Symphonium

Entry number 4 in my Xerjoff journey; Symphonium. When I read the note breakdown I saw there were orange and chocolate notes, and I was instantly reminded of those chocolate orange candies you can sometimes find in the candy aisle at the drug store. I was pretty hyper-fixated on that to be honest, and probably should have paid more attention to the rest of the notes. Oh well, let's see how this goes; Scent: Opening is sweet, citrusy, and woody. The primary notes I get are chocolate, orange, oud, and cardamom. The strongest of the notes are the orange and chocolate. The chocolate and orange notes in this fragrance are both very realistic and meld together to perfectly mimic the smell of the aforementioned candy. If you don't know what I'm talking about, it will smell like high quality milk chocolate and juicy, rindy oranges to you. This is followed by the oud notes and cardamom. The Laotian and Thai oud mix to manifest as a woody note with the trademark funkiness that oud carries. However, be warned that this is not your typical designer oud. This is the first time I've experienced an oud note that made me understand what it means when someone describes oud as having a "barnyard" quality. It does carry a very distinct aroma underneath the woodiness that some might interpret in that manner; very animalic. Behind that in the background is the cardamom offering up it's usual spicy warmth. Dry down is sweet, woody, and warm. The primary notes I get are chocolate, vanilla, oud, and cardamom. The strongest of the notes are the chocolate and vanilla. The chocolate note still has that gourmand milk chocolate accord from the opening while the vanilla has risen to the top to provide a contrasting type of sweetness. The oud is still very woody and animalic; almost leathery in nature, but not quite as jarring as it was in the opening. The cardamom still lingers in the background for supplemental warmth and spice. I prefer the opening as it has that strong orange note that works well with the chocolate, but I enjoy the oud more in the dry down. Performance: Initial projection is strong at around 6 feet. Sillage matches that intensity with an easily noticeable scent trail. After a few hours the projection was still about 3 feet and the scent trail was still easily noticeable. A little over 8 hours later the projection was about arms length and the scent trail was still noticeable. When I checked again at the 10 hour mark the projection and scent trail were still performing the same. This fragrance lasted 12+ hours before it became a skin scent, making it certified eternal for me. When to wear: This is a fall/winter fragrance most suited for evening wear. This is definitely not a safe pick for the office or formal occasions, and I honestly wouldn't even recommend it for a date unless you want to be incredibly daring in your selection. With how challenging the oud can be I would consider it more of a casual wearing fragrance. A "wear it for yourself" sort of thing. Blind buy: I would not recommend blind buying this fragrance simply because of the oud note. The only exception would be if you're very familiar with animalic ouds and love that scent profile, in which case you'll enjoy this scent by extension. Final verdict: Exotic and powerful; this fragrance was a memorable experience. It was my first encounter with a truly animalic oud; and while it initially made me turn my nose up a bit, it settled down into a very unique note that I was able to enjoy. I can also confidently say this is the best chocolate gourmand fragrance I have come across thus far. I've tried my fair share of fragrances with chocolate notes, but this is the first one that reached out and grabbed me as something high-quality and edible. Combine that with powerhouse performance and you've got the first fragrance in my Xerjoff journey that I could see myself paying the premium for. When the budget permits, I will be picking up a bottle of this. Scent: 10/10 Longevity: 10/10 Sillage: 9/10

