Rdilger

For me an absolute dream smell. I like chypre scents very much, my absolute favourite is Roja's Haut Luxe, which was a revelation for me after approaches to Mitsouko. With Mitsouko, the harsh oakmass/vetiver combo was just too harsh and intrusive for me. Roja has solved this theme in Haute Luxe incomparably well. But we are not here with Roja. Nevertheless, it is not by chance that I mention this here. Both fragrances belong to the Chipre genre and have overlaps in the core notes through the congruent framework of bergamot, ylang-ylang and oakmoss. At the base, there is the additional similarity via vanilla (khabib) and vanilla-like notes (roja). In this respect I was very excited to get to know Khabib.

Khabib sounds Arabic but is a Russian first name, also called Chabib. I could not find any direct background to a direct name giver on the internet after my research. The only clue comes from a completely different corner. However, I can hardly believe that the perfume is possibly dedicated to the Russian MMA fighter and undefeated world champion in his class Chabib Abdulmanapowitsch Nurmagomedow :-) If someone knows something concrete, I would be grateful for a comment.

Back to the scent. After a citric-floral opening from the perfect fusion of bergamot and ylang-ylang, the journey slowly moves into an incredibly heavenly dry-down of the highest order, which can only be explained by distinctive perfume art and top-class ingredients. Of course, Roja also claims this for herself, but here I think she has succeeded even better. The interplay of ambergris, natural musk in combination with vetiver and oakmoss is at its finest, creating an unprecedented long-lasting concert of these notes. The deer musk is by no means animalistic but supports the overall composition in an inimitable way. Once again it becomes clear how important the best ingredients are. In this quest Bortnikoff and Roja fight for the crown. Bortnikoff attacks Roja in his Home Turf, the chypresegment and wins for me on points ... this time :-)

I had more to say about this fragrance than would fit into a statement. Therefore I dare to make a comment. 40 knots ago I tried Ambre Nuit from Dior. A whole day (Sunday :-)) I tried to smell the fragrance beautifully. As a relative newcomer in the perfume world, I read the effusive comments and thought to myself that these great experiences should also come to me. But smell and sense of smell are not universal. Even if 100 connoisseurs find the fragrance gigantic, it can still contain a scent or a combination of notes that just doesn't suit you personally. Smell is strongly linked by personal experience and association with positive or negative memories, which in the end decide whether you like it or not. This is how Ambre Nuit failed me. Then I hit 40 knots. Again I leave positive comments. Among them is the hint that 40 Knots is similar but much more interesting than Ambre Nuit because it is rounder, more aquatic and more beautiful. I'm sure you can imagine what happened. Yes, actually in an order at Xerjoff Universe I also checked 40 Knots ... the last argument for me was that it even fits thematically to my hobby and aquatic notes should provide the necessary magic. What can I say, I am a classic victim of marketing and self-deception - friendly meant :-) Summa Summarum, 40 Knots is much more similar - for me - to Ambre Nuit than I thought, in Dry Down for me 100% the same. Especially the sense of smell, the most honest of our senses, because it is the only one of our senses that is directly connected to the control centre (cortex cerebri), cannot be fooled. If you don't like it, you don't like it, and good self-affirmation and marketing can't change that at all. This does not mean that 40 Knots is not a good smell. Xerjoff stands for quality and beautiful fragrances. Then it may be another one