No.294 Wonderwood

Eden's No.294 takes on Comme des Garcons Wonderwood's core idea: an intentional overdose of woody notes, built around cedar and sandalwood with a warming pepper-and-incense undertone. The original is famous, even among its fans, for a fairly short lifespan on skin - reviewers regularly note it turning dull within about ninety minutes despite a strong opening - so this dupe's own shorter performance is arguably closer to the source material than it would be for a longer-lasting original. The bergamot-nutmeg top note gives a brief bright lift before the cedar and sandalwood take over, though the spice and incense layering that makes the original feel like a 'wood gone mad' concept is toned down to something more conventional and easier to wear day to day. Vetiver and a touch of oud in the base add depth without fully replicating the original's synthetic-wood intensity. As an aftershave for autumn and winter, it delivers a warm, grounded, slightly mysterious woody character well suited to office or casual wear, best applied generously given its own modest staying power.