Mefisto by Xerjoff

Smells like an Italian barbershop, but not the typical kind; rather, it’s elegant and mature. I’m not usually a fan of iris, but here it is perfectly balanced. The florals are exquisite, and the fragrance evolves beautifully.

Reminds me of the classic Carolina Herrera 212, not the reformulated version which smells different. It’s very wearable and doesn’t bother anyone. Perhaps generic, but in a good way. Perfect for summer and that fresh-out-of-the-shower feeling.

Classic, clean, and super versatile. It wins you over with its understated elegance and that refined aura of cleanliness. Balanced citrus and floral notes, without being intrusive. It’s the classic barbershop scent with a modern, soft twist. Works equally well in heat or temperate climates, whether in the office or for everyday wear. It accompanies without imposing, with a subtlety that is enchanting. Smells clean and makes people approach you without knowing why. Easy to wear, but with class.

One of the most overpriced niche scents in terms of price and hype. Citrus, lavender, floral, and iris with an earthy touch. Lasts quite a while but the scent doesn’t appeal to me at all. For me, it’s unisex, even slightly feminine. Nothing original; it smells like very clichéd things. A nightmare in the heat. I only recommend trying it well first, on skin, or buying a small decant. The 30ml bottle is worth more than the larger one.

100% Italian fragrance, and here Italian houses reign supreme in citrus, so it’s good to know. The citrus notes are first-class: realistic, sharp, and effervescent. You can detect nuances of at least three declared notes; a bomb of grapefruit and bergamot that opens spectacularly and feels super realistic, almost 3D. Behind them, in the second row, is Amalfi lemon with a very particular aroma, sweeter than acidic. Why so much emphasis on citrus? Because for me, this fragrance is that: CITRUS, CITRUS, CITRUS… 🍋🍋🟩. The white floral, musk, and iris notes are felt on a third plane, like a homogeneous shadow that accompanies without making a noise. Rating: a delicious fragrance, but I would have liked it to be a bit rounder. It ends up being merely citrusy with average projection and longevity, so if you’re looking for citrus, it’s spectacular. If you’re looking for something more complex or niche, hmm, it leaves a little to be desired, but it’s not bad. 8/10 🙂☺️ vibes. I relate it to two perfumes: a commercial one and a niche. As for that sharp, realistic citrus opening, I compare it to D&G Italian Love because of its punchiness. In the drying down floral and fresh phase, it evokes Reflection Man by Amouage a bit, but without reaching that level of roundness, nor are the heart and base notes so discernible. Here, the citrus reigns from start to finish and swallows the entire fragrance.

With Mefisto, it happens to me as with Fiore d’Ulivo: citrus and sandalwood grassiness, equal to a guaranteed headache. Too overwhelming for summer due to the grassiness, and too citrusy for cold seasons. I can’t find a suitable use or moment for this fragrance. Nor can I fit it into a gender, I suppose that’s an advantage for those who love unisex perfumes, but for me, it’s a bit confusing. Positive points: it’s well-blended and the citrus part isn’t super synthetic, cleaning product style.

What a marvel! I’ll keep it brief: fresh and charming citrus scent with excellent longevity. Similar scents usually don’t shine in this regard, but this lasts all day. If you worry that the rose makes it feminine, don’t worry: it’s very subtle and the scent feels masculine. It is expensive (€199 for 100ml), but it’s worth it thanks to the performance; you don’t need many sprays.

