The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Merina opens with the contrast that defines its composition: fennel brings a green, anise-like clarity, while almond milk introduces a creamy sweetness that remains measured rather than overtly dessert-like. Together, they create a lively tension between fresh herbal notes and smooth, softly rounded richness. The almond milk gives the opening continuity and warmth, while fennel keeps it lifted and articulate. As the fragrance develops, jasmine and iris shape the middle into a floral layer marked by jasmine's clean white-flower brightness and iris's powdery, almost violet-like softness. In the drydown, these elements settle into a restrained floral presence, with the almond note lingering as a warm, nutty thread and faint traces of spice adding depth.
The defining pairing is almond milk and fennel, an unusual combination because it moves between food memories rather than staying inside one category. Almond milk reads soft, rounded, and almost edible. Fennel cuts across that cream with a cool herbal note, while caraway adds a drier, earthy spice. Jasmine brings a floral lift, and iris introduces powder rather than simple sweetness. Together, these materials create contrast without losing composure: creamy beside aromatic, floral beside nutty, soft beside dry. The combination is especially compelling on skin, where the almond note can feel intimate and the fennel keeps the composition from becoming overly sweet.
The evolution
The opening begins with almond milk, caraway, and fennel, placing creamy softness against a distinctly herbal, lightly anise-like edge. Caraway and fennel give the first impression a structured, savory tension that catches attention without making the composition feel heavy. Almond milk smooths that brightness from beneath, lending the opening a rounded creaminess while preserving the herbal clarity. As the scent settles, jasmine and iris add a floral middle. Jasmine lifts the profile with a clean white-flower glow, while iris gives it a powdery, almost violet-like veil. Their interaction brings a refined softness, but the earlier caraway and fennel continue to lend definition rather than allowing the floral notes to become overly sweet. The almond note remains the most continuous thread, moving from fresh cream into a warmer nutty impression.
Cultural impact
Merina draws on a Madrid cultural sensibility through its emphasis on fashion, selective perfumery, and creative exchange, while its composition is defined by the contrast between almond milk, caraway, fennel, jasmine, and iris. The almond milk introduces a smooth, creamy base, while caraway and fennel create an herbal, lightly anise-like opening. As jasmine and iris emerge, the fragrance shifts toward a clean floral middle with a powdery, almost violet-like softness.
The House
Otz LabOTZ LAB is a niche fragrance house born in Madrid from the creative partnership between Spanish fashion label OTEYZA and Perfumes y Diseño (PyD), a company specializing in selective perfumery. Launched in March 2026, the brand translates OTEYZA's fashion sensibility into scent, drawing on Madrid's cultural and historical layers. Its debut lineup of eight fragrances reads like a map of the city and its influences, with each composition anchoring a distinct mood or memory.
The Creator
Caroline DumurCaroline favors bold structures built on a clear hierarchy. She often starts with a dominant natural note—jasmine, oud, or cedar—then weaves in a synthetic accent that adds depth or sparkle.
