Xerjoff
NEWCLEUS
2024
rose petals
green notes
milky notes
rose petals
caramel
White musk
rose petals
vanilla
Sandalwood
white musk
‘Based on an entirely alcohol-free formula, Newcleus is unlike any perfume from the Xerjoff portfolio. Breaking boundaries, Newcleus is composed of precious alginate spheres which hold the scented oil within each single sphere. The encapsulated scent is only released once the pearls burst upon application, thus baptising the wearer in the charming and elegant scent that lies within. Safe to use on even the most sensitive skin and ideal during the summertime, Newcleus lends a soothing sensation for the senses and the skin. Weaving soft rose petals throughout the blend, the scent reveals a floral elegance with gourmand facets in the composition’s matrix, with notes of vanilla, white musk and mouth-watering caramel.’ – Xerjoff
To start with the ‘elephant in the room’. Newcleus is a water-based perfume. I’ve tried several of those before and this has the typical, gel-like consistency on your skin, which I’m personally not a fan of at all. It stays wet for a while and generally, I much prefer a regular alcohol-based fragrance over this texture. It’s often mentioned that water-based perfumes project less; I’m not sure if I can say that based on my limited testing of Newcleus; but I can say that this is not a strong perfume; it’s light and delicate. Longevity seems fine, but don’t expect a huge scent cloud from Newcleus.
It wears kind of like what you would expect from the consistency; like a gel-like substance, a shower product. It’s clean, soapy, bright, Summery. Mostly, I smell a light rosewater, which shouldn’t be a surprise given that Xerjoff mentioned ‘soft rose petals’ for the top, heart -and base notes.
What I don’t really get here is milk, caramel or vanilla; it has that creamy, milky texture, but I don’t find Newcleus to smell nearly as gourmand-ish as I expected. There is a sweetness, to be sure, but it’s not overpowering and it doesn’t have a distinct caramel or vanilla scent to my nose.
Instead, Newcleus remains relatively fresh. A musky, clean rose water. Frankly, there’s not much that I can say about it otherwise based on my first wearing. It’s a pleasant, but soft scent that I’d happily wear, but don’t find particularly interesting or unique.