SOD

I knew that SOD was going to be an exceptional addition to my fragrance collection. Why did I know. It was really quite simple. First of all I knew that Antonio Lasheras and Rajesh Balkrishnan had collaborated on it and I already own and love REA and ARC, their previous work. I am not saying, lt it be clear, that these all smell quite similar. That is not accurate at all. What I have discovered is that each of their fragrances attempts to cover new ground while maintaining their unwavering commitment to producing individual scents that will appeal to those who appreciate mastery, subtlety, commitment to using the highest quality ingredients, many of which are atypical, but work together to create a mood, an experience, a journey. Of course, it does not take a Sherlock Holmes to deduce the direction of this this scent. SOD points us to the way soil tincture is going to lead us into a world that is close to the earth. But what makes this scent even more earthy is the use of Mitti Attar, which is supposed, I have been told to evoke Indian clay moistened by rain. And then there is also Nagarmotha oil which is only found in India and also is earthy and woody. If at this point dear reader, you are worried that this has an overwhelmingly earthy smell, fear not. The ingrediants are mixed carefully. The silage is moderate but also intoxicating. What I advise is to let the scent unfold. We end the earthy world quickly but then it slowly begins to let other elements in. There is oud, patchouli, civet, and frankincense –familiar notes in a whole range of fragrances—but they are carefully nestled in the earthy bed that has been prepared. Is this a challenging scent? To me it isn’t. It can be worn day or night, it has good longevity. I believe most might say it leans male, but I think anyone could wear this. Where I live it is late Autumn and when the wind blows after a rain shower there is spiritually nourishing aura that connects me with the ground below and the air around me. When I wear SOD I feel warm, comforted, if not one with nature then perhaps a part of a sacred ritual that connects me my morality and my ability to rise above it through help of a magic potion.

Another very strong release from the Mallo brand. I have found that most of the fragrances from this brand use very high quality natural ingredients in high concentration. This one is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. SOD stands for Students of Decay, and it fits the fragrance. I'm from the Pacific Northwest, and one of my favorite things to do is walk in a fern covered forest, and this fragrance immediately reminds me of that, but with an extra added fruity sweetness in the opening. Civet adds just a touch of animalistic quality . It contains Mitti Attar, which also gives it that damp, earthy smell that is present after a rain. It's the perfect fragrance for this time of year, and also I believe it could be definitely worn in the winter, but I like it as a Fall fragrance. I definitely think this could be worn by either gender as well, and the projection and longevity are quite solid. This one is limited to only 75 bottles, so I would grab one while they are still available.

SOD by Mallo is a deep, meditative exploration of the earth’s essence. Created by Antonio Lasheras and Rajesh Balkrishnan to mark the 20th anniversary of the experimental ambient label Students of Decay, this scent captures the raw, primal beauty of soil and wood. From the first inhale, SOD gives me a golden color and a grounding calmness of nature. It is neither dark nor light, but that rich and warm golden middle way. There’s a brooding depth to its composition, a tactile sense of moss-covered roots and ancient trees, evoking a spiritual connection to the natural world. But, to me, the benzoin is the star of the show and balance the green and earthy notes perfectly. In this regard, it reminds me a little bit of Lune Feline. That semi-sweet, balsamic benzoin/vanilla that balances out woody and green notes. SOD is a very unique scent with the best ingredients on the planet. Perfect for those who seek introspection and serenity. Excellent!

Due to shipping issues, I wasn't able to receive a sample prior to SOD selling out, which is a shame because I think this would have been a purchase for me. I love benzoin, and that note really sings in this composition, so this is a big love. With a description so focused on "soil," I wondered how wearable this would actually be, but it's an extremely approachable and comforting scent. I rarely come across an amber fragrance that feels like it's bringing something new to the table, but this is a great example of covering well-trod ground in an innovative way. It's grounding and uplifting in equal measure, and rises far above its own brief IMO. If you can get your hands on this one, I'd highly suggest it. Hope to see them reboot it in the future.

