Is a perfume able to capture the essence of one of the most iconic and influential bands of the 1980s? If the band is Duran Duran and the perfume-maker is Italian label Xerjoff, the answer is yes.
A chance meeting in London between the founders and the group resulted in a partnership that brought forth not one, but two new unisex scents – Black Moonlight and NeoRio – inspired by different aspects of the sound and style that propelled the Brits to stardom.
The project was a fusion of music and scent between Xerjoff founder Sergio Momo and Duran Duran members Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Roger Taylor, who collaborated over several months (and across various continents) to ensure that every detail of the creations reflected their unique charisma and energy.
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Each bottle is a loving tribute to the band’s discography, with the name of the perfume printed on the flacon and coffret in Simon Le Bon’s handwriting. It’s a perfect gift for both perfume connoisseurs and music fans alike.
Momo says that ‘Duran Duran has shaped music and style for more than four decades, making them the perfect partners for not just one, but two Xerjoff Blends creations. Their innovative spirit helped inspire each facet of this project, from the scent to the packaging.
‘Both scents embody the essence of Xerjoff Blends – where the artistic visions of disparate worlds come together to create a unique multi-sensory experience. Collaborating with the band members on every detail of this project was a truly special time.’
Black Moonlight: inspired by Duran Duran’s mysterious side
Bearing the same name as the band’s 2023 single, Black Moonlight is an intense perfume which pays tribute to the dark, nocturnal world so often explored in their music and videos.
The composition stirs the senses with vibrant top notes of mandarin and bergamot orange, tempered by a rich heart of saffron, lavender, Jasmine Sambac and hazelnut. The warm, enveloping base notes evoke a refined depth, rooted in patchouli, vetiver, tonka bean and benzoin. An elegant nod to Duran Duran’s talent for fusing art, emotion and innovation, Black Moonlight guides us on a sensory journey through the midnight hours, where fantasy and mystery unfold until the first light of dawn.
NeoRio: capturing Duran Duran’s boundary-breaking energy
Inspired by their second album, NeoRio is a testament to limitless creativity and artistic fusion. Bold and captivating, it mirrors Duran Duran’s ever-evolving spirit and boundary-breaking energy — a quality embedded in Xerjoff’s DNA. Past, present, and future collide in a perfume as magnetic and unpredictable as the band itself.
The top notes entice with an exhilarating blend of candied fig and rum, blended with the crisp brightness of elemi. The heart reveals a vibrant warmth, where saffron’s lively energy meets the soft elegance of rose oil, creating a balance of passion and complexity, before settling into a creamy, comforting base of tonka bean and balsam of Peru, which gently lingers on the skin and in memory.
NeoRio leads us into a world of infinite possibilities and free-flowing creativity. It’s the first Xerjoff perfume to be presented in four unique versions of its iconic flacon.
Nick Rhodes, founding member and keyboard player, says that as a band, Duran Duran has ‘always tried to stimulate people’s senses through sounds and pictures‘.
‘The idea of bringing scent into that mix was instantly exciting. While creating these perfumes, we found that we were following similar criteria to when composing our songs: we wanted something seductive, unique and irresistible,’ he adds.
‘Xerjoff was the perfect partner for this collaboration. We were already fans of its art and innovative spirit, and our journey together has given birth to two scents reflecting different facets of our identity. We couldn’t be happier with the result.’
The arrival of the two Xerjoff scents coincides with Duran Duran’s long-awaited European summer tour. They’ll play stadiums and arenas in the UK, Ireland, Finland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Germany and Spain from June through to early July.
Part of the Xerjoff Blends collection, Black Moonlight and NeoRio are available to buy online and at Xerjoff’s exclusive boutiques in Turin, Milan, London, Monte Carlo, Frankfurt, Barcelona, Lisbon, Mykonos, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta.
Discover more about the two new scents at Xerjoff.com
