The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Ottoman Empire III launched in 2021 as part of Areej Le Doré's Classic Collection I, an artisanal perfume house created by Russian Adam. The brand operates within the niche fragrance space, and Ottoman Empire III sits within that tradition. The 'III' marks its place in a series of limited releases, each exploring rose, spice, and oud through different material emphases. Ottoman Empire III presents a scent profile that leans heavily on the rose-oud axis, with Bulgarian rose and white rose opening the composition before Indian oud settles into the base alongside myrrh and sandalwood. The fragrance layers cardamom, black pepper, nutmeg, and saffron through the heart, with frangipani adding a creamy softness to the floral top.
What makes this composition compelling is the interplay between Bulgarian and white rose stacked together at the top, a pairing that creates both depth and lift. Add frangipani into that floral layer, and the opening reads creamy and lush before the Indian oud and saffron reshape the direction. The nutmeg in the heart adds warmth without sweetness, rounding out the spice notes. Meanwhile, the base of myrrh, sandalwood, and oakmoss gives it a grounded finish that balances the florals above.
The evolution
The first 30 minutes are all about that rose-pepper-cardamom opening: bright, spiced, almost edible. The Bulgarian rose brings a jammy, slightly honeyed quality while the white rose keeps things cooler and more transparent. Frangipani adds a creamy, almost sunscreen-like softness that smooths the edges. By the 90-minute mark, the oud arrives properly. It's not the barnyard, barn-smoke variety; it's warmer, more resinous, almost buttery, layered with saffron that gives it a leathery, slightly bitter edge. Nutmeg and vetiver hum underneath, adding dryness. The drydown settles into myrrh and sandalwood, soft and golden, with oakmoss lending a faint green-earthy flicker. The transition from the bright, spicy opening to the dense, resinous base happens gradually, with each phase revealing new facets of the composition.
Cultural impact
Ottoman Empire III sits within the niche fragrance tradition of rose-oud compositions, a category with deep roots in Middle Eastern perfumery. The fragrance draws on classical structures, layering Bulgarian and white rose over Indian oud, with saffron, nutmeg, and vetiver in the heart and a base of myrrh, sandalwood, and oakmoss. Frangipani adds a creamy, almost tropical softness to the floral opening, while black pepper and cardamom provide a spiced lift. The overall composition reads as both traditional and contemporary, using historical note combinations but arranging them in a way that feels deliberate and modern.
