Hayat by Xerjoff

The Origin of Life: Earth, Spices and Primordial Fire “Hayat (‘Life’ in Arabic) is an olfactory interpretation of Aristotelian elements, specifically Earth and Fire. If Aqua Regia represents nobility, Hayat is the raw brute force of nature. This is not a fragrance to seek compliments in an office; it is a complex work of art that tells a story of evolution on the skin. The Opening (Fire): The opening is deceptive and brilliant. The bitter orange and saffron explode immediately, yet it is not a fresh citrus. It is a burnt, dry citrus, almost as if you had thrown orange peels onto a precious wood fire. The saffron adds that typical metallic and luxurious touch of Xerjoff, but here it feels more ‘raw’. The Heart (Earth): This is where Hayat separates the boys from the men. The heart reveals a massive dose of Cypriol (Nagarmotha) and Cedar. For those who don’t know, Cypriol smells of damp roots, fertile earth after the rain, and smoky wood. It blends with an Oud that is animalic yet incredibly refined (nothing faecal, purely woody and leathery). The Dry Down: Hours later, a trail of cardamom and sweet woods remains, which is addictive. The fragrance settles, stopping shouting and starting to whisper authority. It is a ‘telluric’ aroma; it connects you to the ground. Comparison: It has the DNA of the old Kemi Blending Magic collection. If you like the darkness of Oud Stars but seek something more spiced and less medicinal, this is the perfect middle ground. Performance: Longevity: Eternal. On the skin it lasts over 12 hours; on clothes, until you wash them (be careful, the juice stains due to its high oil concentration). Projection: Fills a room for the first 2 hours, then creates a very dense personal bubble. Conclusion: Hayat is the scent of a philosopher or a warrior king resting in his tent. It is complex, earthy and fascinating. It is not a blind buy, but an intellectual acquisition.

Never happened to me before, but with this perfume I can clearly distinguish the different notes; I’d say the fragrance is crisp. I find harmony from the opening, dominated by lavender, through the heart with oud, to the finish with exquisite cedar. I usually struggle to appreciate oud scents, as they often smell unpleasant, like burnt oil in most perfumes; however, this oud is elegant, refined, and high-quality, plus it pairs beautifully.

I tried the Kemi Hayat last winter and I loved it… this one couldn’t be any different. Very similar composition, potent, with a hypnotic dry-down. Both are personal enjoyment scents; neither would be bought for their difficulty of use. The only difference would be that Kemi is spicier and brighter, while Xerjoff is darker, drier, and more woody. For unique moments, especially nocturnal ones… it would be a marvel to find the perfect moment to wear this scent, but what I have for sure is that wearing it at home is an experience very much worth considering. It conveys comforting darkness. Performance, nothing to object to.

I tried Hayat by Kemi last winter and loved it…. this one couldn’t be any different. Very similar composition, powerful, with a drying down that’s somewhat hypnotic. Both are personal enjoyment scents; neither would warrant a bottle due to their difficulty of use. The only difference is Kemi has a spicier, brighter profile, whereas Xerjoff is darker, drier, and woodier. For unique moments, especially evening wear… it would be wonderful to find the perfect occasion to wear this scent, but what I know for sure is that wearing it at home is an experience well worth considering. It conveys comforting darkness. Performance: nothing to object to.

Unfortunately, a deviation from the original. I get more citrus and spice, a broader but more disjointed olfactory profile, and it lacks the same lavender.

Please, what a piece of a perfume. Yes, you have to endure the shock of the first 15 minutes. From then on, it’s absolute glory. A masterpiece in every way. Totally formal, it’s the typical one you’d wear in a situation where you want to stand out and say ‘here I am’. It’s understandable when they say it’s an Oud Wood with steroids, but this is something else. Extraordinary quality.

I loved it. The first time I smelled it, it didn’t grab my attention; I found it boring. In its defence, I was wearing Burjas Oud and had smelled Kemi haha, but today I went with a clean nose and the truth is I liked it much more, a notable Oud but much more bearable than the ones I mentioned previously. This one, honestly, I’ll be following to see if I can find it at a good price, because for 100ml it delivers great versatility and quality. Edit: I bought it a month after writing the review; it’s a masterpiece, I don’t find a great evolution, and I’m still testing the performance, but it’s a very good perfume. It opens with a potent Oud, type Indian with cheese, but not as much as Rania J’s Oud Assam. Around 20 mins it settles into a citrus orange accompanied by saffron, cinnamon, cardamom, etc. An exquisite dry-down, really very good. I bought a tester for 190 usd for the 100ml, so I’m more than happy.

This definitely smells like a Sheikh. It’s only for true collectors; it’s intense oud, nothing for amateurs. Please keep it out of reach of children.

Haha, this doesn’t smell like Oud faeces at all…

Just as we started missing Kemi, Xerjoff releases some gorgeous bottles and relaunches everything under the K collection. It makes perfect sense; centralising the perfumes and positioning the K collection with the quality Kemi had is a great success. Hayat is a quality Oud, very similar to Zafar (type Indian with blue cheese) with hints of Ceylon (Cambodian, a bit sweeter), both from the Oud Stars collection. For me, it’s a spiced and woody Oud with extreme versatility; you can wear it in heat without issues and in winter it won’t let you down. Although the Oud is prominent and high quality, it’s not as challenging upon first spray as Zafar nor as sweet as Ceylon. It’s right in the middle ground between both. In my humble opinion, Hayat (the new and the old) is light years away from Tom Ford, although I understand people associate it with the cardamom. To compare the type of Oud, performance, and quality: Oud Wood is like decaffeinated instant American coffee, whereas Hayat is a freshly ground espresso served in an Italian cup with its foam. Comparing batches (Kemi 0152N vs Xerjoff K 05222N): the Xerjoff bottle is prettier, the atomiser is equally good. The scent is basically the same Oud, but Kemi comes out more citrusy and spiced, while Xerjoff is heavier on cedar with less orange and lavender. Mid-stage and dry-down are identical. The only difference is that Kemi is brighter and Xerjoff is more woody. Performance is identical, nothing modified. Thanks for coming back in a prettier bottle, Hayat. Carbonel and Sergio Momo, thanks for not touching these gems and relaunching them.