I was expecting SOD to smell strongly of vetiver and soil, a deep dark earthy and woody smell. On first spray I was surprised to encounter quite a bit of sweetness. A smooth, almost chocolatey combination of the benzoin, davana, and patchouli, presumably. This is accompanied by a light musky petrichor smell, making for a unique juxtaposition. As it dries down, we are greeted with a luscious oudy amber. Performance is quiet, but longevity is quite good, lasting 12 hours on me. All in all, a surprise, but a pleasant one to be sure.

I absolutely love Mitti attar with all my heart. And this with the Kalakassi Oud and the olibanum, Vetiver ... all of it... it’s gorgeous. It always sells out quickly and Lucky Scent said “experience the spiritual joys of Heaven on earth” and I could not have said it better! This is combination of resins, patchouli, vetiver, mitti and oud, the amount of sweetness, the strength and longevity, all of it?! What a team!!

Most of the reviews here are spot on. SOD is earthy and comforting. I really like it and my wife really LOVES it. I just got a full spread MALLO samples when they dropped new batches and I really liked every one of them except for the longevity. SOD is the exception. If you like the MALLO vibe, this is the one I would pick above the others.

What an amazing fragrance! I’m planning on wearing SOD as my Christmas sotd. It’s one of the most cozy benzoin fragrances I’ve ever worn. And the frankincense adds a nice smokey meditative touch. It was like I lit the most amazing vanilla candle and curled up under the warmth of a soft blanket with a good book.

I’m not an “articulate” fragrance reviewer, but I do own a massive amount of niche parfums. But THIS ONE is insanely good! And of the highest quality. Earthy, warm, dark, and DAMN SEXY. A masterpiece! I just wish I had bought the 50 ml, and not the 30!!!

Sod....it’s incredible, dense, rich, a symphony of wood notes seamlessly blended, almost creamy with a very slight smooth animalic touch...really beautifully crafted. Phenomenal!!!!

- "SOD is an experience in wood and soil like never before." No. Olibanum and benzoin. And it has been done before. - "... To also commemorate the 20th anniversary of experimental ambient music label Students of Decay." No. Not experimental, familiar; not ambient, focused. - "Earthy, brooding, spiritual realm...." No. Resinous and vanillic, warm and inviting, and present. - "Deep, dark forest woods and earthy soil." No. Again, olibanum and benzoin; warm and sweet incense resins and vanillic-caramel cocoa. I was very excited when I first spritzed SOD to skin, and was then quickly surprised by how much it is not what the description said it was. Strike soil, mitti, vetiver, civet, cypriol, and oud from the note pyramid; if they are present, they are nearly-imperceptible finery to the olibanum and benzoin - the two of which steal the show in breathtaking ways. The opening is olibanum resin adorned with a massive dose of davana. The olibanum is warm and bright with balsamic and resinous sweetness accented with a smooth pine-like lemon juice quality. It creates a glittering sparkle to the davana note, which is deeply fruity in a boozy sort of way with its characteristically thick stone fruit and black fruit warmth. The "heaven on earth" description is at least one I can understand; this section of SOD is gorgeous. The second stage of the perfume is a loving presentation of benzoin given its own finery via a heaping dusting of patchouli. The benzoin is rich, warm, sweet with plenty of vanilla and caramel, and touches of baking spices. The loamy and fragrant patchouli turns it a bit earthy, nearly cocoa like. Thanks to Lasheras's dedication to high quality materials, both sections do not come across as uncomfortably sweet, fake, thick, or lumpen. The benzoin and patchouli have the texture of velvet and the soothing qualities of powder. Snuggle worthy, like you're wearing a cashmere sweater with the aromas of a hot cup of decadent cocoa wafting about. So, yes, SOD was a total surprise on the initial wearing, and in a very confusing way at that, but it ended up being a very pleasant, beautiful, yet a very simple surprise that I enjoyed repeatedly wearing. If you love fruity-resinous olibanum and vanillic cocoa-esque benzoin, and you want to see how they present when simply paired together and shown a lot of love, the list of perfumes that do better is very short.

