Xeryus

When I first smelled this scent, a few years back, it was MASSIVE, sharp and rather annoying (or quite possibly OVER-applied!). THAT must have been a reformulation (bottle shown above); because Lana Lool scored a bottle of Vintage Xeryus (black/blue flacon with a sheen to it) and it is anything but... *Thanks for your kindness and the generous gift of a nice FULL spray sample, Lana!* xox With all those notes, (the most I have ever seen listed for a manscent) who can say what is detectable and what isn't? Not me, that's for sure...but on spraying it initially on the back of my hand, something sharp and almost acrid rose up my nostrils and actually burned! (Note to self: Allow this to DRY, before sniffing it more closely!) Predominantly it is citrus, bitter greens and some soft spices in the top. This is a very attention grabbing opening, to say the least, especially the artemisia. I have the Xeryus Mythical re-release of 2007 and enjoy it a great deal, but THIS is stunning! For a 1986 scent, you would imagine it would be "louder" and also project much "wider". The heart notes I detect, for the most part, are cypress (warm and piney green with juniper like nuances) alongside guaiac wood (smooth woody elegance) and cypriol (an oil derived from cypress trees and used in Chinese medicine). These, together, create a superly green woody aromatic combination. I sense herbs and the presence of (dry) florals here as well, (ancient greeks often threw flowers at their returning heroes) very violety, warmly rich and powdery in the opening and becoming more manly and mature (carnation/geranium) in the heart. Xeryus is a stunning olfactive tapestry, woven from the essences of strong masculine notes, that sings the praises of a hero in the softest and most beautiful way. This is how a Greek hero before the walls of Troy would have smelled: strong, beautiful, fierce (with a softer side) and absolutely and unequivocally masculine. The drydown has a simply gorgeous amber note wrapped in the finest leather and REAL oakmoss, with just a hint of man-musk. Woodiness and some wafts of pine do come through, also vague hints of smokiness (Troy burning?). This may be the best male Givenchy scent I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Xeryus is where the warrior and the sensitive man merge; he is elegant and soft-spoken, but stands his ground and does not back down. A true vintage treasure... Sillage: Great then good Longevity: very good Overall: 4.75/5 My knowledge of Greek (and Roman) myth is quite extensive. I could not quite remember Xeryus from the classics; other than the fact that he fought (and sadly died) before the walls of Troy, as he was one of Helen's many suitors who swore to defend her and the honor of her husband, no matter whom she chose to wed. I "bing-ed" Xeryus and all that came up was Givenchy and this perfume (and its flankers)...the same with the online encyclopedia, and the few texts I kept had little to nothing on him. This was called "Keryus" at first, but YSL complained it was too close to Kouros; so it was changed to the name we all know now. ("X" in ancient Greek is pronounced like a hard "k" sound) Xeryus may have died (in myth or in fact) before Troy, but I find it quite wonderful that his essence is preserved for all time in a scent that would have made him proud! ALL HAIL XERYUS!!

Note: this is for the vintage in the art deco dark blue bottles The longer ive had this, the more i appreciate it. I can kind of keep this simple for this one without my typical million word review lol. I basically think of Xeryus as the mature/sophisticated version of drakkar noir, and i didnt realize that until i heard Varanis Rindari compare it to drakkar recently, and i cant unsmell it now lol. I was only a few years old in the 80's, so this is kind of an abstract opinion i suppose...but i see drakkar noir (which i love, dont get me wrong) as the young mans bottle, but Xeryus as the mature (not old persay) mans bottle for more formal occasions. Or a young man could own both assuming they love drakkar, but wear the xeryus for occasions. I think xeryus would also be more appropriate for a date night. It does alot better than alot of vintage stuff in a modern setting, a young dude nowadays could probably wear this and if anything get compliments despite its age. Ive been wearing it lately and liking it more and more, very well made fragrance. No idea what the current formulations are like, but i dont think Givenchy has a rep for destroying their older formulas in the current day. Its not brash like drakkar, its smooth and frankly elegant. I highly reccomend even for younger guys, this would be an awesome first dive into vintage fragrances in my opinion. P.s. be forewarned, im a huge vintage guy and i think alot of the "smells like" candidates are kind of bizzare. This has more similarity to something like maxims pour homme than most of the listed fragrances. Antaeus, lagerfeld photo, fahrenheit ect.....no freaking way lol.

