Xerjoff Erba Pura review: notes, longevity and who it suits

Sicilian citrus over tropical fruit and vanilla amber, tested over a week in Lagos.

Erba Pura is the fragrance we reach for when someone says they want to be complimented and cannot describe anything else about what they like.

The notes

Sicilian orange and lemon at the top, tropical fruit and white musk through the middle, vanilla and amber underneath. The fruit is the whole personality; the base is what keeps it on skin.

If you have ever wanted a fragrance that gets complimented in a lift, this is the one on our shelf that does it most often.

Longevity and sillage

Eight hours or more from two dabs of the oil, with strong projection for the first three. In humidity it carries further, so start with one dab in the daytime.

Who it suits

Anyone, honestly, which is unusual. It reads unisex, it works from a Saturday afternoon to an evening out, and it is the safest bottle in the archive to buy without testing.

Verdict

Our most recommended first purchase. If you want something quieter for the office, look at Silver Mountain Water instead.