Xerjoff Naxos vs Frederic Malle Rose Tonnerre - Perfume Battle Round 104
Round 104 of the AlHimyan Perfume Battle sends a sweet, smoky gourmand up against one of the most unusual roses in niche perfumery. Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos is still the champion and arrives with forty-nine straight wins, the longest reign in the tournament's history. Its challenger is Frederic Malle Rose Tonnerre, the rose composed by Edouard Flechier for Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle, first released under the name Une Rose and renamed in 2021.
A note on the scorecard: Fragrantica could not be reached today, so this round uses only real Parfumo community numbers. The Fragrantica and Parfumo weights are combined into a single scent weight, and nothing has been estimated or invented.
The tale of the tape
| Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos | Frederic Malle Rose Tonnerre | |
|---|---|---|
| House | Xerjoff (Italy) | Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle (Paris) |
| Perfumer | Not credited | Edouard Flechier |
| Family | Sweet spicy gourmand, honey and tobacco | Dark rose, green, woody and spicy |
| Listed for | Women and men | Women and men |
| Parfumo scent rating | 8.9 / 10 (14,153 ratings) | 7.8 / 10 (387 ratings) |
Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos: the champion
Naxos belongs to the Xerjoff 1861 collection, a tribute to Sicily. Parfumo lists its top notes as lavender, bergamot, lemon and Omani frankincense. The heart brings honey, cinnamon, jasmine sambac and soft cashmere wood, and the base of tobacco, tonka bean and vanilla stays warm and creamy without turning heavy. It remains a favourite for winter evenings, and Parfumo members still rank it at the top of the unisex list.
Community scores: Parfumo scent 8.9/10 from 14,153 ratings, longevity 8.8, sillage 8.5, bottle 9.1, value for money 7.6.
Frederic Malle Rose Tonnerre: the challenger
Rose Tonnerre is not a soft, powdery rose. Edouard Flechier built it as a dark, earthy bouquet where the flower meets truffle, patchouli and vetiver. Parfumo lists its notes as rose, castoreum, truffle, patchouli and vetiver, and describes the main accords as floral, woody, green, fresh and spicy. Our product page describes an opening of rose, honey and wine lees, a heart of Turkish rose, geranium and truffle, and a base of musk, patchouli and vetiver. The idea is a rose with a storm cloud over it, and the note list backs that up.
Community scores: Parfumo scent 7.8/10 from 387 ratings, longevity 8.6, sillage 7.9, bottle 7.3, value for money 6.0.
Notes side by side
| Naxos | Rose Tonnerre | |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | Lavender, bergamot, lemon, Omani frankincense | Rose, honey, wine lees |
| Heart | Honey, cinnamon, cashmere wood, jasmine sambac | Turkish rose, geranium, truffle |
| Base | Tobacco, tonka bean, vanilla | Musk, patchouli, vetiver |
| Main accords | Sweet, spicy, gourmand, creamy, citrus | Floral, woody, green, fresh, spicy |
Parfumo lists Rose Tonnerre as a flat set of notes rather than a pyramid, so the opening, heart and base split above follows our product page. The two perfumes share one idea: honey. In Naxos it sits in the heart as a sweet, golden centre under the tobacco. In Rose Tonnerre it appears at the start, a dark sweetness that is quickly pulled toward earth by truffle and patchouli.
The scorecard
| Category | Weight | Naxos | Rose Tonnerre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parfumo scent rating (Fragrantica weight merged in) | 60% | 8.9 | 7.8 |
| Longevity (Parfumo) | 15% | 8.8 | 8.6 |
| Sillage (Parfumo) | 10% | 8.5 | 7.9 |
| Value for money (Parfumo) | 15% | 7.6 | 6.0 |
| Final score | Total | 8.65 | 7.66 |
On longevity this was a close fight: Parfumo members rate Rose Tonnerre at 8.6, only 0.2 behind the champion. The gaps open up on scent consensus, where Naxos has the support of more than fourteen thousand raters against a few hundred, and on value for money, where Rose Tonnerre scores 6.0 from 118 voters.
The verdict
Winner: Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos, 8.65 to 7.66. With a margin of 0.99, Naxos takes its fiftieth straight win and extends its own record. Rose Tonnerre is a serious, characterful rose that earns respect from the people who rate it, but it is a polarising style, and the champion's broad appeal is hard to beat.
Which one should you choose?
Choose Naxos if you want a refined, honeyed and smoky scent that leaves a warm trail and suits formal wear, cool evenings and majlis gatherings. It is the sweeter and more easily loved of the two, and it works for men and women.
Choose Rose Tonnerre if you enjoy rose but find most rose perfumes too sweet or too soft. Its truffle, patchouli and vetiver give the flower a dark, earthy edge, and it suits people who like a scent with a talking point.
Open each product page to see today's price for Naxos and see today's price for Rose Tonnerre.
How to wear them in the UAE
Naxos is happiest from October to March. Its honey and tobacco can feel heavy in midday summer heat, so in warmer months keep it for air-conditioned evenings and apply two or three sprays to the chest and neck. Rose Tonnerre has green and fresh facets that help it in milder weather, and it works well in the evening, on cooler days and in air-conditioned rooms. Spray it on pulse points and lightly on clothing or hair to help it last.
Layering tip: Naxos sits well over a plain oud or amber oil for a richer evening trail. Rose Tonnerre pairs naturally with a light oud or a dry sandalwood oil, which deepens the woods and keeps the rose dark.
Frequently asked questions
Who created Frederic Malle Rose Tonnerre?
Parfumo credits perfumer Edouard Flechier. The perfume was first released as Une Rose and was renamed Rose Tonnerre in 2021.
What does Rose Tonnerre smell like?
Parfumo lists rose, castoreum, truffle, patchouli and vetiver. It reads as a dark, earthy and slightly spicy rose rather than a sweet, powdery one.
Is Rose Tonnerre for women or men?
It is made for women and men. Naxos is also made for women and men.
Which smells sweeter?
Naxos, clearly. Honey, tonka bean and vanilla make it a gourmand. Rose Tonnerre has a trace of honey in its opening but moves quickly to green, woody and earthy tones.
Which lasts longer?
Parfumo members rate Naxos at 8.8 for longevity and Rose Tonnerre at 8.6, so the two are close. Results on your own skin will vary with climate and how much you apply.
Is Rose Tonnerre the same as Une Rose?
Parfumo notes that in 2021 Une Rose was renamed Rose Tonnerre, so the two names refer to the same perfume.
Scores are community ratings read from Parfumo on 1 November 2026. Fragrantica was not reachable, so it is not part of this round. The champion stays on for Round 105 tomorrow.