Yesterday, I purchased a 25 ml. spray bottle of Xeryus. It is a vintage version made in the early nineties. Once you spray Xeryus on the skin, you can immediately notice the green notes (which are very vegetable and honest), with the presence of lavender and nutmeg--it also seems to have a fruity touch of black plum, not very ripe. The citrus notes are not that perceptible. About half an hour later, carnation, rose, and geranium begin to appear, giving an earthy floral sensation, an attribute that is enhanced by oakmoss, fern, and vetiver. 2-3 hours later, leather and amber give the composition a creamy and balsamic touch, together with slightly spicy, woody accords of cedar and sandalwood, which makes the aroma notably different from the conventional earthy fougeres of the 1980s. Xeryus has an exquisite semi-Gothic floral herbal aroma that evokes cold nights in wooded landscapes, as Encre Noire does. It has good longevity (from 6 to 7 hours) and offers moderate projection. In contrast to most 80s perfumes, it smells very clean and fresh, giving the impression of being ahead of its time; actually, it smells more 1990s to me, and it is easy to use even nowadays. Its potential unfolds better in the nighttime (specifically in less dynamic environments than those of dancing clubs, where other, more "cheerful" scents perform much better). Score: Fragrance: 10/10 Longevity: 8/10 Projection: 8/10 Sillage: 9/10 Versatility: 8/10 Total: 8.6/10

When I first tried this fragrance, my nose originally just registered it as just soapy and green, and I didn't think that highly of it. But on repeated tries, I discovered it's much, much better than that--there are all kinds of beautiful floral and fruit notes in this (in addition to the woody notes) that make it pretty much a happy and exceptionally complex riot of scents, with leather and oakmoss (at least in the original version) buried well below the top, but still very evident. I like this more and more every time I wear it, so that it's now become one of my very favorites. These beautifully complex men's fragrances of the late 80s and early 90s (like this, and Guerlain's Heritage, or VCA's Tsar) are sometimes difficult for me to appreciate when I first wear them; but the more I try them, the more gorgeous they are to me. That period may be my favorite of all for the creation of men's fragrances. This is a true classic among men's fougères, and I am in awe of whoever first formulated this for Givenchy (Alberto Morillas, I think). It's really staggering to think of being able to balance so many notes and have the entirety come out to be so magnificent.

I acquired this as a blind-buy, and I was nervous after reading some of the reviews here. Well, after the first spray of this all that nervousness has disappeared. Xeryus is magical, to me. From the first spritz I was hit in the nose by the citrus and green notes. I actually haven't waited long enough to review this because I was so excited. Instantly memories started flooding my mind. This makes me thing of older, quiet gentlemen. I would say from early 30's and onwards. Distinction but always with that freshness wafting everywhere. The projection is really good with minimal sprays (I only did one, the hollow of the neck) and the sillage is moderate. People who have described this as a powerhouse are correct. But it is not a loud and showy powerhouse. More like man in the room who says not a word but people are drawn to him through charisma. Xeryus (awesome name, by the way) makes me feel so happy. It's not a scent for track pants and the gym, more like a scent for weekend relaxation or a walk through the park. This is a definite win for my collection.

At the time I first got my nose on Xeryus, I didn't know anything about "80s powerhouses," which reads to my millennial eyes as "outdated." Thankfully, I didn't have that connotation to distract me from what's going on here: Xeryus remains a statement of confidence and adventurism today as it did during the Cold War. No point trying to parcel out that novel of notes^. Suffice it to say, Xeryus is a bomb of every invigorating thing you love to smell when you get lost in the great outdoors. Bright florals, herbaceous evergreens and aromatics, deep woods. And damn, that streak of amber seals the deal in the dry-down. Nothing synthetic, nothing screechy; Xeryus is unapologetically assertive, soapy, outdoorsy, and adventurous. I've worn it for rainy promenades in Paris and brisk winter evenings in Beirut. Hell, Xeryus would be at home camping in Colorado just as much as much as it would be at the office. If you're looking for that aromatic companion for that zealous spirit of yours to discover all that the world offers, you could do worse than Xeryus.

