Oud Maximus Autumn 2019

When I first heard about Bortnikoff and started reading like mad the reviews, watching the videos, the in-depth analyses and so, I got the idea some of them would be too much, especially for my untrained nose and the particular surrounding I live in where people can't stand perfume containing real oud, musk, etc. Oud Maximus seemed to be the most challenging among them but still I went for a 9ml, blind. I was immediately blown away and ran to get the 50ml (that was a mistake as the small decant can last you for 2 years lol). I would spritz a tiny amount and lie down on the floor, close my eyes, and smell my wrist again and again. It's the only one in the Bortnikoff line (that I love btw) that produced this amazement and that's, I guess, why I keep thinking this represents the pinnacle of Dmitry's work. It's strong, daring, sexy! It's a statement fragrance indeed, just like O'driu's Pee or Areej's Russian musk are, and there's nothing offputting or weird smelling as in many other funky ouds. The mix of spices, orange and oud is to die for, it took me a while to pinpoint the rose but now I see it's there from start to finish. It's such a work of art, people, and I think it is very wearable too, but it needs to be applied responsibly not to make people choke. You get 24+ hours of true magic. Totally unrelated to Areej style ouds, the same high quality but showcasing a different profile. If you've tried Mysterious oud, this is its wicked, younger, gorgeous looking cousin.

It's weird how all over the place the reviews on this are. To me this opens with heavy cardamom, pepper, some animalic notes (primarily civet smelling but some is definitely oud funk). I actually don't get a ton of citrus on my bottle but maybe I'm just overwhelmed by the other notes. Under this is some synthetic vanilla/tonka like you see in many niche and designer scents now. I actually am not put off by this, as Mr. Butt Sniffer was below, as some of that sweetness helps balance the sour/fecal oud nicely. I don't find this to be nearly as challenging as many other, much more fecal or cheesy ouds. It's a beautiful, spicy, lightly sweet oud forward scent. I don't get tons of rose here, which surprised me based on the notes, but it's definitely floral in the background. I find the oud notes last 5-6 hours, not minutes per below. Once the oud fades you're left with a cardamom/vanilla/tonka/clove scent that has gotten me positive attention. I get 7-9 hours of longevity with moderate projection for 3-4 hours off of 2 sprays. Not a monster but performs better than a few of the comments on this and on the original seem to state. A 8.5/10 for me. It's not my favorite from Bortnikoff but it's a very well made oud that has a perfect home in cool weather night times. Note: I got mine at a hefty discount from a sales board so for what I paid ($250) I was very pleased.

99% identical to the original Oud Maximus! Do not hesitate to get this as a backup to your original Oud Maximus - it's nearly indistinguishable from the original, even if compared side by side.

No different to the original, IMO, one of the best (if not the best) from the house of Bortnikoff.

Got a full bottle of this. On my skin, the main accord is Oud, rose, vanilla, Tonka and a bit of civet in the background. Slightly animalic with a hint of barnyard, this isn't skanky or anything like that. Projection and sillage are below average, with very poor longevity of about 5hr. Overall this is reserved, balanced, civilized, natural, and authentic. Unfortunately, the performance is the Achilles heel.