Xerjoff has launched 1861, a new fragrance celebrating the 150th anniversary of Italy’s unification.
Bright citrus notes begin the olfactory journey…
XerJoff Irisss and Richwood ~ fragrance review
Normally, I would keep my distance from a perfume house like XerJoff. I mean, why break my heart? Even XerJoff’s refill bottles start at $270 for 50 ml, and let’s not even get started on the cost of the quartz or Murano bottles. At these prices, Amouage begins to look like a bargain. But fate intervened when XerJoff asked me to help write copy for their new brochure. Not only did I get to sample all of the XerJoff fragrances, I was paid in perfume. Two bottles of it. I chose Irisss and one of the new releases, Richwood.
Over the years, I’ve learned that things that are truly beautiful evoke a physical response. Who hasn’t hovered on the brink of tears at a moving piece of music or gasped at a turn in the road revealing a breathtaking sweep of scenery? Even the mundane can be beautiful that way: Just last night I had a bite of roast lamb with truffled leeks and parsnips that made my heart beat faster. For me, both Irisss and Richwood elicited the sharp, physical thrill of beauty when I first smelled them.
Jacques Flori, the nose behind Etro Messe de Minuit, Etro Shaal Nur, and Amouage Opus IV, composed Irisss Eau de Parfum. Its notes include Florentine iris butter, carrot seed, rose, jasmine, ylang ylang absolute, violet leaves, vetiver, and cedarwood. To me, Irisss is a Monte Carlo showstopper of an iris — almost bigger and more lush than real life. In short, Irisss is to iris as Guerlain Nahéma is to rose…
Xerjoff Richwood & Damarose ~ new fragrances
Niche brand Xerjoff has launched two new fragrances in their XJ 17/17 range, Richwood and Damarose, and has introduced the entire XJ 17/17 line in 100 ml Eau de Parfum spray bottles (see above)…
XerJoff Ibitira and Oesel ~ fragrance review
If I were looking at this post, I might be thinking, “What the heck is XerJoff? Another new, expensive niche brand? This is ridiculous! I don’t have the time for this — I haven’t even worked my way through all the old Rochas.” And then I’d click over to Perfume Posse to see what March is up to or to The Selby or somewhere else. I understand. However, after sniffing my way all 12 of the XerJoff Shooting Stars collection, I think a lot of perfume lovers will want to know about XerJoff, even if they never end up smelling any of them.
At first, XerJoff is not promising. The XerJoff website is vague, and its English copy is wretchedly written, full of misspellings and nonsensical descriptions. I can’t find much information about the company itself. The website is offered in Russian, English, and Italian, and judging from the state of the English, you’ll soon guess the company is Russian or Italian (it is, in fact, Italian with a market in Russia.) The website tells us the Shooting Stars collection of fragrances is named after a meteorite that fell in Siberia in 1947. A piece of the meteorite is worked into the collar of each of the bottles. None of the names of the fragrances make any sense to an English speaker, except perhaps “Shingl,” which sounds like a painful medical condition.
But most of the XerJoff Shooting Star Eau de Parfums, while not startlingly original, are marvels of gorgeous materials and careful craftsmanship. I’ve chosen two to review, Ibitira and Oesel, not so much because they’re the fragrances I admire most of the collection, but because they’re the fragrances I most see myself wearing…