The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
OTO began as Antonio Lasheras's private cologne, the one he reached for during autumn months when cooler air made heavier compositions feel right. Rather than scale it into a broader release, Lasheras kept it close, blending it himself in the same space where he oversees every Mallo creation. The official launch came in 2023 as a natural oud cologne at roughly 32% concentration, following the rough, full-bodied, raw-material-first aesthetic that defines the house. Production was limited to 50 bottles, according to the Parfumo listing. The inspiration draws directly from nature and the kind of peace that comes with working a small-batch formula late into the evening.
What makes OTO technically unusual is its cologne structure carrying a 32% concentration, which borders on extrait territory while keeping the freshness associated with lighter formats. The aromatic backbone, Spanish marjoram and mandarin orange according to the note list, anchors the top, while the heavier materials, Laotian oud and hyraceum, sit below. Hyraceum, an animalic material sourced from petrified animal secretions and rarely used outside of historical and artisan perfumery, is dosed with restraint so it registers more as warmth than as a dominant note.
The evolution
The opening hits immediately with Spanish marjoram cutting through citrus and a faint fruitiness from blackcurrant. Mandarin and bergamot brighten the edges early on, bringing lift to the aromatic herbs that follow. As the composition settles, Laotian oud and hyraceum emerge together, the oud reading deep and resinous, the hyraceum lending an animalic warmth that some wearers call dirty and others call alive. A brief floral gesture appears as jasmine and rose de Mai thread through the composition, softening the herbal-oud core without dominating it. Over time, the citrus fades into memory and the florals recede, leaving patchouli and vetiver as the earthy wood-and-root backbone that defines the entire Mallo aesthetic. The drydown unfolds gradually through the rest of the day, leaving a quiet trail of dark earth and faint smoke.
Cultural impact
OTO occupies a specific position in the world of natural, animalic-leaning fragrance, a cologne bold enough to polarize wearers and rare enough to feel like a find. Its 50-bottle production makes it less a market statement than a perfumer's private release that happened outward, reaching the hands of a small group of collectors and enthusiasts who actively seek out this kind of material. The fragrance leans into materials like hyraceum, real oud, and earthy patchouli, components that mainstream designer releases tend to avoid or abstract heavily.
