The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
LOTREE arrived in 2013 from perfumer Blanca Dalmau as a woody fragrance built around atmosphere rather than individual wood types. The name suggests trees, and the notes confirm it: cedar, sandalwood, leather, Arabian woods. LOTREE opens with a cool green quality from bamboo that pairs unexpectedly with dry cedar, creating an impression of depth before either note settles. The cedar carries a sharp, immediate presence that establishes the fragrance's character quickly, while the bamboo prevents the opening from becoming too austere. As the composition develops, leather emerges to add complexity without sweetness, sitting alongside the cedar rather than replacing it. Arabian woods contribute resinous warmth to the structure.
LOTREE opens with the combination of cool, green bamboo alongside dry cedar, a juxtaposition that suggests depth rather than clarity. The bamboo introduces a freshness that grounds the cedar before either settles into the longer heart of the fragrance. At the opening, the cedar arrives sharp and immediate, establishing itself with clear presence before the other notes develop around it. The Ceylonese sandalwood in the base provides the foundation, its wood-forward character giving the drydown a dry quality that lingers close to the skin.
The evolution
The opening arrives green, bamboo and cedar arriving together in cool proximity. This is not the sharp citrus-top-note freshness of a typical cologne. It carries the feeling of a forest where the canopy is already overhead, the air moving slowly between established trees rather than breaking through underbrush. The cedar establishes immediate presence, its dry character dominant from the first moments. Over time, leather enters the composition, smoky and slightly animalic, sitting beside the cedar rather than competing with it. The Arabian woods join the structure, adding resin without introducing sweetness. The woody notes layer without overwhelming each other, the fragrance deepening rather than darkening as it progresses. By the later stages, the cedar flattens into the sandalwood and oakmoss base, becoming part of the foundation rather than leading the composition.
Cultural impact
LOTREE occupies a distinctive position in the niche woody category. It avoids the sharp, masculine cedar characterization common to traditional masculine fragrances while also diverging from the soft, meditative sandalwood more typical of contemplative orientals. The bamboo at the opening introduces a cool green quality that sets it apart from typical woody openings, creating unexpected freshness alongside the cedar. The fragrance develops through layered woody notes that build density without heaviness, the leather and Arabian woods adding complexity to the cedar foundation.
