NiPis98

After Alexandria Orientale and Alexandria III, I am now also writing a review of the true classic: Alexandria II.

This is indeed interesting, as this was the first Oud Star in my collection and still ranks very high for me today.

In this review, I will also try to compare it a bit with its two brothers and highlight the special features of this version.

Alexandria II is a true room-filler. Loud and opulent, it makes its way and shows everyone that it is there. Quite unlike its two brothers, it is not reserved or romantically elegant. It loves to show itself and enjoys recognition.

Freshly sprayed, there is an immediate explosion of ingredients that must first be organized. A lush sea of roses is enveloped by delicate oud. On top of that, there is indeed something sour, sharp-fruity... that must be the green apple.

After a while, the scent transforms, as after its loud appearance, it becomes a bit more relaxed. Everyone in the room knows of its presence, and so it can settle down quite comfortably. Alexandria II becomes calmer, softer, and creamier. The floral notes come to the forefront, and oud transforms into a beautiful sweetness. The scent is now powdery and round... yes, much more elegant and refined. Nevertheless, it remains very lush and strong.

The scent lasts a very long time and does not want to be forgotten during its stay. A little breeze constantly reminds you, "it's still there."

Longevity and sillage are top-notch, and so the scent can still be faintly perceived even after 24 hours, despite showering. While it does not last as long as its oriental brother, anyone who is that loud must eventually go to sleep.

In my opinion, Alexandria II is a true rose-oud masterpiece. A really successful luxurious composition that has secured a clear place in my fragrance heart.

However, it is not the best of the three Alexandrias for me, as each of the three brothers has its clear right to exist. While the 2 is very loud, lush, and opulent, Alex 2 presents itself much more elegantly, calmly, and as a true rose cavalier. In contrast, Alexandria Orientale greets you with a load of barn-oud but then remains wonderfully still and woody sweet for over 48 hours.

I can only recommend everyone to test all three Alexandrias and form their own opinion.

All three are something very special, and depending on the mood and occasion, each brings exactly that certain something.

I am very happy to be able to own these wonderful fragrances :)

The Alexandria III is, alongside the Alexandria II and the Orientale, a fixed component of the Oud Stars flagship line and was initially marketed as a limited special edition in an elaborate golden bottle, just like the UAE. Fortunately, it is now available to everyone, and that is a good thing.

The Alexandria III actually contains the same ingredients as its well-known brother, but they have been used in different quantities and sequences, resulting in a completely different scent. According to the fragrance pyramid, only the apple in the top note has been omitted... this would likely have created a disturbing factor alongside the strong rose.

And it is precisely with this that I would like to start. The Alexandria III is undoubtedly a rose fragrance.
The rose has been significantly amplified in this third iteration and is very prominent. The rose smells very realistic and is by no means sharp or too meaty; on the contrary, it is one of the most beautiful roses I have ever smelled.
Beneath it lies the typical Alexandria DNA, which in this case comes across as significantly less cloying and is therefore certainly more socially acceptable.

The fragrance is complemented by the soft and almost creamy rose, as well as delicate oud and a certain sweetness that lingers for a long time. The overall impression is incredibly beautifully crafted and almost addictive.

The scent has a very clear presence and should be dosed carefully, but it is by no means a loud room-filler like the Alex II. And that is exactly what makes this fragrance special. It makes the DNA wearable and suitable for everyday use. Due to its strength, the scent leans slightly towards the feminine side, but can be worn unisex without hesitation.

The quality is free from any flaws, making the Alex III very luxurious and well-composed.

The sillage is in the upper mid-range, and the bottle is, of course, a feast for the eyes.

In direct comparison to the Alexandria II and the Orientale, the III is much more delicate and less opulent. While the II is loud and announces its presence early, and the Orientale is rather a quiet representative after the first half hour, the III presents itself as an elegant rose cavalier.

Here too, testing is essential, as in my opinion, there is no clear favorite among the three Alexandrias. Each one is a work of art and has its right to exist.

So too this wonderful Alexandria III.

The Alexandria Orientale was originally offered and distributed exclusively for the UAE, but due to its special popularity, it is now available worldwide.

The Orientale is, as the name suggests, the strongest version of the Alexandria line and the entire Oud Stars collection.

