FRAGRANCE | Cruz del Sur II Parfum by Xerjoff: Sweet mangoes and cream for the taking

halfwhiteboy - Xerjoff Cruz del Sur II Parfum 01 

Heard so many good things about Xerjoff's Cruz del Sur II, with mango milkshake, mango smoothie, and a very realistic mango being the most common references attributed to its scent. From what I have, I think only Un Jardin Sur Le Nil by Hermès has a prominent mango accord, so naturally I was intrigued and eventually bought a bottle.

Cruz del Sur II is part of the house's Shooting Stars Collection and has this piece of what supposedly is a meteorite. I can't vouch for the authenticity of said rock but let's face it, it's a nice touch but utterly useless. Still, the presentation is really great, which is typical of Xerjoff and is something I always appreciate in a fragrance.

halfwhiteboy - Xerjoff Cruz del Sur II Parfum 02

The scent is filled with fruity goodness headlined by sweet and creamy mangoes. The mangoes have this medicinal trait to them, which is something I normally associate with the red variety of this tropical fruit. To me they're not ripe Philippine mangoes, which are softer and fleshier by comparison. The ones here are firmer, not yet fully ripe, and carry a hint of sourness at the start. I have yet to encounter a frag that perfectly captures the essence of Philippine mangoes but this is nevertheless nice.

A dusty earthiness surrounds the scent, which counteracts the steadily growing milky creaminess. However, it isn't able to fully neutralize the ensuing thickness, as the scent grows sweeter and milkier over time, veering closer and closer to cloying territory. For all its tropical fruit references, this isn't a perfect fit for hot and humid days. Its saving grace probably lies in its less than beastly projection, so it never chokes you or those around you. The late drydown sees the dustiness gone and the sweetness taking on a vanillic turn with traces of mango lingering. It also is much softer by then.

While not as balanced as the much-lauded Casamorati Italica, Xerjoff's Cruz del Sur II will likely please lovers of sweet gourmands. It's not as versatile a frag but it easily caters to both sexes. I'm not head over heels for it but I like it enough to keep it for whenever I feel the need for something sweet and lactonic.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

FRAGRANCE | Green Cedar EDT by Bench: An environmentally-conscious offering from the Philippines' premier retail brand

Image
A few weeks ago, I found myself wandering inside Bench Powerplant Mall. And what else would catch my eye but two fragrances by their lonesome twosome, positioned far away from the rest of the brand's scent offerings. They're Basil & Neroli and Green Cedar , both EDTs and part of the  Bench Better Made line . The frags are purported to be vegan and cruelty-free. They come in 125ml dark brown glass bottles and brown paper cylindrical boxes. Nice packaging there except for the cheap, plastic cap. No big deal, though, since they're just Php 428 apiece. 
Read more

LOOKBOOK | Barong Tagalog and sneakers for 'Buwan ng Wika'

Image
Looking oh, so dignified here. Although the celebrations are normally concentrated in elementary schools, August is Buwan ng Wika (Language Month) in the Philippines. Along with dressing up in various traditional Filipino costumes, schools usually hold programs and contests showcasing the national language and traditional Filipino songs and dances. Our department decided to join in the fun by designating a special day yesterday where everyone was required to wear a traditional Filipino costume reinterpreted for modern times. Two years ago when we first held this event, I found myself wearing an ethnic-designed shirt with a malong . This year I decided on a Barong Tagalog , considered our national formal wear for men. But no one wants to go all formal on a Friday, so I wore my Barong Tagalog with sneakers . I thought, if a full-on suit works just fine with sneakers, a barong would be just as perfect with this type of footwear.
Read more

FRAGRANCE | Rajo Uno EDT by Bench: An inexpensive local gem

Image
Philippine retail giant Bench has been many a high schooler's go-to shop for cheap colognes, myself included. And even during my college years, Bench has remained a staple. I remember  Bench Ei8ht was very popular with many people back then although my favorites were their body sprays Cielo and L'Amoureux . Through the years their roster of fragrances has only grown by leaps and bounds, with a lot of them made in collaboration with celebrities and fashion designers like Rajo Laurel .
Read more