XerJoff is once again taking a very musical approach with two new “Blends”. The scents Tony Iommi Blend No 1 Monkey Special and Tony Iommi – Deified have emerged from the collaboration with the metallic riff master Tony Iommi from Black Sabbath. I have reported on “Tony Iommi and Xerjoff: How does darkness smell?” and “Deified – Tony Iommi’s place in the Xerjoff Olympus“.
Now we enter a decade later, in the 1980s, and in a completely different direction, namely synthpop or new wave, to which Duran Duran belongs. I admit it honestly. It’s not really my kind of music and I’m perhaps still a bit too young to have experienced the era directly. Nevertheless, “The Wild Boys” and “Rio” didn’t pass me by. While researching, I found it interesting that the band was kicked off the BBC program with the video for “Girls on Films”. Too much naked skin was already a big stir back then, and obviously not much has changed since 1981. But much more violent still – I quote Wikipedia:
In July 1983, Duran Duran […] played a concert at London’s Dominion Theatre in honor of Princess Diana and her husband Prince Charles. It was here that disaster almost struck. The IRA was planning an attack on the royal couple, which would probably have resulted in the death of the group. The assassination attempt was foiled by an undercover investigator.
Xerjoff x Duran Duran
Photo: Dave Benett
The creative collaboration between Duran Duran and XerJoff boss Sergio Momo has resulted in the two fragrances NeoRio and Black Moonlight. They both aim to represent the stylistic range of the music group and combine it with art, glamor and luxury fragrances. Have they succeeded? Let’s get into the fray!
NeoRio x 4
With NeoRio, which of course refers by name to the big hit “Rio”, XerJoff has four neon-colored bottles in its range. Whether in yellow, pink, orange or green – they all contain the same fragrance, but collectors and fans will still be tempted to buy four of them. Take a look at the color of the drinks and the body painting:
NeoRio – the fragrance
As with the Iommi fragrances, NeoRio also indulges in hedonism. For me, lust for life, pleasure and intoxication are the first associations. Sugary, fruity fig pieces sink into dark brown rum, surrounded by tart, sweet maple syrup. Peru balsam harmonizes particularly well with the sweet notes, but also with saffron, tonka bean and a hint of rose. Again and again, a note of licorice and fruit gum emerges from the sweet, resinous cloud. Hans Riegel Bonn sends his regards. And all of this matches the color scheme of the flacons.
The fragrance shows the shrill and colorful side of the 80s. Uninhibited, naïve and somewhere on a scale from carefree to crazy. The resins and balsams capture the whole thing and give NeoRio an undeniable quality. The fragrance really puts me in a good mood and I can only urge you to try it.
Top notes: fig, elemi resin, rum, labdanum (cistus)
Heart notes: maple syrup, rose oil (rose attar), saffron
Base notes: Peru balsam, patchouli, tonka bean
Black Moonlight – dark light
The second fragrance “Black Moonlight” is intended to explore the somewhat darker and mysterious side of Duran Duran. Nevertheless, the song of the same name from 2023 is a real party song that is not at all gloomy. Only the video comes in creepy black and white and contains the whole bizarre fund of spiritualism such as séances, Ouija boards, ectoplasm etc. and amusingly reminds me a little of the Ghostbusters theme song by Ray Parker Jr.
Black Moonlight is indeed a completely different caliber, because it immediately becomes clear that the party is a different one. Here we have a much deeper and more complex fragrance. It also exudes a dark seriousness that doesn’t quite match the raunchiness of the music video.
The minty spice of cardamom picks up the nose first, accompanied by leathery saffron. I am already convinced. What happens next? Hazelnut! But not too gourmand, because it appears together with herbaceous lavender, again intercepted by soft balsamic myrrh and creamy flowers. Great, I tell you. The base is the most unagitated part of the fragrance and forms a broad foundation of resins, woods and balsams. Black Moonlight is spicy, ambery and leathery, with twists of hazelnut and cardamom that are new to me. For me, this is the winner of the day.
Inspired by the interplay of light and shadow that defines Duran Duran’s music, this exquisite fragrance embodies the allure of mystery and the quiet power of self-expression.
Top notes: bergamot, cardamom, mandarin, saffron
Heart notes: hazelnut, lavender, myrrh, jasmine, ylang-ylang
Base notes: labdanum (cistus), vetiver, benzoin resin, patchouli, tolu balsam, tonka bean
Who knows the fragrances? Feel free to write your opinion in the comments!
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