Accord No. 02 Oriental

To Buy or Not to Buy?

If this scent were a character in a movie, it would be a struggling actor trying too hard to imitate a charismatic celebrity, managing a passable impression, but ultimately lacking the authentic charm and depth of the original.

The Scent Profile

Accord No. 02 Oriental opens with a blast of spiced pipe tobacco, like walking into an old man's den where cherry cough syrup lingers. It's a strong, almost medicinal sweetness. The heart attempts vanilla, but it's more of a powdered sugar impression battling the persistent tobacco leaf. Less boozy, more saccharine. The drydown is where it diverges significantly. Instead of rich dried fruits, I get a faint, dusty wood with a plasticky edge. The tonka bean is barely present, leaving a somewhat hollow and synthetic impression. Compared to the inspiration, this clone sacrifices depth and nuanced layering for a simplistic, linear sweetness.

Wear time & Sillage

Longevity is moderate. I get around 5 hours on skin, projecting within one arm's length for the first hour before settling closer. On clothing, it clings for a bit longer, but the plasticky quality becomes more prominent. I wore it during a cool evening walk. It was noticeable, but didn't radiate.