If you’re a fan of COS’s clean lines, muted palettes, and effortlessly sophisticated wardrobe staples, you’ll be excited to hear that the brand has now brought its signature minimalist ethos into the world of fragrance. COS has just released its first-ever perfume collection, and it’s every bit as refined as you’d expect.
A Scented Step Into COS’s World
The new COS Perfumery collection features four gender-neutral eaux de parfum, all meticulously crafted in Grasse, France — a historic center of perfumery known for its exceptional florals like rose, jasmine, peony, and lavender. Each scent is priced at $99, which might seem steep for a fashion brand’s fragrance debut. But here’s the catch: these are high-concentration eaux de parfum, boasting 20% perfume oil — significantly higher than the industry norm of 7–15%. That means a longer-lasting, richer scent experience that justifies the price tag.
Visually, the perfumes come in tall, sleek, sculptural bottles that feel more like modern art pieces than conventional perfume flacons. It’s understated luxury through and through.
Four Fragrances, Four Unique Personalities
To get a real sense of how the perfumes wear, two editors from Refinery29, Jacqueline Kilikita and Venus Wong, tested them firsthand. Below, their impressions offer a candid, sensory-rich look at each scent.
Auburn Eau de Parfum
- Key Notes: Coffee, clove, pepper resin, sandalwood, tobacco
- Vibe: Bold, warm, and deliciously dark
Jacqueline says:
“If you’re into gourmand scents with edible undertones — think vanilla, coffee, and spice — Auburn is your dream. While COS describes it as woody, I found it far richer, with notes of clove and coffee that dominate in the best way. It’s the kind of scent that evokes vintage fur coats and smoky cocktail lounges. As it dries down, the sweetness fades and a whisper of tobacco comes through, giving it depth and maturity. It also has the strongest staying power in the line — I sprayed it on a jacket days ago, and it’s still going strong.”
Fleuriste Eau de Parfum
- Key Notes: Rose, magnolia, peony, bergamot, mandarin, sandalwood, musk
- Vibe: Fresh, floral, and delightfully airy
Venus says:
“This was love at first sniff. Master perfumer Nathalie Lorson described it as walking into a florist shop — and it’s spot on. Fleuriste hits you with a lush bouquet of flowers, but it’s never powdery or old-fashioned. The citrus and pink pepper add dewiness and brightness, making it feel like freshly snipped stems rather than perfume-y petals. The musk and sandalwood in the base mimic the green freshness of stems and leaves. It’s one of the most nuanced floral scents I’ve tried, and the longevity is fantastic.”
Solaire Eau de Parfum
- Key Notes: Black pepper, incense, styrax, musk
- Vibe: Clean, warm, and hotel-luxury fresh
Jacqueline says:
“Solaire is my least favorite, but that speaks to the overall quality of the collection — it’s still lovely. While it claims to center around black pepper and incense, it smells more floral and clean to me, thanks to the styrax (a kind of white flower). It’s like the scent of crisp sheets in a five-star hotel or a luxe hand soap in a private club. The musk rounds it out with a skin-like warmth. I like it layered with Fleuriste, though I’d hesitate to buy both given the $99 price tag.”
Mythe Eau de Parfum
- Key Notes: Vetiver, ginger, cardamom, violet, amyris
- Vibe: Earthy, clean, and surprisingly refreshing
Venus says:
“I’ve never been drawn to earthy perfumes — I associate them with heavy, musty scents — but Mythe totally changed my mind. The vetiver gives a strong, rooty first impression, but ginger and cardamom add brightness and spice. As it dries down, the violet and amyris create a soft, woodsy finish that smells like clean, sun-dried skin. I’ve been in hot, humid climates recently, and this is one of the few scents I can tolerate in the heat. It’s refreshing, not overwhelming, and layers beautifully with Fleuriste.”
Is COS Perfumery Worth It?
The COS Perfumery collection is an elegant evolution for the brand, marrying its fashion-forward minimalism with a surprisingly sophisticated take on scent. Each perfume has a distinct personality — whether you’re looking for cozy warmth (Auburn), floral freshness (Fleuriste), airy softness (Solaire), or earthy clarity (Mythe), there’s something for every nose.
While the $99 price tag may give pause to some — especially when compared to affordable offerings from Zara or & Other Stories — the elevated perfume oil concentration, refined composition, and design-forward packaging make a compelling case. COS isn’t just selling a fragrance — it’s offering an olfactory extension of its lifestyle philosophy.
Final Verdict: If you already love COS’s aesthetic, you’ll likely find a kindred spirit in one of these fragrances. They’re beautifully made, long-wearing, and stylish without trying too hard — just like the brand itself.
