The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Laylati, also known as Afgano Puro in Middle Eastern markets, was created by Chris Maurice and released in 2019 as part of Xerjoff's Vibe collection. The name carries weight in Arabian culture, where Layla is a figure of beauty and longing. Chris Maurice built this as an oriental woody that leans into that duality: aromatic herbs upfront, a warm tobacco-vanilla base below. The idea was hauntingly beautiful, something that doesn't apologize for what it is. Released in 2019, it sits in the Vibe collection alongside fragrances that carry that same energy, bold, unapologetic, and built to be noticed.
The note structure is where the interest lives. Herbaceous notes lead the way, creating that sharp green opening that divides opinion. Cedar and patchouli form the heart, dry and woody, taking the edge off the herbs without erasing them. Then tobacco, vanilla, and musk arrive in the base, adding warmth, sweetness, and persistence. Musk threads through the whole composition, softening everything without making it soft. The cedar-patchouli pairing is classic but executed with weight, this isn't a quiet woody fragrance. It's built to have presence.
The evolution
The opening hits green and camphorated, a little medicinal, slightly polarizing. That herbal sharpness doesn't apologize. Cedar and patchouli arrive next, taking the edge off, creating a woody heart that feels meditative rather than harsh. This is where it rewards patience. Hours later, tobacco and vanilla emerge as the dominant notes, sweet and powdery, lingering close to the skin. The sillage drops but the warmth stays. The real payoff comes the next day: musk and vanilla still clinging to fabric, and on warmer skin, the tobacco returns. This is a fragrance that lives in layers.
Cultural impact
The herbal opening will divide opinion. That's the point. Some will love that sharp green hit, others won't. But those who stay get tobacco, vanilla, and musk that lingers for hours. Strong sillage, serious longevity. For someone who doesn't need everyone to like it. This boldness has earned it a cult following among those who seek fragrances that challenge rather than conform.
