Xerjoff Naxos vs Xerjoff Erba Pura - Perfume Battle Round 95
Round 95 of the AlHimyan Perfume Battle is a family affair. Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos, the longest-reigning champion in the history of the tournament, arrives with forty straight wins. Its challenger comes from the same Italian house: Xerjoff Erba Pura, the bright fruit-and-musk perfume that has become one of the most recognisable Xerjoff scents of the last decade.
This is the first time the champion has had to fight a sibling. Both perfumes come from Xerjoff, both are worn by men and women, and both open with Italian citrus. After that, they go in completely different directions. Naxos turns golden with honey, tobacco and lavender. Erba Pura turns juicy and creamy with a basket of fruit over white musk, amber and vanilla. Fragrantica blocked every request today, so this round uses the Parfumo-only version of the scoring formula, the same method used in earlier rounds when Fragrantica was unreachable. All numbers below come from Parfumo, read today.
The tale of the tape
| Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos | Xerjoff Erba Pura | |
|---|---|---|
| House | Xerjoff (Italy) | Xerjoff (Italy) |
| Perfumer | Not credited | Christian Carbonnel |
| Released | 2015 | 2013 |
| Style on Parfumo | Sweet and spicy | Fruity and sweet |
| Listed for | Men and women | Men and women |
| Sizes at AlHimyan | 100 ml | 50 ml and 100 ml |
| Parfumo scent rating | 8.9 / 10 (14,062 ratings) | 7.4 / 10 (7,190 ratings) |
| Parfumo unisex ranking | Number 1 | Number 49 |
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 14,062 ratings, Longevity 8.8, Sillage 8.5, Bottle 9.1, Value for money 7.6.
Xerjoff Erba Pura: the challenger
Erba Pura was released in 2013 and Parfumo credits the perfumer Christian Carbonnel. The opening is a burst of Mediterranean citrus: Calabrian bergamot, Sicilian lemon and Sicilian orange. The heart is a single, simple idea, a bowl of ripe fruit, and the base is white musk, amber and Bourbon vanilla. Parfumo members describe the main accords as fruity, sweet, fresh and floral. It is the kind of scent people notice in a room and ask about, and its projection is one of the reasons it has stayed popular for more than ten years.
Community scores (Parfumo): Scent 7.4/10 from 7,190 ratings, Longevity 8.9, Sillage 8.7, Bottle 8.6, Value for money 6.9.
Head to head
| Factor | Weight | Naxos | Erba Pura |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parfumo scent (carries the Fragrantica weight today) | 60% | 8.9 | 7.4 |
| Longevity | 15% | 8.8 | 8.9 |
| Sillage | 10% | 8.5 | 8.7 |
| Value | 15% | 7.6 | 6.9 |
| Final score | 8.65 | 7.68 |
Erba Pura did something few challengers have managed against Naxos: it beat the champion on performance. Parfumo members rate its longevity 8.9 against 8.8 and its sillage 8.7 against 8.5, so Erba Pura is the stronger and louder of the two on skin. But the scent itself is where this tournament is decided, and there the gap is wide. Naxos scores 8.9 for scent, Erba Pura 7.4. Naxos also wins on value for money, 7.6 against 6.9. With scent carrying most of the weight today, the champion's lead was too large to close.
The verdict
Winner: Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos, 8.65 to 7.68. That is a 41st straight win, extending the all-time tournament record. The margin was 0.97, and the challenger won two of the four categories (longevity and sillage).
Erba Pura loses the round but leaves with real credit. It is the rare challenger that out-performs Naxos on the skin, and for many people that matters more than a scent score.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Naxos if you want a refined, golden scent with honey, tobacco and lavender that works at the office, in an evening majlis and at a wedding alike. It is the smoother, warmer and more classic of the two.
Choose Erba Pura if you love fruity, bright and creamy perfumes that project and get compliments. It is the fresher of the two, it suits daytime and warmer weather better, and it is the one to pick if you want to be noticed.
Many collectors own both: Erba Pura for bright days and Naxos for cool evenings. See today's price for Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos and Xerjoff Erba Pura on their product pages.
How to wear them in the UAE
Naxos is warm and sweet, so the cooler months from November to March are its best season. In the summer heat, keep it to one or two sprays in the evening or in air conditioning. Erba Pura is brighter and handles warm days better thanks to its citrus and fruit, but its sillage is strong, so two sprays are enough for an office or a closed car. Both layer well with a light musk, and Naxos pairs nicely with a soft oud for evenings out.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Perfume Battle Round 95?
Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos won with a score of 8.65 against 7.68 for Xerjoff Erba Pura.
What does Xerjoff Erba Pura smell like?
Bergamot, lemon and orange over ripe fruit, settling on white musk, amber and Bourbon vanilla. It smells fruity, sweet and creamy.
Are Naxos and Erba Pura similar?
They come from the same house and both open with Italian citrus, but they are very different. Naxos is honey, tobacco and lavender; Erba Pura is fruit, musk and vanilla.
Which lasts longer, Naxos or Erba Pura?
Erba Pura, by a small margin. Parfumo members rate its longevity 8.9 against 8.8 for Naxos, and its sillage 8.7 against 8.5.
Who created Erba Pura?
Parfumo credits the perfumer Christian Carbonnel. It was released in 2013.
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-one wins and counting: can anyone end the longest reign in Perfume Battle history? Follow the series on the AlHimyan blog.