Notorious XO
Notorious XO is a 2025 release from M. Micallef that highlights woody, spicy, and boozy facets. It is built around a prominent cognac top note that transitions into leather and praline. This is an excellent choice for men who prefer a sophisticated, warmth-focused fragrance for the colder months of the year.
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Performance Metrics
789 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
Expect a solid seven to nine hours of longevity on skin. The projection is strong, holding a clear arm's length radius for roughly three hours before settling closer. Best suited for autumn and winter climates below 15 degrees Celsius.
Notes Pyramid
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A warm, woody, and spicy snapshot centered on a dry cognac opening. It features a texture that shifts from bracing and metallic pepper to a creamy, resinous base of vanilla, praline, and sandalwood, all anchored by a crisp, dry leather heart.
Main Accords
14 MAPPEDThe warm spicy and woody accords drive the experience, behaving with a restrained, mature quality. The cognac does not turn syrupy on skin but maintains a wood-barrel character that harmonizes with the cinnamon and leather, ensuring the base sweetness remains grounded and dry.
Community Data
587 TOTAL VOTESCOMMUNITY SENTIMENT
OWNERSHIP STATS
GENDER APPEAL
REVIEW SENTIMENT
When to Wear
TAP TO VOTETIME OF DAY · TAP TO VOTE
OCCASIONS · TAP TO VOTE
It looks easiest to wear in fall and winter. The vote picture leans most toward daytime.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Well-blended and balanced composition
Realistic cognac note avoids syrupy excess
Versatile for formal evening occasions
Sophisticated and professional scent profile
Reliable performance for cold weather wear
High-quality, polished ingredient feel
Unique top note twist with sea elements
Comforting dry-down of vanilla and praline
Excellent structure through the leather heart
Distinct brand signature with modern appeal
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Can become cloying if worn in high heat
Lacks the massive sillage of niche heavyweights
Name may suggest a different flavor profile
Not for fans of extreme, dark perfumes
Performance may vary on oily skin types
Base sweetness might be too much for some
Opening pepper bite is quite sharp
Not a budget-friendly or mass-market value
Leather accord feels subtle, not raw
Requires colder weather to truly thrive
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“Notorious XO by M. Micallef: A Refined Take on Boozy Spices”
The opening of Notorious XO is an immediate statement. It leads with a sharp, realistic cognac accord, bolstered by a hit of black pepper and a curious pinch of sea notes. This combination feels bracing rather than sweet, providing a cold, metallic glint that sets it apart from the syrupy, fruit-forward boozy fragrances that currently saturate the market. It is a bold, crisp entrance that demands focus.
As the fragrance settles, it moves away from that initial bite into a heart rich with cinnamon, cardamom, and leather. The cinnamon here is not a powdered-baker smell, but rather dry and splintery, grounding the earlier brightness of the cognac. Leather acts as a skeleton, giving the scent a firm structure that prevents the tonka bean and praline in the base from turning into a cloying mess. This transition is measured and logical.
On the skin, the dry-down is where the fragrance truly finds its comfort. Vanilla and praline emerge, but they are filtered through amber and sandalwood. The result is a smooth, resinous base that sits close to the body, feeling warm and polished. It avoids the heavy-handed approach of some modern niche scents, instead opting for a sophisticated, layered finish that feels deliberate and high-quality.
Performance is respectable for this profile, typically lasting between seven and nine hours. Projection is strong for the first few hours, creating a noticeable aura about an arm's length away. It is perfectly tuned for cold-weather use, thriving in temperatures that would flatten less robust scents. However, it is worth noting that in high heat, the sweetness might project differently, so it is safer to reserve this for autumn and winter evenings.
This is a fragrance for a man who wants to balance charisma with refinement. It is not an attention-seeking bomb, but it is certainly not a skin scent either. It feels most at home in social, formal, or intimate environments where its complexity can be appreciated by those within your personal space. It bridges the gap between the adventurous spirit of niche perfumery and the wearability of a high-end designer.
Ultimately, Notorious XO is a balanced, well-composed fragrance that delivers on its boozy promise without descending into excess. While it may not possess the absolute eternal longevity that some enthusiasts demand from niche brands, it succeeds as an elegant, highly wearable woody spicy scent for the colder months.
FAQs
What does Notorious XO smell like in the opening?+
The opening is punchy and boozy, driven by a realistic cognac accord balanced by sharp pepper and a sea note edge. It feels bracing and immediately sets a formal, dark tone suitable for evening wear in crisp autumn air.
How does the fragrance change after a few hours of wear?+
As it moves past the opening, the boozy intensity simmers down into a rich heart of cinnamon, leather, and tonka bean. The dry-down is significantly warmer, with vanilla and praline emerging to provide a smooth, sweet, and resinous skin scent that lingers throughout the night.
Is this a long-lasting fragrance?+
Most wearers report that Notorious XO is long-lasting, typically staying present for seven to nine hours on skin. Longevity will fluctuate based on your skin chemistry and the humidity, but it generally performs well through a full workday or a long evening out.
How far does the scent project from the skin?+
The projection is strong, generally radiating about an arm's length for the first three hours. It does not fill an entire room, but it creates a clear personal space, making it ideal for close-quarters social settings like dinner parties or bars.
Which season is best for Notorious XO?+
This is primarily a cold-weather scent, performing best in autumn and winter. The warm spicy and vanilla accords can become cloying in high summer heat, but they thrive in temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius, where the resinous base can really pop.
Is this fragrance appropriate for the office?+
Yes, it can be office-safe if you control your sprays. Given its sophisticated profile, one or two sprays are sufficient to maintain a professional presence without overwhelming colleagues, especially in cooler, air-conditioned environments where the boozy cognac settles well.
Does this scent lean masculine or feminine?+
While marketed as a fragrance for men, its sweet and resinous profile leans into unisex territory. The vanilla, praline, and cinnamon heart provide enough softness that many women find it wearable, though the leather and cognac notes ground it in a more traditional masculine structure.
Is Notorious XO a good candidate for blind buying?+
I would advise sampling first. While the brand is well-regarded, the combination of sea notes with a heavy cognac and leather profile can behave unpredictably depending on skin chemistry. It is better to test how the pepper and leather sit on your skin for a day.
How does this compare to other boozy fragrances?+
Notorious XO is less syrupy than many mainstream boozy scents. It focuses on a drier, more woody presentation of cognac. It feels more focused on the barrel-aged aspect than on pure sugar, which separates it from some of the heavier designer alternatives currently on the market.
Can I layer this with another scent?+
It layers well with simple, dry woody scents if you want to dial down the sweetness of the praline and vanilla base. Adding a cedar or sandalwood-heavy fragrance can enhance the woody spicy accord, making it feel more structured for professional settings.
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Dupes & Alternatives
COMMUNITY DUPESCORENo dupes submitted yet. The first useful DupeScore can come from your community.
Consider Kilian Angels' Share if you prefer a sweeter, more gourmand take on cognac, or Bentley for Men Intense if you want a more aggressive, budget-friendly boozy alternative.
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