Tony Iommi Monkey Special by Xerjoff

This perfume has been my obsession for almost a year, but our first meeting was far from idyllic. That load of patchouli made me scrunch my nose, but I bought a decant and loved it so much I splurged on a bottle a couple of months ago at a good price. So, I feel ready to describe one of my favorite perfumes. The opening is super acidic and almost astringent, explosively alcoholic; I’d say it’s like forgetting a rum and passion fruit soda in the backstage and returning after the concert. Then comes the wet, somewhat wild patchouli; in the heart, the sweetness and acidity of the opening balance out with a nearly wilted rose, super enveloping, and a very subtle leather that reminds you of a well-cared-for guitar case. The development is slow, but the layers intertwine, and at all times you can intuit that sweet caramel and vanilla base with a resinous, ambroxan-boosted foundation for greater diffusion. The performance is outstanding, especially the first 2-3 hours, and it’s very noticeable in your personal bubble until 8 hours. I like to use it for night outings in winter and formal events where you want to stand out (for better or worse, depending on the assimilation capacity of the inexperienced noses you might face). Like Tony Iommi’s riffs, a fragrance in his honor must be luminous, heavy, and very expressive.

Perfume bomb! The first time I tried it, I thought it smelled super acidic and the passion fruit reminded me of the worst of a night of alcohol and a hangover (including the pot…). I was completely wrong. In fact, it reacts much better on skin than on blotter. Still, it’s important to test it when it’s cold. This is a perfume for cold afternoons/nights. It opens with super potent rum and passion fruit. This passion fruit accord is very acidic and can be a bit challenging at first, especially boosted by the rum. But soon that caramel kicks in (I notice it’s slightly honeyed) along with tonka bean, labdanum, and vanilla that balance out the initial acidity. Then, with the patchouli and its dark green touches, it adds a point of elegance. It’s not a perfume for people to smell up close. It’s for leaving a challenging, provocative, and seductive trail. It seems to me the perfect rock star inspiration made into perfume. In that sense, along with the trail, projection, and longevity, it makes this perfume an absolute marvel for me. As I said, it conquered me on the second try. The first was an authentic rejection and I didn’t like it at all. I insist on the importance of temperature. Testing this in summer is suicide, in my opinion. The only downside, in my opinion, is its lack of versatility and, of course, the price. Otherwise, I love it.

So, you’ll stand out, but the truth is it’s really hard to wear. I’d buy it in 50ml and sell it as a decant, leaving myself only 20ml because I find it difficult to use. It has all the rockstar vibe: alcohol, leather, and then the passion fruit which is the distinctive mark, but for someone who doesn’t go to parties as often, I recommend buying a decant instead of the full bottle; it doesn’t fit for daily wear, not even in cold weather, and for office, semi-formal, or formal use, it’s completely out of place.

I feel you, right? But this smells to me like my t-shirt on a hungover Sunday morning, after going out the night before. Smells like an after with a touch of caramel. LOOL. Not for me. Too much tobacco + alcohol smell. It has many nuances, especially as it dries down: I notice the rose, the caramel, the patchouli… But the opening smells exactly like what I just drew. Of course, it’s a challenging scent, not made to please everyone, and very masculine. You’ll make a statement.

I used it today, I dressed it, and you can trust me, it’s a beast. Smoky, caramelized, alcoholic, tobacco… a whole experience. People notice it and look for it again in the air to corroborate the genius floating in it. I totally recommend it as a blind buy. Scent: 9.5/10, Projection: 9/10. Perfume beast.

If anyone wants mine, feel free to take it. I’m from CDMX, call 55 5494 2538. It comes with the box and everything. It’s partial.

A complicated fragrance; don’t buy blind, test it first.

I’ve had it for two years and it still delights me. Excellent.

The Tony Iommi Monkey Special is, without a doubt, one of the most impactful I’ve tried, the best of Xerjoff. Original, captivating, and with that rock vibe that makes it unique. I agree with those who say it reminds me of Mugler’s A*Men, but with a bolder and fresher trail.

