Perfume Review: Cuir Ottoman by Parfum d’Empire
October 10th, 2006
Cuir Ottoman is the new addition to the Parfum d’Empire line (previous ones being Ambre Russe, Eau Suave, and Eau de Gloire). It’s said to have been inspired by the Ottoman empire and is supposed to evoke the charm and eroticism of the Orient (Osmoz.com) I’m a bit doubtful it evokes such things for me as I view Cuir Ottoman as a predominantly leather scent (and that’s all that matters).
With the notes of iris, jasmine, styrax, leather, Tolu balsam, benzoin, incense, it rocked my world before application on skin. It starts out as bitter, tar-like leather that I initially associated with burnt rubber or car tire smell. At this stage, it very much reminds me of Kolnisch Juchten, minus the citrusy-smoky note. As it develops, it’s not as much about the leather any more - it’s more about a milky, resinous balsam, with just a touch of what seems like incense and powdery softness of iris. Cuir Ottoman undergoes quite a transformation - from astringent, barbaric leather to yielding, velvety suede. It’s amazingly wearable, and I can see it being favored by those who don’t usually fall for leather scents.
For other excellent impressions, please read Victoria’s review and Marina’s review.
Cuir Ottoman should be available at Aedes within the next couple of weeks. For more retailer information, please check the Parfum d’Empire site.
Image source: www.osmoz.com
Entry Filed under: New Perfumes, Perfume Reviews
13 Comments Add your own
1. Judith | October 10th, 2006 at 10:26 am
OK! Well, at least I know I’m not crazy. When I dabbed it, I got mostly the velvety suede. Very nice, but I want some of that brute leather. Maybe spraying would make a difference for me. . .
2. Elle | October 10th, 2006 at 10:34 am
If I keep reapplying, maybe I’ll be able to keep it as barbaric leather w/ that wonderful car tire note? It’s not that I don’t like velvety suede, but I’m just in the mood for something less polite these days.
3. Ina | October 10th, 2006 at 10:44 am
Judith, I only get suede in the very drydown. While it’s not politically correct leather, it’s still pretty mild as it dries down.
4. Ina | October 10th, 2006 at 10:44 am
Elle, it’s not as polite, it still has the bite, just not as barbaric in the drydown.
5. chaya ruchama | October 10th, 2006 at 10:45 am
Yum, yum, yum…
I like brutes, too, but my world is populated with so many -
Right now, I could go for some soothing, velvety caresses, resinous, sinuous,creamy…
Fans self, gets a glass of cool water…
Thanks, Inushka, for your dutiful, and helpful sniffing-
What a sister !
6. Marina | October 10th, 2006 at 1:09 pm
It starts barbaric on me and it ends barbaric
Lemming a bottle so much.
7. Ina | October 11th, 2006 at 12:34 am
Chaya, yum, yum, yum indeed!
8. Ina | October 11th, 2006 at 12:35 am
Marina, it has but a trace of barbarism in the drydown but still very much FBW for me, too.
9. shifts | October 11th, 2006 at 5:49 pm
This one sounds amazing! It goes straight to my to try/to crave list that is for sure. It was a long time ago I read a review and felt that it was something that sounded like something I would love. It happened here anyway.
10. Aromascope » Cuir V&hellip | November 14th, 2006 at 12:17 am
[…] Leather in perfumery, while employed, has definitely not be exploited. Understandably so, as this note doesn’t seem to be for mass appeal. It is, however, my favorite note, and I’ll never let a leather scent go unnoticed (although I certainly haven’t tried them all). It’s fascinating to see how leather has been conveyed in fragrance. Representation can be realistic when a scent smells exactly like leather goods (handbag, gloves, saddle) as seen in such scents as Aoud Cuir d’Arabie by Montale, Peau d’Espagne by Santa Maria Novella, Yatagan by Caron. Or it can be experimented upon creatively with often successful results - be it the sawdust circus leather of L’Artisan’s Dzing!, the balsamic iris leather of Cuir Ottoman, the smoky campfire leather of Kolnisch Juchten, the violet suede of Cuir Amethyste, the medicinal take on leather in Le Labo’s Patchouli 24 or the ultimate femme fatale, robust leather of Robert Piguet’s Bandit. Whichever it is, it’s all good. The most recent leather I’ve tried is Cuir Venenum by Parfumerie Generale (still swooning over the line), and I must say the take on leather here is unprecedented. […]
11. Aromascope » Best o&hellip | December 29th, 2006 at 2:13 am
[…] Cuir Ottoman by Parfum d’Empire - sweet, balsamic leather. A big shout-out to the entire Parfum d’Empire line! […]
12. Aromascope » New Pa&hellip | June 24th, 2007 at 10:08 pm
[…] the horse scent, believe it or not. I bet it’ll be really good, considering how much I love Cuir Ottoman (one of the best, “raw” leathers ever). Iris seems to be the note du jour - what will […]
13. Aromascope » Perfum&hellip | August 21st, 2007 at 11:49 pm
[…] Josephine and her passion for roses. In contrast to their other robust, “power” scents (Cuir Ottoman, Eau de Gloire, and Ambre Russe), Eau Suave is a delicate floral chypre, centered around saffron […]
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