We introduce a new three-parameter extension of the exponential distribution called the odd exponentiated half-logistic exponential distribution. Various of its properties including quantile and generating functions, ordinary and incomplete moments, mean residual life, mean inactivity time and some characterizations are investigated. The new density function can be expressed as a linear mixture of exponential densities. The hazard rate function of the new model can be decreasing, increasing or bathtub shaped. The maximum likelihood is used for estimating the model parameters. We prove empirically the flexibility of the new distribution using two real data sets.