La Fumée Ottoman (2013)
by Miller Harris

La Fumée Ottoman opens with a nice, invigorating and “conventionally fascinating” sugary-zesty incense note, Givaudan’s bright and refined incense like you find pretty much anywhere since some years (not the “avantgarde” transparent note like in many CdG’s; think of some more organic-resinous and bright note, like in Maria Candida Gentile Exultat, or Fueguia Misiones and so on); then pepper, dusty balsamic olibanum and other rich, caramelized resins, a mellow sort of tobacco-woody note which reminds me of Tabacco Toscano by Santa Maria Novella; finally woods, patchouli and something plummy-fruity which together with woods (and to me, also something like suede) reminds me of the fruity-woody “suedeness”of Goodsir’s Cuir Velours (which means Lutens’ Daim Blond) ... that’s it, at the intersection of all these names lies La Fumée Ottoman. Basically the only “signature” difference is the usual musky and slightly camphorous note which lies on the base of several Harris scents, this included, creating their peculiar “grayish-dusty” feel. Woody drydown. Overall a decently pleasant scent, just a tad conventional and unoriginal in my opinion, but nice. Scandalously overpriced.

6,5/10