Alexander The Great

Alexander The Great is Alexandria UK's homage to Xerjoff's Alexandria II, a fragrance famous for its unusual apple-and-rose oriental composition. The opening combines rosewood, lavender, cinnamon, and apple for a warm, spiced fruit accord that echoes the original's distinctive start, though it reads slightly sharper and less blended. A rose-cedar heart with a touch of lily-of-the-valley follows, aiming for the same regal floral core, before settling into a base of oud, sandalwood, amber, vanilla, and musk. The intent is clearly there - all the key building blocks of Alexandria II's imperial, opulent character are present - but the execution comes across thinner, with the rose reading more generic and the oud less resinous than the niche original. It's a reasonable way to experience the apple-rose-oud combination that made Alexandria II a cult favourite, at a fraction of the investment, though the depth and longevity fall well short of a scent widely regarded as one of Xerjoff's most complex releases.