Comme des Garçons x Stephen Jones Perfume

Comme des Garçons x Stephen Jones have just launched their second fragrance in six years. Available at the Trading Museum Comme des Garçons (54 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris – there is currently an exhibition of Stephen Jones hats), and at Dover Street Market for $165, it fittingly comes in hat box-shaped packaging stuffed with white netting. While I’d take a simple clean-lined Rag & Bone fedora over an oddball fuzzy hat any day, there’s no denying the skill and craftsmanship of a Stephen Jones piece. The milliner has created pieces for past Comme des Garçons runway shows – the first ones were for the brand’s Fall 1985 collection – and while the first scent was violet-based, the new one is centered around the wisteria and is called Wisteria Hysteria. What’s unique about the perfume is that while most fragrances are conceived mainly by a very well-trained nose (in this case, Nathalie Feisthauer worked on this), Jones spearheaded the formulation here, as he had a clear vision for a unique aroma. In fact, it’s based off wisteria hanging outside his home, which he has said “gives off the most amazing kind of carnation peppery scent.” I have to say it’s not my kind of perfume, but I do love the packaging and I’ll take any excuse to stop by Dover Street Market!