OT 23 Olfattology 2015

I wasn't sure if I should write a comment on OT 23, as I find it quite challenging to describe the scent. It makes little sense to delve into the abundance of fragrance notes and would also convey a false impression.

In the opening, I found OT 23 rather unpleasant. Very smoky, almost scratchy. No trace of the listed citrus notes; it is immediately a very dark and serious fragrance. For a brief moment, I also had the impression of noticing a hint of animalic oud, which quickly blended back into the overall picture of the other nuances. Soon after, the fragrance becomes softer and more balsamic. It’s as if a robust, dark forest honey is joining the smoky note, softening everything a bit. Above all, OT 23 now reveals itself to be extremely floral. It smells of heavy white flowers, and in the overall impression, it vaguely reminds me of China White by Nasomatto. However, in OT 23, balsamic-honeyed nuances are added to a more pronounced smoky note in the opening, which soothe and make everything feel a bit softer.

The longer you wait, the more the smoke dissipates. OT 23 continues to develop in a rather independent direction. I believe I can smell something slightly animalic, but I just can't pinpoint where it comes from; it doesn't distinctly smell like animalic oud. It remains quite unobtrusive, yet it resonates with my nose.

OT 23 now presents itself as a soft-vanilla, slightly humanizing, and still very floral fragrance with a now less prominent smoky note. This may sound unremarkable, but it is incredibly sensual and somehow unusual. I am also captivated by OT 23 because I find it easy to wear, yet quite novel and sexy in an unfamiliar way. It has something of distant lands and their good, novel scents.

Where I once found the fragrance to be humanizing, a note of fine soap now accompanies everything. At times, this phase is quite present for me, and OT 23 feels like an exquisite, oriental soap. At times, the fragrance seems very clean, but then the slightly dirty note becomes noticeable again. Now the scent impression reminds me of a sweaty body just lathered with this priceless soap from unknown, distant lands.

OT 23 develops steadily, is exciting, and smells interesting and aesthetic. It doesn't annoy me, although I suspected it would in the opening, as very dominant smoky notes or white florals are often not my friends.

Although it is a warm, smoky fragrance, I don't perceive it as wintry. It’s more suited for spring, for a mild summer evening - in the right dosage.

OT 23 is not fashionably minimalist; it doesn't smell synthetic either. On the contrary, it is incredibly lush. And although it doesn't follow the trends of perfumery, it feels novel, at least to me.

Unisex with a slightly feminine tendency, but definitely worth a test for both genders.