This fragrance is simply breathtaking. I have tried out many Xerjoff fragrances but never liked them enough to purchase. These include Nio (too sharp) and Uden (which I hated because of the grapefruit and coffee combo), Naxos (which I don't like as much as Kilian Back to Black as far as honey and tobacco goes), and Italica (which is wonderful but I already have Black Phantom, which has a strong resemblance in the use of Almond and toffee/caramel - they even smell similar in an A and B on opposite wrists, but BP has added complexity due to the coffee and rum notes). I also have Kilian's Noir Aphrodisaque, which I love and has cocoa and orange notes, but is airy enough to use in the summer. So I was looking for something uplifting, gourmand, and very clean/luxurious, even soapy that I could use in the winter to get away from some of the more heavy masculine fragrances in my collection. When I sampled this I was totally blown away. It opens with a photorealistic orange juice vibe which gradually transitions to Indian cardamom (think Kilian Intoxicated) with an underside of Belgian chocolate that comes out from hiding as the scent develops. Eventually the orange fades but never vanishes and you start to detect very elegant clean musks and a mesmerising sweet clean oud. I think the oud here is used like it is in Fragrance du Bois Oud Orange Intense, something in the background to add depth and longevity rather than a dominant or even noticeable note. It then enters its final phase in which you feel like you have just bathed with the Angels. It is clean and elegant and soapy and very rich smelling like Fragrance du Bois Heritage, but in a way that is warm and comforting as much as it is sparkling and happy. Just wearing it makes me smile and makes the difference between feeling average and feeling on top of the world. It is never cloyingly sweet like Nishane Ani, perfectly unisex, lasts for 8-12 hours, and projects about a meter for about 5 hours before settling down to a scent aura of about 1/2 a meter for the rest. The presentation is wonderful with the white box and the stone in the bottle and the price is high, but I would easily put this in the top 10% of fragrances in my collection of 40 plus fragrances (90% niche) and it can even be used in the summer it is so elegant and airy without ever being too heavy, but deep enough to penetrate the coldest weather. So if you have the money worth a serious look. It is also very different from Noir Aphrodisiaque, which is more dark cocoa powder than Belgian chocolate and takes everything in a powdery iris direction rather than a musk and oud direction. It is also too transparent to use in the cold weather, so Symphonium gives me an a) fall winter orange/chocolate fragrance and b) something clean and musky and opulent in the way Fragrance du Bois Heritage is. So it hit two needs in my collection. Given it is cheaper than Heritage I think it is a bargain. A complete banger and makes up for my fairly ambivalent view of this brand up to now. Everything the Youtubers are saying in 2021 is true. It is that good.

Taking a somewhat spontaneous stop at the house of Xerjoff today I found myself revisiting Symphonium, a fragrance said to leave its mark with a distinctly gourmand allure. It is often described as a symphony of notes arranged to create something beautiful. This is not one of the bright fresh summery releases that have been getting a lot of hype recently. This one sits on the deeper richer end of the spectrum. In the opening I get orange and cardamom. It does not come across very fresh. Instead it feels warm slightly spicy and a little sweet with a dusty chocolate note already sitting in the background along with a small touch of oud. The first thing it reminded me of was an orange Tootsie Pop which is something I have seen others say as well. That comparison really does fit at the beginning. After about 30 to 45 minutes the orange starts to fade back a bit. The chocolate becomes more noticeable and the oud starts coming through. It smells slightly sweet and blends well with the remaining citrus and chocolate. At this point it feels more mature and less like the candy-like opening. It starts to come across more like what you would expect from a higher end niche fragrance. As it continues to settle over the next couple of hours it dries down into a smooth base of chocolate and vanilla sweetness with soft woods. The oud becomes more noticeable but on my skin it stays refined and never turns animalic or harsh. There is still a faint trace of that dusty orange in the background which keeps everything connected. Symphonium is a fragrance I really enjoy but I would still recommend sampling it first. It can vary quite a bit depending on skin chemistry. On some people the orange fades quickly or the gourmand aspect does not fully develop while on others the oud can come across more smoky. On my skin it performs very well and feels balanced throughout. For me this is a special fragrance. It is sweet and rich but does not just smell like a gourmand and the dry down comes across refined and more mature like a higher end take on that orange chocolate idea. If it works for you the way it does for me it is one of those scents that really sticks with you. I usually go for fresher scents and try to avoid anything that leans too sweet or feminine, but this does both and still ends up being one of my all-time favorites. That’s not something I say often.

SYMPHONIUM from Xerjoff is a fragrance that is sure to captivate the senses of chocolate lovers. This fragrance is a delightful symphony of pralines and chocolate notes, with just a hint of citrus to add a touch of freshness. For those who appreciate the indulgent aroma of chocolate in their fragrances, SYMPHONIUM is a masterpiece. The rich and decadent scent of pralines and chocolate is skillfully blended, creating a fragrance that is both comforting and luxurious. While I personally don't have a strong preference for chocolate notes in my fragrances, I can certainly understand the appeal. SYMPHONIUM is a scent that exudes warmth and sweetness, perfect for those who want to envelop themselves in a cloud of deliciousness. If you're someone who enjoys the comforting and mouthwatering scent of chocolate in your fragrances, SYMPHONIUM is a must-try. Its minimal citrusy undertones provide a refreshing balance to the overall composition, making it a versatile fragrance that can be enjoyed in any season. In my opinion SYMPHONIUM is a great fragrance for the right people - those who appreciate the allure of chocolate in their scents. Its pralines and chocolate notes create a delectable and inviting aroma, while the subtle citrus undertones add a touch of brightness. Give SYMPHONIUM a try if you're seeking a fragrance that will satisfy your chocolate cravings in the most elegant and sophisticated way possible.

