Monocle Scent One: Hinoki 2008

Monocle Scent One: Hinoki by Comme des Garçons
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8.0 / 10 276 Ratings
A popular perfume by Comme des Garçons for women and men, released in 2008. The scent is woody-resinous. It is being marketed by Puig.
Pronunciation
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Main accords

Woody
Resinous
Green
Spicy
Smoky

Fragrance Notes

FrankincenseFrankincense CamphorCamphor CedarCedar CypressCypress Pine resinPine resin PinePine Georgywood®Georgywood® ThymeThyme Tree mossTree moss VetiverVetiver

Perfumer

Ratings
Scent
8.0276 Ratings
Longevity
7.0207 Ratings
Sillage
6.3209 Ratings
Bottle
7.0190 Ratings
Value for money
7.256 Ratings
Submitted by DonVanVliet, last update on 27.03.2024.
Interesting Facts
This fragrance was created in collaboration with Monocle. It is said to be inspired by the moments in the out- and indoors hinoki bathtub at the Tawaraya Ryokan in Kyoto.

Reviews

6 in-depth fragrance descriptions
7
Bottle
6
Sillage
7
Longevity
8
Scent
Serenissima

608 Reviews
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Serenissima
Serenissima
Top Review 25  
the Forest Cathedral
Although these sunny late summer days are still very welcome, the longing for peace and relaxation for the eyes is slowly becoming more common.
Summer is colourful: different shades of blue in the sky, flowers in a variety of colours, often so colourfully mixed up that the colours bite each other. The sun makes everything appear bright, sometimes even bright: everything shines!

The desire for golden yellow and brown, reddish brown, orange and ochre is slowly growing: nature offers everything when it thinks it's time.
Even the reds and blues of autumnal fruits, such as berries and plums, have a slight grey haze: the summer was very big!

A walk in the forest is therefore tempting; not only shadows and coolness are sought.
All the varying shades of green and different, usually strong scents of vegetation alone appeal to all the senses.
The peace and the possible splashing of a small stream, the rustling in undergrowth and fallen leaves are not only good for city dwellers!

All this also contains "Monocle Scent One: Hinoki" for me: in the future briefly called "Hinoki" (we drank brotherhood and therefore I may address him a little flippantly!).
A wise, green-fingered magician must have filled its straight bottle, who knows the secrets of deep wellbeing and is happy and generous to pass them on.

This walk leads into a Mediterranean coniferous forest: the familiarly fragrant cedar is at home there; the slender, elegant cypress is not only beautiful to look at.
It also forms here, together with the spicy cedar scent a harmonious prelude.
The pine, also and especially at home here in the north, not only adds the scent of its sunlit needles; it also offers a good portion of pine resin. That is already an aromatic nose flatterer warmed through alone.
Large clusters of thyme, probably of different species, exude a familiar spice. As if individual twigs and leaves were crushed between the fingers.
Even camphor (it always reminds me of sickrooms) adapts harmoniously here.
Vetiver give this fragrance a slight flicker (the sun's rays dance between the trunks), which is even more welcome due to the deep green moisture of the moss - the fragrance spreads its light wings.
Coniferous forests can be quite dark. Trolls and elves are surely more likely to be found there than the often sung about robbers.
A fine amber breeze pervades this fragrance structure: probably due to Georgywood: whatever that may be.
The research shows that this one has resinous amber aroma, freshness and minty sweetness.
In "Hinoki" I accept this addition gladly; the experience of the forest walk is intensified thereby still.
This coniferous forest is usually woody and spicy. With all the small and big trees, shrubs and herbs that are expected here.
Unexpected, however, is the probably dark incense, which floats smoky and with strong spice over everything - the entire fragrance picture pervades.
It gives "Hinoki" a pronounced sacred note, which deepens the illusion of a forest cathedral quite wonderfully!
Nature should much more often be a place of contemplation, of devotion and this fragrance creation conveys a lively impression of how it could be: appealing to all senses, protective, protective embracing.

The sillage is average; but with all this strong spice in order.
The shelf life of the fragrance is satisfactory, as it lasts four or five hours with me; however, over time it becomes finer - as if a light wind would drive the "green" aroma apart.
Hinoki" is a friendly way to say goodbye: he walks quietly and politely.
Sometimes I don't even realize he's gone. This is then a sign for me that I no longer need its healing calming and also somewhat nerve strengthening effect.

I meet here an extraordinary fragrance with great potential: it makes happy!
That alone is a reason to get involved with "Hinoki". He didn't disappoint me!
13 Comments
6
Bottle
8
Sillage
8
Longevity
8.5
Scent
Taurus

310 Reviews
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Taurus
Taurus
Helpful Review 13  
Frankincense for the hell of it
Comme des Garçons and incense? That's like Clever & Smart, Dick & Doof, Tom & Jerry, Fix & Foxy, Asterix & Obelix, Mick Jagger & Keith Richards, Ernie & Bert, Waldorf & Statler, Kang & Kodos, Itchy & Scratchy, Rick & Morty ... (list to be continued at will). Somehow the two belong together, because when Comme des Garçons commissions a fragrance, the briefing to the perfumer probably says something like: make sure to put incense in it ... no matter what the others say or think of you!

