Oddity

INCENSE & BOURBON VANILLA. Opens with a multi-faceted incense that includes shades of tobacco, cinnamon & pepper (all not listed), that transitions to a soft amber-leather drydown with shades of faintly sweet soapiness. No woods are listed but I do get a dry wood note in the background. Licorice may be here as it's on the card, but it isn't prominent to my nose. This interesting thing about this scent is the incense has a contemporary and yet traditional feel, a little like church incense plus the spice from bourbon vanilla. But although there is a faint sweetness more in the air than on the skin, I wouldn't call this a vanilla scent. The scent profile may read as fall-winter but this is light enough to be worn year-round. Requires dark storage after first sprays to develop average or slightly above average performance. I wasn't keen on this initially due to questionable performance, but now the performance is developed, and I'm a fan. Contrast to Vanille Noire Laurence Dumont: These are different but the spicy incense notes are done in a similar way. Vanille Noire is much more vanilla forward. Roughly equivalent performance, or slightly better for VNLD. Contrast to Nirvana Bourbon Elizabeth & James: These are different, but the incense is done in a similar way throughout the opening and into the heart. NB is more vanilla forward and dries down with more of a dew drop vibe. Roughly equivalent performance. Contrast to Zaharoff Signature Tabac: These are different but there is an overall similar vibe with incense. ZST is more honey forward with better performance. Overall: Beautiful paradoxical-incense scent profile and average performance with dark storage after first sprays. this is the perfect scent to wear while watching Somebody Somewhere. I just have a decant, but this is going on the wishlist. It's a love for me. Enjoy!

Definitely one of the more unique entries in Rag & Bone's new new octet of EDP fragrances, and the only not named after a specific note, Oddity. Oddity is a mix of many cold-weather-leaning notes, such as black pepper, cardamom, leather, incense, and vetiver. The opening is dominated primarily by the black pepper, which makes it spicy from the onset, and an animalic sort of spiciness comes from the cardamom. I get a little sweetness from the amber and vanilla, but these are subdued by the vetiver in the dry down, for sure. The main notes overall are the black pepper, leather, incense, and vetiver, making for quite the wintry beast type of scent. Performance is very good for a niche EDP. I see this as mostly leaning masculine but certainly some women could and would pull this off, I imagine. As with Amber, I like the fragrance but definitely not the price of $140 for 50ml, so I'll have to wait this one out, as well. ***EDIT: i've grown to appreciate Oddity a bit more, its balance of woody, spicy, sweet, and resinous elements being a really flattering mix, especially for cool weather wear, so it gets an extra point. My second favorite in the collection after Amber. 8 out of 10

I was given a small vial of this by a friend and fell unexpectedly in love with it. It's potent though- and not what I wear to be sexy or alluring. Oddity is something I wear for myself in cold weather under a cashmere sweater and I sniff my wrist throughout the day for a comforting whiff of bonfires, incense and spices. If you wanted a scent of woods in the fall and early winter without the usual Autumnal tropes (cinnamon, pumpkins, apples) this is it. There is absolutely no sweetness. It's a dry, toasty melange of incense, peppercorns, woodchips and a brush pile in flames on a chilly day. I tried it on my husband and his skin chemistry just doesn't mesh with it and Oddity falls flat. This frgrance is admittedly the whole reason I joined a subscription service because I couldn't find anything smaller than the $150 bottle and couldn't justify the price for what is literally an "oddity" in my collection. It is a masterpiece, but not for everyone amd best in small doses. Your mileage will most certainly vary.

Not sure why Fragrantica doesn't list the notes. The package lists them as follows: Top: Sichuan black pepper, cardamom, angelica root Middle: Leather, incense, licorice Base: Vetiver, amber, vanilla bean I sprayed this on paper and it never developed past the incense but was still pungent 48 hours later. However, on my skin it's all black pepper and incense for an hour and a half, maybe two, before a strong vetiver emerges followed by the amber and finally the vanilla. This is delightfully dark, spicy and unique, and long lasting enough that I still catch whiffs of it in my hair 12+ hours later (closer to 7-8h on skin). Having said this, I think it is one that is heavily dependent on skin chemistry, so DO NOT blind buy. Definitely avoid if you don't like a lot of smoke and spice. Update: I sprayed heavier than usual by mistake yesterday and it is still noticeable as a skin scent ~16h later. The sillage also increased from arm's length to several feet away for the first 4h or so.

