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Round 87 of the AlHimyan Perfume Battle sets the warm against the clean. Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos defends a run of thirty-two straight wins, the longest reign the tournament has ever seen. Its challenger is Parfums de Marly Valaya, the 2023 white-musk and white-peach scent that became one of the most talked-about feminine launches of recent years.

The two could hardly be more different. Naxos is honey, lavender and tobacco: rich, sweet and made for evenings. Valaya is aldehydes, white peach and soft musk: bright, airy and often described as the smell of fresh, clean cotton. Both are available at AlHimyan in the UAE, and both Fragrantica and Parfumo were reachable today, so the full five-part scoring formula is in use.

The tale of the tape

Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos: the champion

Naxos belongs to the Xerjoff 1861 collection, created for the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy and dedicated to Sicily. It opens with lavender, bergamot and lemon, and Parfumo also lists a thread of Omani frankincense. 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, and Parfumo ranks it number one among all unisex perfumes.

Community scores: Fragrantica 4.49/5 from 21,357 votes. Parfumo: Scent 8.9/10 from 13,952 ratings, Longevity 8.8, Sillage 8.5, Bottle 9.1, Value for money 7.6.

Parfums de Marly Valaya: the challenger

Valaya was launched by Parfums de Marly in 2023, and Fragrantica credits the composition to perfumer Quentin Bisch. The house describes it as a luminous aura with an intangible softness, built around the idea of pure skin and fresh cotton. Fragrantica classes it as a floral fruity fragrance for women, and Parfumo ranks it 101st among all women's perfumes.

Fragrantica lists aldehydes, white peach, bergamot and mandarin orange in the top; orange blossom, lily-of-the-valley, Petalia, Nympheal, vetiver and Mahonia in the heart; and musk, Ambroxan, Akigalawood and vanilla in the base. Parfumo names Ambrofix in place of Ambroxan. Voters on Fragrantica pick musky, citrus, white floral, fresh and aldehydic as the main accords. The result is a polished, soapy-clean musk with a juicy peach glow on top, rather than a heavy floral.

Community scores: Fragrantica 3.89/5 from 6,661 votes. Parfumo: Scent 7.4/10 from 1,208 ratings, Longevity 8.4, Sillage 7.9, Bottle 8.7, Value for money 5.9.

Head to head

Scent quality. A clear win for Naxos: 4.49 against 3.89 on Fragrantica and 8.9 against 7.4 on Parfumo, with many more votes behind it. Valaya has a loyal following among lovers of clean musks, but its aldehydic, soapy style divides opinion more than the honey of Naxos.

Performance. Closer than the scent scores suggest. Parfumo users rate Valaya 8.4 for longevity and 7.9 for sillage, which is strong for a fresh musk. Naxos still edges both, at 8.8 and 8.5.

Value. This is where Valaya loses the most ground. Parfumo users score its value for money at 5.9, against 7.6 for Naxos. At AlHimyan, Valaya comes in a 75 ml bottle while Naxos comes in 100 ml, which adds to the gap.

Presentation. Naxos, 9.1 against 8.7. The honeycomb-gold Xerjoff bottle is one of the most admired in niche perfumery, but the pale Valaya flacon with its gold horse emblem scores well too.

The verdict

Winner: Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos. The champion takes its thirty-third consecutive round with a margin of 1.17, winning every category. Valaya kept it close on longevity and sillage, but the community vote and value for money decided the round.

A note on method. Fragrantica and Parfumo figures were read on 12 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 and works for both men and women.

Buy Valaya if you want a clean, elegant musk with a soft peach and orange blossom glow, the kind of scent that smells like freshly washed skin and fits the office, daytime visits and warm weather.

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.

Valaya is fresher and works across the year, including the warmer months. Three sprays on the neck and wrists, plus one on the shayla or abaya, keep the musk close and soft through the day. It also layers well under a light oud or white musk oil.

Frequently asked questions

What does Parfums de Marly Valaya smell like? A clean white musk with aldehydes, white peach, bergamot and mandarin on top, orange blossom and lily-of-the-valley in the heart, and musk, Akigalawood and vanilla in the base.

When was Valaya released, and who made it? In 2023. Fragrantica credits the perfumer Quentin Bisch.

Is Valaya long-lasting? Yes for its style. Parfumo users rate its longevity 8.4 out of 10 and its sillage 7.9.

Is it for men or women? Fragrantica lists Valaya as a fragrance for women. Naxos is listed for women and men.

Which is better for a gift? Valaya is an easy gift for a woman who likes clean, elegant scents. Naxos suits anyone who loves warm, sweet perfumes, and its bottle makes a strong impression.

Where can I buy them in the UAE? Both are available at AlHimyan: Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos Eau de Parfum 100 ml and Parfums de Marly Valaya Eau de Parfum 75 ml, with cash on delivery and fast delivery across the Emirates.

Next round

Naxos has now won thirty-three rounds in a row. 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.