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Olfactory creed
For over three decades, I wandered around completely unaware of what wonderful fragrances there are to discover in the world. With "Oud Stars - Alexandria II (Parfum) | XerJoff" my personal journey of exploration into the world of niche fragrances began. I would like to describe my relationship with the fragrance in this review. It is more of a personal review, but it is a fragrance that has done a lot to me and accordingly I would like to dedicate my honest confession to it.
Before I only knew the usual fragrances from Tom Ford or Dior, for example, everything you can find in the local Douglas store and I never really had much interest in perfumes, it was more a means to an end than a serious thought about which fragrance suits you. My own Boss Bottled Tonic and my Acqua di Giò pour Homme Eau de Toilette, which have been with me since my student days, were all I knew how to treat myself to olfactorically. I only used these two fragrances for years and only went to a perfumery voluntarily when my wife wanted to buy a fragrance.
Over the last year, however, I kept coming across offers for the "Oud Stars - Alexandria III | XerJoff" perfume on Mydealz, for example, but I didn't know the manufacturer "XerJoff" and the term "oud" didn't mean anything to me. The first time I bought it, the fact that someone was prepared to pay a three-figure sum for a perfume seemed completely absurd to me. My Hugo Boss costs €50 for 100ml. My wife's Dior costs €100 and I already thought that was expensive for a perfume. So unnecessary. I scrolled on and stopped thinking about it.
The next time I came across such an offer, I thought to myself "ha! You again". This time I googled how to pronounce it. Sördschoff. So that's settled. Who is this Sergio Momo, how did he come up with the idea of charging such prices?
For some reason, however, this fragrance seemed to fascinate me and wouldn't let go. I caught myself thinking that it would be kind of funny to buy the "Oud Stars - Alexandria II (Parfum) | XerJoff". Blind. But I quickly dismissed it again, it seemed too expensive, no, I'd rather not...
Or not after all? It would be a few more months before I finally couldn't resist.
I'm not someone who uses TikTok or Instagram, so I don't know any influencers that I only found out about later on Parfumo. No, I was directly influenced by the source, by XerJoff himself, who kept whispering my name in quiet moments.
I don't know what it was exactly, perhaps the promisingly mysterious-sounding name Alexandria. Egyptian pharaohs and ancient deities appear in my head. Only on high festivals is it taken out and applied in ritual ceremonies after the body has been cleansed and anointed. Perhaps it was also this elegant bottle. It's been smiling at me the whole time, haunting the back of my mind. The bottle looks like it would be used by an alchemist to store some precious magical essence. Tears from a unicorn, collected on a blood moon night. It's interesting how little things like the name of a product or its packaging can influence us. How a thing that can't communicate still manages to speak to me emotionally. So I finally gave in to the completely crazy desire and ordered this fragrance.
It was the beginning of my olfactory journey into the world of expensive fragrances. As I said, I ordered it blind and couldn't even imagine what the fragrance would be like. Rose seemed somehow inappropriate for men, but what the heck, in the worst case scenario my wife would use it, I thought to myself.
When the bottle finally arrived, my wife was just as excited about it, her fascination with Alexandria seemed to have infected her too.
The packaging is at least as luxurious as you would expect for the price. It comes in a brown outer box and looks high quality even at first glance. Inside is an opulent leather box that protects the contents. I greedily open and remove the bottle. I spray the fragrance for the first time in my life.
What followed was indeed love at first sniff
The combination of lavender + cinnamon in the top note is downright addictive. It is exactly this combination that also works so well for me in other fragrances such as "XJ 1861 Naxos | XerJoff". So it is that I have anchored this fragrance DNA deep in my olfactory palate with the purchase of "Oud Stars - Alexandria II (Parfum) | XerJoff". In addition to this combination, a minimal woody note resonates.
From the very beginning, oud can be detected discreetly in the background.
I was particularly surprised by how great rose can smell on a man, which is then given a lot of space in the heart note. The combination of the light oud with rose makes this beautiful fragrance irresistible to me. It gives me confidence when I wear it and actually has a rather masculine effect, contrary to my expectations. I soon received the first comments about my new fragrance, after all, none of me were used to fragrances that went beyond the same shower gel-like scent.
The longevity and sillage are outstanding. I was surprised myself at how long the fragrance lasts, even 8 hours after application it still smells wonderful. Re-spraying is absolutely not necessary here! For me personally, it has set standards and plays an important role in the assessment of a fragrance, because Alexandria does not run in a linear fashion but undergoes a beautiful transformation. This made it tangible for me why this perfume doesn't cost €100 and why it is worth every penny.
It was the most beautiful blind purchase you can imagine and love at first sight. Since that day, I have spent many, many hours on Parfumo, where I registered, and other fragrances have found a place in our home and in my heart.
