The whole thing is a hackneyed idea, distinguished only by the stunning ineptitude of its execution. The drydown reveals the abrasive woody amber in near isolation, relieved only by a trace of dish washing detergent white musk. The fruit/aquatic/pseudo-woods arrangement is potent, linear, and lasting, which I suppose is great if you like this sort of thing. The other, a potent artificial froot flavor, no doubt meant to smell fresh, in fact smells like the solid air freshener in the nearest public men's room. One, a blend of aquatic notes and caustic, sinus-piercing woody ambers, is meant to smell clean, but actually smells like something I'd use to disinfect my toilet bowl. Only the Brave consists largely of two accords. The really bad ones smell like Diesel's Only the Brave. The bad ones smell like liquid hand soap. It takes either originality, natural smelling ingredients, or at least a modicum of care to make a clean, fresh men's fragrance that doesn't smell like a household cleaning product.

For younger guys, this is perfect for a night out. I wear this occasionally in the evening and find it to be a fun ride after wearing something much more serious to work. That's understandable because an original release must build its own name and win its own fans. But it's clear that this is a launch that Diesel considered important enough to take note of what was going to be in the bottle. I don't want to make out that OTB is spectacular. An hour later the leather note arrives, in the form of a chemical resonance that is softened by comforting amber. And this is where the fragrance shows all its components, mustering up humble complexity for the nose to enjoy, unexpected in this segment. Here the violet is masculine and friendly. A soft violet note joins the chorus after 15 minutes as the fruitiness subsides, and this is when the fragrance impresses most. This opening accord is unashamedly synthetic, as though it's boasting about it's artificiality because it's actually a decent abstract impression rather than a cheap substitute. OTB opens with a powerful and sweet orange/apple fruitiness that is devoid of zest.

But in the mid-level designer world the original OTB holds its head high and is actually quite decent quality for younger 20-somethings. It has obnoxious packaging, synthetic notes from start to finish and it was followed by flankers that tarnished the reputation of this reasonably competent original. On the other hand, OTB was never going to do well here on Basenotes. In that context, it's actually very good, excellent even. Only the Brave is a fragrance for young guys who receive it as a gift.

Diesel only the brave basenotes