More Than Words belongs to Join the Club, the Xerjoff collection in which each fragrance stands for a different kind of private club. Where 40 Knots is the yacht club, More Than Words is the club of writers and poets. It was launched in 2012, composed by Chris Maurice, and Fragrantica files it as an oriental woody fragrance for women and men.

The notes

Xerjoff kept the recipes of this collection secret, so there is no official top, heart and base to list. What is published:

  • Woods and resins: oud, frankincense (olibanum), labdanum, woody notes
  • Softer side: fruity notes, floral notes
  • Warmth: ambergris, oriental notes

How it wears

Fruit and florals keep the oud from feeling severe, and the result is richer and more romantic than a typical woody fragrance. Beneath them, oud, frankincense and labdanum give it a resinous, slightly smoky depth, and ambergris adds warmth and a long finish.

It is a slow, considered fragrance rather than a loud one, which suits the literary idea behind it. Think of it as a warm oud with a soft, sweet edge.

When to wear it

  • Best: autumn and winter, evenings, and dinners where you want to smell expensive without announcing it.
  • Egyptian summer: late evenings only, with one or two sprays.
  • If you like: Xerjoff Alexandria II, this is the same house's oud in a different mood. Our guide to oud has more places to start.

Why a decant makes sense here

Oud behaves differently on every skin, and this is a niche bottle that few people in Egypt have had the chance to smell. A 4 ML decant shows you how it settles on you over several days, and a 10 ML is enough for a season of evenings.

Questions

What does Xerjoff More Than Words smell like?

A warm blend of oud, frankincense and labdanum, softened by fruit and florals and finished with ambergris. Rich, resinous and gently sweet.

Is More Than Words for men or women?

Both. It is a shared fragrance.

What is the Join the Club collection?

A Xerjoff line of fragrances that each represent a kind of club. More Than Words represents the world of writers and poets.

Is the decant original?

Yes. It is poured in Cairo from an original Xerjoff bottle when you order.