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Round 97 of the AlHimyan Perfume Battle sends one of the best-known modern men's fragrances into the ring. Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos, the longest-reigning champion in the history of the tournament, arrives with forty-two straight wins. Its challenger is Y Eau de Parfum by Yves Saint Laurent, the fresh, apple-and-sage signature created by Dominique Ropion that has become a go-to for men who want something clean, confident and easy to wear every day.

This is a true clash of styles. Naxos is warm, golden and sweet, built on honey, tobacco and vanilla. Y EDP is bright, aromatic and airy, built on apple, ginger, sage and lavender over a woody base. The two only meet in a couple of places: both carry lavender and bergamot, and both have a soft tonka bean in the dry-down. Fragrantica blocked every request again today, so this round uses the Parfumo-only version of the scoring formula, the same method used in Rounds 95 and 96. All numbers below come from Parfumo, read today.

The tale of the tape

Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos: the champion

Naxos belongs to the Xerjoff 1861 collection, dedicated to Sicily. Parfumo lists a top of lavender, bergamot, lemon and 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 members still rank it number one among all unisex perfumes on the site, and its rating count keeps climbing every week.

Community scores (Parfumo): Scent 8.9/10 from 14,084 ratings, Longevity 8.8, Sillage 8.5, Bottle 9.1, Value for money 7.6.

YSL Y Eau de Parfum: the challenger

Y EDP opens crisp and bright. Parfumo lists apple, aldehydes, bergamot, elemi resin and ginger in the top, a mix that feels fresh, slightly fizzy and clean. The heart turns aromatic with juniper berry, lavender, sage and geranium, the herbal core that gives Y its signature "fresh blue" character. The base settles on tonka bean, vetiver and frankincense, joined by the modern woody-amber molecule Operanide, which keeps the dry-down smooth and slightly sweet. Parfumo members describe its main accords as fresh, sweet, fruity and aquatic. It is the kind of scent that suits a white kandura, a gym bag and an office desk equally well.

Community scores (Parfumo): Scent 7.5/10 from 4,457 ratings, Longevity 7.6, Sillage 7.4, Bottle 7.5, Value for money 7.5.

Head to head

Y EDP came closest on value for money, where Parfumo members score it 7.5 against 7.6 for Naxos, a gap of just one tenth of a point. Everywhere else the champion pulled clear. Naxos leads by 1.4 points on scent, 1.2 on longevity and 1.1 on sillage. With scent carrying most of the weight today, the challenger never got close enough to threaten the title.

The verdict

Winner: Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos, 8.65 to 7.51. That is a 43rd straight win, extending the all-time tournament record. The margin was 1.14, and the challenger did not win any of the four categories, although it came within a whisker on value for money.

The result says more about style than quality. Y EDP is one of the most worn men's fragrances of its generation and it remains a very easy recommendation. It simply met a champion that Parfumo members rate among the very best perfumes on the site.

Which one should you buy?

Choose Naxos if you want a refined, golden scent with honey, tobacco and lavender that works at an evening majlis, a wedding or a dinner out. It is the richer, warmer and more distinctive of the two, and it suits both men and women.

Choose Y EDP if you want a fresh, clean signature for daytime, the office and the gym. Its apple, ginger and sage opening feels light even on a warm day, and it is one of the safest blind gifts for a man who likes modern fresh fragrances.

Together they cover the whole week: Y for daytime and Naxos for the evening. See today's price for Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos and YSL Y Eau de Parfum on their product pages.

How to wear them in the UAE

Y EDP is the natural pick for the UAE climate. Its fresh top handles the heat well, so two or three sprays before work or a daytime outing is plenty. Naxos is warm and sweet, so the cooler months from November to March are its best season, and that season is just starting. In the heat, keep Naxos to one or two sprays in the evening or in air conditioning. Y layers nicely under a light musk, while Naxos pairs well with a soft oud for special occasions.

Frequently asked questions

Who won Perfume Battle Round 97?
Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos won with a score of 8.65 against 7.51 for YSL Y Eau de Parfum.

What does YSL Y Eau de Parfum smell like?
Apple, ginger, bergamot and aldehydes up top, a herbal heart of sage, lavender, juniper berry and geranium, and a smooth base of tonka bean, vetiver, frankincense and woody notes. It smells fresh, clean and slightly sweet.

Are Naxos and Y EDP similar?
Not really. They share lavender, bergamot and tonka bean, but Naxos is a warm honey and tobacco scent, while Y EDP is a fresh, aromatic apple and sage scent.

Which lasts longer, Naxos or Y EDP?
Naxos. Parfumo members rate its longevity 8.8 against 7.6 for Y EDP, and its sillage 8.5 against 7.4.

Which is better for summer in the UAE?
Y EDP. Its fresh, fruity and aromatic profile is easier to wear in the heat, while Naxos shines in cooler weather and in the evening.

Why is there no Fragrantica score this round?
Fragrantica blocked our requests today. Rather than use an old or guessed number, we scored the round on Parfumo alone, with the Parfumo scent rating taking the Fragrantica weight.

Where can I read about delivery and returns?
See the shipping policy and the refund policy.

Next round

Naxos defends its title again in the next round against a new challenger. Forty-three wins and counting: can anyone end the longest reign in Perfume Battle history? Follow the series on the AlHimyan blog.