The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Comme des Garçons Series 2 Red: Sequoia takes its name from the towering redwood, one of the world's tallest trees. The fragrance itself is built around warm, woody materials that create an impression of depth and scale. The composition centers on rum, oud, and mahogany, materials that work together to produce something that feels both familiar and unexpected. There's a richness to the way the notes layer, a quality that suggests age and weight without becoming heavy. The overall effect is of something ancient and solid, a fragrance that holds its ground rather than dissolving into air.
Rum and oud sit at the heart of Sequoia, two materials that bring distinct characters to the blend. The combination creates a woody, sweet warmth that moves through the composition without overwhelming it. Mahogany and opoponax provide supporting structure, the sweet-resinous gum helping to bridge the spirit of the rum with the depth of the wood. There's a mineral quality underneath that keeps the sweetness grounded, preventing any tendency toward syrupy heaviness.
The evolution
Sequoia opens woody and sweet, a hint of rum cutting through the mahogany. Around twenty minutes in, the oud arrives, settling into the composition alongside leather and opoponax. The sweetness deepens as the fragrance develops, the wood notes becoming more pronounced without ever tipping into heaviness. The sillage stays moderate throughout, present in close conversation without announcing itself across a room. By the final hours, the wood settles into something quieter, skin-close and almost balsamic in its warmth. The drydown lingers well into the evening, maintaining its character without the need for reapplication.
Cultural impact
Sequoia developed a cult following over the years, earning a re-release in 2017 as part of the Olfactory Library collection. The fragrance pairs rum with mahogany and oud, a combination that arrived before the commercial oud boom became widespread. For those exploring dark, resinous woods, it remains a reference point, a scent that demonstrates how these materials can work together without becoming either aggressive or monotone. The blend holds up well over time, neither dated nor overly trendy, simply solid in its construction and lasting in its appeal.