Mefisto works well, though the name is a disaster. Comparing is ugly, and here it truly is. At first, it reminds me of Creed’s Silver Mountain Water, but there it genuinely smells of clear mandarin, and it seems Xerjoff and Creed copied each other on the bergamot. Another thing: in the Creed, the herbal tea emerges quickly, whereas in Mefisto there is lavender with a touch of rose that isn’t fresh but adds class. That’s enough for now; to see more differences, especially in the dry down, they would need to be tested together. Both are correct and pleasant, but I prefer Silver Mountain Water. Mefisto is for warm and temperate climates, to comfort you and create a pleasant atmosphere (and it does). Its projection and longevity are what one would expect from such a fragrance, and they seem better to me than Creed’s. But frankly, its performance and juice don’t justify the price; you are paying for the brand, exclusivity, and packaging, which is valid but seems frivolous for my tastes. I don’t understand the name, as the perfume has nothing to do with Mephistopheles from Faust or German folklore; it’s like saying a grilled tofu is equal to an Argentine barbecue. Perhaps the name symbolises something philosophical about the loss of faith and pragmatism, but it’s like trying to convince a child that a stalk of celery tastes the same as a lollipop if they use their imagination. I repeat, this is my opinion. Does the name matter? Not at all. Worth trying, but I wouldn’t buy it.

Well, it smells very similar to Creed’s Silver Mountain Water but lasts much longer. I absolutely love it and it has so many positive aspects, although it’s not the kind that makes your head spin. For me, it’s a 9 out of 10. Ideal for heat and daytime wear.

On my skin, it is very pleasing. It is an offensive citrus fragrance, but its natural and fresh notes offer impressive elegance. Moderate projection and a brutal performance, more than 12 hours on the skin for a citrus, which is too much. My city is super hot and this fragrance suits me perfectly. I don’t know if it resembles the Creed one as I haven’t smelled it, but this fragrance is very good.

I wanted to like it and wore it all summer, but… it smells synthetic. A citrus without definition, without a special charm. It is a rich scent, especially at the half-hour mark and at a certain distance. After five hours, it is only close to the skin. That said, on blotter it smells delicious. I had Acqua Viva, Kobe, and Renaissance in hand and chose this. I regret it. 270 euros… C’est la Vie!

In general terms, Mefisto is a clone of Creed’s Silver Mountain Water. Is that something bad? Let’s see… The opening is a musky base where flowers dominate with citrus. Excellent for heat, versatile, and truly unisex. Good quality and nice bottle. Moderate performance. In Creed, the musk is a bit dirty and feels ‘metallic’, whereas in Casamorati it’s fresher, cleaner, without that metallic note and more distinguished; I feel it’s more refined, more… perfumey. I don’t take away merit from Creed. Both are very good options. I like Mefisto more, but if you like Silver Mountain Water more, then you like it. It’s a matter of taste, but both are well-made. Mefisto doesn’t reinvent perfumery; it’s simply a fresh and FUNCTIONAL perfume for everyday life, well-crafted, good quality, and the price is in line with what’s offered. Understand that you pay for exclusivity, the box, the bottle, and the brand. Not everything goes into the liquid. Complaining about the price? If you don’t have money, it’s not the perfume’s fault. Simply step down a level and look for a cheap perfume like Armaf, which will be a friend to your wallet, or some Antonio Banderas fragrance. I want to make a clarification: I read further down that Creed perfumes possess ‘the best musk and ambergris’ to be found… simply they are nursery tales and we are too grown-up for tales. Both Xerjoff and Creed use synthetic musk. One must research before writing nonsense. In fact, Creed at the niche level is an entry-level house. It’s like buying an Audi, but an A1, and it’s nothing to lose your head over. When we talk about an RS7, A6, or R8… then we speak. For musks, nothing surpasses Areej Le Doré or Ensar Oud, which are genuine musks, period. And the same brand, through videos, makes known about their scent, restrictions, permits, costs, etc. The videos are on the Internet and extremely interesting.

Well, nothing more or less, an absolute COPY of Creed’s Silver Mountain Water. Perhaps a bit sharper and with less of that characteristic metallic note of SMW, but come on, almost identical. Very mild citrus with some floral notes, all very undefined over a typical musk base. Pleasant, undoubtedly, but I think insufficient. On this occasion, instead of finding the outrageous overpricing of Creed, we encounter a rip-off of those appearing more and more in the niche product market. Around 350$ for 100ml… nothing more and nothing less. Performance very similar to Creed, with a duration around 3-4 hours, with a trail close to the skin from the first 15-20 minutes. As said, a joke.