Zafar by Xerjoff
Men Women 2012
The olfactory pyramid
A guide to the opening, heart and lasting trail of the fragrance.
The community speaks
Compare the results and tap an answer to add your vote.
In the collection
Leading answer I own it
795 votes
What do you think?
Leading answer Love it
351 votes
Season
Choose severalLeading answer Winter
276 votes
Time of day
Choose severalLeading answer Night
158 votes
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Fragrance profile
About Zafar
Zafar by Xerjoff is an oriental woody fragrance for men and women. Launched in 2012, the nose behind this composition is Chris Maurice.
Woods and mosses Spices White flowers Flowers
It may remind you of
Ranked by what the community voted.
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How it wears
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Longevity
Leading answer Very long-lasting
185 votes
Sillage
Tied for the lead Moderate / Strong
233 votes
Character
Leading answer Traditionally masculine
110 votes
Value perception
Leading answer Very expensive
103 votes
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Community reviews
6 reviews
Share what you noticed: opening, drydown, sillage and the moments when it works for you.
A quintessential evolving fragrance typical of natural oud: it begins animalic with woody, spicy, fruity, and floral nuances. The oud is the king from start to finish, driving the other notes through every stage. It will definitely stay in my collection.
It is clearly an evolving fragrance, typical of natural ouds. It comes out with that animalic oud mixed with spicy, fruity, and floral touches. The protagonist from start to finish is the oud, but in its evolution it pushes the rest of the notes in their different stages. Without a doubt, it will not leave my collection.
Zafar, the most minimalist of Xerjoff’s Oud Stars, demands years of experience to truly appreciate. If you already know real oud, you’ll notice that blue cheese profile; if not, keep it for a couple of years. It is fresh, spicy, and elegant—an improved version of Asrar Indonesia. For oud lovers, it will be addictive; for novices, repulsive. I first encountered it in a decant: initially the blue cheese-like oud, followed by intense smoke. Although I was familiar with softer ouds, it created an addiction in me. Months later, trying official samples, Zafar still won out. A year on, with the full bottle and having smelled many ouds, I confirm it is fresh, spicy, with green apple and pepper. The oud softens after 15–20 minutes, accompanied by white flowers that make it feel moist and woody, much like Hayat. It has plenty of musk that reinforces the attraction. After 30 minutes, it leaves a mysterious, fresh vibe that draws attention. It is a jewel, but only for those who have travelled the world of oud. Today it is my signature for the heat.
Having read reviews that niche perfumes smell bad, I wanted to give this beauty another try. Are you a fan of Nautica or the Prada team? Or do you believe oud smells like faeces? Pass if so. Zafar by Xerjoff means ‘Victory’ in Arabic and is the most challenging of the Oud Stars line. According to the house, it has rose, pepper, white flowers, Laos oud, neroli, musk, incense, and vetiver. It is resinous; some compare it to cheese (of the edible kind, not hoof cheese), thanks to the blend of musk and oud, accompanied by white flowers reminiscent of Jabir de Kemi. It is linear, masculine, and lasts 8–10 hours, projecting a metre. It was a blind buy that left me very satisfied, although it didn’t blow my mind like Jabir, which I had tried before.
I read that niche perfumes smell like cow pats and thought I’d give this beauty a try. Are you a fan of Prada or Oud? Do you believe all perfumes with this note smell like a stable? Keep reading. Zafar means ‘Victory’ in Arabic, belongs to the Oud Stars line, and was said to be the most challenging, though it isn’t quite that. According to the house, it features rose, pepper, white flowers, Laos oud, neroli, musk, incense, and vetiver. It is resinous; several mention the cheese accord, but it is the combination with the musk and the oud reinforced by white flowers reminiscent of Jabir de Kemi that makes it work. It is linear, masculine, and has excellent performance: lasting 8–10 hours with a projection of a metre. It was a blind buy that left me very satisfied; it didn’t blow my mind because I had already tried Jabir, which did the same.
Zafar is the most challenging and victorious of the Oud Stars line. I have had it for years, and if you are looking for oud, this is it. It is resinous, dirty, and will deter many who claim to be enthusiasts of the genre. It has a scent reminiscent of cheese, where the musk adds that typical animalic, aged touch of the resin. The white flowers are in the background but noticeable. The apple is in the depths; you have to pay close attention because it is easy to lose. It is linear, masculine, and has good performance, ideal outdoors. In enclosed spaces, few will tolerate it, so use it with discretion so you don’t end up being hated. For women who like strong, dirty, indolic floral scents, it is excellent. The rest of the collection is easier, such as Mamluk with honey or Fars with a floral charge, while Al Khatt is generic and Luxor is rebellious. Zafar is for sporadic use, because if you wear it often, you’ll end up hating it, just as with strong flavours. I love it. It doesn’t seek to please anyone but those of us seeking new experiences where oud remains our star. Great perfume!