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
Each question has its own vote count. You can choose several seasons.
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.
It’s 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 through their different stages. Without a doubt, it won’t leave my collection.
A classic evolution typical of natural oud: starts animal with woody, spicy, fruity, and floral touches. The oud is king from start to finish, driving the other notes through every stage. Definitely staying in my collection.
Zafar, the most minimalist of Xerjoff’s Oud Stars, demands years of experience to truly enjoy. If you already know real oud, you’ll notice that blue cheese profile; if not, let it age a couple of years. It’s fresh, spicy, and elegant—an improved version of Asrar Indonesia. For oud lovers, it’s addictive; for beginners, it might be repulsive. I first met it in a decant: initially the blue cheese oud, then an intense smoke. Even though I was used to softer ouds, I got hooked. Months later, trying official samples, Zafar still won out. A year later, with the full bottle and having smelled many ouds, I confirm it’s fresh, spicy, with green apple and pepper. The oud softens after 15-20 minutes, accompanied by white flowers making it wet and woody, like Hayat. It has lots of musk that reinforces the attraction. After 30 minutes, it leaves a mysterious, fresh vibe that grabs attention. It’s a jewel, but only for those who’ve traveled the world of oud. Today, it’s my signature for heat.
I read that niche perfumes smell like k-k and thought about trying this beauty. Are you a Prada fan or an Oud fan? Do you think 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, but it’s not that much. According to the house, it has rose, pepper, white flowers, Laos oud, neroli, musk, incense, and vetiver. It’s resinous; several mention the blue cheese accord, but it’s the combination with musk and the oud reinforced by white flowers that remind me of Jabir by Kemi. It’s linear, masculine, and has excellent performance: lasts 8-10 hours with a one-meter projection. 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.
After reading reviews saying niche perfumes smell bad, I wanted to try this beauty again. Are you a Nautica fan or part of the Prada team? Or do you think oud smells like poop? Skip it if that’s the case. 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’s resinous; some compare it to cheese (the edible kind, not the hoof kind), thanks to the mix of musk and oud, accompanied by white flowers that remind me of Jabir by Kemi. It’s linear, masculine, and lasts 8-10 hours, projecting one meter. It was a blind buy that left me very satisfied, although it didn’t blow my mind like Jabir, which I had already tried before.
Zafar is the most challenging and victorious of the Oud Stars line. I’ve had it for years, and if you’re looking for oud, this is it. It’s resinous, dirty, and will turn off many who claim to be enthusiasts of the genre. It has a scent that reminds a bit of cheese, where the musk adds that typical animalic, aged touch of the resin. White flowers are in the background but noticeable. The apple is in the depths; you have to pay close attention because it’s easy to lose. It’s linear, masculine, and has good performance, ideal outdoors. In enclosed spaces, few will tolerate it, so use it with judgment so they don’t end up hating you. For women who like strong, dirty, indolic floral scents, it’s excellent. The rest of the collection is easier, like 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 use it too often, you’ll end up hating it, just like with strong flavors. I love it. It doesn’t seek to please anyone but those seeking new experiences where oud remains our star. Great perfume!