AREEJ LE DORE
OTTOMAN EMPIRE III
2021
PERFUMER
Russian Adam
Bulgarian Rose
Rose
White Rose
Pepper
Cardamom
Frangipani
Jasmine
Oud
Indian Oud
Saffron
Nutmeg
Vetiver
Myrrh
Amber
Sandalwood
Oakmoss
First off, I have no experience with Ottoman Empire I or II, so I can’t make any comparisons; they should be quite similar, according to Russian Adam. I purchased this one blindly based on the notes and spoiler: the drydown is exactly how I imagined it and wonderful, but the opening throws me off a little bit.
Ottoman Empire III opens with a blast of birch tar to my nose. Not in a challenging way, but it’s not comforting to me either. For some reason it always reminds me of a rusty barbecue. Birch isn’t listed here, but it instantly reminded me of Areej’ Cuir de Russie. It opens a bit harsh for my taste, before transitioning quite heavily.
The rose is this fragrance is much more toned down than I expected, or at least I don’t recognize it much in this style, which could lean a bit more metallic. I get some spices (saffron, nutmeg) at first. Then I do get a floral element coming through, but it’s mostly frangipani, giving a sweeter, fruity, spicy scent. In general, OEIII gets rather sweet.
It’s very ambery and almost sparkling, like I can feel the fragrance tingling on my tongue. At the same time it’s smooth and it grows more creamy as it develops. The texture is top notch.
As I mentioned, I love the drydown. It’s a bit of a smoky oud, but not daring at all and versatile, mainly because of the sweetness. The florals are there, but it’s not a floral scent per se. I’ve worn it a couple of times now and every time it needs about 2 hours before I fully start to appreciate it. The upside being that the longevity is excellent, so most of the wear is beautiful for me.
The beautiful presentation and exclusivity add to the notion that it’s a special fragrance. From all the Areej le Dore I have tried at the time of writing (the entire 6th collection, History Of Attars collection, Indian Attar collection, Chinese Oud, Aquilaria Blossom, The History Of Indonesian Oud), Ottoman Empire III is my favorite alongside the mass-appealing Gul Hina.