Perfume is more than just smelling good, it's a way of life, a bit like knowing a secret that most people keep forever.
XerJoff has definitely managed to convert me for good. I hereby make my profession of faith.
Before I only knew the usual fragrances from Tom Ford or Dior, for example, everything you can find in the local Douglas store and I never really had much interest in perfumes, it was more a means to an end than a serious thought about which fragrance suits you. My own Boss Bottled Tonic and my Acqua di Giò pour Homme Eau de Toilette, which have been with me since my student days, were all I knew how to treat myself to olfactorically. I only used these two fragrances for years and only went to a perfumery voluntarily when my wife wanted to buy a fragrance.
Over the last year, however, I kept coming across offers for the "Oud Stars - Alexandria III | XerJoff" perfume on Mydealz, for example, but I didn't know the manufacturer "XerJoff" and the term "oud" didn't mean anything to me. The first time I bought it, the fact that someone was prepared to pay a three-figure sum for a perfume seemed completely absurd to me. My Hugo Boss costs €50 for 100ml. My wife's Dior costs €100 and I already thought that was expensive for a perfume. So unnecessary. I scrolled on and stopped thinking about it.
The next time I came across such an offer, I thought to myself "ha! You again". This time I googled how to pronounce it. Sördschoff. So that's settled. Who is this Sergio Momo, how did he come up with the idea of charging such prices?
For some reason, however, this fragrance seemed to fascinate me and wouldn't let go. I caught myself thinking that it would be kind of funny to buy the "Oud Stars - Alexandria II (Parfum) | XerJoff". Blind. But I quickly dismissed it again, it seemed too expensive, no, I'd rather not...
Or not after all? It would be a few more months before I finally couldn't resist.
I'm not someone who uses TikTok or Instagram, so I don't know any influencers that I only found out about later on Parfumo. No, I was directly influenced by the source, by XerJoff himself, who kept whispering my name in quiet moments.
I don't know what it was exactly, perhaps the promisingly mysterious-sounding name Alexandria. Egyptian pharaohs and ancient deities appear in my head. Only on high festivals is it taken out and applied in ritual ceremonies after the body has been cleansed and anointed. Perhaps it was also this elegant bottle. It's been smiling at me the whole time, haunting the back of my mind. The bottle looks like it would be used by an alchemist to store some precious magical essence. Tears from a unicorn, collected on a blood moon night. It's interesting how little things like the name of a product or its packaging can influence us. How a thing that can't communicate still manages to speak to me emotionally. So I finally gave in to the completely crazy desire and ordered this fragrance.
It was the beginning of my olfactory journey into the world of expensive fragrances. As I said, I ordered it blind and couldn't even imagine what the fragrance would be like. Rose seemed somehow inappropriate for men, but what the heck, in the worst case scenario my wife would use it, I thought to myself.
When the bottle finally arrived, my wife was just as excited about it, her fascination with Alexandria seemed to have infected her too.
The packaging is at least as luxurious as you would expect for the price. It comes in a brown outer box and looks high quality even at first glance. Inside is an opulent leather box that protects the contents. I greedily open and remove the bottle. I spray the fragrance for the first time in my life.
What followed was indeed love at first sniff
The combination of lavender + cinnamon in the top note is downright addictive. It is exactly this combination that also works so well for me in other fragrances such as "XJ 1861 Naxos | XerJoff". So it is that I have anchored this fragrance DNA deep in my olfactory palate with the purchase of "Oud Stars - Alexandria II (Parfum) | XerJoff". In addition to this combination, a minimal woody note resonates.
From the very beginning, oud can be detected discreetly in the background.
I was particularly surprised by how great rose can smell on a man, which is then given a lot of space in the heart note. The combination of the light oud with rose makes this beautiful fragrance irresistible to me. It gives me confidence when I wear it and actually has a rather masculine effect, contrary to my expectations. I soon received the first comments about my new fragrance, after all, none of me were used to fragrances that went beyond the same shower gel-like scent.
The longevity and sillage are outstanding. I was surprised myself at how long the fragrance lasts, even 8 hours after application it still smells wonderful. Re-spraying is absolutely not necessary here! For me personally, it has set standards and plays an important role in the assessment of a fragrance, because Alexandria does not run in a linear fashion but undergoes a beautiful transformation. This made it tangible for me why this perfume doesn't cost €100 and why it is worth every penny.
It was the most beautiful blind purchase you can imagine and love at first sight. Since that day, I have spent many, many hours on Parfumo, where I registered, and other fragrances have found a place in our home and in my heart.
Perfume is more than just smelling good, it's a way of life, a bit like knowing a secret that most people keep forever.
XerJoff has definitely managed to convert me for good. I hereby make my profession of faith.
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