1861 - Naxos

Naxos by Xerjoff was launched in 2015. It was a part of a series from the house that was celebrating Italian history and it became an instant hit here at Lucky Scent. It actually lives on our cult classics shelf along with some other giants of niche perfume. And the fun thing about this is that everyone loves it. Men, women, everyone. And it works slightly differently on everyone but it works on everyone.

When I initially was showing it more frequently to male customers that were looking for sort of masculine gourmand, I thought it was really interesting and really smooth and I was presenting it as a tobacco. But the more I wore it myself I realized on me the jasmine actually is very strong and prominent in the middle of it and I love the way that the opening has this fresh fruity quality drying into a floral honey. And so for me it was also a beautiful feminine gourmand and it was interesting that it worked so well for everyone.

It's inspired by Sicily so it has top notes of bergamot and lemon, this fresh crisp citrus and a beautiful lavender note that plays through the first I'd say hour or so pretty intensely. At first it smells like a crisp almost green fennel but then the lavender softens into the jasmine, tonka, honey, cashmere and wood and then ultimately the tobacco.

And I find that this is specifically enjoyable if you love tonka. I think the tobacco never gets too warm, the honey never gets too sticky. There's this sort of cool soft velvety powder quality that I attribute to the tonka bean. It's almost like that almond-like sweetness that's not an almond. And that's what I really love about it. I think it gives it this really comforting, relaxing quality. It's sitting with a drink in Sicily watching the sunset and going from the heat of the afternoon to the coolness of the evening. Thoroughly relaxing.

I recommend this to everyone, men, women, children. Give it a sniff.