XJ 1861 Zefiro

Juicy Concentrated Orange Beverage (same use in 'Naxos') + Honey + Pine Resin + lots of White Vanilin + smoky Incense + Cardamom spice + tons of synthetic Cinnamon + Tobacco + Carnation Floral + Powdery Iris + Wood + Amber + Artemisia leaf (sweet parsley leaf-like herbal vermouth smelling) + Sweet White Port (fortified wine) Same scent genre as Dior's 'Bois d'Argent', Byredo's 'Gypsy Water', Tom Ford's 'Bois Marocain'. Smells old school high-end Italian to me, something that my aunt or uncle would praise wearing from when the world was a different planet. The Pine Resin in here paired with the juicy Concentrated Orange Beverage Main note is Elemi Resin, which has a Odor profile of fresh spicy piney of a balsamic smell with a lemon facet, and it's addicting! Almost gourmand addicting. There is a dried fruit/raisin vibe mixed in with the dna, which overall gives the fragrance a outdoor fresh-gourmand scent. When i smell this, I get this vision of having a large table filled with food, on a patio in the country mountains somewhere in forested North West Italy around 10am when the crisp air is just warming up. Speaking of warm, the Amber gives it to the dna, where the Pine Resin gives it a hint of refreshing outdoor coolness. This is a very good fragrance, and wonderful dna, classic smelling, cozy sweater, content in life vibe. 2nd testing, this time on a paper blotter (as my arms are chemical burned from aggressive testing). Wow, smells different on paper, instead of pine resin im getting Orange Pekoe Black Tea - and im enjoying that note. Performance is average, doesn't project like a beast, but anyone beside you will smell you, this is quality juice. Longevity is a good 5 hours where each passing hour becomes more close to skin. Amazing packaging identical to Naxos's with the identical kick-ass coffret box packaging! This was a 'Like' at first, but a year later when Fall season came, i fell in 'Love' with this scent genre! 4/5 Woofs!

Okay so, after spending quite a while deciding to get this or naxos after alot or testing I decided on this and I'll tell you why. Zefiro is a beautiful fragrance that a lot of people say isn't versatile or may be hard to wear however, I don't agree with this. For me I get a lot aromatics and florals with amber at the base and then loads of cinnamon for the opening and then after white wine flowing around in the top. I don't get a lot of incense but I can tell it's there adding depth. That's why I think this is very versatile because it's strong enough to work for the cold weather but fresh enough for warm weather this is the perfect fragrance to go to a expensive restaurant or to enjoy by the beach in Italy. I think that if you love this enough it could easily become your signature scent as it's unique and different but not so niche people dont enjoy it. Everyone who has smelled it on me has said it was a nice comforting smell. This isn't one of those artistic fragrances that will only smell good to you it just may not be a huge compliment getting but that's okay as not every fragrance needs to be. In terms of performance for the type of fragrance this is its fantastic for me over 8 hours with very good projection. So at the end of the day is this fragrance for everyone no it isn't but I chose it over something like naxos as I think naxos is simple dont get my wrong it's simple done to an amazing quality but naxos is a glorified date night scent where as zefiro is a little something special and even though I will buy naxos in the future for the quality of I had to pick one it's zefiro.

Zefiro is to me one of the most sacred and mystic scents from their collection, its a deep, yet light liturgic incense that reppresents a huge cattedral scent, the main Incense, Resin and Cardamom are vertically integrated as one, and it comes off as a very serious churchy scents, when i say Churcy, it really is deep and serious composition that makes the incense shine with the powdery and airy notes of the resins, in the middle you can start to feel the beautiful Cinnamon wich i love, and gives the scent a even more refined note, this particular middle part goes away from the church and explores the mistique and asian side of the scent, even thought gets some inspiration from an asian combination, it always stays regal and religious and very Italian. I don't want that you think is too much religious, because this is more regal and wearable than a typical religious theme, lets say that is the way a churchy scent should be done to be more wearable than anything else. i find it very elegant and refined. This surely isn't for everyone tbh, but is something that works so well on the skin. I like Zefiro, because all the notes used are fairly difficult to manage, yet works very well, there is also a beautiful direct sillage that is coming more by the wear. it feels like is airy and when you think its gone, it comes back and hugs you and remind you of its power. The sandalwood drydown is absolutely epic, this is one of my favorite sandalwoods / incense combo ever on a scent, because it uses the same accord i found in a very expensive attar, impressive stuff.