If anyone reading this remembers M.A.C’s Nirvana perfume oils, you’ll have a frame for reference. As Oddity very much resembles the structure and scent of the sadly discontinued Nirvana. Absolutely delicious, peppery, incensed and possibly polarizing. It isn’t for everybody, true. But on the right woman ( or man) the scent develops into something gorgeous and exotic. It is almost otherworldly in its uniqueness. Certainly long lasting and possessing of marvelous spillage, which on today’s market is a true shocker. Really sexy. This is sensual and very intense, and not for the mainstream. It definitely has a unique personality all it’s own. It does have an artistic, elegant David Bowie vibe, which the name Oddity is an obvious reference too. On myself I get loads of pepper, incense and leather. It lasts over 14 hours. Moderate to strong spillage with four sprays.

I was given a sample of this by a friend. I have no idea if the scent is this powerful because it’s aged in the bottle or if this is how this fragrance is supposed to smell, but man this is one POWERFUL scent!! It hits hard with the pepper the moment you spray it, then comes the incensey biting wood smell. I can detect a bit of a licorice or anise smell and I can sense a cardamom/clove note. There is a lasting veto er after some time, but stays predominantly campfire-esque. Now for how I feel about this. This scent has got to be one of the best things my nose has ever smelled. I am mesmerized by it. I want to bathe in it. I really want to pull the trigger on buying a full bottle but I will be supremely disappointed if it’s not this intense. This scent lasts on me all day and into the next morning. It is truly top notch.

This is love at first smell fragrance to me. Unfortunately this scent only lasts around 3hrs on my skin, but I don't mind keep re-spraying it. I picked up notes of pepper, licorice, vanilla and many warm spices. Oddity takes me right into that space where old herb shops still light their lamps and keep their secrets. I found echoes of the book "White Nights" here - not just melancholy, but the weight of it. Picture licorice roots and vertiver dried and waiting, the cup of mulled alcohol drink cold and spilling, dark streets empty of everything but yearning. The sweetness comes late (can you even call it sweetness?), unexpected as a letter from someone you made yourself believe you used to love. Not enough to change the story, just enough to keep you reading.

Oddity was a standout among Rag and Bone perfumes, and one of my favorites of all time. I smell leather and something a little sour, like plum (specifically umeboshi, pickled dried plums). This slowly becomes drier, smokier and sweeter over time, but never loses its supple clean plummy leather jacket vibe. It has a complexity and insouciance that feels urban and interesting. It makes me think of an antiques store. Compared to Kerosene's Blackmail, Blackmail ends up smelling sweeter and smokier, without any sourness, less complicated -- no leather, just smoke -- more dark, and feels like being alone in the woods at night. They have a similar churchy spirit, but Oddity is a little less serious. They perform about the same.

I love this scent and wear it whenever I want (any season, day or night). It's edgy and gives me Mila Kunis' rocker ballerina character from Black Swan vibes. It's unisex, super sexy, dark, mysterious on anyone. Sadly, it gives a couple of people in my life a headache, and I am a "sissy sprayer" (term coined by CurlyFragrance). I never use more than two sprays of any fragrance, sometimes just one. I wonder if over sprayed it will effectively keep people from entering your personal space, like an invisible bubble of privacy?.. That would be another benefit to Oddity. Even if you like it on someone, definitely get a sample to try on yourself to make sure it's not headache inducing for you.

Count me as a lover of Oddity. There isn't much to say about its profile that hasn't been said in other reviews. It can pass as unisex, but definitely leans more masculine. It is my everyday go-to, mild enough to use during the day on skin, but with more sprays on clothes, suitable for the evening. I also share a fear, that because I love it so much, they are going to discontinue it. I am still DEEPLY scarred by DK Man being discontinued back in 1996-ish and wish that I had at least saved one of those cool gear-shift bottles. I am constantly checking Rag & Bone's website to see if its still available (they sometimes take it off the website during sales and I experience a brief panic).

