Xerjoff Naxos vs Montale Louban - Perfume Battle Round 81
Round 81 of the AlHimyan Perfume Battle sends the champion out for another defence. Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos arrives with twenty-six straight wins, the longest reign in the history of this tournament. Its challenger is Montale Louban, a rose and oud oriental from the Paris house that made oud famous in the West.
This is honey against rose smoke. Naxos is a warm, sweet tobacco that fills a room. Louban is darker and drier: Turkish rose and violet leaf wrapped in oud, frankincense and incense, resting on patchouli, sandalwood and musk. Both are unisex, both are available at AlHimyan in the UAE, and this round brings something new: Fragrantica is reachable again, so for the first time in weeks the full scoring formula is back in use.
The tale of the tape
| Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos | Montale Louban | |
|---|---|---|
| House | Xerjoff (Italy) | Montale (France) |
| Perfumer | Not credited | Pierre Montale |
| Released | 2015 | 2009 |
| Family | Sweet, spicy tobacco | Oriental woody, rose and oud |
| Worn by | Men and women | Men and women |
| Price at AlHimyan | AED 869 (100 ml) | AED 425 (100 ml) |
| Fragrantica rating | 4.49 / 5 (21,197 votes) | 3.79 / 5 (378 votes) |
| Parfumo rating | 8.9 / 10 (13,880 ratings) | 7.5 / 10 (61 ratings) |
Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos: the champion
Naxos belongs to the Xerjoff 1861 collection, a tribute to the unification of Italy, and it is ranked first among unisex fragrances on Parfumo. It opens with lavender, bergamot and lemon, lifted by a thread of frankincense. The heart brings honey, cinnamon and jasmine over a soft cashmeran wood.
The dry-down of tobacco, tonka bean and vanilla is warm and creamy without turning sticky. It is refined rather than loud, wears long, and stays on fabric into the next day.
Community scores: Fragrantica 4.49/5 from 21,197 votes. Parfumo: Scent 8.9/10 from 13,880 ratings, Longevity 8.8, Sillage 8.5, Bottle 9.1, Value for money 7.6.
Montale Louban: the challenger
Montale was founded in Paris by Pierre Montale, who spent years in the Middle East and brought oud back to French perfumery. Louban, launched in 2009 and composed by Pierre Montale himself, takes its name from the Arabic word for frankincense, and the resin is at its centre.
The opening pairs Turkish rose with cool violet leaf. Oud, olibanum and incense come through quickly and give the rose a smoky, resinous edge. The base of Indonesian patchouli, Indian sandalwood and musk keeps it warm and dry. Fragrantica classes it as oriental woody; Parfumo calls it floral woody. Either way it is a classic Montale: rich, dense and built to last.
Community scores: Fragrantica 3.79/5 from 378 votes. Parfumo: Scent 7.5/10 from 61 ratings, Longevity 8.8, Sillage 8.5, Bottle 7.1, Value for money 6.5 (only 12 value ratings, so treat that figure with care).
Head to head
Scent quality. Naxos leads clearly on both sites: 4.49 against 3.79 on Fragrantica and 8.9 against 7.5 on Parfumo. Naxos is also rated by tens of thousands of people, so its number is very stable.
Performance. This is where Louban fights back. Parfumo users give it exactly the same longevity (8.8) and sillage (8.5) as Naxos. Montale is known for strength, and Louban lives up to it.
Value. On paper Naxos wins the Parfumo value score, 7.6 against 6.5. In the shop the picture flips: at AlHimyan Louban costs AED 425, less than half the price of Naxos. If price per spray matters most to you, Louban is the easier buy.
Presentation. Naxos, 9.1 against 7.1. The honeycomb-gold Xerjoff bottle is one of the most admired in niche perfumery.
The verdict
| Scoring component | Weight | Naxos | Louban |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fragrantica rating (out of 10) | 35% | 8.98 | 7.58 |
| Parfumo scent score | 25% | 8.90 | 7.50 |
| Longevity | 15% | 8.80 | 8.80 |
| Sillage | 10% | 8.50 | 8.50 |
| Value for money | 15% | 7.60 | 6.50 |
| Final score | Total | 8.68 | 7.67 |
Winner: Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos. The champion takes its twenty-seventh consecutive round by a margin of 1.01. Louban matches it stride for stride on longevity and sillage, but Naxos wins the scent vote on both sites by a wide gap.
A note on method. Fragrantica figures were read on 3 October 2026 and converted to a 10-point scale. Parfumo figures were read the same day. Longevity, sillage and value come from Parfumo community bars. No figure in this article is estimated.
Which one should you buy?
Buy Naxos if you want a smooth honey-tobacco scent that almost everyone around you will enjoy, from the office to a dinner out.
Buy Louban if you love rose and oud, want strong performance, and prefer a classic Arabian-style oriental at a much friendlier price.
How to wear them in the UAE
Naxos is rich, so two sprays are enough: one on the neck and one on the chest or the kandura collar. It suits cool evenings, air-conditioned majlis gatherings and the winter months from November onwards.
Louban is strong. One or two sprays on the shirt or the ghutra will carry through an evening. It is at home at weddings, Friday gatherings and Eid visits, and it layers well with a light oud oil for anyone who wants more depth.
Frequently asked questions
What does Montale Louban smell like? Turkish rose and violet leaf over oud, frankincense and incense, with patchouli, sandalwood and musk in the base. It is a smoky, resinous rose oud.
Who created Louban? Fragrantica credits Pierre Montale, founder of the house. It was launched in 2009.
Is Louban long-lasting? Yes. Parfumo users rate its longevity 8.8 out of 10, the same as Naxos.
Which is better for a gift? Naxos is the safer crowd-pleaser and comes in a striking bottle. Louban suits someone who already loves oud and rose.
Can women wear Naxos and Louban? Yes. Both are listed as unisex on Fragrantica and Parfumo.
Where can I buy them in the UAE? Both are available at AlHimyan: Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos Eau de Parfum 100 ml and Montale Louban Eau de Parfum 100 ml, with cash on delivery and fast delivery across the Emirates.
Next round
Naxos has now won twenty-seven rounds in a row. Tomorrow a new challenger steps up. Follow the Perfume Battle on the AlHimyan blog and on Instagram to see who finally ends the reign.