So the opening - I expected some white grape, tartaric acidity and yes - there is some. Don’t expect ferment or anything, it’s a zesty white wine smell. Even more green and zesty than a Prosecco, imagine a grassy, gooseberry notes white wine. That’s what you get. Zesty, acidic, fresh. Not a lot of artemisia; doesn’t smell of Absinthe at all. It starts very obviously and automatically with incense, dry cinnamon, and green resinous feel with that wine accord. It is backed with that cardamom or more generally colder spices now - but the incense is the star of the show. The flowery part - it's more of a dry, slightly earthy spicy smell, not a bouquet. The sweetness/honey? It's there, but this is by any means a sweet fragrance. It just rounds it up, completes it. It's not smokey, smells of unburnt incense, and its not churchy to me - we'll get to that. It smells of an incense, clean air, spices. The cinnamon is dry and realistic, not sticky sweet like Naxos. A very pleasant, a very natural and complex composition, very well blended as it joins all the things very well and round. A lot of you are going to disagree but the way the cinnamon and spices join with the green part of the aroma - it has a Coca Cola with lots of lime feeling to it. It doesn’t smell of coke but, you know, when you think about it - you’ll get what I mean. This is a complete unisex, it's worth its' price as it's very natural and well blended, and will last you a day, while the projection is moderate. @edit nvm I bought it 🙃 lasts 24h including a shower

Zefiro doesn’t come across as an overly boozy fragrance to me at all. Instead, it opens with a dry, citrus-tinged incense, creating an effervescent aura with delicate, sparkling nuances. The initial impression leans distinctly masculine. As it develops, a resinous sweetness emerges, interwoven with beautifully lacquered woods. There's a clear nod to something ecclesiastical and old-world, yet it never veers into being overly mature or outdated. While it’s not a youthful or overtly seductive fragrance, Zefiro is undeniably captivating. It evokes a sense of grounded introspection, perfectly capturing the essence of the Eternal City to which it pays homage. In a nutshell, this fragrance offers a blend of honeyed, sticky incense that gracefully swirls around a base of well-worn, yet clean and polished woods. It strikes a delicate balance, never too sweet or overwhelmingly smoky, resulting in a seamless fusion of elements that is simply gorgeous. In terms of performance, Zefiro is fantastic. It projects strongly off my skin for the first 4 hours, but never feels overwhelming, even in moderately high heat (25-280C). I catch wafts of it all day long and on the occasions I've spritzed some a couple of hours before bed, I still smell it clearly on my wrist the following morning. It's not a fragrance profile I'd often reach for, so a full bottle is not on the cards for me. I will however thoroughly enjoy every last drop of my decant, appreciating the artistry and complexity it offers.

It is a scientific fact that our sense of smell is intimately linked to our memories and emotions: It’s called the Proust phenomenon. So, like one of Pavlov’s dogs, I cannot smell the ignition of a wood match without it triggering the vivid memory of my mother making dinner on a gas stove. And I’m hungry. Every time. To be clear, Zefiro doesn’t smell anything like a burning match. When I first smelled Zefiro it triggered a fading memory of an antique writing box (desk) we purchased in Japan once upon a time. It was made from oak. Opening the box exposed some drawers meant to store ink sticks, ink stones, paper and brushes. A previous owner had stored herbs and spices in them, instead, making the entire box smell...exotic. Zefiro smells exactly like that box. I suspect it’s the cinnamon and carnation accord that gives Zefiro its exotic aura. The base is a wood accord, consisting of amber, incense, and cardamon. Although fleeting, there are supporting notes, too, like honey and iris to keep things from getting dark or heavy. But it’s the two accords that define Zefiro. Zefiro translates to Zephyr in English, meaning a gentle wind from the west. Is this what the westerly wind smells like in Italy? Lucky them. I love Xerjoff generally, and Zefiro may be my favorite of the ten fragrances that I own from the house. I would probably pay for Zefiro what I paid for my bottles of Richwood and Symphonium, though I’d appreciative it if you didn’t tell them that.