I painstakingly selected this cologne for my dad as a Christmas gift in the early 90s when I was around 13. I say "painstakingly" from the perspective of a young teen, which is to say I spent 40 minutes at The Bay instead of 10 minutes at the drugstore. He was a business executive who traveled between the US and Canada, bilingual french and english, an avid golfer who belonged to "the club", a mild-mannered and handsome man. He was also thin, strong, very clean and tidy with grooming. My whole life I've barely seen any stubble on his face except for at our summer cottage, or hair over the tops of his ears. He was also 17 years older than my mom. If I were to have smelled any of the "sports" fragrances on him I would have laughed. Even 'Tommy', when it came out, wasn't *enough* of a scent for my father. He wore this for many years. The blue bottle was gorgeous. I expect any man who wears this to be an exceptional gentleman.

Givenchy's orginal Xeryus is a dark black bottle with vertical ridges. This juice is UNBELIEVABLE powerful..at first spray I smell the herbal/foral aromatic blast of oakmoss, juniper berry and lavender mixed in with fir and cypress giving it a real attractive spicy blend. Balancing the symphony, a warm vib comes from carnation and amber. Finally leather and sandalwood brings this juice together beautifully making it absolutely desirable. Longevity and Silage is excellent.....8hrs ++ Finally, I would love to see this juice make a come back without altering the retro timeless classic. Love every ounce of this juice, I have both a 50ml and 100ml bottle of the older version. ♥♥♥♥♥ 9/10 This juice is best during the cooler weather, the warmth of your body makes this fragrances sing. Enjoying a luxurious aroma with a bite.

Epic Journey Into the Bottled Yonder, 093 ------------------------------------------------------- Purchased July 2019 - NOS In the same month I already bought a decant of what turned out to be the redesign of Xeryus. Just realised this an anagram/play on words of Serious... So the new one was alright, I wanted the proper old bottle though and I found that a bit later and pulled the trigger. Excellent shit, still use it. Heavy pine woods with champagne. Classy manly stuff and it's the only Givenchy I kept. You could skip this particularly if you can't find the old square bottle with the black top and go for Homme de Cafe. That one is 100% vouched for around here, finally. Xeryus and Homme de Cafe are basically a more recent, more gentlemanly version of those original pines e.g. Pino Silvestre.

**This is a review for the newer formulation - haven't smelt the vintage** This is gentle/subtle but very persistent. I wouldn't describe it as strong or loud but it has good projection. It feels rather refined and gently masculine. Starts off quite floral, fresh and a little bit green. Develops slight soapiness and deepens, getting more green, leather notes come in and some subtle animalic notes. Overall to me it is floral, masculine, fresh, green and slightly soapy. Could wear it anywhere, anytime. Despite never seeming loud it lasts and projects impressively. With just 2 sprays it is good on skin for 12+ hours, it projects reasonably for 9 or 10 hours. By 14 hours it is a weak skin scent and it is gone around 15 hours. This could well become a favourite and I would definitely buy it again.

Givenchy Xeryus is a classic, old-school fragrance that leans heavily on its rich oakmoss base, evoking the bold, sophisticated scents of yesteryear. Its hyper-masculine profile—think rugged, post-gym swagger—delivers a punchy, confident vibe. With notes that blend aromatic herbs, citrus, and woody depth, it’s pleasantly versatile, suitable for day or night. Longevity and projection are solid, offering decent staying power without overpowering. However, its vintage character might feel dated to noses accustomed to modern, sweeter fragrances. As a discontinued gem, Xeryus is worth hunting down for those who appreciate timeless masculinity in a bottle.

