CivetOnly
11/11/2025 - 12:23 PM
9Scent 9Longevity 6Sillage 10Bottle 4Pricing
4
2
Chocolaty oud, soapy rose with musty spices. Slightly sweet, resinous base and earthy, smoky facets. Smooth to a fault, nothing stands out.
2 Comments
GourmandgrlGourmandgrl 2 months ago
1
This actually sounds delicious - how prominent is the chocolatey oud @CivetOnly ?
CivetOnlyCivetOnly 2 months ago
1
@Gourmandgrl very prominent, Adam uses artisanal, aged oud without any barnyardy nuances. It's slightly earthy, but no fermented smell.
I had a discussion about this with the boys - it's a slippery slope. I enjoy Ajmal's more pungent oud, or Amouage's more prominent spices. I think at a certain point, when the blending and quality are so perfect that nothing really catches your attention and everything just flows like a river, the scent starts losing its magic.
I always look forward to the spiky stuff - knowing that this fragrance goes heavy on lavender, this one is smoky as hell etc. It's what makes them memorable and why I reach for them.
So while Ottoman Empire is the PERFECT embodiment of a spicy rose-oud, the sheer quality of the blend is what also makes it kinda boring for me personally. It's better for those who are looking for a smooth and pleasant oriental perfume.