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Round 105 of the AlHimyan Perfume Battle puts the reigning gourmand champion against the leather perfume that many collectors treat as the reference for the whole category. Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos arrives with fifty straight wins, a record no other perfume in this tournament has come close to. Its challenger is Tom Ford Ombre Leather, the 2018 Eau de Parfum composed by Sonia Constant of Givaudan, and one of the most worn leather scents of the last decade.

A note on the scorecard: Fragrantica could not be reached today, so this round uses only real Parfumo community numbers, read on 2 November 2026. 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: 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. More than fourteen thousand Parfumo members have rated it, and it still sits at number one on the site's unisex list.

Community scores: Parfumo scent 8.9/10 from 14,182 ratings, longevity 8.8, sillage 8.5, bottle 9.1, value for money 7.6.

Tom Ford Ombre Leather: the challenger

Ombre Leather was inspired by the open landscapes of the American West, and it smells like a well-worn black leather jacket rather than a raw animal hide. Sonia Constant opens it with cardamom, jasmine sambac and saffron, a spicy and slightly floral start. The heart is black leather with patchouli and vetiver, and the drydown settles on amber and white moss. The result is dark, smooth and a little sweet, a leather that most people find easy to wear rather than challenging.

Community scores: Parfumo scent 8.3/10 from 4,165 ratings, longevity 8.3, sillage 8.0, bottle 7.7, value for money 7.3.

Notes side by side

Both perfumes use jasmine sambac in the heart, but they send it in opposite directions. In Naxos the jasmine softens the honey and cinnamon, so the result is golden and edible. In Ombre Leather the same flower sits next to cardamom and saffron and is quickly covered by leather and patchouli, so it reads darker and drier. One is a dessert by the fire, the other is a leather armchair in a cool room.

The scorecard

This is one of the closest fights Naxos has had in weeks. Ombre Leather is within 0.6 on scent and within half a point on longevity and sillage, and on value for money the gap is only 0.3. Where Naxos pulls ahead is consistency: it wins every category by a small margin, and those small margins add up.

The verdict

Winner: Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos, 8.65 to 8.12. With a margin of 0.53, Naxos takes its fifty-first straight win and extends its own record. Ombre Leather loses nothing in this round. It is one of the best-rated leather perfumes on Parfumo and a very safe blind buy for anyone who likes the style. It simply met a champion that more people agree on.

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 of the two and works for men and women.

Choose Ombre Leather if you prefer something drier and darker. Its leather, patchouli and moss feel confident and grown-up, it is less sweet than Naxos, and it suits office days, evenings out and anyone who wants a signature scent with a clear character.

Open each product page to see today's price for Naxos and see today's price for Ombre Leather.

How to wear them in the UAE

November is the start of the best season for both perfumes. 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. Ombre Leather is a little more flexible because it is less sweet, and it works well on cool mornings, in the office and at night. Two sprays on the neck and one on clothing is usually enough, as the leather projects clearly in the first hours.

Layering tip: Naxos sits well over a plain oud or amber oil for a richer evening trail. Ombre Leather pairs naturally with a dry oud or a smoky bakhoor on clothing, which deepens the leather and adds a Gulf touch.

Frequently asked questions

Who created Tom Ford Ombre Leather?
Parfumo credits perfumer Sonia Constant of Givaudan. The Eau de Parfum was released in 2018.

What does Ombre Leather smell like?
Parfumo lists cardamom, jasmine sambac and saffron at the top, black leather, patchouli and vetiver in the heart, and amber with white moss in the base. It reads as a smooth, dark and slightly sweet leather.

Is Ombre Leather 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, while Ombre Leather stays drier with leather, patchouli and moss.

Which lasts longer?
Parfumo members rate Naxos at 8.8 for longevity and Ombre Leather at 8.3. Both are long-lasting; results on your own skin will vary with climate and how much you apply.

Which is better for the office?
Ombre Leather. It is less sweet and less loud in a closed room, while Naxos shines more in the evening.

Scores are community ratings read from Parfumo on 2 November 2026. Fragrantica was not reachable, so it is not part of this round. The champion stays on for Round 106 tomorrow.