I was unable to smell this stuff until it was diluted and rested for about 2 weeks. But after that? Whoa! It is strong! Although it is missing the phenolic aspects of old unrestricted oakmoss, on dilution and with a little patience, this product smells dark, super inky and very salty, so much as to border on animalic. There's leathery/skin like nuance. This is not a high impact aroma, but if you can't smell it right away, I recommend to dilute it and rest it for a while. Your patience will be rewarded.