Which Xerjoff sample to try first
Xerjoff is Italian, ornate and split into collections that behave very differently. Eight samples ordered by reviews, and a map of what they share.
Xerjoff was founded in Turin in 2007 by Sergio Momo and Dominique Salvo. The brand calls its approach artistic, maximalist and opulent, names iris butter from Tuscany, tarakan oud from Borneo and Kannauj roses from northern India among its materials, and says it has more than 180 original scents sold in over 125 countries. The range is organised in collections, including 1861, Join The Club, Shooting Stars and Blends. With a house this elaborate, a Xerjoff sample is the practical way to learn which collection suits you before you commit to a full-size flacon.
Eight samples, ordered by reviews
We ordered the eight Xerjoff samples on our list by the number of reviews each perfume has collected on Fragrantica, as gathered by NicheGems. Reviews measure attention, not quality, but they do show which names people look for. Notes are given as the house records them.
XJ 1861 Naxos, an Eau de Parfum, belongs to the 1861 collection and is presented by the brand as a tribute to Sicily. Lemon, bergamot, lavender and incense from Oman open it, jasmine sambac, honey, cinnamon and cashmere form the heart, and vanilla, tobacco leaf and tonka bean close.
Torino21 is an Eau de Parfum from Join The Club. The brand ties it to professional tennis and calls it fresh and revitalising, and it keeps the notes a secret.
Alexandria II is a Parfum and an ode to Arabian perfumery. Apple, cinnamon, lavender and rosewood open it, cedarwood, lily of the valley and Bulgarian rose follow, and amber, Laotian oud, musk, sandalwood and vanilla finish. Parfumo credits Christian Carbonnel for it.
40 Knots, another Join The Club perfume, starts from a sailboat on the Mediterranean and offers no notes.
Renaissance is bergamot, mandarin, lemon, bigarade and petitgrain over mint, lily of the valley and Bulgarian rose, then musk, cedarwood, amber and patchouli. It is the tidy, fresh floral of the eight.
Tony Iommi Monkey Special, a Parfum, is the first collaboration of the Blends line. Bergamot, Bulgarian geranium, passion fruit and rum open, cinnamon, leather and Singaporean patchouli form the heart, and caramel, labdanum, musk, sandalwood and vanilla close it.
Erba Gold, an Eau de Parfum, keeps a bright citrus start of Amalfi lemon, Brazilian orange, Calabrian bergamot and ginger, adds cloves, green apple, Guatemalan cardamom, melon and pear, and ends on amber, Madagascar vanilla, musk and woody notes.
Cruz del Sur II is a Parfum from the Shooting Stars collection: apple blossom, mango and pineapple, green leaves and a floral bouquet, then cedarwood, musk and vetiver.
The note map
The eight fall into three groups. Naxos, Alexandria II and Tony Iommi Monkey Special share cinnamon and vanilla, and Naxos and Alexandria II also share lavender. They are the warm, spiced end. Renaissance, Erba Gold and Cruz del Sur II are the fresh end; all three end on musk, and each opens on citrus or fruit. The third group is Torino21 and 40 Knots, where the only map is the brand's story. Bergamot appears in four, musk in five and amber in three. Follow them across the shop through vanilla, bergamot and amber, and if Laotian oud caught your eye, the oud guide goes further.
Two vials are enough for a first order: Naxos for the warm side and Renaissance or Erba Gold for the fresh. The article on niche, designer and Arabic samples puts Xerjoff in context, and the sample set page shows how to combine vials.
When to pick the full bottle
If a Xerjoff sample has stayed with you for several wearings, the bottle is the logical next step. Our vial is filled by FragranceGems from the original bottle and labelled by us; Xerjoff is not involved and it is not a brand sample. The full size of the first perfume is at Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos. The FAQ covers filling, storage and labels.
FAQ
Which Xerjoff sample should I try first?
Xerjoff XJ 1861 Naxos. It has the most reviews of any Xerjoff on our list, and its lavender, honey, cinnamon and tobacco show the opulent side of the house in one wearing.
Why do Torino21 and 40 Knots have no notes listed?
Both belong to the Join The Club collection, in which the brand keeps the notes undisclosed. We do not guess them. The brand describes the mood instead, tennis for Torino21 and a yacht-club sea for 40 Knots.
What is the difference between Eau de Parfum and Parfum here?
In this guide Alexandria II, Cruz del Sur II and Tony Iommi Monkey Special are Parfum, the other five are Eau de Parfum. The concentration is stated on the label of every vial, so you can compare like with like.
