In memory of Christian Astuguevieille, Comme des Garçons Parfums has launched To Vetiver. Deeply personal and poetic, this fragrance captures the rebellious spirit that defined the legendary creative director, turning a profound dedication to perfumery into an emotional tribute. It is an ode to vetiver that feels both ancient and alive—an olfactory journey without destination, rich in spices, musk, and myrrh.
Crafted by Antoine Maisondieu, a master perfumer and longtime collaborator of Astuguevieille, To Vetiver is the final completed work born from their shared creative dialogue. Maisondieu, who has worked on many Comme des Garçons fragrances, infused the scent with a mysterious, almost magical spirit. Drawing inspiration from ancient ingredients and his work with Astuguevieille, he created a composition that feels both raw and refined through his deep commitment to perfume craftsmanship. It embodies the house’s enduring philosophy: fragrance as artistic expression that challenges the senses and celebrates difference. In conversation with hube, Maisondieu opens up about a deep emotional bond with Christian Astuguevieille, a lifelong connection to perfumery, and the inspiration behind To Vetiver.
hube: Comme des Garçons Parfums has long been known for pushing the boundaries of what fragrance can be—often more artistic manifesto than traditional perfume. How would you define the olfactory identity and philosophy of CDG Parfums in its current chapter?
Antoine Maisondieu: I think art has always been very important for Comme des Garçons. You need to be creative. A lot of that came from working with Christian Astuguevieille, who was an artist himself. As for me, I see myself more as a craftsman, so I’m not interpreting things. In this case, Christian was asking, “How do you make a new vetiver for Comme des Garçons?”—because some have already been made.
The Comme des Garçons identity always remains the same. It’s very artistic, creative, and carries something different. You smell it and it feels different from the very beginning—it can be almost a bit disturbing, not too beautiful.
h: To Vetiver is described as “a journey without destination, an ode to vetiver.” What does this perfume represent for you personally—on a deeper, almost philosophical level?
AM: I wanted to put something magical inside it—like voodoo. I was very inspired by that mysterious, a bit dark universe. I wanted to play with spices, along with vetiver and some saltiness. So I used a lot of black pepper, and I also added a resinous note to create this mysterious, magical feeling.
It is this idea of something sacred and ancient. Vetiver is often coming from Haiti, and I’m always really inspired by that. For me, initially, even the name was “Vetiver Voodoo.” That’s the name of the perfume I have in my head. That’s what I wanted to convey. Unfortunately, I don’t really remember the exact words of Christian—it’s funny because I normally always do—but I guess it was his words that inspired me.
Creative Direction by RONNIE COOKE NEWHOUSE and KARL BOLANDER
