Comandante by Xerjoff

If it’s true that within Xerjoff this could be one of their least challenging fragrances, without the house showing any sign of it, the profile still holds up. I, who love Le Male, Reflection, Darley, The One Parfum, and Ambre des Abysses, couldn’t resist trying Comandante. My conclusion is that it sits a bit close to some of these, especially Darley, but its middle notes create distance, bringing out the florals and a sweet layer. To me, it’s a modern man aged 25 to 35, dressed casually and driving a GLA.

It certainly doesn’t hook me. It smells good, but I can’t see myself wearing it. It starts fruity, sweet, and very bright; if it stayed like that, I wouldn’t like it at all. As it dries down, it softens slightly with faint notes of tobacco, spices, and woods. Yes, there’s that soapy hint in the air. In summary, it leaves me indifferent. Ultimately, it smells like fruity caramel or a gummy candy. It’s unisex, performs well, and although it loses a bit in extreme heat, it works.

The first time I tried Comandante, in that niche world that showed me new things, it wasn’t what I was looking for, so I passed. Now I see it with different eyes: it’s a perfect transition between commercial and niche, easy and multifunctional. The opening is fruity and bright, with a base of tobacco and woods that recalls the DNA of Halfeti, but cleaner and without spices. Although its evolution is linear, it works brilliantly in any temperature. I undervalued it, but it deserves more recognition. Remembering traditional perfumery isn’t a reason not to enjoy it. Note: 8/10, tested with an official sample from Twisted Lilly.

Imagine the charm and style of a modern designer fragrance with the quality of ingredients from decades ago; this could be the result. The opening is delicious, almost gourmand, with fresh fruits like red apple, Sicilian lemon (like in Allure Homme Edition Blanche), and cherry. All mixed with a soapy, mentholated floral accord of lavender, violet, and iris, with a hint of pink jam giving it a delicious sweet-and-sour touch. After a few minutes, new leather and tobacco appear, creating a wonderful animalic nuance. Everything is balanced: separate notes at first, then after about three hours, a dry-down with soft vanilla and ambroxan. It lasted nine hours on skin and over 24 on clothes. It’s unisex, more masculine but doesn’t clash on women. It evokes a presentable, sober, intellectual, confident man capable of handling any situation. Commandant doesn’t disappoint; it’s my signature now and one of my favourite Xerjoff fragrances; the more I use it, the more I like it.

I’ve been wearing perfumes for years, and Xerjoff Comandante opened my eyes to what an evolving fragrance is. It starts with a fruit mix where cherry stands out, blending with flowers, an iris or neroli, accompanied by honey, vanilla, and patchouli, all supported by leather that smells like new shoes. Then tobacco, spices, and cedar enter. At 3 hours, only tobacco, leather, cedar, and bursts of spices remain, lasting over 8 hours. My wife thought I’d put on another perfume. Scent 9, Performance 8, Projection 7, Sillage 7, Longevity +8h. Blind buy 7: whoever buys it hits the mark. Complexity 5, Versatility 8. Without a doubt, an all-rounder worthy of being the best signature perfume. The only drawback is being able to afford a Xerjoff for frequent use. If you want to dive into niche, Comandante is a sure bet.

This fragrance embraces you; it isn’t a typical Xerjoff. It’s challenging and a real bomb. It reminds me of a hug with freshly washed and tumble-dried towels: fluffy, soft, warm, and smelling of the best fabric softener. One of the best floral compositions I’ve tried, as masculine as it is feminine. It’s not for going to the club to show off next to One Million or Invictus; it’s a completely different vibe. I love it.

I’ve been testing it and I loved it. It reminds me of a designer perfume, I think Le Male; I can’t find anything to say it smells fresh, but I feel it’s fresh and spiced. It’s versatile. Someone to clear up my doubts about how fresh I feel the fragrance is. 10/10.

We are looking at a perfume of excellent quality and performance. Its opening is powerful but immediately marks territory. A sweet fruity opening with a very good floral touch at the start. In its dry-down, from the first minutes, a base of leather and vanilla is noticeable, and if you inhale deeply, you can distinguish the note of sweet tobacco and almost imperceptibly a background of woods. It’s really a great perfume that walks between the known and the exclusive. To me, it sounds between Luxor Oud by Memo and Pegasus by Parfums de Marly. It’s a real treat: power, elegance, longevity, sillage, and great scent make it a true jewel. I see it for intermediate and slightly fresh seasons, but if you want to use it, there will be no problems. Completely unisex, for people from 28 years old with semi-formal and formal attire. Scent 8.5/10, Sillage 9/10, Longevity 8.5/10, Projection 9/10. Highly recommended for lovers of warm, sweet, and spiced perfumes.