To me, I get hit in the face with clove and licorice, and the scent radiates warmth. Cinnamon and fire and a hint of maple syrup. She sticks on me until I wash it off, and her smell is almost overwhelming if it seeps into my clothes right after I spray it on my skin. I think you would typically classify this as a fall, maybe winter scent, but as someone who enjoys smelling like the embodiment of warmth, I wear her any time. Love this one. I like to spray a few mists of it into my shower right before bathing. The scent changes this way, becomes almost bright and less spicy on the nose. It doesn't seem to be available anymore, so I'll cherish my sample until she's gone.

'Black, black, black number one..." There's a line in that old song "her perfume smells like buring leaves..", well, that's this stuff. Smoke and incense, with licorice-like angelica adding depth and amber in the drydown adding warmth, this reminds me of my Goth phase, now all grown up. I suspect for some, it will be too intense, too 'odd', since there's no soap or white flowers here, it's dirty knees and smudged eyeliner by a campfire. And on a man, if if you are into rugged outdoors-y scents, this can't be beat, I can't get enough of it on my husband, with it turning warmer and more powdery on him.

This is my favorite fragrance I have ever worn, bar none. Which means it will very likely be discontinued soon. I seem to have unusual taste. This fragrance is probably not for everyone, but to me it smells very rich and interesting. I have sampled sooo many fragrances and have never found anything remotely similar. Dark, spicy, but also mysteriously fresh. Have gotten a lot of compliments on this when wearing it. I do wish it lasted longer on skin, on clothes it lasts quite a while, often will put on a an over-sweater a few days later and can still smell it.

This is not as odd or mysterious as I expected, but rather pleasant. The most prominent notes to my nose are incense, cedar, vetiver, and leather -- in that order. No, cedar is not in the official list, so maybe it is a phantom note derived from the others, but either way my olfactory senses are telling me it is there and it is not subtle. I really don't detect any of the other notes listed. This is bone-dry, woody and smoky. Sadly, on me it settles down to a skin scent after about an hour. It stays that way for around 6 hours or so.

Simply put, this is an excellent mens edp. Leather would be the category i'd place this in, and i might reach for it more often than other high ranking monotypic leather frags because of the complexity offered by the other notes of black pepper,cardamom,vetiver,and a little amber (really very nice!), but i have to agree with those here that $140 for a 50ml bottle is stunning, and not in a good way. In a 'Im gonna turn and walk out of the store now' way. $100 and they might have had me though. It's about that good.

This is a dark herbal concoction with traces of wood and cinammon and licorice that I find very very interesting. Its rich but smooth, succulent but not overpowering. Its complex enough where it takes a while to get a feel for it. Someone getting a whiff of this will definitely want to get closer to you. This has a very slight sweet root beer vibe that reminds me a bit of Potion by DSquared, but this tells a different story. Not a run of the mill fragrance but it is not meant to be. I love this.

Aloha! I received a sample of Oddity with a recent Sephora purchase and absolutely love it! I live in Hawaii where even in the winter, it is still very warm. This fragrance evokes all the best of winter coziness, a toasty fire in the fire place, sweaters, fir trees.... I just love wearing it and experiencing all the winter wonderland it evokes. The longevity is outstanding on my skin. Alas, I can not find a bottle for sale anywhere. Does anyone have one they would be willing to sell?

@lobolust hit the nail on the head. I LOVE this fragrance, it’s rich, dark, confident, mysterious and oh so unique. This likely won’t appeal to those who like feminine, sweet or floral scents. As a novice to the world of fragrance, who will never be as eloquent as many of you, I can say without doubt... If I had to choose one (ok, two) scents to use forever more... It would be Oddity and Encens. The only negative for me is the price.

Oddity is one of the first perfumes I smelled that made me gasp when I smelled it. It’s a chilly autumn afternoon you are wearing a worn leather jacket sitting in a dark Roman cathedral incense burning in the background you take in the smell of old wooden pews.... This is the first real adult scent I splurged on, it is sexy mysterious great date night scent or layering scent to add smokiness to an existing fragrance.