Sod is another beautiful creation from Mallo & Raj. Once sprayed on skin I was hit with a blast of mitti attar, damp earthy patchouli but also a strong presence of the Oud which also shares similarities in profile to the mitti attar but also lends a slight leathery touch. These notes have that earthy woody effect that blend seamlessly which was a perfectly executed attempt in my humble opinion. After a few minutes of wear I noticed the benzoin and davana cut through with its sticky sweetness and never let go throughout the remaining life of this fragrance. I’d call this an oudy leathery fragrance supported by a natural sweetness. I think this is a fantastic release!

Another solid release from Mallo and Rajesh! Overall, the soil accord is very intriguing and the resins shine on my skin, giving a slightly sweet and musky vibe. The notes are well blended, so nothing sticks out on my skin. If you’re looking for an easy wear natural perfume for the cooler months, give this a try!

SOD is not what I expected. From the notes you would think the scent would be herbal and dank. However SOD opens up with fresh peppered resins. The herbal element boost the resins, rather than showcasing themselves. The agarwood slowing appears, again supported by the soil accord and patchouli, but never overtaken by them. A smooth sweet undercurrent of the vetiver and benzoin persists to support the whole show and lurking in the background is a soft feral and erotic civet which makes the perfume alluring. I may have just listed the notes, but I’ve tried to explain how I feel they work in the perfume. The notes complement each other well. I think Rajesh and Antonio have created another completely unique scent which is unlike the previous releases. It’s always exciting to see what they will do next. Good work.

#sotd SOD by Mallo Parfums - Unearthing Bliss Walking through a dense forest, surrounded by the scent of damp soil, calms the senses. Mallo Parfums and Dr. Rajesh Balakrishnan's SOD captures this earthy serenity. Sweet Benzoin and fruity Davana welcome you, followed by Vetiver's earthiness and Soil's warmth, revealing the forest floor's hidden secrets. Civet adds an irresistible animalic allure. Imagine the sweet scent of rain after a dry summer. Petrichor recreates this magic in SOD. Smoky Oud and Frankincense merge with herbal Patchouli, while woody Cypriol enhances the earthy aroma. SOD shares ancient forest secrets, inviting you to explore life's mysteries. SOD is more of a nature's embrace in a perfume bottle. IG-loveforfragrance

Rajesh and Antonio have done it again - SOD manages to take the “standard” amber fragrance and make it something new and interesting, yet still uncomplicated and high quality. The opening is a true-to-life scent snapshot of forest floor - rich soil, decaying leaves, and rooty woodiness in the best way possible, equally grounding and comforting. Gradually, frankincense and patchouli come to the forefront, adding to the interest, lending a gently heady spicy quality, blending seamlessly with the opening. Slightly animalic and vaporous, almost diesely Oudiness counterpoints the resinous sweet benzoin that rounds out the base of the fragrance. This is some of Rajesh’s best work since his collaborative efforts with Di Ser’s Yasuyuki.

Another incredible scent experience from Raj and Antonio. It is earthy, damp yet cozy and ultimately inviting. The Mitti Attar and soil start the overdrive to a gentle cruise through woody, lightly incensed and musky civet with tendrils of patchouli and vetiver. A male leaning fragrance IMO. Nice sillage and decent longevity. Waking up from a nap deep in the bowels of a dark Pacific Northwest forest. The leaves and dirt overpower your senses but it is fleeting as you rise and brush off the woods from your sweater. You wonder on your path back past the rich thick brush, a fog gently mists around and a sense of spiritual peace and calm fills your senses.

Scary notes, but definitely not what you'd expect. Antonio and Rajesh managed to make this one work pretty well. Instead of a poopy earthy animalic fragrance, it's a semi-sweet chocolate probably due to the patchouli/ benzoin & oud at play. There's other elements underneath the building block ex: wet cement but not prominent. Overall SOD is comforting in a "MALLO" way but very wearable. The quality of material used is top notch!