Gorgeous scent - bought a full bottle after receiving a sample. The voted notes here are askew. It has IMO: 1) Incense is a subtle compliment NOT a main note - describing this as representative of incense perfume is misleading. It gives a subtle kick on the top. 2) Its main presentation after dry down is a creamy woodsy note - almost vanillic - which is really the cardamon, honey and cinnamon - just subtle enough over the top of the woods (a deep cedar thanks to the complimentary amber) to sweeten it more prominent after the first fifteen minutes. 3) The Artemisia, wine (more like a desert wine) fade after fifteen minutes but the initial spray gives a freshness almost like you have a fresh sawn log of damp wood. 4) The Bergamot is always present though just a tiny touch over the top with the honey to help keep super sweetness at bay and keep some complexity so as you don't smell like a wood log LOL In summary for me this is a gorgeous Oriental Woody or Oriental Spicy scent. Beautifully warming - very much for winter or cold nights. Very natural more for men than Women though somewhat left field for men. A deep sweet woody slightly spicy scent - simple! Classic Xerjoff - nothing I think off comes close except Tauer Au Coeur du Desert or L'Air du Desert Marocain... I have and love all three - this though is superior to AU Coeur De Desert and is more masculine, so I guess it'll happily replace it on the shelf permanently and sit next to L'Air...

Honey incense with touches of cinnamon and a wine accord. Opens with cinnamon and spices I’m assuming well judged culprits of clove, cardamom maybe a little black pepper in there. The heart is incense and resin with honey like quality imagine looking at that frankincense just as its changing state from solid to slowly becoming a liquid while incensing the air around you. Dries down to a woody amber according to that to me is not overdone and from a technical standpoint makes this style of incense achievable so I don’t want to hear the woody amber hate here. So think Roman incense in a Pagan Temple. One of the greatest incense options because it’s beautiful, stays in tact for longer than thirty minutes, projects well and instead of veering into gothic or holier than thou territory this heads into well defined masculinity that has aged well. Given the incense focal point and slightly sweet and resinous supporting notes this favors the old and bold. I’ve recently got my second bottle of this and have been wearing this for 6-7 years. Given the hate Xerjoff gets from the connoisseurs occasionally they release something like this. Alternatively Epic Man and Dawn by Frederic Malle are excellent options as well though Dawn does lean spiritual in its presence. Bvlgari’s Kobraa can be divisive given the woody ambers there but worth checking out. I find Zefiro ideal for a candlelight dinner followed by a moonlight walk on cobblestone streets.

Need to go to discuss ecclesiastical matters with Padre Domenicus in the Vatican? Think no further! This is the fragrance to wear. Expecting to be complimented on this is like the Pope expecting to be complimented for his getup. That is not going to happen, but just like the Pope’s outfit also Zefiro stands out and radiates old world patriarchal power. The polar opposite to sexy and light hearted. I find this amazing, deep and comforting. I lived near a monastery when I was a kid and we often visited there with my family. That is the kind on incense that Zefiro contains. And because I have those childhood memories hard wired in my olfactory memory, I get this comforting feeling of putting all hurries behind when I wear this. This is subjective though, and I can’t imagine this being broadly appealing. Update after almost three months of owning this fragrance: It is now June and the weather here in the north of Europe is summery but not scorching. I find that this has become one of my favourite fragrances. This is so incredibly comforting yet strong, and despite its incensy and serious nature, it is also refreshing and light. Makes me feel like a man to be taken seriously and that resolves problems, but who has a kind and friendly personality at the same time. It is a true masterpiece how juxtaposed this fragrance is between serious and light and and how it awakens emotions.