The perfumer who created this fragrance (Oddity) is Frank Voelkl. Fragrantica should update their database. Apart from that, this fragrance is rich in incense and wood. Long lasting and the dry down is amazing. For me, this is bottle worthy. Oddity is only sold through Rag & Bone, and it’s very difficult to find full bottles sold through 2nd hand or grey market sources. Still, it’s worth the $150 or so for the 50ml.

Top: Sichuan black pepper, cardamon, angelica root Middle: leather, incense, licorice Base: vetiver, amber, vanilla bean This is rather dark and sexy for an "oddity," with incense, vetiver, and pepper most noticeable. The beginning is similar to a spicier & smokier Encre Noire L'Extreme; the middle closely resembles Bentley Absolute and stays that way for awhile, until vetiver outruns the rest to the drydown.

Oh I love this. I was worried about the black pepper note making people sneeze, but it's smooth. Also worried about the vetiver being too strong/Marc Jacobs Decadence, but it's mysterious and pine-y. I was worried about the licorice being the star note, but it's blended well. The vibe is crisp, smokey, aluring, and unusual. It's on the masculine side of unisex, but I'd be happy to smell it on anyone. Wow.

After comparing to Bentley Absolute side by side, I have to say I like this better :) It's overall smokier and more natural. The spicy opening is interesting, the prominent incense/olibanum is awakening, and the Vetiver drydown is calming; the transitions are smooth and minimal without being linear. At 4x the price though? I'm not so sure.. ~$70/100ml vs. $140/50ml

This is an instant favorite for me. It's got spice and incense to it, but it's quite soft, and rounded by leather and wood. The vanilla warmed up and made itself known once I had been wearing it for a while. I was concerned that it would be too soft and fade too quickly, but I found that it actually made itself known more strongly AFTER about 6 hours.

it’s spring, it’s lent, the church still has the smell of palms everywhere and you’re serving mass for the stations of the cross. better keep those precious gifts burning. the smell of incense and wooded pews. the catholic guilt runs deep. i love this scent with my bones. bummer they disco'd it. so glad it's back.

Smells like incense tossed in a bonfire with a beautiful warmth that hangs onto my skin. I love wearing it with a cashmere sweater on a chilly day. Since I love earthy, woody scents, I had hoped it would be even better on my husband. Sadly, it does not develop the same on him and smells more heavy and dusty.

To me smells like tin and brings me back memories of my childhood with my dad (who passed away 2 years ago) working in his man cave, soldiering something. So personally is very comforting but this is a scent I’ve never smelled before in any perfume, so definitively for somebody odd or special in a good way.

smells very similar to japanese incense. I will be honest, I'm not poetic like these other people describing scents. Longevity is nothing, and after about an hour it's just gone from the skin completely. One of my favorite scents but it is unfortunate that it doesn't last long, especially for the price.

Reminiscent of a smokey Gothic cathedral. Very churchy smelling to me personally but I LOVE. Also doesn't have an intense alcohol scent like so many fragrances do, which is such a plus. And for some reason this smell is giving me the strongest urge to watch Klaus Kinski's Nosferatu The Vampyre.

I just love this. Completely different on skin than paper — on the test strip I smelled mostly the vetiver... but on me it’s so much more. The incense, smoke, pepper, and licorice are there for the opening, giving way to the spice and sweetness as it settles.

I have been searching for FB for what seems like an eternity Every road has led me to discontinued grrrrrr Now, I see new reviews. Please tell me where you found this🙏 Oddity was my signature until the bastards d/c’d it I would be eternally grateful

Dark and sexy. Perfect for fall/winter. Been looking for the perfect incense perfume with just a hint of sweetness and I found it. One of my new favorites. It doesn't last that long unfortunately.

I am on my second bottle of Oddity. It speaks to me and when I wear it, it speaks to others as well. I enjoy dark incense-y scents that others would not necessarily choose.

pink pepper comes thru strong, cardamom spiciness as well. smoky sweet accents, warm and woody. I love it!

