Zefiro Xerjoff 2015

Xerjoff, probably the most hyped brand of 2021, at least that's how it seems to me. Above all, Xerjoff's flagship Naxos has enjoyed and continues to enjoy immense popularity, not only in the Parfumo universe but also beyond. Woe to those who do not appreciate this sanctuary ;)

However, this review is not about the brand itself and certainly not about Naxos; there are more than enough reviews and statements that deal with the fragrance, and almost daily there are more. Instead, I would like to dedicate myself to the "neglected" Xerjoff Zefiro.

I ordered this as a sample alongside Naxos and Renaissance in the Souk section. First, of course, I had to test Naxos, then it was Renaissance's turn, and finally Zefiro.

I sprayed it on my wrist and was thrilled. I had never smelled anything like it before.

The fragrance starts with a dust-dry incense. This, in my opinion, comes from the incense itself, paired with the iris present in the scent, which here, compared to other fragrances, does not come off as powdery but rather dry. In the first 30 minutes after spraying, nothing else can be sensed; the scent remains one-dimensional. After that, a finely balanced spiciness mixes with this incense, while at the same time a slight accompanying sweetness emerges. However, the incense remains dominant, although the dust-dry iris slowly retreats. After about an hour, you can still perceive the incense, but Zefiro then becomes sweeter and, in my opinion, more bearable and suitable for everyday wear. The sour-sweetness, which I associate with grape must, takes up more and more space. As time goes on, Zefiro loses the dominant incense, but it remains present until the end, albeit in a weakened form. After about two hours, the spices are gone, and the fragrance becomes sweeter. In my opinion, the resin and amber now set in, transforming the scent from initially dust-dry, through sour-spicy, to a sweet fragrance. This scent lasts until its conclusion of about ten hours. Beyond arm's length, Zefiro remains present for at least three hours for others. After that, it becomes close to the skin.

Flabbergasted by this impression, I found myself at the end of a fragrance journey and had added Xerjoff's Zefiro to my wish list so as not to forget it again. My finger was already itching to order a full bottle. However, I hesitated. So far, so good.

A few days after this olfactory experience, I sprayed my sample again and looked forward to the day with Zefiro. To my horror, I found that my nose wrinkled, and I no longer liked the scent from start to finish. What had happened in the meantime, I still do not know. Gone was the enthusiasm for this dust-dry incense, gone was the anticipation for the sweetness at the end. Even with further tests, Xerjoff Zefiro could no longer convince me. Rather, if I may be so bold, I was downright repulsed by the smell; I simply could not bear it anymore. Too overwhelming, too voluminous, too exhausting Zefiro became for me. Ultimately, it also had to be removed from my wish list. In hindsight, I am glad that it remained a sample and that I did not buy a bottle.

Personally, I find the scent unimaginable on a woman. If one adheres to the classic classification of masculine, feminine, and unisex, I would clearly categorize it as masculine. I would place it in the colder seasons, with autumn seeming the most suitable. As a mystically appealing fragrance, I would also wear it in the evening hours, and certainly not in the office.
Conclusion:

Zefiro is still, despite everything, a fascinating fragrance from the house of Xerjoff for me, even though I will most likely never buy it again, either as a sample or a bottle. I have not experienced such a unique fragrance development since then, and Zefiro is not bad in itself. However, in my opinion, it is too potent and intrusive, thus personally not wearable for me. Therefore, I arrive at a rating of 7.5 points for the fragrance itself. There is nothing to complain about regarding H/S, which is why I rated it relatively high fairly. Although Zefiro could not convince me, I truly recommend everyone to smell this fragrance at least once and form their own opinion. For me, this Xerjoff named niche fragrance is certainly worthy.