The scent is therefore somewhat challenging for untrained noses and those who do not love distinctly oriental fragrances. There are actually no significant differences in the ingredients used compared to the other Alexandria versions. The Orientale places much less emphasis on floral notes and complements these with leather as well as herbal/spicy elements.

Freshly sprayed, the fragrance unleashes an unrestrained load of animalistic oud. Thus, for the first 30 minutes, you experience a brief stay on a farm that you must first endure :D

However, after the first half hour, it transforms completely and becomes absolutely refined and socially acceptable. I would even go so far as to say that with very careful dosing, it can be worn in the office.

The Orientale is significantly drier than the other two Alexandrias and has a wonderful woody sweetness. The scent exudes a certain warmth and becomes incredibly creamy. The tobacco, which is not found in A2 and A3, likely contributes to this.

In fact, the fragrance remains close to the skin most of the time, but can mutate strongly with appropriate dosing.
At a normal dosage, it is wonderfully rounded, elegant, and oriental.

The sillage is, as mentioned earlier, rather subtle. In stark contrast, the longevity is impressive.
On my skin, the fragrance lasts a good 48 hours and is still distinctly noticeable on the second day, even after showering. So, on the second day, you can still layer well with it or reapply if needed :D

On clothing, it seems to last forever, but it does not unfold as beautifully as on the skin. In general, one should wear such oud fragrances with real oud on their own skin. The body heat reacts with the fragrance in a completely different way and can vary a bit for each person.

Which Alexandria is now the best?

In my opinion, each of the three variants has its clear right to exist. While Alex II is significantly more opulent and radiates strongly, Alex A III leans more towards the floral side of the Alexandria DNA, the Orientale is distinctly... who would have thought... more oriental and masculine. It is more reserved, rounder, and creamier. A completely different fragrance but incredibly well done. The Orientale is definitely (after the first half hour) the most relaxed and quiet of the three and can thus be worn more easily in everyday life.

Here, it is definitely: test it!

Bang, boom... wow.

Loud, shrill, and filling the room, the Tony Iommy is an absolute experience.

Loud passion fruit with lots of cinnamon and boozy rum radiates relentlessly for many hours. Leather and sweet spiciness join in.

The monkey is definitely crazy... at first sniff, I thought "wow, this is not for me," but on the second try, I was intrigued, and by the third, I was in love and the bottle moved in with me.

The Tony Iommy is a perfect fragrance for partying, standing out, and is also ideal for winter.

In my opinion, it's a fantastic unisex scent with an unstoppable sillage and great longevity.

There's nothing comparable, and you absolutely have to test this creation.

One of my favorites :)

What a symphony.

The Xerjoff Symphonium comes, as is typical for the Stone Label, in a finely lined white leather box. The bottle features a beautiful opal. Simply stunning.

The fragrance itself is incredibly complex, wonderfully crafted, and yet, due to this unique composition, it feels completely rounded and authentic.

Upon first spray, the Symphonium opens with a fantastic orange. Here, you can smell a mix of fruit and slightly bitter peel. Both are absolutely realistic and wonderfully delicate. Right away, chocolate also takes the stage. At first, it is slightly bitter, but after a few hours, it transforms into a noble milk chocolate.

Roughly speaking, the opening of the Symphonium can be described as an extremely high-quality and luxurious Jaffa Cake. This mix of chocolate and orange is indeed very reminiscent of jelly biscuits, but of course, it is many times more beautiful, elegant, and refined.

The fragrance has a clear presence, yet it is not screaming loud. You are pleasantly noticed, and always in a positive way. The scent is, of course, very unisex.

In the dry down, which sets in on my skin after 8 hours, the fragrance becomes creamier and sweeter. The dark chocolate turns into milk chocolate, and the slightly bitter orange blends with vanilla, reminding me of a very luxurious bath foam. Again, this smells absolutely elegant and delectable.

A fantastic fragrance that has been created with love and dedication. Super wearable, unisex, and something truly special. I am very happy to have secured a bottle after trying a larger sample.

Definitely worth testing!

P.S.: The oud (which is apparently used in very large quantities for the fragrance) is not actually detectable as oud. All the ingredients are intertwined and form a perfectly rounded blend.

A symphony to fall in love with... or to bite into :).