Ahh, the 80s coniferous aromatics, all needles and twigs, embodying the sizzle of forest under the collar of a freshly shaven tycoon who in his spare time reads John Muir and dreams of mountaineering. Xeryus, with its handsome art deco monolith of a bottle, smooth and discreet much like the juice inside. Not quite as audacious as its brethren, its clean and compact, no monkey business, no feral nether-quarter funk, but a whole lot of evergreen needles, juniper, geranium, and moss. While Xeryus certainly did not define a genre like its senior, Givenchy Gentleman, it rather *refined* a genre, more quiet power than a flaunt, elegant yet durable.

I found a partial 100ml vintage bottle (blue iridescent glass) on Ebay. I never wore this one myself before, but I remember it from the late 80's because a close friend had it. Very elegant and undeniably masculine. It is one of the powerhouse fragrances in the same vein as Z-14 and Polo, but bearing a greater complexity, I think. It brings me right back to the days of dancing to early hits of the Pet Shop Boys and Swing Out Sister, and I suppose I have to admit to a little Paula Abdul and Wham!. And Blackbox. This was a fragrance of the young haberdashers at the time. We weren't old. We all wore trench-coats and had military cuts. :-)

I was lucky enough to purchase this in the iconic black angular bottle when I first started my fragrance journey. This and the first reformulation were beautiful both floral and soapy but above all classy. This bares no resemblance to Ungaro 111 which I owned unless of course, we are talking about a current reformulation (that I don't own). I was lucky enough to experience fragrances of the 80's and 90's that were, in essence, works of Art and perfumers painted created masterpieces with scents. Sadly today, we just encounter mass marketed rubbish owned and destroyed by big cosmetic companies.

I've been a fan of Xeryus ever since I first smelled it on a trip to Europe in 1986. To my nose Xeryus is a spicy coniferous chypre closely related to Weil's Kipling, Francesco Smalto, Borsalino and Drakkar Noir. The opening is fresh and slightly sweet, but not overly so, and the drydown fades into a wonderfully woody forest. It reminds me of walking in a redwood grove where the air is fresh and alive with negative ions, scented with wood, bark, damp earth and green needles. It's been a staple in my collection since 1986, and one I still enjoy wearing regularly.

Givenchy Xeryus incredibly classic, sophisticated, masculine aroma. Great ingredients to ensure freshness and elegance érzését.Egy great invention, which is not comparable with other fragrances! Opinion, this is a perfect artwork! Signature scent can be a middle-aged gentleman who has a unique look and charisma are sure to reach that people pay attention to it and take the memorable encounter!

A scent of my youth. Whilst the pack were all off chasing Kouros and the likes, I hopped on the Xeryus train and lived a life like Han Solo. It reminds me of Simple Minds CDs, experimenting with food in the bedroom and unprotected sex. Some days it would be just me, a girl, naked in a hayfield, except for the heated scent of the Xeryus. I really should get another bottle, it's been too long..

I have about 250ml of the vintage. Two 100ml and two 25ml. Absolutely love it, it's a classic 80s scent. It doesn't scream, it just announces itself very very confidently and it's there to stay. Deep, rich and masculine without being overpowering. If you can get the vintage in the dark bottle then go for it. Looks like prices are creeping up with the ones appearing from time to time on ebay.

To my nose, this is what just squeezed 50/50 lemon and pineapple juice mix smells like. Very sour, but mercilessly aromatic! A very invigorating, old-school, daytime chypre. A really powerful time machine. Makes me think of the early 70's when everything looked big, strong and black-and-white. For mature audience only.

ONE OF THE GREATS OF ALL TIME. AGAIN, WHY DO BRANDS (THAT SHOULD BE LIVING FOR THE COSTUMER) WRECK GORGEOUS GEMS AND BEAUTYS LIKE THIS? ONE OF THE BEST AROMATICS SCENTS EVER MADE, WITH OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE. THE VINTAGE BOTTLE SUCH A CLASSIC FOR THE 80 ́S, LIKE A DARK AND EVIL TOWER. GIVENCHY SHOULD BE ASHAMED!!