This one is one of a kind! Delicious and unique smelling orange and chocolate so perfectly mixed together. Gourmand perfection. Honestly if someone told me that I'll go nuts over these notes i wouldn't believe him. To me it's linear and doesn't change a lot even after a few hours. I can pick up tiny a little bit of cardamom, but nothing else from the list of the notes, which is not bad cause it's still beautiful. To me it doesn't smell animalic at all, actually nothing repelling or strange at any moment of it's development. However, it's not a safe blind buy especially because of its price (even if it's beautiful scent, i find it over over overpriced). It could easily become my signature scent if the price was more reasonable. Very good thing is that longevity and projection are enormous. This one is definitely not for someone young even if chocolate might make you think so. I see an elegant, mature, well dressed person (man or woman), with very kind but confident and assertive personality, wearing it. This person has something special that makes you want to hang around them, and this perfume just adds its magic to it all.

Just going to be real with you since so many below aren't. This is a scent for you (if you enjoy it) not for others IMO. It's quite complex and seems to keep changing as you wear it. For the first 10-30min (on my skin) you get the most delicious chocolate covered orange smell... But then the orange is gone. It sticks around much longer on card, I need to do further testing on clothes to see if that helps the citrus stick around. For the next hour or two it is a rich but not overly sweet milk chocolate bar. Then it transitions into this ambery woody vanilla with (to my nose) a clean almost soapy musk to it? Like you found a dark spicy ambery musky bar of soap, kind of odd and hard to describe, but I don't dislike it. I've only had the full bottle for a few days so will likely update as I experience the scent more & in different temps.

Symphonium by Xerjoff is the most aromatic, perfumy chocolate fragrance I’ve ever smelled. The chocolate is dark, rich, and impeccably blended, while the subtle orange and mandarin add just enough brightness to keep it refined and prevent it from becoming overly gourmand.The oud, though listed, remains soft and understated, never overpowering the composition. The dry down is warm, luxurious, elegant and velvety, with the vanilla smoothing the chocolate into something sensual and long-lasting. It remains dense yet refined, never sticky or juvenile. Overall, Symphonium is a masterclass in chocolate done right—deep, aromatic, and luxurious. A must-try for anyone who loves chocolate notes but wants them executed with elegance and depth rather than sweetness.

Initially you get a really well blended mix of sweet orange, chocolate and some kick from the cardamom. The cardamom is present enough to tone down the sweetness just enough to keep it within the realm of a semi-sweet bar of chocolate with some orange zest. The oud in the base is a mix of laotian and thai oud, there's a smidge of funk that mixes in with the cardamom to give some character to the entire composition. This is a pretty linear scent but with enough going on that i don't really mind that much. Definitely ideal for cold weather, i'd call this one pretty unisex as well since it's not too sweet and not too funky. Chocolate gourmand lovers definitely need a bottle of this.

I was so nicely surprised with this one; its like combination of Lira and chocolate. I was looking for something similar to orchidee vanille by van cleef and I think I found it. If you like smell of jaffa cake; its biscuit with layer of orange jelly and chocolate on top of it, you would like this scent as well. Its very gourmand, not sickly sweet but you need to have sweet tooth to like it. I think its worth the bottle. there are not so many scents out there that smells the same. Its suitable for all year around; I would not use it in heat but I dont use perfume in heat in any case but in summer nights, why not.

It went from an ''ok'' to growing on me fast. I need to give it several hours but it reminds me of a less sweet (due to cardamom) Musc Maori 04 because MM always smells on my skin like a chocolate orange perfume (it has that 'orangey' amber) Interested to see what Hubby thinks, as he loves MM but with this, the orange is indeed more like a photorealistic fresh glass of OJ. It's not a love, but could be. I have many Xerjoff loves and my fave ever fragrance is Dolce Amalfi, nothing will eclipse that and I can wear it all year round by using Amouage Material as a base in colder weather (incense notes very similar)

Imagine a high-quality belgian milk chocolate bar with oranges - this is exactly how Symphonium smells on me. Pretty unusual yet delicious gourmand fragrance, not everyone’s cup of tea. Does not get overly sweet which I appreciate a lot in this DNA. Orange note fades a bit faster on my skin, I feel more chocolate goodness in the drydown. I don’t think I will ever be bored of this fragrance. Solid 9/10, one of the best Xerjoffs out there along with Richwood and Pikovaya Dama.

