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Round 91 of the AlHimyan Perfume Battle sets the longest reign in the tournament against one of the most talked-about Arabian releases of the last two years. Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos arrives with thirty-six straight wins. Its challenger is Lattafa Sehr, the 2024 almond, cinnamon and vanilla scent from the UAE house that has made luxury-style perfume affordable across the Gulf.

This is a battle of two very different ideas. Naxos is an Italian niche icon built on honey, lavender and tobacco. Sehr is a modern gourmand that leans on bitter almond and warm spice, and it sells for a small fraction of the champion's price. Both Fragrantica and Parfumo were read 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. The heart brings honey, cinnamon and jasmine sambac over soft cashmere wood, and the dry-down of tobacco leaf, tonka bean and vanilla stays warm and creamy without turning sticky. Parfumo ranks it first among all unisex perfumes on the site.

Community scores: Fragrantica 4.49/5 from 21,394 votes. Parfumo: Scent 8.9/10 from 13,997 ratings, Longevity 8.8, Sillage 8.5, Bottle 9.1, Value for money 7.6.

Lattafa Sehr: the challenger

Sehr, whose name means magic or enchantment in Arabic, was released by Lattafa in 2024. Neither Fragrantica nor Parfumo credits a perfumer. Fragrantica classes it as an oriental floral for women and men.

The pyramid is short and focused. Bitter almond and cinnamon open it, Akigalawood, Pomarose and jasmine form the heart, and vanilla absolute, tonka bean and amber make up the base. Fragrantica voters name vanilla as the dominant accord, followed by almond, warm spicy, sweet, amber and oud. Wearers describe a sharp marzipan-like almond at first that softens over the first hour into a creamy vanilla and amber skin scent with a gentle woody edge from the Akigalawood.

Community scores: Fragrantica 3.80/5 from 1,251 votes. Parfumo: Scent 7.4/10 from 265 ratings, Longevity 7.9, Sillage 7.6, Bottle 8.5, Value for money 8.6.

Head to head

Longevity, sillage and value come from Parfumo's community sub-ratings, the Fragrantica score is the star rating converted to a 10-point scale, and the final score is the weighted total. Naxos figures were re-read on Parfumo today; its Fragrantica figure is carried from the last round.

The verdict

Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos wins Round 91, 8.68 to 7.75. That is a clear margin of 0.93 and the champion's thirty-seventh straight win, extending the longest reign in the history of the tournament.

Naxos won four of the five categories. Its biggest edge was community consensus: almost 1.4 points on the converted Fragrantica score and 1.5 points on Parfumo, backed by many thousands more votes. It also lasts longer and projects further.

Sehr did win one category, and it is an important one. Its value-for-money score of 8.6 is a full point ahead of Naxos, and on AlHimyan it costs a small fraction of the champion's price. For a young perfume with only a few hundred ratings, a 7.9 for longevity and 7.6 for sillage are honest numbers, well above what many people expect from a budget bottle.

Which one should you buy?

Choose Naxos if you want a signature scent that people will remember, with honey and tobacco that feel rich without being heavy. It suits evenings, weddings and the cooler months, and it is one of the most loved unisex perfumes in the world.

Choose Sehr if you love almond, marzipan and vanilla, or if you want a warm, sweet scent for every day without spending much. It is an easy blind buy for anyone who already enjoys gourmand perfumes, and a smart second bottle to sit next to a niche favourite.

How to wear them in the UAE

Both perfumes are warm and sweet, so they shine from October to March, when evenings in the Emirates finally cool down. Naxos needs only two or three sprays; in a closed majlis or car it carries well. Sehr is softer, so four sprays on skin and one on the ghutra or shayla help it last through a long evening. In the summer heat, wear either one at night and keep it to pulse points.

Frequently asked questions

Who won Round 91 of the Perfume Battle? Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos, with a final score of 8.68 against 7.75 for Lattafa Sehr.

What does Lattafa Sehr smell like? Bitter almond and cinnamon at the start, then a soft floral heart, and a long vanilla, tonka and amber dry-down. Its main accords on Fragrantica are vanilla, almond, warm spicy and sweet.

How long does Lattafa Sehr last? Parfumo members rate its longevity 7.9 out of 10 and its sillage 7.6, which means a solid day on skin with a moderate trail.

When was Sehr released, and who made it? In 2024, by the UAE house Lattafa. Fragrantica and Parfumo do not credit a perfumer.

Is Sehr for men or women? Both. Fragrantica and Parfumo list it for women and men.

Where can I buy them in the UAE? Shop both at AlHimyan: Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos Eau de Parfum 100 ml and Lattafa Sehr Eau de Parfum 100 ml.

Next round

Naxos has now won thirty-seven rounds in a row. Next up is Montale Intense Cafe, a coffee and rose scent from Paris. Follow the Perfume Battle on the AlHimyan blog and on Instagram to see who finally ends the reign.