The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Olympian landed in 2021 as part of The Dua Brand's Inspired Expression collection. The fragrance borrows the logic of Ex Nihilo's Gold Immortals and translates it into Dua's own idiom. The reference DNA is amber floral, built around a tropical floral core that the brand has named lysylang, a hybrid note that the house describes as combining nuances of jasmine and ylang-ylang. The opening brings a bright burst of pear and bergamot, a combination that feels juicy and slightly soapy at its edges, almost good enough to eat. As those top notes settle, the peony begins to surface, and the lysylang starts to reveal its character underneath.
The lysylang is the move that makes Olympian worth a second look. The brand's named hybrid note sidesteps the usual routes, bringing a fruitier quality that allows the amber accord underneath to read golden rather than heavy. That suntan-oiled warmth, more associated with ylang-ylang's tropical lushness than with jasmine's narcotic depth, gives the composition a sunlit glow. The tonka contributes a sweetness that bridges the fruity opening and the musky base without any one element dominating. It's a structural choice, not just a note list.
The evolution
The opening of Olympian announces itself with pear and bergamot, bright and slightly soapy at the edges, with a juiciness that reads almost edible. That crisp fruit-topped entry doesn't linger long before the peony arrives, and the lysylang starts to unfold underneath it. This is where the fragrance stops being straightforward and starts being interesting. The floral phase carries a custard-like fullness, warm and faintly tropical, like ylang-ylang's richness breaking through jasmine's composure. The amber and tonka take over next, and the musk begins to smooth everything out. The sweetness from the tonka weaves through the amber, creating a marzipan-tinged warmth that bridges the fruity opening and the musky base. What remains as the hours pass is a close-skin amber with a faint sweetness, powdery but not dated.
Cultural impact
Olympian lives inside a conversation about amber-floral compositions, and the name Gold Immortals from Ex Nihilo comes up when wearers place it. One Parfumo user noted a comparison to that fragrance alongside praise for Olympian's longevity, giving the scent a foothold in the discourse around luxury amber florals. The fragrance registers with people who gravitate toward soft, golden compositions that sit close to skin rather than commanding a room. Its profile leans warm and enveloping, the kind of scent that creates a gentle aura rather than a bold projection.
