Few niche fragrances have built a following quite like Xerjoff 1861 Naxos. Launched as part of Xerjoff's 1861 collection and named after the Sicilian island, it has become a modern classic among fragrance lovers for the way it blends bright citrus and lavender with sticky honey, tobacco and vanilla. It is loved for being rich without being heavy, and it regularly tops "best niche fragrance" lists. The catch is the price: a 100ml bottle of Naxos Eau de Parfum is listed at £190 at Selfridges, and even discounted retailers tend to sit around the £140 mark. That puts it firmly in special-occasion territory for most people.
What does Xerjoff Naxos actually smell like?
Naxos is built around a contrast between a fresh, aromatic opening and a warm, gourmand base. Its published note pyramid is:
- Top notes: lavender, bergamot, lemon
- Heart notes: honey, cinnamon, cashmeran, jasmine sambac
- Base notes: tobacco leaf, vanilla, tonka bean
In practice, the first few minutes are sparkling and slightly herbal thanks to the lavender and citrus. That quickly softens into a golden, honeyed heart with a gentle sprinkle of cinnamon, before settling into a smooth tobacco-vanilla drydown that feels cosy and polished. Sweet, honey, vanilla and tobacco are the accords most people pick out, with lavender and citrus keeping it from becoming cloying.
Why people look for a Naxos dupe
Naxos is the kind of fragrance people want to wear often, especially through autumn and winter, and that is exactly where the price starts to hurt. At well over £100 a bottle, reaching for it daily feels like an indulgence. A well-made inspired-by alternative lets you enjoy the same honey-tobacco-vanilla mood for everyday wear, gifting or simply trying the style before committing to the original.
Introducing Honey Vanille — Insp by Xerjoff XJ1861 Naxos
Honey Vanille is D&E Fragrances' take on the Naxos style. It follows the same direction: a fresh lavender, bergamot and lemon opening that warms into honey, cinnamon and soft cashmeran, before drying down to tobacco leaf, creamy vanilla and tonka bean.
Honey Vanille is available in several sizes to suit how you like to wear fragrance:
- 5ml sample bottle — £14.99
- 12ml oil roller — £19.99
- 15ml Extrait de Parfum — £19.99
- 30ml Extrait de Parfum — £34.99
- 3 x 15ml Extrait de Parfum set — £35.99
- 50ml Extrait de Parfum — £44.95
Like all of our fragrances, it is hand-blended in the UK, vegan and cruelty-free. It is unisex and works best on cooler days, evenings out and cosy weekends — anywhere you want something warm and inviting that still feels refined.
Being upfront about the comparison
We want to be clear: no inspired-by fragrance is an exact clone or replica of the original, and Honey Vanille is no exception. It is our own composition, designed to capture the same honeyed, tobacco-vanilla character that Naxos is known for, but it is not identical. Individual raw materials, concentrations and the way a scent develops on your skin will all differ. If you are after the exact Xerjoff experience, only the original will give you that. If you love the overall style and want something similar at a fraction of the cost, Honey Vanille is well worth trying — and the 5ml sample is an easy, low-risk way to find out.
Longevity and projection
Honey Vanille is made at Extrait de Parfum strength, and in general we would expect it to wear for around 8–10 hours, with the warm base notes lingering longest. Honey, vanilla and tobacco tend to sit relatively close to the skin as they dry down, so expect noticeable projection for the first couple of hours before it settles into a comfortable scent bubble. As always, longevity varies with skin type, climate and how much you apply — spraying onto pulse points and clothing can help it last.
The verdict
If you have been admiring Xerjoff Naxos but cannot justify spending well over £100 on a bottle, Honey Vanille is a sensible place to start. It captures the fresh-to-golden journey of citrus, lavender, honey and tobacco-vanilla in an affordable, UK-made format, and with a 5ml sample from £14.99 there is very little risk in giving it a go.
Shop now: Honey Vanille — Insp by Xerjoff XJ1861 Naxos
Xerjoff and Naxos are registered trademarks of Xerjoff S.p.A. (Xerjoff Group). D&E Fragrances is an independent UK fragrance brand and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Xerjoff. "Honey Vanille" is our own original composition, inspired by the popular fragrance family that Naxos helped define.