# Bortnikoff — Oud Maximus 2020 > Oud Maximus is the flagship of Bortnikoff, the artisan house of Russian-born, Thailand-based distiller-perfumer Dmitry Bortnikoff. It is a natural-materials-forward animalic rose-oud extrait built on ## Essence Oud Maximus is the flagship of Bortnikoff, the artisan house of Russian-born, Thailand-based distiller-perfumer Dmitry Bortnikoff. It is a natural-materials-forward animalic rose-oud extrait built on the perfumer's own distilled oud oils, and the "2020" tag marks a specific batch-year of a composition the house re-releases as harvests change. Its distinction is the marriage of genuinely funky, self-distilled oud with an unusually lush multi-rose floral heart - the pairing many admirers consider the house's masterpiece. ## Scent Profile The opening is a deliberate provocation: a blast of animalic, sometimes barnyard oud and civet, sharpened by a citrus-and-spice lift of sweet orange, bergamot, pink pepper and cardamom. Newcomers are repeatedly told to be patient through the first five to ten minutes, which can read as raw and pungent before the composition settles. From there the fragrance turns itself inside out into a jammy yet dewy floral heart. Several rose oils - rose de mai among them - layer with jasmine, magnolia and frangipani, while clove and cardamom add spice depth. This is where the "Maximus" name becomes slightly misleading: roses and florals frequently lead, and the oud, despite the name, often sits behind them. The drydown is the consensus highlight. Oud, deer musk, vanilla, tolu balsam and birch tar settle into a smooth, radiant, faintly gourmand wood-resin base that several wearers describe as an old-world oriental chypre in spirit. Perception of the oud's prominence varies notably by batch and skin - some encounter massive musk with barely a trace of oud, others a dominant rose. ## Performance At a stated 25-30 percent extrait concentration with heavy natural content, performance is above-average but skin-dependent rather than uniform. Many wearers report roughly eight hours with controlled rather than expansive projection; a few report closer to five hours. The composition is potent at application - one owner over-sprayed and reported the room becoming overwhelming - so the standard advice is restraint: one to two sprays or dabs, let the violent opening settle, and expect intimate-to-moderate radiance. ## Wearing Context This is cool-weather, evening and contemplative-daytime territory. Its animalic opening and rich floral-resinous body make it a statement rather than an office-safe scent. It reads best on someone who already enjoys natural oud and animalics; the oud-averse should brace for the opening. Admirers find it opulent and exotic, while the uninitiated may read the opening as sour or off-putting - so dose and audience matter. Fall and winter, evenings, and cooler climates suit it best. ## Comparisons & DNA - Bortnikoff Triad is the closest in-house relative; Triad runs an animalic rose oud where Oud Maximus leans more floral. - Lao Oud and Mysterious Oud are the adventurous, less mass-appeal alternatives within the house. - Oud Monarch is the cocoa-floral-oud counterpart in the lineup. - Areej Le Dore, the house of Bortnikoff's former Feel Oud partner, is the natural-oud artisan peer - comparable density and power, with Bortnikoff's work described as more imaginative and abstract. - In spirit the chypre-oriental drydown recalls vintage Tabu, Opium and Shalimar, executed with finer raw materials. ## Reception Among artisan-oud enthusiasts Oud Maximus is frequently called the house masterpiece, praised for material quality, the naturalness of the rose, and the dramatic opening-to-drydown transformation. The critic Kafkaesque, in a 2022 review, called it a thoroughly enjoyable fragrance that veers between an animalic floral oud, a floral oud leather, and a slightly gourmand ambered scent, admitting he did not expect to like it as much as he did and praising the superb materials. Disagreement runs on two axes: some find it too rose-forward and feminine for an "oud" named after maximum oud, while others find the animalic facets too pungent. Value is the third sticking point - skeptics argue that for the price there are stronger options. The recurring practical verdict is to sample or decant rather than blind-buy at this tier. ## Versions & Reformulation Oud Maximus is a year-batch line rather than a single static formula, released as 2018, 2019, 2020 and later editions. The 2020 differs slightly in concentration and formulation from the original extrait, with the oud generally pushed further back so the floral profile shines more. A separate "Signature Collection" reworking also exists, described by the perfumer as not identical copies of the limited editions, with modified formulas and changed ingredient geography. A later-packaging note stating no animal-derived ingredients prompted debate about whether real musk and civet remain in use; this is unconfirmed. ## Acquisition Notes This sits at the top, artisanal pricing tier. The official site lists it from around $90 to $350 across 9 ml, 30 ml and the 50 ml full-bottle extrait, with samples sold separately. Bortnikoff sells primarily direct, and the founder is known for handling customer contact personally. Given the price and the polarizing profile, a sample or decant is the recommended entry point. Limited-batch production means specific years sell out, and buying direct or from named authorized resellers is the safest route. ## Notable Facts & Lore - The name is a personal dedication: the brand describes the extrait as a tribute to the perfumer's son, Maxim. - Dmitry Bortnikoff trained as an architect at the Moscow Architectural Institute before falling into oud during Asian travels. - He co-founded the distillation company Feel Oud with "Russian Adam," later of Areej Le Dore, before launching his own house. - He established the house in Thailand specifically for access to rare naturals and freedom from some restrictions on animalics. - Marketing emphasizes 85-100 percent natural content and up to 50 ingredients, framing each batch as irreproducible.