XerJoff
XerJoff
164 votes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
Tobacco leaf hits immediately—dry, slightly dusty—before nagarmotha's spicy, almost peppery snap adds a mineral edge that's genuinely arresting. The initial accord feels almost confrontational, as if the fragrance is testing whether you're willing to venture beyond the conventional.
The frankincense emerges with reserved elegance, its resinous depth refusing to brighten, whilst the patchouli grounds everything in dark soil and subtle animalic warmth. Cedar's woody architecture crystallises across the composition, creating an almost austere landscape where each note occupies its own space without blending into generic "woody amber."
The amber and labdanum soften into a honeyed, tobacco-tinged base that's warm without becoming gourmand, whilst traces of that original spice linger as a whisper beneath the sweetness. What remains is distinctly resinous and skin-like, a fragrance that feels absorbed rather than worn.
Empiryan announces itself as a fragrance for those who've developed a taste for the smoke-stained pages of old libraries and the interior of mahogany humidors. The tobacco and nagarmotha opening isn't a gentle introduction—it's an immediate commitment to earthiness, with the nagarmotha's spiked, almost peppery quality lending a mineral bite that prevents the tobacco from becoming merely sweet. This is where Xerjoff's intention becomes clear: sophistication through restraint, not florality.
The heart reveals itself gradually, and this is where Empiryan separates itself from the legion of woody fragrances cluttering department stores. The Omani frankincense doesn't bloom with the expected brightness; instead, it curls inward, becoming almost austere, like incense burned in candlelit stone chambers. The Singapore patchouli—earthier and more resinous than its Indian counterpart—threads through the frankincense with a dark, almost fungal undertone, whilst the Atlas cedar provides architectural support, creating a framework rather than softening edges. There's a contemplative quality here, a distinctly masculine energy without relying on aggressive ambroxan or iso e super.
Add fragrances to your collection and unlock your personalised scent DNA, note map, and shareable identity card.
3.9/5 (76)