconventional compositions that combine abstract effects with immediately recognisable materials. His work helped define Comme des Garçons’ olfactory identity, notably through the original Comme des Garçons fragrance and Comme des Garçons 2. In CDG2 Man, his contrast-driven approach places sharp incense and aldehydes against warmer spices, woods and leather.
Comme Des Garcons’s story
Comme des Garçons treats perfume as a medium for experimentation rather than a set of established beauty codes. Familiar materials meet unexpected textures and industrial associations, challenging what a fragrance should smell like. CDG2 Man brings that attitude to incense, woods and leather without smoothing away their angularity.
CDG2 Man’s concept
Created as a follow-up to Comme des Garçons 2, CDG2 Man centres on the idea of a worker who loves his work. Its inspiration is deliberately everyday rather than romantic or escapist: smoke, spices, wood and leather give the concept a material presence, distinct from the ink-led contrasts of the original CDG 2.
Extra info
The amber bottle carries an upside-down A in “MAN.” At launch, the fragrance was accompanied by aftershave gel, shower gel/shampoo and deodorant. Mark Buxton later included 2 Man among the perfumes he particularly admired, acknowledging it as his own creation.
Celebrity connection
Photographer Richard Burbridge described CDG2 Man as part of his personal uniform, associating it with comfort rather than conventional virility. Stylist and fashion director Imruh Asha has also identified the brown-bottled fragrance among the Comme des Garçons scents he has worn.