This one was certainly a little odd. The opening was a blast of pepper and incense. The pepper smell was especially strong and drowned out a lot of the other scents. After a while it faded and the incense fully took over with a hint of black licorice and an undercurrent of amber and vanilla. Eventually licorice faded, and then the vanilla. The amber and incense both seemed to stick around for the full duration, which on me was probably about 26 hours. The silage is a little heavy, leaving a trail and extending maybe about 3-4 feet out, just a little firther than arms length. People nearby could definitely smell it but it wasn't like it was choking out children a table away. So, I honestly love this scent myself. It's warm and spicy and vaguely nostalgic, both strange and familiar. Honestly, this may sound weird, but it reminds me strongly of The House on the Rock attraction in Wisconsin. It's this old home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright literally built upon a natural stone pillar that is just stuffed to the brim with antiques and oddities. I feel like this is what a wizard might smell like. My girlfriend hates it. My dog likes it though. I don't know if that's good or bad.

This scent is very peculiar to me, slightly haunting, and nostalgic. It’s so reminiscent of a physical space, though the scene I conjure up in my mind is ever-shifting. At first it smells dusty - I imagine dry wood and soft leather nearby. Maybe an old barn, warm light coming through, dust particles glowing in the light. I can smell rusted metal, some smokiness. I imagine an antiques market in the barn, with old fur coats and rusted metal machine parts sitting about. These images feel warm, orange light, familiar and at the edge of my memory. As I sit with Oddity I find it shifts to feel more cold. Instead of the dust of the flea market, I imagine clay or fresh poured concrete, some petrichor. It can smell damp, like walking into a cellar underground. There’s some notes of burned ash, animal fur, clay, spent fireworks, grass. It’s all very peculiar. From a sunlit barn to a dark underground cellar, I’m a little lost in my perception. Is it warm or is it cold? The shifting nostalgia of this scent feels quite haunting to me, almost evoking a feeling of anxiety or fear. I keep going back to smell it, trying to place it. An aptly named odd fragrance for sure.

I perceive this perfume as broody and angsty, somewhat post-punk, somewhat new wave, maybe for the initial, electric, pepper-y blast. Incense burning in a vintage vinyl store, liquorice candies left in the pocket of a thrifted leather jacket - I'm usually not crazy for liquorice, but i like it here because it’s subtle and hidden behind a wall of warmth, smoke and spice, so I think it's "safe" for those like me who don't particularly love this note. It’s either very intimate or I get nose blind to it very easily, because I have the impression that after the initial explosion the dry down is more introverted and leans vanillic. As many other fragrances that are commercialized as men’s perfumes i think it would give its absolute best on a stone cold girl. -- for more reviews: @sharpteethstarlet on TT @saintannahaze on YT 🌝

I had high hopes for this scent. I got it today, sprayed it on, and my wife says - "is it Spice Bomb?". While I don't think it is quite Spice Bomb, I think it's the love child of Man in Black and Spice Bomb. The problem I have is that it doesn't have any longevity on me. I sprayed 4 sprays on my skin, Oddity sat close to my skin after about 2 hours, after 3 I have to put my nose right on it to smell it. I also sprayed 2 sprays on my shirt, after 3 hours I can hardly tell it was on there. While this is a great fragrance, I would recommend either Spice Bomb or Man in Black. Overall, I was a little disappointed with this purchase. Smell - 8/10 longevity - 2/10 uniqueness - 2/10 Disappointment - 10/10 If you were to carry a decant with you and spray it about every 2-3 hours, you'd have a great scent.

It’s odd..... lol I expected there to be more leather but instead you are greeted with a burst of licorice and woods then a soapy vetiver with a background of leather that sticks around. Way less pepper than I anticipated so don’t be afraid of that. No real sweetness other than way naturally comes from vetiver. It’s unique and for those who like to be daring. Perfectly unisex and soapy enough that it could most likely be worn all seasons although I have not tested this. This is what I wanted Tom Fords Tuscan Leather to be. I couldn’t stand that fragrance at all but this Oddity gives the same vibes without being offensive. Sits kind of close to the skin with minimal projection but it lingers for a good 6 hrs. I guess it’s up to you if the price is worth it or not because of that.

