Basti87

Of course I also have to write a review about this beauty: The Burdèl from the Anniversari collection by Tiziana Terenzi. Even though it is rated really highly here, it is always overshadowed by the Xerjoff hype. It is difficult to stand up to Xerjoff with this hype, also because the Tiziana Terenzi brand already gets a lot of hate. Not everyone can cope with this brand's signature, I like it.
If you don't fancy the "Alexandria II (Parfum) | XerJoff", you can save a lot of money here. The RRP of the Burdèl is also 400€, but you can get it for around 170€ per 100ml. Supply-demand makes the prices. In my opinion, the fragrance is a perfect alternative that even has some advantages, e.g. the slightly resonant freshness that makes it easier to wear.

What is surprising is the packaging: you get a huge box. Does justice to the RRP of 400€. The LED that lights up when you open the packaging is fierce. This light illuminates the golden decoration on the lid. I am thrilled. Even if it probably looks more expensive than it is: that's what I call decadent and original. A clear 10/10 for this packaging and the bottle is also very pretty with black and gold.
As I said, anyone looking for a top alternative to Alexandria II will not be disappointed. Not 1:1, but I can't pick a favorite among these two as both have their merits. The Alex II is of course a little more beastmode and even more oriental, this Burdèl still has an Italian charm with some citrus
The Alexandria II DNA is immediately apparent in the top note. This fragrance twin is certainly lighter and more citrusy right from the start. This fragrance is easier to wear in everyday life than its twin. Cumin and a great citrusy creaminess are present at the start. However, this somewhat heavier spice blend is kept quite fresh. Wood and balsamic notes also kick in early and make this fragrance very sophisticated and endearing. The Laotian oud is shared by the Xerjoff and the Terenzi. A pleasant oud note that is anything but cowshed. Extremely pleasing from front to back without being too ordinary. Anyone who likes the Alex II vibes will most likely love this one too. The base is also beautiful with soft wood, some delicate musk and lots of sensual sweetness. A well-rounded affair.
Performance is good, but doesn't come close to the Xerjoff. That's not a bad thing, as it is already the ultimate. Here you get a fragrance that theoretically also works in everyday life if the situation allows it. Sillage is pleasant, longevity is top and in the double-digit range.

This review was quite a lot of comparison, especially since this fragrance is more likely to be sought out by those looking for a cheaper alternative. This is by no means a cheaper copy, but has a lot of originality, especially due to this citrusy start. For me, both fragrances are worthwhile. In the case of Alexandria II, it was only enough for me to buy the 30ml travel version, where you can almost get the 100ml here at the price. You should definitely check it out. Definitely a fragrance with a lot of sex appeal for men and women.

The Casamorati range from Xerjoff is simply great. Different tastes are well catered for and there is something for everyone. You can also get these fragrances at relatively fair prices. I also got hold of this 1888 at a good price. After Dolce Amalfi, Lira and Bouquet Ideale, this is already my 4th in this series. These great big boxes with this artistic picture are also really worth the money. The bottles also have a great look with this typical Xerjoff lid. You should check them out, especially when the fragrances appear in the tempting range.

With 1888, you shouldn't look too closely at the pyramid, and the declaration as a men's fragrance shouldn't be rated too highly either. Here you get a very beautiful, elegant floral-spicy-soft fragrance that has real power and staying power. It simply looks very classy and serious and has a cuddly, sensual vibe that most people will simply love.
As I said, you don't need to look too closely at the pyramid. This fragrance would not have been my cup of tea, partly because of the clove. This note usually divides opinion and not everyone likes it. In my opinion, however, this 1888 is perfectly balanced to create a harmonious and elegant fragrance. The clove is already very present at the start, but is accompanied by a really pleasant spiciness. Saffron (not like in BR420/OfG), coriander and a subtle peppery note accompany this clove and are convincing. After a few minutes, ylang-ylang creams it in beautifully and combines this into a sensual, elegant composition. Oriental amber sets in early and is particularly prominent in the base. It is accompanied by sweetness, dark spicy patchouli and light wood. The base is really beautiful and can still be perceived after many hours. With 1888 you get a great balance of flowers, spice, oriental and a really great amber sweetness. Beautifully soft. On the whole, a fragrance that does not change extremely but remains similar from top to base.
Performance is really good. Even after 10+ hours, the fragrance notes still linger in your nose. This makes it perfect for everyday wear, even if it is also suitable for more sophisticated occasions.

