Byredo Super Cedar Review: A Minimalist Masterpiece or Overpriced Simplicity?
The definitive, no-nonsense guide to one of Byredo's most popular woody fragrances. We break down the scent, performance, and value.
Launched in 2016, Byredo Super Cedar emerged as a tribute to the power of a single, evocative ingredient. In a market often saturated with complex, multi-faceted fragrances, Super Cedar represented a shift towards minimalist purity. The brand, founded in Stockholm by Ben Gorham in 2006, has always traded on a currency of cool, Scandinavian aesthetics and scent-driven memories. Super Cedar is a prime example of this philosophy, designed to evoke the universal nostalgia of pencil shavings and the clean, comforting scent of log cabins.
Within the extensive Byredo lineup, Super Cedar holds its ground as a straightforward, unisex pillar. While scents like Gypsy Water and Bal d'Afrique tell elaborate olfactory stories, Super Cedar is more of an ingredient study. It is less about a journey and more about a state of being: calm, centered, and sophisticated. It appeals to the consumer who values quiet luxury over loud pronouncements, making it a staple for those who prefer their fragrance to be a personal pleasure rather than a public statement.
The inspiration behind Super Cedar is rooted in memory and materiality. Gorham and perfumer Jérôme Epinette sought to capture the 'verticality' and energy of cedarwood, a note that is foundational in perfumery. The concept was to strip the wood of any distracting elements and present it in its cleanest, most modern form. It's a scent that feels both architectural and organic, blending the precision of design with the warmth of a natural material.
In the fragrance community, Super Cedar is widely respected for its quality and effortless elegance, though it is not without its critics. It is often lauded as one of the best office-friendly scents available due to its inoffensive and subtle nature. However, its linearity and modest performance are frequent points of contention, especially given its luxury price point. It has carved out a significant cultural impact among those who subscribe to a minimalist aesthetic, becoming a signature scent for creatives, architects, and anyone who appreciates understated style.
The Nose Behind the Scent
Jérôme Epinette, in collaboration with Byredo founder Ben Gorham. Epinette is the nose behind many of Byredo's most famous scents, including Bal d'Afrique and Gypsy Water.
Accords
Notes Pyramid
Scent Journey
The initial spray is a sharp, dry, and incredibly realistic Virginian Cedar note, evoking the distinct scent of freshly sharpened pencils. A very subtle, almost ghost-like hint of rose petal provides a brief, clean lift before the woodiness takes complete control.
After about 30 minutes, the sharpness of the cedar softens. The fragrance becomes smoother and warmer, blending more with the skin. This phase is less about the pencil shavings and more about the scent of a clean, modern wood cabin. An underlying synthetic woody amber note, likely ISO E Super, emerges to give the scent a velvety, diffusive quality.
The final stage, from 4 hours onward, is a soft, musky-woody skin scent. The cedar is still present but is now wrapped in a clean, non-animalic 'silk' musk and a touch of earthy Haitian vetiver that grounds the fragrance. The result is understated, comforting, and elegantly simple.
Performance Dashboard
Lasts a respectable 6-7 hours, but becomes an intimate skin scent after the first 2-3 hours.
Projects moderately for the first hour, then sits very close to the skin. It is not designed to be a loud fragrance.
Leaves a very minimal, soft trail. It is a personal scent intended more for the wearer than for those around them.
When to Wear
Community Verdict
Receives infrequent compliments due to its low projection. When noticed, it's typically praised for smelling 'clean' and 'pleasant' rather than being a head-turner.
Pros & Cons
- ✅ A pure, high-quality, and realistic cedar scent
- ✅ Elegant, modern, and perfectly unisex
- ✅ Extremely versatile for daytime and professional wear
- ✅ Comforting and nostalgic without being dated
- ✅ Chic, minimalist branding and packaging
- ❌ Subpar longevity and sillage for a luxury EDP price point
- ❌ The scent profile is very linear and can be perceived as overly simple
- ❌ High cost makes it a questionable value proposition
Price & Value
“The scent quality is undeniable, but the performance does not justify the luxury price tag for most consumers. It is worth the price only if you prioritize a specific minimalist scent profile over performance and are comfortable with the premium cost.”
Who It's For
✅ Ideal For
- Men and women aged 25+
- Professionals seeking an understated office scent
- Minimalists and fans of Scandinavian design
- Individuals who enjoy clean, dry, woody fragrances
⚠️ Not Recommended For
- Those who prefer strong, sweet, or complex perfumes
- Anyone looking for a fragrance with powerful projection and sillage
- Budget-conscious buyers, due to the high price-to-performance ratio
Explore More
🔍 Similar Fragrances
Shares a minimalist, cedar-like profile dominated by the synthetic molecule ISO E Super.
A more intense, complex, and peppery take on a woody fragrance, but with a similar cedar focus.
While centered on sandalwood, it shares Super Cedar's dry, meditative, and linear woody character.
💡 Clone Alternatives
A direct oil-based interpretation aiming to replicate the scent profile.
Shares a similar clean, woody, and ISO E Super-heavy scent profile at a more accessible price point.
❤️ You May Also Enjoy
Another iconic, unisex woody fragrance with a cult following.
A darker, more aromatic take on a woody scent, evoking a Japanese forest.
Appeals to the same minimalist, 'skin-scent' aesthetic, based on a single synthetic note.
More from Byredo
🧪 Layering Ideas
- A bright citrus fragrance to add a fresh opening
- Escentric Molecules Molecule 01 to enhance woody projection
- A simple vanilla or amber scent to add warmth and depth
🏆 Final Verdict
Byredo Super Cedar is an exercise in restraint and quality. It is a fragrance for the discerning individual who values quiet sophistication over loud declarations. The scent itself is a near-perfect rendition of clean, dry cedarwood — comforting, nostalgic, and effortlessly modern. It is an ideal choice for daily wear, particularly in professional settings where its subtlety is a significant asset.
However, the key purchasing decision hinges on value. With a luxury price tag comes the expectation of performance, and this is where Super Cedar falls short for many. Its longevity is moderate at best, and its projection is decidedly intimate. If you are buying a fragrance to be noticed, this is not it. But if you are investing in a personal scent, a quiet aura of clean woods that you can enjoy for yourself, and the cost is not a primary concern, then Super Cedar is a beautiful, well-crafted addition to any collection.