Xerjoff Naxos vs Maison Francis Kurkdjian Grand Soir - Perfume Battle Round 85
Round 85 of the AlHimyan Perfume Battle is an amber showdown. Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos defends a run of thirty straight wins, the longest reign the tournament has ever seen. Its challenger is Maison Francis Kurkdjian Grand Soir, the 2016 amber that Parfumo users rank third among all unisex perfumes.
Both scents live in the same warm, sweet world, which makes this one of the closest matchups on paper in weeks. Naxos is honey, lavender and tobacco. Grand Soir is labdanum, benzoin and vanilla, a glowing resin amber built by Francis Kurkdjian himself. Both are available at AlHimyan in the UAE, and both Fragrantica and Parfumo were reachable today, so the full scoring formula is in use.
The tale of the tape
| Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos | Maison Francis Kurkdjian Grand Soir | |
|---|---|---|
| House | Xerjoff (Italy) | Maison Francis Kurkdjian (France) |
| Perfumer | Not credited | Francis Kurkdjian |
| Released | 2015 | 2016 |
| Family | Sweet, spicy tobacco | Sweet, resinous amber |
| Listed for | Men and women | Men and women |
| Sizes at AlHimyan | 100 ml | 35 ml, 70 ml and 200 ml |
| Fragrantica rating | 4.49 / 5 (21,319 votes) | 4.30 / 5 (15,135 votes) |
| Parfumo rating | 8.9 / 10 (13,934 ratings) | 8.5 / 10 (7,109 ratings) |
Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos: the champion
Naxos belongs to the Xerjoff 1861 collection, a tribute to the unification of Italy. It opens with lavender, bergamot and lemon, with a thread of Omani frankincense listed on Parfumo. The heart brings honey, cinnamon and jasmine sambac over soft cashmere wood.
The dry-down of tobacco leaf, tonka bean and vanilla is warm and creamy without turning sticky. Fragrantica voters name sweet, honey, vanilla, lavender and tobacco as its main accords. It wears long and stays on fabric into the next day.
Community scores: Fragrantica 4.49/5 from 21,319 votes. Parfumo: Scent 8.9/10 from 13,934 ratings, Longevity 8.8, Sillage 8.5, Bottle 9.1, Value for money 7.6.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Grand Soir: the challenger
Grand Soir was created by Francis Kurkdjian in 2016 as a portrait of a Paris evening. It is an amber in the classic sense: resins, warmth and a soft golden glow rather than oud or smoke. Parfumo describes it as sweet and resinous, with projection and longevity above average.
Fragrantica lists Spanish labdanum and orange in the top, lavender and Siam benzoin in the heart, and amber, vanilla, tonka bean, musk and cedar in the base. Parfumo adds Ceylonese cinnamon leaf and Provencal lavender. Fragrantica voters name amber, vanilla, powdery, sweet and aromatic as its main accords. Reviewers often call it a projection monster that needs only one or two sprays.
Community scores: Fragrantica 4.30/5 from 15,135 votes. Parfumo: Scent 8.5/10 from 7,109 ratings, Longevity 8.7, Sillage 8.3, Bottle 8.5, Value for money 7.4.
Head to head
Scent quality. Naxos leads on both sites: 4.49 against 4.30 on Fragrantica and 8.9 against 8.5 on Parfumo. This is the closest scent gap Naxos has faced in several rounds, and both perfumes have thousands of votes behind them, so neither number is a fluke.
Performance. Almost a tie. Parfumo users give Grand Soir 8.7 for longevity and 8.3 for sillage, against 8.8 and 8.5 for Naxos. Both are strong enough for a full evening from a couple of sprays.
Value. Parfumo users score the value for money of Naxos at 7.6 and Grand Soir at 7.4. At AlHimyan, Naxos is AED 909 for 100 ml, while Grand Soir starts at AED 759 for 35 ml, with 70 ml at AED 1,189 and a 200 ml bottle for heavy users.
Presentation. Naxos, 9.1 against 8.5. The honeycomb-gold Xerjoff bottle remains one of the most admired in niche perfumery. The Grand Soir flacon is clean, square and amber-gold, in the house's minimal style.
The verdict
| Scoring component | Weight | Naxos | Grand Soir |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fragrantica rating (out of 10) | 35% | 8.98 | 8.60 |
| Parfumo scent score | 25% | 8.90 | 8.50 |
| Longevity | 15% | 8.80 | 8.70 |
| Sillage | 10% | 8.50 | 8.30 |
| Value for money | 15% | 7.60 | 7.40 |
| Final score | Total | 8.68 | 8.38 |
Winner: Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos. The champion takes its thirty-first consecutive round, but by only 0.30, one of the narrowest margins of its reign. Grand Soir matched it almost point for point on performance; Naxos won on scent votes and a slightly better value score.
A note on method. Fragrantica and Parfumo figures were read on 10 October 2026, and Fragrantica ratings were converted to a 10-point scale. Longevity, sillage and value for money come from Parfumo community bars for both perfumes.
Which one should you buy?
Buy Naxos if you want a honey-tobacco scent with lavender freshness on top, a crowd favourite that lasts all day and night.
Buy Grand Soir if you love pure amber: resinous, vanilla-soft and glowing, with no tobacco or honey. It also comes in a 35 ml size, which makes it an easier first bottle.
How to wear them in the UAE
Both are rich, so two sprays are enough: one on the neck and one on the chest or the kandura collar. They suit cool evenings, air-conditioned majlis gatherings and the winter months from November onwards.
Grand Soir projects hard in the first hour, so in a car or a small office keep it to one spray. In the daytime heat, either perfume is best worn lightly.
Frequently asked questions
What does Maison Francis Kurkdjian Grand Soir smell like? A warm resin amber: labdanum and orange on top, lavender and benzoin in the heart, and amber, vanilla, tonka, musk and cedar in the base.
Who made Grand Soir and when? Francis Kurkdjian, in 2016.
Is Grand Soir long-lasting? Yes. Parfumo users rate its longevity 8.7 out of 10 and its sillage 8.3, almost level with Naxos.
Is it for men or women? Both. Fragrantica lists Grand Soir and Naxos as fragrances for women and men.
Which is better for a gift? Naxos is a sure crowd-pleaser in a striking bottle. Grand Soir is the elegant choice for someone who loves amber and vanilla, and the 35 ml size keeps the budget easy.
Where can I buy them in the UAE? Both are available at AlHimyan: Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos Eau de Parfum 100 ml and Maison Francis Kurkdjian Grand Soir Eau de Parfum, with cash on delivery and fast delivery across the Emirates.
Next round
Naxos has now won thirty-one rounds in a row, but Grand Soir came closer than most. A new challenger steps up next time. Follow the Perfume Battle on the AlHimyan blog and on Instagram to see who finally ends the reign.