For those who still crave the wonder of this perfume, it is on the Rag & Bone site as I write this. Now they describe the scent as amber, vanilla and vetiver. I got a bottle in 2019, when they would not write out the notes as it was a mystery. Not sure if the notes are the same or not. I did get a bit of vanilla and a lot of warmth, but also got some spice, anise and woody notes. I like (not quite love) it, and on me, it lasts a good while and on clothes I can still smell it two days later. I would only wear it in the fall and winter because it's not a light fragrance, but YMMV. If anyone has the old perfume and the new, can they let us know if they are the same scent profile? I hope so!

I wandered into a rag&bone today with a friend making a return and sniffed all their scents while waiting, not expecting much. I was immediately drawn to this one, partly because it's the only dark bottle they offer, but also because I love sichuan pepper, leather and incense. This one is just so moody and grumpy in a really intriguing way. Like the hot broody guy that doesn't say much and you keep teasing him until he finally gives you a small smile. The leather is a little rubbery, like the sound you make when you scooch across brand new leather seats. Pepper and incense add some dark mystery, like a pair of unruly eyebrows over piercing eyes. Oof. I think I need this.

At the start, Oddity is black pepper and incense, spicy and woody and smoky. It brings to mind colder weather and a cabin in the woods. Very nice, I like the beginning and middle part a lot. However, it later settles into a dry vetiver, a scent I'm not too fond of. It has ruined some fragrances for me before, though in this one, it isn't too musty and it just lowers the like factor for me, not a total ruin. I find Oddity to be masculine-leaning, but since when did I let that stop me from wearing a fragrance? :) Overall though, it's just a like. I'll use up the sample vial I have but won't really look to purchase more.

I really like this fragrance. When I smell it I imagine it being worn by a very elegant and sophisticated woman with a warm personality. It reminds me of kneeling in a gothic cathedral while smokey incense is being wafted in a thurible down the aisles. It's definitely bold and slightly masculine, so it's not a daily wear for me. I'm sure it could be, but definitely for someone with a more confident and striking personality than myself. Some people say that the smell causes them headaches but I get migraines and I practically huff this whenever I put it on with no trouble. I would recommend buying a sample.

This is leathery, incense-laden, herbal, and spicy. I wasn't sure what to expect based on the notes, but I really love this. It's smoky, sexy, and just a bit dark. While not a gourmand, it feels like an abstract, fantasy version of a desert. Like all of Rag and Bone scents, it has a translucent quality in spite of the heavy notes; it's rich but not suffocating, a problem I often have with spicy, smokey scents. This scent feels like it has movement rather than forming an impenetrable block of scent around the wearer. It's a beautiful, wearable fragrance.

This scent is very rich, smokey, woody, and incense forward. It is most certainly not a scent for everyone, but I've found that those that do like it are entranced by it. I've gotten many compliments while wearing it. Unfortunately performance leaves a little to be desired. It has a strong projection for the first hour, but after that it severely drops off until about 3-4 hours when it becomes barely noticeable. It feels best worn to a dinner date or evening party, and feels very at home in a winter/fall fragrance lineup.

A distinctly "dusty" woody vetiver and leather scent with good projection and staying power. There's a blast of pepper and anise at the opening but it recedes quickly. Unlike some earthy scents, Oddity doesn't feel "heavy" or cloying at any point in the wearing; it gives something of an impression of an old leather-bound book or pair of well-kept boots. Overall, pretty nice.

I love this combination of dirty smoke and astringent spices over an amber base. It hits all the right notes, without the heaviness of my usual balsamic spicy favorites. This is definitely a divisive creation. I recommend sampling it over a blind buy. If you have the body chemistry and attitude to pull off bold scents, this is a wonderful, unique juice.

I really like wearing unisex fragrances, and sometimes even men's, but this smelled way too masculine for me. I got it in a subscription box and ended up giving it to my boyfriend. Don't get me wrong - it smells great, and I love it on him. Very woody, strong black pepper, with a dark kind of tonka base. It's beautiful, but I find it very masculine.

I have only tested this on my skin, I'm waiting for cooler weather for a full wearing but this is a spicy, dark fragrance with decent projection and longevity. My first impression though.... this smells like a pine tree. Might be nice for the fall and winter holidays.

I quite like the top and middle, especially the leather/ incense/ licorice. Unfortunately the last several hours are all vetiver on me, and it's just too masculine for too long. I'll enjoy my travel size, but don't see a full bottle of this in my future.