Odeur 53

Odeur 53, inspired by Comme des Garçons Odeur 53 (1998)

Odeur 53 does not follow a perfume pyramid. Instead it layers synthetic accords meant to evoke things not usually smelled as fragrance: oxygen, flaming rock, a flash of metal, freshly mowed grass. The result is airy and mineral, with a cold glint and a faint chemical edge from the nail polish accord. Sun-dried laundry and high-mountain air give it an open, outdoor feeling.

About the original

Released in 1998, Odeur 53 is described by Comme des Garçons as 'an abstract anti-perfume'. Its name refers to the 53 non-traditional, largely synthetic notes it is built from. It is sometimes credited to Martine Pallix, though the brand does not confirm this. It is still sold as an eau de toilette and is a different scent from the later Odeur 71 (2000).

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Comme des Garçons stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

Curiosity matters more than taste here: people tend to find it either fascinating or simply odd. It has no sweetness, no florals and no woods, so it reads as clean air and hot stone more than as perfume.

Related scents

• Comme des Garçons 2
• Comme des Garcons Wonderwood

Notes of the original fragrance, as published by the brand.

Notes: Oxygen, Flaming Rock, Freshly Mowed Grass, Washing Drying In The Wind, Sand Dunes, High-mountain Air, Flash Of Metal, Nail Polish

At first it smells of cold air and metal, with the solvent-like note of nail polish flickering through.

Cut grass and sun-dried laundry come next, with a dusty, sandy dryness and the thin, clear feel of mountain air.

What does Odeur 53 actually smell like?

Airy, mineral and slightly metallic, like laundry and sun-heated stone in open air. The brand lists accords rather than ingredients, such as oxygen and a flash of metal.

Is Odeur 53 for men or women?

Comme des Garçons sells it as unisex. We list it with our men's scents, but nothing in it is gendered.

Is this Odeur 53 or Odeur 71?

Odeur 53, from 1998. Odeur 71 (2000) is a different, later release.

Inside the EU, delivery is free on orders of €49 or more. Below that it is a flat €4.99. In the EU you can also choose FedEx Express for €14.99. To the UK, Switzerland, Norway, the US and Canada, delivery is €5.99. To all other countries, it is €9.99. We send every order in 1 to 2 working days. It arrives in 3 to 7 days across the EU and in 7 to 14 days outside the EU. You have 14 days to return an unopened bottle.

Comme des Garcons and Odeur 53 are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Comme des Garcons in any way, and no business relationship of any kind is implied. Our product is an original interpretation created to evoke a similar scent profile, and the trademark names are used purely for honest, descriptive comparison, so that you can quickly identify the style and fragrance family you are looking for. We make no claim to sell the original product, and we do not use the same ingredients or formula. Any similarity lies in the overall impression of the scent as interpreted by our own perfumers, not in the source materials.