OTO

Oto is supposed to be Lasheras’s spin on the classic chypre cologne. A classic chypre cologne wearable in warmer months that features Laotian oud? Do tell! The key to this is that the Laotian oud isn’t primary - it isn’t even secondary, and it’s debatable if it could be called tertiary, rather it acts like thin slivers of glue holding the rest of the notes together. There are some reviewers calling this highly animalic; they are largely incorrect. Laotian oud is significantly less animalic compared to its Indian and Arabian kin and focuses more on sweet floral tones, touches of musky leathers, and big aromatic woods. And that is the theme you get from Oto: an intensely yellow and green woody chypre. Not an animalic oud of the properly funky varietals. The opening of Oto is intense. Lemons and mandarins bring a good injection of bright neon and sour juiciness, but it’s the oily and very bitter green bergamot, the cool and hay like marjoram, and an indolic and waxy blackcurrant that strike you the most. It took a bit of time for me to parse this apart, thinking it might have been a massive artemisia/wormwood note it’s so bitter, woody, and medicinal but yet citrusy from the lemon and mandarin. The brief jasmine and rose heart comes and goes quickly, and even more so when experienced on skin, acting as a brief introduction to the star of the show: arriving with force and vigor is the base layer of vetiver, and it’s a strange vetiver. It is vivid green and sour, swampy and salty, woody and aromatic. Its piquancy is rare to find in modern vetivers. Some leatheriness comes through because - remember - there is still a string of Laotian oud running through Oto, and a bit of hyrax helps the woody side and the musky leatheriness come forward. Animalic though, it is not. Throughout its life Oto is sour, bitter, yellow and green, piquant, salty, aromatic, woody - and intense. This is a very powerful and very forward chypre. The classic structure is there: big citruses at the top, a bit of a break with some soft florals or earth in the middle, and ending on a woody dry down. Oto takes those prime and classic characteristics and pushes them to extremes. It’s a very compelling and interesting turn into left field for what is otherwise a tired ol’ genre. Excellent work. But! Is it wearable in place of a typical chypre cologne on a warm day? I did, though it had a larger than life presence that was impossible to ignore, it was glorious.

Bold unapologetic woody aromatic disguised as a concentrated cologne. The scent opens with aromatic notes of marjoram, citrus and slight blackcurrant. The brief floral heart has rose and jasmine. The perfume settles soon into a powdery animalic base of hyrax, vetiver, patchouli and Laotian Oud. The masculine leaning scent has moderate to strong projection and very good longevity. Only 50 bottles exist in the world, so grab one immediately if inclined. (Review of complimentary bottle).

I don’t usually like this kind of hairy, animalic scent, but somehow this one smells quite sexy to my nose. I’m not sure if it’s the floral notes or the fougère accord? There’s something soft and earthy, almost like the bitter scent of ink. It’s addictive. Still, it’s a strong animalic fragrance, not for the faint of heart.

my girlfriend loves this perfume and i wish she didn’t....smells like someone drove past a dead animal in a smoggy volvo. very confusing scent for a beautiful woman.

I'd say this leans decidedly masculine, but could easily be worn by a woman. It smells good, very natural, very green on top - you really get the marjoram, which I like. I am not an expert on the difference between the ouds, but the oud is pronounced here. Not a round oud, but sort of flat, if that makes any sense. But the real star of the show after the top notes wear off is definitely the hyrax. Nota bene: if you have people smell your wrist and ask them what they think is in your perfume, then explain what hyraceum is, it's a real conversation starter!