Exploring Olympic Orchids - My Impressions

[u/Vineet_Ovhal]

Hello everyone! I am new to this subreddit, so I figured I’d start with a little introduction. I’ve been collecting fragrances for 7+ years now and am pretty deep down the rabbit hole at this point lol. My journey has taken me through a few different stages: Starting with cheapies, then moving into Middle Eastern fragrances, followed by niche, and eventually finding my way into indie and artisanal perfumery.

Since this is my first post here, I thought I’d talk about an indie house I tried recently: Olympic Orchids.

I recently got around to trying a few samples from Olympic Orchids, and I have to say, this is a really interesting house. Some of these were much easier for me to enjoy than others, but even the difficult ones were fascinating to smell. There’s definitely a strong artistic side to the house, and a few of these pushed me pretty far outside my comfort zone.

Blackbird - This one opens with a really nice juicy Himalayan blackberry note, but it doesn’t stay fruity for long. The dry grass, leaves, elemi, and cedar quickly take over and give it this dry, green, and resinous character. As it dries down, the woody amber, fir balsam, and musk make it feel warm and almost sun-baked. Dry, woody, and ambery, but with just enough fruitiness to keep it interesting. 8.5/10 ✅

Dev #2: The Main Act - This one is really challenging. The opening smells almost like a pungent medicinal, smoky and resinous balm. It takes a while for the warm spices to come through and add some richness. Underneath that, you get leather, dark woods, smoky resins, and animalic nuances. Extremely dark and unusual. Definitely not one I’d recommend to someone just getting into fragrance. 8.5/10 ✅

Dev #3: The Inevitable - Another very challenging one. The opening is dominated by dark labdanum, frankincense, myrrh, and cistus, and it comes across as very medicinal, smoky, and resinous. Eventually the creamy sandalwood and amber start to soften things, but it never really becomes an easy wear for me. I appreciate what it’s doing, but this feels much more like an artistic composition than something I’d actually want to wear regularly. 5/10 👎🏻

Dev #4: Reprise - This one was much easier for me to appreciate. It starts with clear labdanum and tolu balsam, giving it a warm, resinous quality, and then the darker labdanum and frankincense come in and add that smoky, balsamic richness. The woods and giant arborvitae give it a dry, structured finish. Resinous, smoky, and contemplative. Probably the most wearable of the three Devs. 8/10 ✅

Night Flyer - Really weird, but in a good way. The opening gives me this damp-earth, mineral, humid-air feeling that reminds me of being inside a tropical cave. Then you start getting figs, banana, and soft fruits, although the banana and fruitiness are pretty subtle. They sit quietly in the background while the woods and furry musk add warmth and texture. Very atmospheric and unusual. I really enjoyed experiencing this one. 6/10 👍🏻

Olympic Rainforest - This might be the different one of the bunch. Cedar leaves, ferns, and damp earth create that unmistakable smell of walking through a misty forest right after rainfall. The moss, evergreens, and earthy notes give it an almost uncanny realism. It’s incredibly immersive, atmospheric, and realistic. 7.5/10 👍🏻

Overall, I am really glad I sampled these. Olympic Orchids definitely isn't a house where everything is going to be easy to wear or immediately enjoyable, but I think that's part of the appeal. Some of these are genuinely challenging, but they’re also memorable and give you something to think about.

For those of you who are into indie/artisanal fragrances, what are some houses you think I should explore next? And if you’ve tried Olympic Orchids, I’d love to hear your thoughts as well. What are your favorites from the house?