5+3 Extrait de Parfum

I have a sample set of all the D’Otto fragrances and this was the one I was most eager to try. It’s a powdery take on tobacco and honey. I get some touches of resins and oud in the dry down but the florals are very subdued. I find most fragrances in this category to be really heady and rich but this is gentle and pretty. I really like it. Edited to add: I was racking my brain trying to figure out what this reminds me of. It’s Serge Lutens Chergui. Although I would say this is softer, more powdery and ever so slightly more feminine. I also tried layering this with 3+5 from this collection. It’s a gorgeous combo! I wonder if they’re made to be layered, based on the names?

Beautiful perfume. It’s definitely in the same vein as Chergui without the hay note. The iris and other florals give more of a soft powdery touch, it’s slightly sweeter than the aforementioned too. The base has a woodiness from the Oud which stops this fragrance being feminine leaning, if anything I’d say the fragrance veers more to the masculine side of things despite the number of florals used. It’s very much a unisex fragrance however. If you’re a fan of the Chergui type of tobacco but want a more modernised version, I would say give this a go.

Two days wearing this gem out of a sample box from the whole collection. It is a high class gem. Very elegant, not suitable if you love macho man colognes but, for a classy gentleman is a must have.

This is the first one that caught my attention from this house. Upon the initial test, it immediately reminded me of Chergui, which is my favourite all time. I'd say they are at least 70% similar. I don't get much floral notes and patchouli from this perfume, but I do get a hint of dustyness from the combination of the olibanum and oud I guess? They are not overwhelming by any means. Iris just gives the powdery facet. Vanilla in the opening and mid is very sutble, almost non-detectable. It's there in the drydown stage, but never plays the main role. To me, Chergui is darker, denser and more unisex, while 5+3 is more delicate and elegant. It's beautiful, but I think I still love Chergui better : )

Interesting and quite nuanced. I pick up nice spices in the opening and then the fragrances morphs into something reminiscent of Bel Canto and Ouverture - overlaid with an oddly nutty hazelnut tone? Becomes darker and more woody as it dries down. The resiny stickiness I pickup must be the tobacco. I don’t feel any florals (with the exception of ylang). Very interesting. Much nicer in winter than when I first smelt in spring last year. I’m not a fan of Chergui - one Lutens I truly didn’t like so I can’t say I see any similarity.