You should try it if you are looking for a stylish floral-spicy fragrance with a pleasant sweetness. Ladies can also try it, as it is not necessarily masculine.

It's finally here, the Salam by Anfas. A fragrance I've been curious about for so long. This fragrance is already extremely hyped in the niche world and has a sensational rating of 8.7 here too. And yes, absolutely deserved especially because of this mass appeal. The fragrance is not so easy to get, as it was often sold out in many stores, even without a discount. Now I was lucky and I got the fragrance for less than 200€ per 75ml. The regular price of 235€ is steep, but not blatantly overpriced compared to its niche colleagues.
The Anfas brand by Asim Al Qassim from Dubai is already very famous, and fragrances such as "Ishq | Anfas" or "Rahaba | Anfas" are also top sellers, and rightly so. The quality is already very high and in my opinion they are already working with high-quality fragrances.

This salam comes in a very classy box, as you would expect from fragrances from Dubai: voluminous, classy, well-made and already quite flashy. I like this box to open. The bottle is also an eye-catcher. Heavy glass, very thick base, beautiful matt lid and of course a beautiful yellowish fragrance. 75ml is a good size, although you could use more because of the many ways you can wear it. But you can always use it for more elegant occasions. Also in everyday life, if you want to wear a more noble and special fragrance.
Salam is an extremely mass-market fragrance for niche conditions. Niche doesn't always have to be like a colorful cow, but can also be high-end. Even if it is very suitable for the masses, you can't name a fragrance twin, which of course makes it unique. It is absolutely easy to like and will certainly appeal to the masses. It is absolutely blind-buy-safe, even if you shouldn't necessarily buy blindly in this price range. However, if other opinions are more important to you than your own taste, you should go for it.
Salam is simply a totally delicious and clean fragrance that is really nice and creamy. Even though this fragrance has oriental roots, it is more "western". It starts semi-fresh with beautiful fruity mandarin paired with some oriental amber, which sets in quite early. A creamy, quarky mandarin with a little musky fluff also kicks in quite early. Really very balanced and this fragrance DNA serves quite a lot of fragrance tastes at the same time. This gentle fragrance aura is simply very, very pleasant. A sensual, warm aura with style and not too obtrusive or clumsy, simply pure elegance. This pleasant jasmine note plays a large part in this without being overpowering. The base is very pleasantly sensual, creamy and cleanly woody with musky amber and soft sandalwood. Overall, round from front to back without any disruptive factors.
Performance is criticized by some in the statements. I find it absolutely perfect. The sillage is perfect for smelling stylish and the longevity is over 8 hours. Absolutely sufficient for me and you don't need more in many situations.

A must-try for me and the high rating is understandable. It's not cheap, but it smells very unique and is sooo pleasant. A blessing.

Fruity fragrances have been very hyped in recent years. Not just for the ladies, but modern men also like to wear exotic fruity fragrances and it definitely fits in with the times. Fragrances like Erba Pura and Kirke have of course broken the ice and you can find fragrances that go roughly in this direction. These fragrances also get like Hate, but I like this exotic fragrance DNA with a lot of fruit. But there are also better fragrances that serve this theme. One of these high-end fruit fragrances is this Almaz by Kajal. A brand that produces in Paris but probably has Arabic roots and uses this concept. I couldn't detect much oriental in the three fragrances I tested, Almaz, Dahab and Lamar, but they are really high quality and not excessively overpriced.

