Alexandria II by Xerjoff - A Fragrance Carved from the Echoes of Empire.

Some fragrances murmur, others assert — but Alexandria II by Xerjoff does neither. It recalls, like a distant memory surfacing from the shadows.

From the House of Xerjoff - the brainchild of Sergio Momo and Dominique Salvo - comes a collection not simply of scents, but of time-worn rituals and resplendent legacies bottled for the discerning few. Xerjoff does not chase trends; it revives forgotten luxuries, using rare ingredients and artisanal craftsmanship to chart an olfactory topography where memory, myth, and materiality converge.

Among its most treasured creations lies Alexandria II - a scent born from reverence and reimagination. Originally unveiled in a limited run of just 120 flacons, the original Alexandria became a collector’s cipher - imbued with oud aged 25 years, it was both fragrance and artifact. But when demand outlived rarity, Xerjoff embarked on an odyssey of revival, sourcing a noble 5-year-aged Tarakan oud from the jungles of Borneo. The result is not merely a successor - it is an heir: Alexandria II.

This fragrance doesn’t begin. It emerges - like the dawn over ancient minarets, or the slow unveiling of a hidden fresco. The top notes - palisander rosewood, cinnamon, lavender, and apple - collide in a moment of high drama. The rosewood hums in polished resonance, lavender lends a powdered hush, while cinnamon flares briefly like a match struck in a cathedral. And then - apple, crisp and unexpected, like a flash of modernity in a marble hall.

The heart is a dance of contrasts. Bulgarian rose unfurls its velvet petals against the dry, sacred backdrop of cedarwood and lily of the valley. Here lies a courtship between softness and structure - the floral warmth never overtakes the architecture of the composition.

And at the base - the soul. Tarakan oud, both reserved and majestic, is enveloped in a velvety pairing of Madagascar vanilla and Australian sandalwood, creating a harmonious and refined balance. Musk and amber lend a smoky softness, reminiscent of ancient scrolls and candlelit corridors. This is oud not as aggression, but as articulation - less a statement, more a presence. Always there, never overbearing. Like wisdom, or shadow.

What sets Alexandria II apart is not just its structure - it's the pace. This is not a sprint; it’s a slow procession. Every note has room to breathe, evolve, and eventually bow out with grace. The fragrance settles not into skin but into memory, echoing long after it leaves the room.

Projection? Think of it as an aura - noticeable, yet never intrusive. An arm’s length, perhaps. Enough to be felt, not flaunted. Longevity? Exceptional. A single spray clings like devotion, lasting 10 hours or more, blooming in subtle shifts throughout the day.

Wear it in moments that deserve to be remembered: an opera, a decisive meeting, a candlelit dinner at the top of a quiet city. It doesn’t ask for an occasion - it creates one.

While Tom Ford’s Oud Wood might resemble a tailored suit, Alexandria II is something else entirely - a tailored history. Not something worn, but something inhabited.

In the end, to wear Alexandria II is to embody a time before time - to move as if trailed by silk, stories, and sandalwood. It’s not simply a perfume. It is a proclamation - that elegance is not an aesthetic, but an inheritance.

On terra australis, Xerjoff's creations can be found at libertineparfumerie.com.au and myer.com.au.

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Words by AW.