Personally, I think it's good. That seems to be their olfactory trademark - and I like incense myself yes. That gives lots of plus points. Especially here, it seems to be at least in the quality that I don't get a headache from it despite high concentration. That gives even more plus points.

However, "Hinoki" is actually dedicated to the cypress species... and that scent trail is lost somewhere among the massive incense here. Also the theme "tub of Hinoki in the forest" is fascinating and almost understandable, but I still find the most appropriate the statement of Gandix, where it seems to me rather as if a whole temple of cypress was built in a pine grove and in there is consumed any amount of bright incense that almost the beams bend to chase away all evil.

The only thing I still hear in passing is the quite duchsetzungstarke camphor, which gives the whole creation yet a medicinal, wellness or cure to (er-)freshening spa touch. One almost believes, when applying and inhaling, one would eradicate not only demons and vermin but also viruses or germs including fatigue. Thus, I perceive Hanoki as something thoroughly positive. A strong projection and durability is certain here! And that gives many more plus points!

7 Comments
2
Scent
Epimedes

9 Reviews
Epimedes
Epimedes
4  
Synthetic and unfriendly
I am really underwhelmed by this one. The scent has some sweet musk in it and a rather synthetic smell of lacquered wood, but it must be brimming with Iso E Super or a related compound, an overdose of which makes me feel unwell if I am not outside or in a well-ventilated space. The overall development is very linear and longevity is good. I tried this several times and each time ended up with scrubbing it off (but the stuff has a tendency to cling to my skin).
0 Comments
7
Bottle
6
Sillage
7
Longevity
8
Scent
Smellavision

205 Reviews
Smellavision
Smellavision
4  
A perfect mix of cypress and cedar...
I have no clue how Hinoki wood smells, but if this is it - I love it!

The fragrance itself has a somewhat transparent quality to it and, instead of being linear, it shifts seamlessly between the different stages and notes. Notes I find to be represented are camphor, pine, moss, thyme, different woods and incense (probably due to the olibanum). The overall sense is that of being in a green forest, with the camphor giving off a slightly "turpentine"-ish effect - sort of like opening a paint can in the middle of the woods. The woody parts also give an impression of a wooden sauna, when the damp seats and walls are slowly being heated and steamy. Warm, dry and very natural smelling. Projection and longevity are mostly average, but overall an excellent scent.

A fine and unique offering from Antoine Maisondieu.
0 Comments
7.5
Bottle
5
Sillage
0
Longevity
6
Scent
Drseid

819 Reviews
Drseid
Drseid
2  
Over Way Too Fast...
This one is a disappointment. It opens with a nice pine and cedar mix, and then the cedar takes over from there on out, mixing with incense. If I was only grading on the scent itself I would give Hinoki a mild to solid thumbs up, as I do like the scent. My problem with it lies in the longevity department... My skin usually is very scent friendly, averaging in excess of 8 hours per scent; Hinoki lasted between 1 and 2. Apart from the understandably short-lived Trumpers Extract of West Indian Limes (due to its natural lime nearly sole ingredient that is short-lived by nature) this is the shortest lived scent I have come across. Due to that, I have to mark it down to a neutral, and can't recommend a buy without reservation.

The bottom line is Hinoki is a nice woody scent with poor longevity and projection. I recommend giving it a try on skin before buying to test its longevity, as maybe you will get a better result than me... If so, then it would get a thumbs up. 3 stars out of 5.
0 Comments
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Statements

5 short views on the fragrance
FragfranticFragfrantic 10 months ago
7
Bottle
7
Sillage
5
Longevity
9
Scent
Sharp & cool woody incense perfume. Cooling down during summer in a pond next to a temple in the woods under the shadow of cedar trees.
0 Comments
OceanCliffsOceanCliffs 8 months ago
Very photorealistic wood.
Strong wood with light edges.
Lovely but linear.
0 Comments
PallidusPallidus 2 years ago
5
Bottle
6
Sillage
7
Longevity
8
Scent
A camphorated cumin opening that continues in a turpentine heart and settles in a very light olibanum-frankincense type of base accord.
0 Comments
FantasmargFantasmarg 2 years ago
7
Bottle
6
Sillage
7
Longevity
8.5
Scent
Every time I smell it I love it more. Pepper, cypress, a hint of woodsy sweetness, a relaxing dry sauna feel. Unisex and kinda uni-season :)
0 Comments
Denim86Denim86 2 years ago
I have a lot of different niche, indie, designers and then Hinoki. In my humble opinion, a MASTERPIECE. . Wow. I am blown away by its beauty
2 Comments

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