Om: inspire… and smile is the latest fragrance from Miller et Bertaux; Om aims to evoke Bali and the perfume is named for the sacred Sanskrit syllable “om” (or “aum”). In Hinduism, om, the sound, is the music of the universe; om, the "idea," represents Brahma (Creation), Vishnu (Protection) and Shiva (Destruction).
Spiritual om fits nicely with perfume Om’s trajectory. I can certainly imagine the percolating forces of Creation, the head notes, smelling of hot peppers and peppercorns, the strong arms (and heart notes) of Protection scented with myrrh, clove and flowers, and the sturdy base of Destruction (remember, destruction can be good, it can obliterate suffering, blindness and evil in the world) redolent of incense, smoke, and charred wood. And the moment of release from all worldly pain and the phases of birth, life and death? That would smell of amber – full of patchouli and vanilla. Yummmmmmmmmmmm.
Om resembles Eau d’Italie Baume du Doge, Costume National Homme, and a few of the Comme des Garçons Series 3: Incense fragrances, but Om presents a sheerer, drier, smokier take on the spice-(incense)wood-amber theme. I can’t get enough of such perfumes, but if this type of scent is not usually to your liking, I doubt if Om will inspire a purchase.
Om is a great choice for a “summertime” oriental/incense fragrance, and even though its name denotes spirituality, I can imagine Om smelling downright sexy when worn in warm weather.
Miller et Bertaux Om is available in 50 ml Eau de Parfum ($145); for buying information, see the listing for Miller et Bertaux under Perfume Houses.
Note: top image is Three Tahitians [cropped] by Paul Gauguin via Wikimedia Commons.
This sounds glorious. I’ll have to check if the little floral boutique that carries this line locally has this one in stock yet — it wasn’t there a few weeks ago — because based on this review it sounds like something I’d enjoy very much.
Klytaemnestra: hope you like it.
Sheerer, drier, smokier? I think I and my sweet-amping skin need to track this one down. Just hope the hot peppers, clove, and patch aren’t too dominant…those scare me a little.
Boojum: I think those ingredients are well-blended…but you never know!
This sounds wonderful.
Kevin, when you reviewed Costume National Homme you said you were trying to decide between a FB of that or Baume du Doge—what did you finally decide? My husband recently tried CN Homme and liked it, but apparently not quite enough to actually buy it, so I’m looking for similar things for him to try… He wasn’t crazy about any of the CdG Incenses though.
Janice: a friend gave me his bottle of Baume du Doge so my decision was made for me!
Yes I had the very same question for Kevin! Between Homme and Baume de Doge which one did you (Kevin) prefer? I presume it was Homme, since BdD did not make it on your Best list for men….
Sarah: Baume didn’t make the list because it was pre-2009…if it had been in the same timeframe I’d have had a problem.
Kevin, your reviews are going to get expensive for me!
I sought out Costume National Pour Homme after you reviewed it and I love it – so does my husband, both on me and himself. Now, Om goes on the top of the (increasingly long) sample list! Thanks…I think 
FragrantWitch: glad you both like CN Homme…it doesn’t get enough PR in my opinion
Just got a sample of this in a swap – very interested to try it out now!
odonata: let us know what you think…good or bad
I am enjoying it today. You’re right, it is very light and could work in warmer weater. I did just dab from the sample – I have too many to put them all in sprayers! I wish the patchouli lasted a little longer, although maybe it would be more noticeable in the spray.
I used a little dab from a sample last night and thought it was lovely. So today, I WORE it…and all I get is patch. Dump on the rest of your sample and see what you think. As a patch-hater, I’m bummed. Maybe once I’m over this cold…
Oooh, this sounds soooo interesting. I really like Baume du Doge–it’s really one of those scents I can appreciate, that I enjoy smelling, but don’t think of as a “me” scent. That said, the comparison and your review has piqued my curiosity for Om, especially the “incense, smoke, and charred wood” phase.
Valentine: I like the MB line…really well made perfumes and not dumbed down in any way.
Would it be too much of a cliché to say that that this sounds divine? I’m a complete sucker when it comes to amber scents, and there is a giant hole in my collection that should be filled with a *summer* appropriate amber.
Dee: “Heavenly?” “Nirvana’ in a bottle? HA! We could go on and on. Hope you get a chance to sniff this.
I like everything you’ve compared it to, so im sure i will like this.
Rictor: it’s in good company
Mmmm Kevin, a summer amber is intriguing and should be owned, although our summers never get to that point of crazy heat everyone else seems to have. I’ve never tried any of the things you mentioned but I trust your taste and I’ll have to try this one on for size.
When you love something it shows in your writing!
Tamara: I will NEVER complain about our TEMPERATE summers in the NW! I grew up in Virginia and we broiled and steamed for six months!
LOL Kevin, you got me there!
I know -our summers are very lovely…they will come again!
Man, you make even things you don’t like sound worth a try, and when you like something it’s all I can do to not do a blind buy. This sounds amazingly up my alley.
Tama: do NOT blind buy: my first commandment!!!!
….unless of course you’re buying to split, and then all bets are off.
Worry not, Kevin, I only blind buy if it’s under $25.
I love this kind of fragrances. I haven’t tried Costume National Homme yet but I adore Baume du Doge and I think I will end by buying a full bottle.
I have a sample of Om and I like it a lot too, but I would rather try it vaporized. I have dabbed it and the first minutes smell like some liquor to me…
Isa: I did decant my samples into a spray…but I love liquory openings.
How funny, I was just watching the No Reservations episode about the Marquesas Islands, and they showed this painting when they were talking about Gaugin’s later life.
Oh, and scent sounds amazing, too : ) I adore spicy scents. And bring on the patchouli!
Halimeade: I’m excited…there’s a big Gauguin exhibit coming to Seattle Art Museum next winter. Right now here, it’s ALL Picasso, ALL the time.
very exciting! I’d very much rather see a Gauguin exhibit than Picasso…Picasso is borderline annoying and leaves me feeling kind of depressed.
Daisy: and one must “screen out” Picasso’s personal life…it really intrudes sometimes on the work itself. But I don’t think Gauguin was a nice guy either! HA!
Hola Kev! I like this one, though I did find it on the light side. You know me and my killer orientals! HA!
Hola, Friend-Who-Gave-Me-the-Bottle-of-Baume-du-Doge: I applied this heavily and it did last all day though not much sillage, which I like.
I keep forgetting to try the MeBs even though they sound appealing. This appealing review is a great reminder to rustle up some samples!
nozknoz: they’re worth sniffing!
Hi Kevin, great review and I’m wearing Om today to test your summer theory (it’s Summer here in Australia, but not that warm anyway.)
And you’re right it does smell pretty good in this weather, despite the listed notes it has a fresh aspect to my nose. I wish I got more of the smoke/incense/amber notes but I can’t really pick them out. Mostly I get a clean patchouli type thing. I feel like I’m missing out on all the good stuff!
Ross: are you using a sample? or a full bottle? I really sprayed myself with it (at least the equivalent of an entire 1.5 ml sample) and the smoke became noticeable. When I dabbed…not at all.
Kevin I’m spraying from a decant but only about 3-4 sprays total on arms and neck. Perhaps I need to do the full on 10 spray thing for maximum effect. Just to be safe, I’ll do it one hour before leaving the house!