Osang

Dim yellow light reluctantly infiltrates the overgrown chapel, where devotees in gray linen robes peel palms in the middle, wrapping them in resin mixed with incense ashes to prevent decay. The remaining parts are thrown into a mass grave, rumored to carry a strong scent of blood. I didn't smell it, or perhaps I'm numb to the bloody, leaving only a layer of not-so-sweet sweetness in the depths of my nostrils. As he works, he murmurs indistinctly to the withered palms: "Make you into medicine, to heal you." These words, like a whisper emanating from the fragrance, but from my perspective as a spectator, I understand: this is a medicine made for the resurrection of God, and the person made into the medicine is already a part of the body of God. Supplying God is healing man—death terminates the decay and corruption of humanity. After writing all this, I found the inspiration for this fragrance interesting: the patron saint of Naples, Italy, was beheaded and martyred, and his blood has been preserved to this day. The coral branch in the perfume bottle symbolizes the solidified blood of the saint. By the way, I found out that in the third time in 2020, the Holy Blood did not liquefy during the ceremony, causing astonishment and concern among the people of Naples about disaster. Do not blind buy. Some may find it familiar, but more regret it the moment it is sprayed. This fragrance still has practicality: it will keep others away from you. They won't think you sprayed perfume but rather that you work during the day and return to an ancient mansion to boil medicine for the bishop all day, doing your true job.

This perfume seems to show vast differences in the different batches. I have gotten a sample from a German retailer, one from Mendittorosa in Naples and the 100ml flask that I bought. The samples from the retailer were absolutely lovely. A lovely smooth transition. Very floraly and comforting. A romantic, seductive scent, lasting forever on my skin. Therefore I bought the 100ml bottle which smelled nothing like the testers. A very harsh incensy smell that never seemed to develop into any lovely notes as well. It smells like your smudging your house with too much myrrh and you’re getting sick from it. A harsh punishing everlasting smell. I contacted Mendittorosa, checking the batch code, which was legit. They provided me with another sample from their manufacturing. Again it didn’t seem to come close to the first samples at all and more to the 100ml flacon. But here the notes were much more sweet and carrying. Not so punching myrrh-like as from the big bottle. So yes, there seem to be huge inconsistencies in the batches unfortunately. Otherwise I do love the smells but since two of the testers are smelling like completely different perfumes, it’s hard to create a proper review. The bottle is being sent back to the retailer for further evaluation with Mendittorosa. Updates are coming as soon as.

This is a honey / amber scent that initially gives you vibes of Grand Soir or even Bee by Zoologist but there's a real richness and complexity to this that separates it out from those other two. The churchy herbs in here give it a smoky, incensey sort of vibe that lingers long after the top notes have dissipated. It has similar vibes to Amouage Interlude in that it immediately transports you to a place that feels slightly old. With Interlude, that transportation is to an ancient temple, with this it's more like a European Catholic church. The bottle design, as with all Menditorrosa, is an absolute work of art and really needs to be seen in person to be properly appreciated. Its a masterpiece. I suppose if I had to make any criticism of it then it would be a recognition of the very high price point combined with wearability. Those seem like slightly silly things to mention though. You didn't buy a bottle of perfume centred around the story of an Italian blood ritual with THAT bottle because you thought it would be good for the office or the club, did you?

After two days of this I think I have enough of a handle on it to express an opinion. It opens up very salty and mineral-ly like others from this series reminding me of the smell of rocks on a cool, windswept beach. I appreciate this phase more than actually enjoying it. The middle is where the honey takes over and I get some of what others are referring to as a "piss" note. Again, not really a fan at this point though I don't hate it. The final phase though is the perfect sum of myrrh, iris and honey and this part is to die for - sweet myrrh seen through a haze of cool iris and still projecting magnificently even at the 12 hour mark. I've been searching for the perfect myrrh fragrance for awhile and if it were all like this, even the crazy price wouldn't deter me. Unfortunately though, with its "interesting" opening and "difficult" middle I'm going to move on.

From top note to drydown, it’s like being caught in the middle of a religious procession. Opens with a heavy incense blast, accompanied quickly by a thick powdery cloud. Everything feels dense and heavy and stern, as if you are being silenced into submission. What follows is a thick, dusty scent of old wooden cabinets, benches, books, sweat and maybe even an embalmed corpse somewhere. Thick honey, myrrh, amber, resin, and wax slowly intermingle amidst a wall of prayer. But not all is gloom and doom, a hopeful hint of orange, clove, and iris cuts through the darkness with a tingling camphoric effect. What a trip! This wears more like a private / personal scent with meditative powers. Not something to wear on your first date or a sinful night out of debauchery.

This is such a gorgeous and complicated "dirty" honey-amber perfume. The most prominent note for me, however, is incense. I am smelling the balsamic, church-like undertones and I think it can be attributed to myrrh and maybe even labdanum. I agree that the fragrance can be slightly animalic to some reviewers, but I mostly detect it as "wet", not dry or fresh, but rather heavy, complex, and extremely intense. I do not detect any "urine" like notes, but rather the church notes and burnt candle smokes. Somebody already mentioned "beeswax with oud" and I agree with that too, there are definitely oudy undertones, perhaps it is what giving the fragrance the slight "dirty" nature.

Ferocious fenugreek, incense, resins and a very dry honey. A small application, rewards you with a better balanced scent. I wear a lot of immortelle scents but this is the dryest, most uncompromising that I have. It's not a safe blind buy, I bought it after 3 tests, because it's unique and very particular, and you have to love that fenugreek and appreciate the mix of church incense vs. Eastern spices it contains. I don't think of it as a honey scent, because it's so dry; strictly a one-off, and to get the best of it, just apply a small amount. I've only worn it in winter, so far.