My first experience with Xerjoff was the hype machine Naxos. Ended up buying a full bottle of it. I have gone one to try easily 30+ different fragrances from them, and they are mostly all winners. Their quality is unrivaled and their mastery is unquestioned. Many of my favorite fragrances are from Xerjoff. And then there’s Zefiro. Not sure how I skipped out on this perfume for over 2 years now. It’s just never come up in my radar I guess. I picked up a 5ml sample of this a week ago while snapping up others I hadn’t tried yet as well. Had I known about this one, I probably would not have gone through so many looking for the perfect fragrance because this is it. It’s a work of art. I can’t stop smelling it and am constantly huffing it like an addict. If this were a place I’d live there. I want to be enveloped in this at all times. The gorgeous spice and depth of this is just exquisite. What even is it? Is it really so simple to smell it and say “ oh yep that sure is wine” or absolutely that smells like the flowers at my grandmothers. What even is artemisia? No idea, but the combination of these ingredients came together to single-handedly produce a smell that almost brought a tear to my eye. The smell of the incense and cardamom are identifiable, but it’s just so expertly blended that I can’t pick out any one main character. It’s just wonderful all around.

This fragrance smells like heaven—literally. Picture a seaside Roman Catholic church turned community bistro: frankincense and myrrh lingering from all those many morning masses, ocean breeze drifting through open doors, chess games on the porch while those gentle incense notes whisper in and out like sacred smoke. It’s Church meets coastal café, with gorgeous frankincense-like undertones, subtle wine, and maybe a hint of myrrh creating an almost ethereal experience. The scent captures that perfect cool-yet-balmy morning stretching into evening, sophisticated and serene. The problem? It’s too quiet for me. This masterpiece, mostly, sits too close to the skin when I want it to sing. Amouage’s Interlude Man does similar incense territory with a little better projection—and that hurts to admit, because Xerjoff is the superior house overall. Bottom line: Perfect for soft incense/oriental lovers who prefer more of an intimate sillage. In my opinion: Great for warmer months, including summer. Yet, if you want more projection, maybe grab Interlude Man; especially for cooler weather. Quality in a bottle, masterfully done, but just wish it spoke a little louder for me; however, maybe that is its magic...

Rome - the eternal fascination, has been the inspiration for this scent. The city to which all roads should lead. As for this perfume, you have to see Rome to understand it. I visited it in a warm April. I have collected impressions for a lifetime, a lifetime in which I would like to see Rome many more times. This scent is fully reminiscent of the fragrant air of flowering acacia trees, the aroma of pine trees, of mediterrenean fruits, the warmth of the historic stones you step on. It recalls the great churches full of art and aromas specific to the worship of the divine, of the ray of sunshine that penetrates the enchanted roof of the Pantheon, of the dust in the Vatican libraries, of the warm matte marble of the perfect statues, of the ecstasy and pain of the Colosseum. It is a special perfume full of history and unique sensations that can only be experienced through seeing Rome. Visit the wonderful city first and then tell the story.

Scent: 8/10 Longevity: 7/10 Sillage: 7/10 Bottle: 9/10 Batch: L81640 I was unsure how I felt about this at first upon first smell. I was very interested in the white wine note. I was also put off by the performance after hearing others say it sits close to the skin. This scent really grew on me. I love the scent after trying it for the day, the scent is very strong on my skin. I put it on at 7:30 this morning and it's 2 pm now and I can still smell it. Usually I go nose blind by 10 am, but I get a continuous wiff sitting at my desk. Temperature was 60F this morning and now 70F ( I work in an office though) and took a walk outside at noon and my coworker said she can smell it when I move my hands around outside on our walk. I definitely will buy another one, last a LONG time, and outperforms all my others, well I haven't gone noseblind at least. I would assume the projection is about a couple of feet. 10/10 would buy again

If you're a fan of elemi and cardamom you HAVE to try this. Usually designer perfumes with this theme are way too mild, and niche ones beat you with a bag full of burning frankincense until you give them 10 hail Mary's. Scent development on my skin: first it's boozy elemi (if you have not had the chance to smell pure elemi on its own, Apothecary's Garden sells dime size amounts from Madagascar), then comes hibiscus tea phase (probably coincidental interaction of notes but on me every single time it smells like that plain and clear), and after it really warms up on you it's this thick jammy elemi-cardamom mix which isn't too sweet at all. Then if you sleep in it or simply don't shower for 8+h it turns into a completely different fragrance - smells like the definition of a mainstream, people pleasing male perfume. Surprisingly boring but I guess very welcome for most guys.

