SOTD Comparison: Initio Oud for Greatness vs PDM Haltane

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2h (edited) • SOTD 🍊

Decided to do a side-by-side today since

asked the question in a recent post. The two often get mentioned as having a similar DNA. I sprayed three sprays of Oud for Greatness on my left arm and three sprays of Haltane on my right arm. First spray logged at 12:38 p.m.

~12:40–12:45 (opening):

Right away, Oud for Greatness felt brighter and sharper. There was more pop and a noticeable metallic lift from the saffron, with a bit of aromatic sharpness. Haltane, on the other hand, felt softer and rounder. Early on, it had a slightly creamy, almost milk-product type texture. Not literal milk, but a padded, cushioned feel.

~12:48 (about 10 minutes in):

At this point, the two actually smelled very similar. The saffron and lavender took over on both sides, giving that familiar metallic, aromatic push. The early creaminess in Haltane faded here, and the differences were very minimal. This is the moment where I can see why people say they share a similar DNA.

~12:50:

Things started to separate again. Haltane leaned more into the aromatic saffron, keeping that metallic brightness alive. Oud for Greatness began to feel drier and woodier, with the sharp pop calming down and more of a resinous, woody backbone showing up.

~12:53:

The difference became clearer. Haltane started showing a soft caramel-like sweetness, not gourmand or sugary, just a warm, rounded sweetness coming through. Oud for Greatness stayed drier, more muted, and more woody, with no sweetness to cushion it.

So far, it feels like they briefly overlap in the saffron-lavender phase, then head in different directions. Haltane warms up and rounds out, while Oud for Greatness becomes more austere and wood-focused. I’ll keep tracking how they develop as they move further into the drydown.

Update:

It’s about 1:18 p.m. now, and the difference between the two is very clear.

Haltane is still sitting in a bright, metallic, poppy phase. The saffron and lavender are working together to give it lift and energy. It feels aromatic, lively, and more forward in the air.

Oud for Greatness, on the other hand, has settled into something much more subdued and restrained. It feels drier, woodier, and more subtle overall. The sharp pop it had earlier has calmed down, and it’s wearing quieter next to Haltane.

At this point, it’s obvious that the overlap between these two is very short-lived. There’s maybe a five-minute window where they feel similar, and after that they clearly become two different fragrances. They don’t feel redundant at all once they start to evolve.

This comparison really shows how timing and development matter when people talk about “similar DNA.”

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