Alexandria II by Xerjoff

I’m only 18, but I’ve been collecting perfumes for years, so I speak with authority. In my opinion, this is the king of Xerjoff, the only one that screams ‘money’. It smells incredibly clean, nothing heavy; it opens with green apple and dusty lavender with a sweet touch. That dusty note lingers even as it dries down. It’s woody, clean, and endearing for those who already tolerate niche scents; it’s the perfect gateway into this exclusive world. Its longevity and projection are beastly: it leaves a scent on clothes for days, projects for 5-6 hours, and on skin, it lasts all day.

For those criticising that it lacked oud, congratulations: they now have it, that highlighted oud, and they’ve taken away the delicious cinnamon and apple opening it once had. I hope you enjoy your oud… if you have an old batch of Alexandria II where you can still feel the cinnamon and apple opening, message me privately here on Fragrantica.

It’s a rich and pleasant aroma, nothing annoying. It has phenomenal cinnamon and sandalwood notes accompanied by a fresh wood. Although I’d like a bit more potency, I’ll take what I get. You can buy it with your eyes closed, though if you want something more economical, head to Zara WO/01.

I have two bottles of Alexandria II (Batch 2022) with great projection and trail; the cinnamon, apple, and lavender were noticeable. Now I’ve bought a Batch 2025, and yes, it’s been reformulated. In this new batch, you can’t feel the cinnamon, the lavender, or the rose, but the oud is stronger! We’ll see if it improves over time, but yes, Xerjoff Alexandria II has been reformulated, presumably to boost the Anniversary launch.

No, not emphatically for me. Luckily, I managed to get a decant to try, essential with expensive fragrances. It’s opulent, heavy, and cloying, smelling of varnish and/or iodine, surgical material. Somewhere there’s the cinnamon, lavender, and apple that make it slightly more friendly, but it’s not for conquering anyone. A bit of faecal oud comes out, but it lasts a breath, luckily. It feels overwhelming to me, producing the effect of poor-quality nail polishes, though it’s not absolutely a poor-quality perfume. Anyway, it lasts and is noticeable, and I suppose that’s where the hype comes from, but it’s not for me. Test before buying, mandatory.

Totally honest: I think I convinced myself I liked it due to its fame and exclusivity. That’s not bad; it smells rich and friendly once it dries, though right after application, it feels a bit overwhelming. I don’t believe it will please those who haven’t worn it; it doesn’t stand out for being ‘rich’, but rather for being opulent. Have you ever smelled a hospital or medical products? It’s along those lines. It has a lot of hype because it lasts forever, contains quality ingredients, and has a striking scent development. It’s liked for being exclusive, not for being delicious. If you’re looking for something rich and different from Xerjoff, try Zefiro; that’s truly a work of art. The hype surrounding Naxos is deserved, but the hype for Alexandria seems exaggerated.

A masterpiece. Creamy green apple, a spark of rose, and a spectacular smoky oud. It leaves no one indifferent.

Alexandria II is one of those fragrances that is not just smelled but felt. From the first spray it exudes elegance, serenity and character. The spiced apple with lavender welcomes you gently, but it is in the dry down where the creamy oud, vanilla and amber wrap you up like a luxurious embrace. On my skin it is warm, refined and leaves a trail that marks without needing to raise your voice. A soulful perfume, one of the few that makes you feel truly special every time you wear it.

Olia is delicious at first, then the decant took on a baby oil scent that I did not like; it was very sharp and no longer so creamy. I want to buy it again to see how it goes. At the start 10/10, then 7/10. I never felt it was unisex, quite balanced.

I bought it blind, the 50ml. It is a high-quality perfume with a scent I cannot say I have not smelled before, but it evokes a previous era, very vintage perfumes. Very unisex, but feels more feminine. It smells very much of wood, I detect rose and a touch of freshness at the start from the lavender and apple… but above all wood and more wood. So much so that it smells like varnish or something medicinal. I bought it due to the hype and the high ratings for projection and trail. I have mixed feelings: on the one hand, the unquestionable quality is noticeable. But it is very niche, almost an olfactory experience rather than a perfume for daily wear. I only think of it for very formal occasions: dark suit, black or brown (the latter because it is like putting on brown varnished wood in cold weather), so it is not versatile. In terms of longevity no more than 6-8 hours and the projection is not bad, although I expected more. The presentation is impeccable, the box and bottle are jewels. It will probably be the last niche I buy blind because IT IS NOT FOR BUYING BLIND, not at all. My opinion: one must be very quirky to bet on fragrances that 90% do not associate with perfume and do not make compliments… and to me, like almost everyone, we like these things. I am in the process and I do not say it is a bad investment, but it is an aromatic experience. I will use it frequently to understand it better. My notes: Scent 6, Presentation 10, Longevity 7, Trail 7, Score 7.5.

It didn’t work for me; it’s very woody. It smells like old furniture about to rot with a dash of lavender. Longevity and projection are moderate, although I’ve had samples from years ago.

Oh De-li-ci-aaaaa! A marvel, a masterpiece! But to be honest… I was gifted it yesterday and I have a Zara from the 01 collection that smells the same. Haha. But both are fantastic, they project and last forever.

Oud, wood, and rose. As a good Arab, it projects a lot and lasts quite a while. I find it ideal for elegant nights.

Looking for the definitive woody fragrance? You’ve found it: Alexandria II by Xerjoff. This blend of oud, rosewood, cedar, sandalwood, amber, rose, and apple takes you to mystical and imposing places. With the quality the Italian house always has, it’s an ode to elegance in the niche. The price is high, but the experience is unique. Everyone decide how they buy it, but don’t miss out.

Stop your watches. We are facing something that surpasses the limits of perfumery. Like good stories, it has an introduction, a climax, and a resolution, but Alexandria II goes further with impossible twists that make it a masterpiece. It begins with a cocktail of lavender, cinnamon, and rustic woods that trap you in a dark and mysterious world, then post-winter flowers and cedar arrive. Everything prepares an unexpected finale with greasy sandalwood, sweet amber, and musk cleanliness. And just when we applaud, oud and vanilla burst in to remind us why we fell in love with this industry.