I love how this smells, Oud and chocolate. It kind of reminds me of my beloved Melt My Heart by Strangelove NYC. The problem is I am not getting the longevity or sillage that I expected from this perfume. I get about an hour before it becomes intimate and I have to hold my nose to my arm to smell it, even on my clothes. I’ve sampled this twice and got the same results each time. Very disappointing for something so beautiful, but also, so expensive.

I have sample over 30 Xerjoffs and decided to buy a few, but this is my favourite by far! It's such a feel good scent. The chocolate with citrus is just amazing, it almost smells edible if that makes any sense. It also lasts very long, you can still smell the vanilla on your skin after 24 hours and on clothes it literally lasts for weeks. It isn't cheap not at all, but when my bottle is almost empty I will have 0 doubts about ordering a new one!

I'm not entirely sure why the Oud notes get so many votes? This is a chocolate Orange bomb. I don't get dark chocolate, I get the creamiest belgian milk chocolate. The citrus is more candied, but is still fresh enough for me to wear in the summer. Thankfully, I managed to source an unboxed tester considerably lower than SRP, otherwise I would definitely say it's not worth the money. Performance is stellar. It smells luxurious. It's a love.

this smells like it’ll be my signature scent in 5-10 years. not too sweet at all, like a very sophisticated version of a chocolate orange who’s a badass girlboss at work and who has her shit together in a way i currently don’t. i could see myself wearing this when i’d want to project the confidence of someone a few years older than me who’s about to make her first down payment on a house for her and her partner

So I finally got myself a full bottle for half the price. I am happy to be honest. Realistic chocolate, really beautiful citrus 🍊 mandarins. Year ago I tested Symphonium for the first time, then I couldn’t even imagine the situation where I 30 year old man could wear it. Now I just don’t care, I feel so relaxed and happy, when wearing this fragrance. This is one of the most fun ouds out there!

Love it. The chocolate latches onto my dark skin with a smooth creamy touch with oranges up front. But after an hour I started to get a headache. It was like I was trapped in a high end chocolate store. Love the smell and the combination of notes but I'm a beginner in this so I will revisit later with my sample. Also this grabs the attention of ladies I might add 😊.

I would say it's the "luxurious villan" of perfumery, dark, not cloying sweet (at least the beginning), the oud is not the best note for my skin, but the good part overweights the bad part so much that I would rate this perfume 5/5 for the beginning, 4.5/5 for the drydown. My skin tends to amplify the notes so I bet this one can smell even better on someone else.

love a well balanced chocolate/orange combo, and the oud really elevates this for me - a beautiful woody note, noticeable but not gross like some ouds are to me. i play in a symphony and this is my well-named showtime fragrance. my high school signature was Hot by Ralph Lauren, this does strike me as similar but "grown".

LOVE at first sniff. Heavenly scent. Opens with slightly bitter orange and dark chocolate and quite quickly develops into the most gorgeous velvety, creamy milkchocolate-musk with a layer of the softest orange. Also smells sort of soapy, but not in a regular kind of soap way. Sooo luxurious. I keep smelling my wrist ♡

This fragrance is so amazing. If you are looking for a ideal gourmand fragrance that’s blended to perfection this is truly it. I have been sampling this fragrance and then today I decided to pull the plug and purchase a full bottle.

A joyful gourmand perfume. The refreshing citrus and the smooth sweetness blend very well. Smell like delicious orange chocolate on me but very woody and powdery on some people. Given the price of it, blind buy is not recommended.

I love this fragrance but honestly I don’t think I could wear this as a daily perfume , couldn’t even wear it 2 times in the row because it just last too damn long I get overwhelmed with a scent itself . I know it sounds weird 😂

As a male, I was apprehensive in buying this. I’m glad I did though, this is a lovely, upscale gourmand. Lovely performance, high quality ingredients, nearly signature scent worthy. I’d give this a 9/10.

I have Pink Candy and this smells nothing like it. Yes, both are gourmand but Symphonium is decadent chocolate and orange goodness! If I could drink this, I would! FB worthy 10000%!

Verry , verry nice! Spectacular ! Chocolate is in the air! I adore this fragrance, orange choco, spicy, yammmm verry good longevity, sillage! Nr 1 from Xerjoff !

Heavenly. Up there with Lira and Italica for heavenly Xerjoff gourmands. The price is way too high for this but it is starting to come down. Smell is 9/10.