With years of olfactory experience, I say this left me speechless. I’ve never felt anything like it. What I’ve been looking for all my life: complex, different, and unique. I love passion fruit in other perfumes, but here it’s dark, wrapped in rum. I detect cinnamon, tonka bean, vanilla, ambergris, rose, and a touch of sweet caramel. It won’t impress everyone, but for complex noses seeking something different and not following trends, it’s perfect.

Xerjoff Tony Iommi Monkey Special: Where do I even start? It turned out to be the exact opposite of what I expected. I thought it would be sweet and gourmand due to the caramel, like JPG Scandal, and honestly, it’s not… thank God, because if it were, I would have sold the bottle instantly. It literally smells like opening Tony’s guitar case (as the comments say, spot on). You can detect the rum, passionfruit underneath, very prominent patchouli, rose, and very subtle caramel. It has that sweet undertone, but it’s a super dark scent thanks to the leather; the patchouli is modern, not vintage like Polo. It’s an amazing perfume; I thought it would be simpler and more portable, but it’s dark, boozy, decadent, and elegant. For someone who wears Invictus, this is a challenging perfume; it feels niche. Lasts over 10 hours. I’m thrilled and highly recommend it.

In the opening, it’s like having pure freshly harvested honeycomb. I’m a musician and a lover of good 60s/70s/80s Hard Rock, which is why I was curious. It’s a perfume with well-crafted accords; the final result is balanced. They don’t have strong or harsh notes that say “rock accord”; on the contrary, it’s a dark but sweet, warm, and mature (not old) scent that reflects a sophisticated aspect, like someone who, over the years, achieved mastery, precision, and balance in good rock. The dry down is mind-blowing, comforting, always sweet but moderate, very well integrated with the floral body that nuances and balances the sharp edges. Tremendously captivating, addictive, and full of compliments.

I thought it was a delight. I understand others probably didn’t meet their expectations, but I think it deserves more chances. I smelled it for the first time two months ago at a boutique in Mexico City that brought the full brand line; at first sniff, it was wonderful. I wore it and it lasted 8-10 hours smelling good and 15 hours close to the skin. In the closet, it lasted a month leaving a delicious vanilla scent. I decided to buy it today because it seems like one of those perfumes that blows your mind. I highly recommend it; the only downside is the price. Scent 10/10, Longevity 10/10, Sillage 9/10, Price 5/10, Versatility 7/10 (better in cold, autumn, winter, not above 77°F). In my TOP 10.

Tony Iommi Monkey Special seems like a good perfume to me, although to my nose it wasn’t as mind-blowing as I read in other reviews. I thought I’d find a Holy Grail, and although I liked it, it wasn’t the case for me. It has a delicious passionfruit cocktail opening. Then it dries down keeping those initial notes with lots of cinnamon, leather, and a patchouli heart. On my skin, it’s a present perfume, unisex, not too sweet or cloying, with an elegant but playful touch, perfect for winter night use. With few sprays, it has pleasant projection without being extreme and lasts over 15 hours, though close to the skin from the ninth hour. I used up my 8ml Pafory decant, which went a long way because it’s a fragrance that needs prudent dosing, but it won’t be a bottle for my collection, especially at that price. To afford it, Tony Iommi and I would have to be madly in love. Scent 7/10, Longevity 10/10, Sillage 10/10, Value/Quality 4.5/10, Versatility 7/10, Packaging 8.5/10. Would I buy again? No.

I laugh reading the latest reviews from people saying it doesn’t project and doesn’t last; I wonder if they really tried it or have bad noses… Four sprays are enough to smell yourself for at least 10 hours without being overwhelming. The scent is an alcoholic passionfruit, a bit old-school without actually being so, in the “bad boy of the bar” style, very tasty, attention-grabbing, and gets compliments. Don’t let yourself be swayed by reviews from people who say they tried it and don’t even own it, and especially if they say it doesn’t last; clearly they want to trick you or know nothing about perfumes.