This is the scent of time, rushing out when you swing open the door of a Grandfather clock to wind the pendulums. This is the scent that transports you -sitting in an ancient church, when a shaft of sunlight pours in through the stain glass windows and warms your section of wooden pews and paper hymnals, re-awakening past incense. Dusty papers, resinous woods, sacred smoke, strong performance, high quality, beautiful bottle.

Osang is unlike anything I've ever smelled! It's a truly captivating fragrance that tells a story. The fenugreek and honey are the stars here, creating this warm, almost savory sweetness. There's also something smoky and mysterious lurking beneath the surface, making it incredibly addictive. Definitely unisex - my partner loves it on me too!

I get a 'La Myrrhe' myrrh, which unironically, is also expressed through an aldehyde (C-13, could be wrong, though), and a heap of incense and sweetened resin. It shouldn't work, but I think it does. It's too aldehydey at the start, but if it levels out over the next few hours, I might be more inclined to, you know, take this further...

Osang is a massive beast dwelling in an ancient cathedral: his fur smells of wax and myrrh, his breath scorches the air, and his purr softens the sounds of a world hostile to me. He is my warmth and calm, my shield and my silence.

every time it’s giving Caravaggio hiding in a Napoli church from his enemies after a drunken brawl while praying to the virgin marry for his soul... beautiful!!!!

My beloved, for me one of 5 top perfume creations in las 20 years... but it was not the "love on first sight" - and its realy not for everione....

The new cap is ugly. I like the white one better. That is all.

There are a lot of fenugreek perfumes out there, especially when you consider that you can get very near to it with the use of immortelle plus a well-gauged note of something sweet like honey, fruits, or florals. Amouage has featured fenugreek numerous times, Eau Noire is one of my favorites (I'm still on the fence if it's fennel or fenugreek, but whatever), Parfum d'Empire's Immortelle Corse and Les Indemodables Immortelle Solaire get very close to fenugreek. So, what loftily conceptual work of art or bizarre mysticism did Mendittorosa choose to connect with fenugreek (or vice versa, I suppose)? The Neapolitan tradition of presenting the dried blood of Saint San Gennaro to the people of Naples to see if a miraculous reconstitution will occur, the blood to become liquid again, and sign that heaven will bless the city and denizens with good fortune, or not and disaster. Myrrh starts the ceremony, resinous, green, fungal, cool, and a touch smoky. Fruity florals play in the background of the opening. I have no problem believing I'm in the streets of Naples, adorned with bright Campanian flowers in celebration and anticipation of the ceremony, myrrh riding along the breezes from the thuribles swinging in the hands of the clergy. The dry down happens pretty quickly and releases an onslaught of fenugreek, honey, and spices elevated on a plinth of standard amber notes - labdanum, balsams, musks, and the like. It seems Mendittorosa is keen to keep us in anticipation. Part of the press blurb is very telling: "... presented to the people, hungry for love and miracles." The final phrase is in bold type. Really, the only part that should be in bold type is "hungry." This perfume is making my stomach growl. It smells delicious. The fenugreek, honey, and spices remind me a lot of methi ladoo or vendhaya kali, two amazing Indian desserts that are earthy, spicy, radiant, a touch floral, and just on the right side of creamy and sweet, just like this accord in Osang. In the end, myrrh makes a reappearance, bringing us back to the start, accompanied by standard amberic balsams. Where's the blood? Did it reconstitute and will Naples see good fortune? Did it not, and thus misfortune awaits? We don't know. There is nothing faintly blood-like about Osang. We have no idea what happens. Perhaps this is a metaphor for the anticipation of miracles, or religion in general: "people, hungry for love and miracles" throughout their life, but the hunger will never be satisfied. I can't imagine Mendittorosa, with their inspirational penchants and modus operandi, would make a statement this controversial but the perfume is hard to interpret any other way. I guess I have to conclude with: I don't know. As a mostly-typical fenugreek amber then, is it any good? Yes, it is. No gaps or details are overlooked, the materials used are wonderful, and they've been blended with technical care - and, as I said, it's delicious. It’s an Indian or Arabian dessert I'd love to take a bite out of. But it's a perfume, so I can't. But if I could - now that would be a miracle.

A mysterious smoky honeyed Oriental this perfume combines notes of honey, fenugreek, sichuan pepper, nutmeg, myrrh, benzoin, styrax, sandalwood, amber, oud, incense, peru balsam, florals and musk all in discrete proportions. The resulting juice is a sensual strange potion that evokes many feelings at the same time. A bit of hope a bit of fear a bit of longing and a bit of reverence. The unisex perfume has moderate to strong projection and sillage. Not for everyone and may need open minds to appreciate. Enjoy!

Softer than what I expected. Myrrh and honey seem to be the most noticeable notes. Sillage is moderate at best, which isn't a bad thing unless you're looking for a more beast mode fragrance. A creative design with the cap (I have the white one) and the drops of blood on the outside representing the miracle in Naples. There was a red piece of something inside the bottle, not sure that was be design of a mistake. Very wearable for any occasion.

A rich resinous honey bomb, I agree it is rather a predominately single note fragrance. The heliotrope comes through, for those who know its smell. Bottle is exquisite as is most of them from this line. I’m going to venture a guess that most will not find it to be a FB purchase. But do check out others from this house 🐝

Agree with caca13 the iris honey (and maybe oud) combo does create this sweet powdery piss note. Interesting, but the performance is bad for something so expensive. May be an issue with my skins preference for eating the less sweet notes, which are already faint.

Wore this today and my wife did not like it, smelled too organic to her. I think this is a personal meditating fragrance, not one that will garner compliments. I love the concept of representing the miracle of San Gennaro in Naples, Italy.