Xerjoff Naxos vs Byredo Gypsy Water - Perfume Battle Round 72
Round 72 of the AlHimyan Perfume Battle brings a Scandinavian cult classic up against the reigning champion. Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos has won seventeen rounds in a row, the longest reign in tournament history. Its challenger is Byredo Gypsy Water, the 2008 Eau de Parfum by Jerome Epinette that made pine, juniper and incense feel clean, modern and wearable.
One is honeyed tobacco with a lavender-citrus lift and a warm vanilla base. The other is a cool, woody forest walk that ends in soft vanilla and sandalwood. Both are unisex, both are 100 ml, and both are in stock at AlHimyan in the UAE. Here is how they compare on verified community data.
The tale of the tape
| Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos | Byredo Gypsy Water | |
|---|---|---|
| House | Xerjoff (Italy) | Byredo (Sweden) |
| Perfumer | Not credited | Jerome Epinette |
| Released | 2015 | 2008 |
| Concentration | Eau de Parfum | Eau de Parfum |
| Worn by | Men and women | Men and women |
| Size at AlHimyan | 100 ml | 100 ml |
| Price | AED 869 | AED 948 |
| Cost per ml | AED 8.69 | AED 9.48 |
| Character | Sweet, spicy, honeyed tobacco | Woody, aromatic, fresh pine and incense |
| Community ratings counted | 13,762 | 1,489 |
Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos: the champion
Naxos belongs to the Xerjoff 1861 collection, a tribute to the unification of Italy, and it still holds the number one unisex ranking on Parfumo. It opens with lavender, bergamot, lemon and Omani frankincense. The heart brings honey, cinnamon and jasmine sambac over a soft cashmere-wood texture.
The dry-down of tobacco leaf, tonka bean and vanilla is warm and creamy without turning sticky. It wears close and long, and it lingers on fabric into the next day.
Community scores (Parfumo): Scent 8.9/10 from 13,762 ratings, Longevity 8.8/10, Sillage 8.5/10, Bottle 9.1/10, Value for money 7.6/10.
Byredo Gypsy Water: the challenger
Gypsy Water was released in 2008 and composed by Jerome Epinette. It is one of the scents that defined Byredo, inspired by a romantic idea of a free, wandering life close to nature. It opens with juniper berry, lemon, bergamot and a pinch of pepper, fresh and slightly sharp.
The heart turns green and resinous with pine needle, frankincense and a powdery touch of iris. The base is where it softens: vanilla, sandalwood and amber, smooth and quietly sweet. It is a calm, elegant scent for the office, daytime and anyone who dislikes heavy perfume.
Community scores (Parfumo): Scent 7.7/10 from 1,489 ratings, Longevity 6.1/10, Sillage 5.6/10, Bottle 7.7/10, Value for money 5.5/10.
Head to head
Scent quality. Naxos scores 8.9 across 13,762 ratings. Gypsy Water scores 7.7 across 1,489. Gypsy Water is well liked, but Naxos is one of the highest-rated perfumes on the whole site.
Performance. This is where the round is decided. Naxos rates 8.8 for longevity and 8.5 for sillage. Gypsy Water rates 6.1 and 5.6: it is a skin scent by design, pleasant up close but not built to fill a room or last through a long day in the heat.
Value. Parfumo users give Naxos 7.6 for value and Gypsy Water 5.5. At AlHimyan, Naxos is also the cheaper bottle per millilitre: AED 8.69 against AED 9.48.
Presentation. Naxos takes it again, 9.1 against 7.7, though the clean Byredo bottle has its own fans.
The verdict
| Scoring component | Weight | Naxos | Gypsy Water |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parfumo scent score | 60% | 8.9 | 7.7 |
| Longevity | 15% | 8.8 | 6.1 |
| Sillage | 10% | 8.5 | 5.6 |
| Value for money | 15% | 7.6 | 5.5 |
| Final score | Total | 8.62 | 6.89 |
Winner: Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos. The champion takes its eighteenth consecutive round and extends the longest reign in tournament history. Gypsy Water is the more refined everyday scent, but Naxos wins every measured category, and it costs less per millilitre.
A note on method. Community figures come from Parfumo, fetched live on the day of writing and checked twice. Fragrantica's public pages returned an access block, so no Fragrantica score is quoted and its weighting was moved to the Parfumo scent score, as in recent rounds. No figure in this article is estimated.
Which one should you buy?
Buy Naxos if you want a long-lasting, rich fragrance with presence, and a warm honey-tobacco scent that works for men and women alike, especially in the cooler months and in the evening.
Buy Gypsy Water if you want a clean, quiet woody scent for work and daytime, something fresh with pine and incense that never feels loud, or a stylish unisex gift.
Frequently asked questions
What does Byredo Gypsy Water smell like? Juniper berry, lemon, bergamot and pepper on top, pine needle, frankincense and iris in the heart, and vanilla, sandalwood and amber in the base.
Is Gypsy Water for men or women? It is unisex, and it is worn equally by both.
Does Gypsy Water last long? Parfumo users rate its longevity 6.1 out of 10 and its sillage 5.6, so expect a soft, close wear. Spraying on clothing helps it last longer.
Which is better for the UAE summer? Gypsy Water is the easier daytime choice in warm weather. Naxos shines in autumn, winter and air-conditioned evenings; in daytime heat, two sprays is enough.
How do I order in the UAE? Both are in stock now at alhimyan.com. Cash on delivery is available across the UAE, delivery is fast, and returns are accepted within seven days.
Shop this round
Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos Unisex Eau de Parfum 100 ml
Byredo Gypsy Water Unisex Eau de Parfum 100 ml
Champion standing after Round 72: Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos, eighteen straight wins. A new challenger enters next round.