I bought this Almaz. you can get 100ml for less than 150€ with an RRP of over 200€. It's totally worth it with this Almaz, as you get fruit perfection in my opinion. The packaging is also great. Nice box with a sample of the Lamar. I think it's great when samples are included in the box. The bottle is also extremely high-quality and pretty, especially the lid, which is decorated with green and silver stones
The fragrance has a very fruity scent. Even though passion fruit is not present in the pyramid, you get a very exotic fruity scent, also a bit of a clean grape sugar vibe. Right from the start you get this luxurious body lotion vibe which is so nurturing. This beautiful blackcurrant is also extremely present and simply heavenly. Raspberry fans will also get their money's worth, especially after 30 minutes. Even though there are many fruity fragrances, I couldn't name a very close twin. Anyone who likes the fruit from Cassiopeia by Tiziana Terenzi will love this one. This Almaz is even more exotic and a cleaner touch. Soft florals also kick in after 1-2 hours, but tend to lie underneath the fruit. The base from 3-4 hours becomes a bit kirke and Erba Pura with lots of musk, but also pleasantly sweet with amber, tonka and pleasant sugar. The sweetness from the base is present early on and accompanies the fruits with a pleasant sweetness, but seems more like dextrose than cotton candy. All in all, a perfect fruit fragrance for me and anyone who likes fragrances like Erba Pura should definitely try this one.
Performance is very good with over 10 hours of longevity and strong sillage over 5-7 hours. Even after that it is still easily perceptible.

For me one of the best fruity fragrances. Should be tested, especially by ladies and gentlemen with a preference for sweet-fruity fragrances. For me a clear 10 out of 10, because this fragrance simply makes you feel good and clean and well-groomed.

A treasure that I have not yet reviewed: The Decas from the 1861 series, which consists of 4 fragrances. Naxos of course, followed by Renaissance. Zefiro and this Decas are usually available at a very good discount as they don't seem to be as popular and probably don't sell as well at higher prices. I don't understand that with this Decas, as it already smells very special and luxurious. I couldn't really name any comparable fragrances or fragrance twins. Some people here call it the Naxos for summer, which I don't really feel. This one gives me tropical and ozonic vibes, despite this pyramid that suggests more of an autumn scent.

You can get it for around 150€, which is very reasonable for 100ml by Xerjoff standards. If you can't do without sweetness in summer, you should definitely try it. It's extremely sweet, but I've already worn it in midsummer and I was completely convinced. This Decas simply has a certain clean lightness that goes wonderfully with crisp, warm sunshine and a good mood. Of course, it also works well in fall and spring, but you shouldn't be put off by this rather heavy pyramid.

In my opinion, the best thing about this fragrance is the great top note. A very ozonic freshness paired with juicy and very sweet mandarin, which has a slight bubblegum and grape sugar vibe. Probably due to the tuberose, which is not too feminine as in many other fragrances. A gently spicy tobacco note is also present, but it is rather classy in the background. There is also a clean vibe with lots of creamy elements, as in many white fragrances. Creamy, fluffy musk with a noble balsamic cream that simply smells clean and well-groomed. I can't smell benzoin and opoponax, but they could definitely play a role here. These notes are not to be smelled in their entirety. The vanilla sweetness is also very well integrated and sits perfectly on top of these creamy-sweet notes. The light bubblegum vibe fades after about 2 hours and you are left with a sophisticated creamy-balsamic-sweet fragrance that also has a great lightness. Overall very harmonious from start to finish in my opinion and not one of many.
The performance is top: the longevity is in the double digits and the sillage is extremely good in the first 4-5 hours and also very decent later on. Perfect for people who like to wear heavier fragrances in summer.

Overall very underrated, but still has some fans and rightly so. Not everyone may like it, but you definitely won't be lost in the crowd with this fragrance.