I’d never guess the notes on here were orange and chocolate. It Truly Smells incredible Yes it’s sweet and yes it’s fruity. A little too Femme for a man.

This is the best smelling chocolate fragrance I have even smelled. The orange and chocolate is so realistic.

Fresh orange and chocolate and oud in a bottle. I love it although it's overpriced.

One of the best grown-up gourmands out there.

Smells amazing, I ordered a full bottle

I just got this fragrance less than a week ago and tested it twice. It has been getting cooler here so it's the best time for me to wear and test it. For me, this fragrance is as most people describe; a chocolate fragrance with orange nuances. That's all I really get out of this, chocolate and orange with NO oud. The opening is where the scent of orange is most prominent, and as it dries down it tones down quite a bit. I want to add that the orange in the opening smells more of orange rinds and it's a bit dirty. Personally, the opening was off putting for me at first. Once the dry down hits it's mostly chocolate with a hint of bitter orange. Overall I REALLY like Symphonium, but so far it just doesn't last on me, unless I've become anosmic to it. I only sprayed 2 or 3 times on my forearm (moisturized 10 mins before application) and I didn't get much projection out of it. However it stayed as a skin scent for around 7 to 8 hours. I've gotten general wafts of it randomly though so that's nice, but overall I don't get much sillage. Hoping to let it macerate for a week or two before coming back to this gem.

This smells like a chocolate orange pastry. The oud is transformative and makes it interesting and more wearable. The vanilla shows up most after the dry down. It stays gourmand without being super sickly sweet. It's cozy. Could see it being nice over the holidays. It's well done, moderately long-lasting with minimal projection which I would want from a scent like this. I personally would not wear it enough to justify the expense. I can't see myself wanting to walk around smelling like chocolate and orange more than a couple times a year. That said, if chocolate is your jam, I'd say this is well worth a try and may be FBW. The chocolate in Symphonium is amped up enough that it could very aptly have chocolate in its name if the designers so desired. And it's a much better and less synthetic chocolate than some others out there - thinking of some cheaper stuff by Mancera, etc.

Since last year, I've made it a tradition to wear Xerjoff on my birthday🎂🥳 lol. I'm 32 now and Symphonium was the perfect scent. It was a cold day and the orange-y 🍊 chocolate 🍫 is absolutely gorgeous. Not super potent or disruptive but it's casual enough for a time out and gourmand enough make you want a shake or some type of dessert 🍨. Kind of sensual depending on your situation 😉. However, i I recommend you wear this out in town, not at your workplace, it could become cloying if over-applied. But this is a great gift for a gourmand fan and a collector's piece. **This is not like extremely realistic chocolate syrup like Chocolate Greedy. This is an Orange accord with a natural dark cocao pod and oud Scent: 8/10 (if you love a gourmand) Longevity: 10/10 Price: 5/10 Overall: 23/30

I'm glad I sampled Symphonium prior to purchasing because it's completely different from what I envisioned. I've seen people compare this to a dessert or to orange chocolates. This does indeed smell like Terry's milk chocolate orange balls. But the chocolate ball is part of an overpriced deconstructed dessert in an upscale restaurant eaten by a heavily-powdered woman wearing a musky fragrance. It's a sweet citrusy milk chocolate but the craveable aspect is overshadowed by powdery muskiness. It doesn't smell like an actual dessert to me. It smells like an interpretation of eating the said dessert in a bougie setting. It's beautiful. It's refined. I still want a full bottle. However, sometimes I want to smell like a snack and this is not that.

Gorgeous. Mature gourmand. Not overly sweet. I agree with the review directly before me (Bullygod). I am in the same boat. Male, almost a half century old. And I would certainly wear this. I also agree with the statement on performance. If it pushed off skin a tad more, it would be a no brainer. Chocolate covered candied orange that absolutely rocks. Near perfection. The only thing is the price. Even at a discounter, you are looking at $230 for 50ml. Steep. But there will certainly be an internal debate on grabbing this in the future. Just so smooth and done exceptionally well. I will probably give in and get this in the future, assuming it remains available. This is one of those that makes me look like an idiot smelling my arm constantly.

Starts off as a floral soap with a strong, pungent, ripe orange in the overtone. That orange gets musky as the fragrance dries down. Something like an orange that isn't quite rotten yet. And photorealistic spicy chocolate...and an ostentatious oud accord. Okay we get it, there's oud in this. Even though there probably isn't. Not my favorite from this house, but I hardly like anything Xerjoff, now that I think about it. Nice little femme bomb here. I might like to smell this on a hot woman. But on second thought, what wouldn't I like to smell on a hot woman!? I can think of a few things, I guess, but that's neither here nor there. What the hell was I talking about?