Firstly, this is (currently) my favorite scent. I can't pull it off that well but every time I smell it I can't stop lol. I've been wearing it at home just to occasionally enjoy it. I'm finding it pretty difficult to sum up this scent honestly. The opening is a smash of woody amber and smoke (STRONG incense, but well done) with a touch of sweet almost boozy aroma. It dries and ages pretty quickly which is nice because it gives it way more character, quickly. The dry down becomes much more powdery and sweet, while keeping the masculine smokey wood. I will say, it's amazingly fleshed out from spray to dry down to skin scent, the whole wear is intriguing and aromatic. I'm only 21 and I don't think it fits A. my personality and B. my ethnicity. I'd say women should not wear this, it would fit a mature refined eastern man perfectly.

#992 in my "Tour de Fragrance" I love so many Xerjoff scents and this may be one of my favorites. So many notes I crave. Elemi, Incense, iris. Good performance and something I love smelling all day long. Similar to Dolce & Gabbana Velvet Incenso, which I also love, but I like this better thanks to the citrus and artemesia, and they're priced in the same ballpark. In the down market there's Lalique's "Encre Noir Extreme" but it just doesn't have this sweetness. Bon Perfumeur "401" is a bit more expensive and it's close. Olfactive Studio has "Autoportrait." Gisada has "Ambassador Intense." Salvador Dali has "Ma Force." So there are less expensive similars. But I'm probably gonna go for a bottle of this despite the price. This is car pool, elevator and small office safe. Good date wear. But pricey.

There's something magical about how Zefiro evolves through the wear experience. It opens with a realistic crisp white wine accord. It's very fresh and even a bit chilly. And it gets warmer and warmer as time goes on. Dry riesling transforms into a moscato. The initial sweetness comes from the cardamom and cinnamon. Then at around 1.5 hours, this flips into warm amber fragrance. Woody incense becomes the main star in the drydown. My biggest complaint about Zefiro is the performance (2025 batch). Unless you spray 6+ times, there's not much sillage. This is a skin scent after 4 hours. It seems like Xerjoff benchmarked the performance to a freshie rather than a warm amber. If the scent profile wasn't so good and addicting, I'd be pretty annoyed.

This stuff is beautiful. There's some fruity sweetness from the wine and bergamot, and the spice notes mix perfectly with the elemi resin and incense. It's not the nag champa type incense I was expecting, it's a lot more reminiscent of what they use in old churches. Which, to be clear, I personally don't think that's a bad thing like so many other people seem to. And I'm not even religious. But I digress. It lasts for a decent while, which should definitely be more common among $300+ fragrances than it is. It's not too smokey and sweet for slightly warmer weather either, although I'd wager there's a limit to that flexibility in really high heat. Either way, this was my first exposure to the house of Xerjoff and I'm very happy about it.

Finally nearing 300. Seems like a bunch but barely scratches the surface in the fragrance world. There are some legends on here well into the thousands. Amazing. Zefiro is an excellent product. This was my 2nd Xerjoff purchase but first full classic bottle. The presentation and packaging are unreal. It's like other high end brands should take note. Absolutely stunning. I can see why they are prized and why some bottles are collectors items. Yes, the juice inside is what matters. Zefiro is elegant and classy. All of which I am not. But, I do adore this. Bright opening. The white wine doesn't seem over the top. Just right. Warm and comforting drydown with the incense. Just fabulous.

Despite being an ambery, resinous, woody fragrance, it somehow remains floaty and light. A honeyed, translucent, spicy, glimmering incense. Like the atmosphere inside a cathedral, sunlight filtering through ambered stained glass, making the floating dust particles appear golden and shimmering. It feels dry, lightly dusty from iris, with a refined green bitterness from artemisia, and sweetened by thin honey. A beautiful and grounding scent, glowing with something of a sense of sacredness and nobility, but without becoming serious or austere. Zefiro is named after the Greek god of the west wind, said to be a gentle breeze and associated with spring.