A XerJoff that is not just meant for summer evenings?!
After a while and two used 5ml samples, the time had come! Finally, I was able to acquire 40 Knots from a current batch relatively affordably last month. Due to my relatively large collection, I bought the 50ml version and will certainly manage just fine with it for the next few years. In short, this is an all-year-round fragrance in my eyes, but more on that now…
About the scent itself (9.35 out of 10):
40 Knots by XerJoff is a fresh-aquatic perfume that also has warm-spicy characteristics. Woody and maritime notes are, of course, present as well. There is not a hint of synthetics for my nose in this masterpiece.
The notes, typical in this Join The Club (short JTC), are not specified by default! Therefore, I will convey the notes based on my personal perceptions!
The top note starts very salty-fresh with the maritime or aquatic notes. Spicy fragrance notes join in, which could be something like pepper and cinnamon, but don't worry, they are very nicely refined and not overly spiced in that sense. It is, in any case, not at all cloyingly sweet in the top.
In the heart, it becomes a bit sweeter with honey; this sweetness is balanced by sea salt and gives the whole thing sunset feelings or a slightly salty, mildly sweet skin accord in summer hehe.
In the drydown, then come woody-ambered and musk-heavy notes in the scent character! I can strongly detect something like cedarwood, musk, and amber. Minimal herbal notes, possibly patchouli, are also present! This gives the perfume more masculinity, but don't worry girls, you can wear it easily too.
Longevity: 9.5 out of 10
For a current batch, hats off! Personally, I have hardly experienced any differences in terms of performance so far, but yes, the fragrances have indeed been altered over the years due to regulations, allergies, etc. In the case of 40 Knots, I have a longevity of 10+ hours on the skin and 12 hours on clothing.
[PS: My spray routine varies depending on the fragrance; here I use 5 - 6 sprays]
Sillage: 8.75 out of 10
The sillage is very strong in the first 1.5 hours but becomes more intimate after about 7.5 hours. Personally, I can still perceive it after over 9 hours!
Final Rating: 9.35 out of 10
For me personally, it is not a pure summer perfume, as there are really better everyday summer fragrances that are especially suitable for temperatures above 30 degrees, such as Uden, Nio, Kobe, or Renaissance by XerJoff! But in the late evenings, 40 Knots with Naxos is simply almost unbeatable! I even see better usability in 40 Knots than in Naxos currently. I would really only want to wear Naxos at temperatures below 20 degrees, even though it is one of my favorites of all time. 40 Knots, on the other hand, works perfectly fine even at just over 30 degrees!
I do actually see minimal similarities to Ambre Nuit by Dior, but the XerJoff is simply stronger in scent character for my nose and also a bit younger, not as light and mature as A.Nuit!
Despite the success and popularity of this fragrance, I would say that 40 Knots is not a blind buy candidate.
Otherwise, best regards to the lovely Parfumo community and have a nice, pleasant day!