Nearly blind bought a 50ml bottle based on a you tube review that focused on the gourmand orange and chocolate in this new Xerjoff creation. Very misleading! Glad I tried a sample decant because the rich gourmand opening with that intoxicating combo is just a tease. Like others here have stated, the amazing opening falls off a cliff after 20-30 minutes transitioning to a feminine, fruity musk. And there it stays for the moderate life of the fragrance. Not at all what I have experienced with other Xerjoff fragrances. I swear I've smelled that same mid to finish in a designer line for women.

I had pleasure of testing Symphonium today in one of Xerjoff boutiques. First it's open with a blast of gorgeous orange covered in chocolate with hint of spices , the only one thing which is worrying me is the dry down. I was driving back home and sniffing my wrist, I was saying to myself it's smell exactly like something I have ... Aqualina Pink sugar! I couldn't believe , dry down is so similar to pink sugar ! If you can not afford Symphonium get yourself Aqualina Pink Sugar and thanks me later😉

I have to be honest, I am not getting the hype behind Symphonium! I mean it’s nice, it’s a well rounded citrus gourmand with some oud and cardamom, but for the price Xerjoff charges for Symphonium I was expecting to be mind blown. And I am rather underwhelmed! Especially if I am talking performance it’s a close to skin scent within an hour from application. Naw, that’s not worth Xerjoff prices for me! Pass, Symphonium is very overhyped and way overpriced!!!

Opening was amazing with citrus and beautiful yummy premium chocolate fragrance. However, after some time this reminds me of the smell of the inside of an old bag with chocolate debris and ancient chocolate leftovers. When I carry on with my regular life, nice whiffs of beautiful chocolate pleases my olfactory senses , but if I smell it straight on my skin it's dirty bag that used to carry chocolate. I think its because of the citrus-chocolate combination.

To me this is the same orange that's in Lira but with chocolate and oud. I find it more masculine leaning although definitely unisex. I would just rather smell this on a man than myself. To me it reads as older male like 40+. And a winter/fall date night. Edit: omg don't kill me. I sprayed this with Choco Musk and I love them together. Also I sprayed this in the morning and it lasted all day and even after the shower.

The opening of this scent is just FABULOUS. Sumptuous Orange Dark Chocolate. But the opening faded within minutes..Gosh..Come back!! Then the drydown is just vanilla and woods. For this price tag, Nothing Special. Longevity and sillage is just moderate, mostly close to skin. If I catch a great deal, may wanna buy it. Quite wearable and cozy.

This is heavenly. But for some reason, when I first sprayed it on, it smelled like straight up doodie! I let it dry down for about 5 minutes and (thankfully) it revealed its true self - the most delicious, perfect chocolate orange that could ever be human-made. Love, love, LOVE!!!

This is a love for me. Orange & Chocolate and when it begins to dry down the oud starts to appear, but it isn’t harsh or loud. The projection is moderate, but is very long lasting.

Orange Tootsie-Roll pop. Not as strong or as deep as I hoped, but fun-like the lollypop! Might bloom more intensely in warmer weather.

The oud, or aldehydes, are animalic, waxy, and smoky — like a blown-out candle. Really nice.

This smells like a niche version of pink sugar. Did not see that one coming. But i like it!

Xerjoff Symphonium smells like chocolate cotton candy with a hint of animalic oud. The chocolate and orange are there in the opening, but after about 5-10 minutes it starts to fade and then I smell mostly cotton candy done in the style of Pink Sugar. I read a lot of reviews comparing Symphonium to Pink Sugar, but I refused to believe it and had to get a sample to try it for myself. Shucks, it DOES smell reminiscent of Pink Sugar (and also Acqua E Zucchero). I really wish it smelled like Terry's chocolate orange, but I mostly get Pink Sugar or Acqua E Zucchero mixed with a tiiiny bit of animalic/barnyard oud. I'm sensitive to oud, so I can detect it in Symphonium, but for comparison it's nowhere near as potent as it is in other Xerjoff fragrances (for example, Indochine and Al-Khatt). I'm honestly surprised (and disappointed) by how much this smells like Pink Sugar and Acqua E Zucchero. Please don't get me wrong, Symphonium is delicious smelling, but I don't think it's worth the price tag to smell like a cotton candy fragrance that you can purchase for a lot less money. Leans feminine.