Mefisto Casamorati 2008

Xerjoff Mefisto is a delightful green-citrus floral perfume, with a dominant rose accord.
This review is based on a full bottle that I bought after testing a sample from Xerjoff. I rate Mefisto as one of the best citrus florals available, though it leans more floral than citrus. It was designed by Jacques Flori, who created many of Xerjoff’s classics such as Nio and Fiero. He has also made perfumes for Jovoy, some of which (e.g. Psychedelique) are my favorites.

I am amazed how beautiful the opening citrus notes are. It is more green than other citrus scents because of the bergamot, but this green is tempered by other brighter citrus notes (lemon and grapefruit). However, it is the lavender in the opening that makes Mefisto special and differentiates it from a typical fresh citrus scent. The floral notes from the middle jump in very quickly, running over the opening citrus. But everything is kept harmonious. The middle floral notes in Mefisto are rose and iris, not the white floral notes that typically come with other green citrus perfumes. The citrus notes subside in a few hours on the skin, allowing the floral notes and lavender to dominate. This rose really dominates and defines the personality of this perfume. The base notes - amber, musk, cedar and sandalwood - are subtle and harmonious, as the base notes tend to be weaker in intensity. So, I hesitate to call this a woody scent.

The longevity is very good with more than ten hours on the skin, and a little bit more on clothes. Mefisto shows very good sillage, a common characteristic of most Xerjoff scents. This will work fine in the office setting but remember to spray a few hours ahead.

In summary, this is an affordable citrus-lavender-rose perfume, yet it is very versatile. I like to rotate it with Nishane Colognise to enjoy the similarity and contrast. Colognise is similar but the dominant floral notes are lily of the valley and neroli. I strongly recommend Mefisto if you are looking for a lavender-rose perfume.