Xerjoff Naxos vs Montale Intense Cafe - Perfume Battle Round 92
Round 92 of the AlHimyan Perfume Battle puts the longest reign in the tournament against one of the most loved coffee perfumes ever made. Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos arrives with thirty-seven straight wins. Its challenger is Montale Intense Cafe, the 2013 rose, coffee and vanilla scent that turned a French house famous for oud into a name every gourmand lover knows.
This is honey and tobacco against roasted coffee and rose. Naxos is an Italian niche icon with a dense, golden character. Intense Cafe is a Paris-born oriental vanilla that smells like a café latte poured over a bouquet of roses, and it is famous for lasting all day. Both Fragrantica and Parfumo were read today, so the full five-part scoring formula is in use.
The tale of the tape
| Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos | Montale Intense Cafe | |
|---|---|---|
| House | Xerjoff (Italy) | Montale (France) |
| Perfumer | Not credited | Pierre Montale |
| Released | 2015 | 2013 |
| Family | Citrus gourmand, honey and tobacco | Oriental vanilla, coffee and rose |
| Listed for | Men and women | Men and women |
| Size at AlHimyan | 100 ml | 100 ml |
| Fragrantica rating | 4.49 / 5 (21,394 votes) | 3.94 / 5 (10,509 votes) |
| Parfumo rating | 8.9 / 10 (14,003 ratings) | 7.7 / 10 (2,010 ratings) |
Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos: the champion
Naxos belongs to the Xerjoff 1861 collection, created for the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy and dedicated to Sicily. It opens with lavender, bergamot, lemon and a touch of Omani frankincense. The heart brings honey, cinnamon and jasmine sambac over soft cashmere wood, and the dry-down of tobacco, tonka bean and vanilla stays warm and creamy without turning sticky. Parfumo still ranks it first among all unisex perfumes on the site.
Community scores: Fragrantica 4.49/5 from 21,394 votes. Parfumo: Scent 8.9/10 from 14,003 ratings, Longevity 8.8, Sillage 8.5, Bottle 9.1, Value for money 7.6.
Montale Intense Cafe: the challenger
Pierre Montale built Intense Cafe around a simple, bold idea: coffee and rose together. It opens with a soft floral accord, then the heart arrives with a dark, roasted coffee note wrapped around a sweet rose. The base of vanilla, amber and white musk makes it smooth and creamy, closer to a sweet coffee drink than a bitter espresso. It comes in the classic Montale aluminium bottle, and it has become one of the house's best-known scents worldwide.
Community scores: Fragrantica 3.94/5 from 10,509 votes. Parfumo: Scent 7.7/10 from 2,010 ratings, Longevity 8.6, Sillage 8.2, Bottle 6.9, Value for money 7.7.
Head to head
| Factor | Weight | Naxos | Intense Cafe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fragrantica (out of 10) | 35% | 8.98 | 7.88 |
| Parfumo scent | 25% | 8.9 | 7.7 |
| Longevity | 15% | 8.8 | 8.6 |
| Sillage | 10% | 8.5 | 8.2 |
| Value | 15% | 7.6 | 7.7 |
| Final score | 8.68 | 7.95 |
This was closer than the scent scores suggest. Intense Cafe matched the champion almost point for point on performance: its longevity of 8.6 is only 0.2 behind, and its sillage of 8.2 is only 0.3 behind. Montale is known for strong, long-lasting perfumes, and the community ratings confirm it. Intense Cafe also took the value category, 7.7 against 7.6. The gap came from scent consensus, where Naxos is simply one of the highest-rated perfumes on both sites.
The verdict
Winner: Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos, 8.68 to 7.95. That is a 38th straight win, extending the all-time tournament record. The margin was 0.73, and the challenger won one of the five categories (value).
Intense Cafe loses with honour. It is one of the few challengers in recent rounds that kept pace with Naxos on longevity and projection, and for anyone who loves coffee in a perfume it is still a reference point.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Naxos if you want a refined, golden scent that people notice in a good way: honey, tobacco and lavender that work for the office, an evening majlis and a wedding alike. It is the more complex and more versatile of the two.
Choose Intense Cafe if you love sweet, cosy scents and want coffee to be the star. It is warmer and more playful, it lasts a full day on skin and clothes, and it is very popular as a gift for both men and women.
How to wear them in the UAE
Both perfumes are rich, so the cooler months from November to March are their best season. In the summer heat, wear one or two sprays in the evening, indoors or in air conditioning. Intense Cafe is especially strong on fabric, so a single spray on a scarf or ghutra goes a long way. Naxos layers beautifully over a light oud or a simple musk for evenings out.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Perfume Battle Round 92?
Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos won with a score of 8.68 against 7.95 for Montale Intense Cafe.
What does Montale Intense Cafe smell like?
Roasted coffee and rose over a creamy base of vanilla, amber and white musk. It smells sweet and smooth, like a latte with a floral touch.
Who made Montale Intense Cafe?
Fragrantica credits Pierre Montale, the founder of the house. It was launched in 2013.
Which lasts longer, Naxos or Intense Cafe?
They are very close. Parfumo members rate Naxos 8.8 and Intense Cafe 8.6 for longevity, so both last many hours on skin.
Is Intense Cafe for men or women?
It is a unisex perfume and is worn by both men and women.
Where can I buy both in the UAE?
Shop both at AlHimyan: Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos Eau de Parfum 100 ml and Montale Intense Cafe Eau de Parfum 100 ml.
Next round
Naxos defends its title again tomorrow against a new challenger. Can anyone end the longest reign in Perfume Battle history? Follow the series on the AlHimyan blog.