Xerjoff Naxos vs Kilian Smoking Hot - Perfume Battle Round 73
Round 73 of the AlHimyan Perfume Battle is a tobacco showdown. Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos has won eighteen rounds in a row, the longest reign in tournament history. Its challenger is Kilian Smoking Hot, a 2023 Eau de Parfum by Mathieu Nardin built around shisha tobacco, apple and cinnamon.
Both perfumes put tobacco at their core, but they take it in very different directions. Naxos wraps it in honey, lavender and citrus. Smoking Hot goes darker and smokier, closer to a lounge evening with a hookah on the table. Both are unisex, both are 100 ml, and both are in stock at AlHimyan in the UAE. Here is how they compare on verified community data.
The tale of the tape
| Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos | Kilian Smoking Hot | |
|---|---|---|
| House | Xerjoff (Italy) | Kilian Paris (France) |
| Perfumer | Not credited | Mathieu Nardin |
| Released | 2015 | 2023 |
| Concentration | Eau de Parfum | Eau de Parfum |
| Worn by | Men and women | Men and women |
| Size at AlHimyan | 100 ml | 100 ml |
| Price | AED 869 | AED 1,090 |
| Cost per ml | AED 8.69 | AED 10.90 |
| Character | Sweet, spicy, honeyed tobacco | Smoky shisha tobacco, apple and spice |
| Community ratings counted | 13,768 | 570 |
Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos: the champion
Naxos belongs to the Xerjoff 1861 collection, a tribute to the unification of Italy, and it still holds the number one unisex ranking on Parfumo. It opens with lavender, bergamot, lemon and Omani frankincense. The heart brings honey, cinnamon and jasmine sambac over a soft cashmere-wood texture.
The dry-down of tobacco, tonka bean and vanilla is warm and creamy without turning sticky. It wears close and long, and it lingers on fabric into the next day.
Community scores (Parfumo): Scent 8.9/10 from 13,768 ratings, Longevity 8.8/10, Sillage 8.5/10, Bottle 9.1/10, Value for money 7.6/10.
Kilian Smoking Hot: the challenger
Smoking Hot was released in 2023 and composed by Mathieu Nardin for Kilian Paris. The opening is the most playful part: shisha tobacco with crisp apple and cinnamon, the sweet, fruity smoke anyone in the Gulf will recognise from a cafe terrace.
The heart turns deeper and drier with Kentucky tobacco absolute, oakmoss and immortelle, which adds a honeyed, slightly hay-like warmth. The base settles on bourbon vanilla, patchouli and the amber-wood material Orcanox. It is a bold evening scent with a clear personality.
Community scores (Parfumo): Scent 8.0/10 from 570 ratings, Longevity 7.8/10, Sillage 7.6/10, Bottle 8.0/10, Value for money 6.1/10.
Head to head
Scent quality. Naxos scores 8.9 across 13,768 ratings. Smoking Hot scores 8.0 across 570. That is a strong result for a young release, but Naxos sits among the highest-rated perfumes on the whole site, with more than twenty times the votes behind it.
Performance. This is the closest part of the round. Naxos rates 8.8 for longevity and 8.5 for sillage. Smoking Hot rates 7.8 and 7.6: solid, noticeable and long enough for a full evening, just a step behind the champion.
Value. Parfumo users give Naxos 7.6 for value and Smoking Hot 6.1. At AlHimyan, Naxos is also the cheaper bottle per millilitre: AED 8.69 against AED 10.90.
Presentation. Naxos takes it again, 9.1 against 8.0, though the heavy Kilian bottle is a statement piece on any shelf.
The verdict
| Scoring component | Weight | Naxos | Smoking Hot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parfumo scent score | 60% | 8.9 | 8.0 |
| Longevity | 15% | 8.8 | 7.8 |
| Sillage | 10% | 8.5 | 7.6 |
| Value for money | 15% | 7.6 | 6.1 |
| Final score | Total | 8.62 | 7.63 |
Winner: Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos. The champion takes its nineteenth consecutive round and extends the longest reign in tournament history. Smoking Hot is the more daring, smokier tobacco and a real treat for shisha lovers, but Naxos wins every measured category and costs less per millilitre.
A note on method. Community figures come from Parfumo, fetched on 22 September 2026 and checked twice for a matching page. Fragrantica's public pages returned an access block, so no Fragrantica score is quoted and its weighting was moved to the Parfumo scent score, as in recent rounds. No figure in this article is estimated.
Which one should you buy?
Buy Naxos if you want a long-lasting, rich fragrance with presence, and a warm honey-tobacco scent that works for men and women alike, from the office to a dinner out.
Buy Smoking Hot if you love the smell of apple shisha and want a darker, smokier tobacco for evenings, majlis gatherings and the cooler months, or a bold gift for a tobacco fan.
Frequently asked questions
What does Kilian Smoking Hot smell like? Shisha tobacco, apple and cinnamon on top, Kentucky tobacco absolute, oakmoss and immortelle in the heart, and bourbon vanilla, Orcanox and patchouli in the base.
Is Smoking Hot for men or women? It is unisex, and it is worn by both.
Does Smoking Hot last long? Parfumo users rate its longevity 7.8 out of 10 and its sillage 7.6, so expect a noticeable scent that carries through an evening.
Which is better for the UAE heat? Both are warm tobacco scents that shine in autumn, winter and air-conditioned evenings. Naxos is the more versatile of the two; in daytime heat, keep either one to two sprays.
How do I order in the UAE? Both are in stock now at alhimyan.com. Cash on delivery is available across the UAE, delivery is fast, and returns are accepted within seven days.
Shop this round
Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos Unisex Eau de Parfum 100 ml
Kilian Smoking Hot Unisex Eau de Parfum 100 ml
Champion standing after Round 73: Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos, nineteen straight wins. A new challenger enters next round.