Xerjoff Naxos vs Le Labo Santal 33 - Perfume Battle Round 99
Round 99 of the AlHimyan Perfume Battle puts the most talked-about sandalwood of the last fifteen years against the longest-running champion in tournament history. Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos arrives with forty-four straight wins. Its challenger is Le Labo Santal 33, the 2011 cult scent of Australian sandalwood, cardamom, violet, papyrus and leather that became the signature of a whole generation of creative cities.
Both perfumes are worn by men and women, and both are woody at heart, but they take very different roads. Naxos is warm, honeyed and smoky. Santal 33 is dry, creamy, slightly green and leathery. Fragrantica blocked automated reading again today, so this round is scored on Parfumo community data only, with the Parfumo scent score carrying the combined 60% weight that Fragrantica and Parfumo normally share.
The tale of the tape
| Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos | Le Labo Santal 33 | |
|---|---|---|
| House | Xerjoff (Italy) | Le Labo (New York) |
| Perfumer | Not credited | Frank Voelkl |
| Released | 2015 | 2011 |
| Family | Sweet spicy gourmand, honey and tobacco | Woody spicy, sandalwood and leather |
| Listed for | Men and women | Men and women |
| Parfumo scent rating | 8.9 / 10 (14,093 ratings) | 7.3 / 10 (1,615 ratings) |
| Parfumo ranking | Number 1 in unisex perfume | Number 283 in unisex perfume |
Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos: the champion
Naxos belongs to the Xerjoff 1861 collection, a tribute to Sicily. It opens with lavender, bergamot, lemon and a thread 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 lists its main accords as sweet, spicy, gourmand, creamy and citrus, and its members still rank it number one among all unisex perfumes.
Community scores (Parfumo): Scent 8.9/10 from 14,093 ratings, Longevity 8.8, Sillage 8.5, Bottle 9.1, Value for money 7.6.
Le Labo Santal 33: the challenger
Santal 33 was composed by Frank Voelkl and launched in 2011. Parfumo lists its notes as Australian sandalwood, leather, Ambrox, cedarwood, papyrus, violet, cardamom and iris, with woody, spicy, green, leathery and fresh as its main accords. The effect is a dry, smooth sandalwood lifted by a spicy cardamom and violet-leaf edge, with a faintly smoky leather and papyrus line running underneath. It is a quiet, skin-close kind of luxury, and part of its fame comes from how recognisable it is on the street.
Community scores (Parfumo): Scent 7.3/10 from 1,615 ratings, Longevity 7.8, Sillage 7.4, Bottle 7.3, Value for money 5.9.
Head to head
| Factor | Weight | Naxos | Santal 33 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parfumo scent (out of 10) | 60% | 8.9 | 7.3 |
| Longevity (Parfumo) | 15% | 8.8 | 7.8 |
| Sillage (Parfumo) | 10% | 8.5 | 7.4 |
| Value for money (Parfumo) | 15% | 7.6 | 5.9 |
| Final score | Total | 8.65 | 7.18 |
Naxos leads in every category this time. The widest gaps are on the scent score itself, 1.6 points, and on value for money, where Parfumo members rate Santal 33 at only 5.9. Longevity and sillage both favour the champion by about a point each.
The verdict
Winner: Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos, 8.65 to 7.18. The margin of 1.47 is one of the larger gaps of this reign. Naxos now holds forty-five straight wins, extending the all-time record. Santal 33 remains one of the most influential woody scents of the century, but the community rates the Naxos composition higher, and that 60% scent weight decides the round.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Naxos if you want a refined, honeyed and smoky scent that wraps the wearer in a warm cloud and suits formal wear, cool evenings and majlis gatherings. It is the sweeter, richer and more noticeable of the two.
Choose Santal 33 if you prefer dry woods over sweetness. Its sandalwood, cardamom and leather feel clean and modern, it works in the office as well as at night, and it suits anyone who wants a scent that is recognised rather than loud.
Both have their own pages on alhimyan.com. Open each product page to see today's price for Naxos and see today's price for Santal 33.
How to wear them in the UAE
Naxos is happiest from October to March. Its honey and tobacco can feel heavy in midday summer heat, so in warmer months keep it for air-conditioned evenings and apply two or three sprays to the chest and neck. Santal 33 handles warmth more easily because it is dry rather than sweet, so it works through more of the year; in humidity its cardamom and violet open up nicely, while in cooler months the sandalwood and leather come forward.
Layering tip: Naxos sits well over a plain oud or amber oil for a richer evening trail. Santal 33 pairs naturally with a light sandalwood or musk oil, which deepens the woods without changing its character.
Frequently asked questions
Who created Le Labo Santal 33?
Parfumo credits perfumer Frank Voelkl. The fragrance was released in 2011.
Are Naxos and Santal 33 unisex?
Yes. Parfumo lists both as perfumes for women and men.
Which smells sweeter?
Naxos, by a wide margin. Its honey, tonka bean and vanilla make it a gourmand, while Santal 33 is a dry woody-spicy scent.
Why are there no Fragrantica scores this round?
Fragrantica blocked automated reading when this article was prepared. Rather than guess, we scored the round on Parfumo data only and gave its scent score the combined 60% weight.
Which lasts longer?
Parfumo members rate Naxos higher for longevity, 8.8 against 7.8 for Santal 33. Results on your own skin will vary with climate and how much you apply.
How do delivery and returns work?
Please read our shipping policy and refund policy for the current details.
Next round
Naxos goes for win number forty-six in Round 100, a milestone round for the tournament. Can a challenger finally end the longest reign in its history? Follow every round on the AlHimyan blog.