Xerjoff released Torino 21 in 2021 as part of its Join The Club collection, created around the spirit of the ATP Finals in its home city of Turin. It remains one of the house’s least talked about releases, which is a shame, because it solves a problem most fresh fragrances never manage: it makes mint last. Most mint openings collapse within twenty minutes. Here the cool green thread runs through the entire wear. The catch is price. At $288 for 100ml from Xerjoff directly, buyers rightly ask whether a green citrus scent justifies niche money, especially when Perfume Parlour sells an explicit dupe called Verdant Bloom 0883 from about $15.
What Does Xerjoff Torino 21 Smell Like?
The opening is a bright hit of lemon and crushed mint, quickly joined by basil and thyme. Nothing dominates. The citrus keeps the mint from smelling like toothpaste, and the herbs keep the whole thing from smelling like a cleaner. Around fifteen minutes in, the mint recedes slightly and basil takes over, shifting the scent from sharp and cooling toward something greener and softer.
The heart brings juicy blackcurrant over lavender, rosemary and jasmine. The fruit note is the surprise here. It reads almost pulpy, adding a subtle sweetness that stops the composition from feeling austere. By the drydown, lemon verbena carries the citrus theme into a clean musk base. There is little depth in the final hours. This stays a light, linear, green-citrus scent from start to finish, which is exactly what some people want and exactly what others find boring.
Performance
Community consensus puts Torino 21 at roughly 5 to 8 hours on skin, with some reviewers reporting closer to 8 in mild weather. For a fresh citrus that is above average, and fabric wears stretch well past that. Projection is modest. Expect a bubble of one to two feet for the first few hours, then a skin scent. You will get compliments from people close to you, not across a room.
The moderate performance cuts both ways. It makes Torino 21 safe for offices and hot days where heavy scents turn cloying, but nobody should expect room-filling presence. If you measure value by projection and longevity alone, this bottle will disappoint at nearly $300.
Best Clone Or Alternative
Perfume Parlour Verdant Bloom 0883 is the obvious alternative. Perfume Parlour lists it openly as matching Torino 21’s olfactory family, and the pyramid lines up: mint, lemon, basil and thyme up top, blackcurrant, rosemary, lavender and jasmine in the middle, musk underneath. Buyer reviews describe it as close to the original, with the usual oil-based caveats. The opening can smell slightly harsher and thinner, and the texture lacks some of Xerjoff’s polish.
At roughly $15 against $288, though, the tradeoff is easy to frame. If you want the general vibe of Torino 21 for daily summer wear, the clone covers it. If you love the scent enough to want the smoother blend, better ingredients and the bottle itself, the original still earns its place. Sampling the Xerjoff before committing to either is the smart move.
When To Wear It
Torino 21 is a spring and summer daytime scent. Heat amplifies the mint and citrus, and the light structure means it never turns heavy. It suits office wear, casual weekends, sport, and warm weather events, which fits its athletic inspiration. The herbal quality gives it just enough refinement for smart-casual settings. In winter it largely disappears, so keep it for warmer months.
Who Should Buy It
Buy it if you want a grown-up green citrus that avoids the usual aquatic cliches, if you like mint and basil done cleanly, or if you need a safe, inoffensive warm-weather signature for work. Collectors who enjoy the Join The Club line will also appreciate having the house’s freshest entry.
Who Should Skip It
Skip it if you judge fragrance by projection and longevity, since this one is quiet by design. Skip it if you dislike mint, or if you want depth and sweetness in the base. And skip the full bottle if $288 for a seasonal freshie strains the budget, because Verdant Bloom 0883 gets you most of the way there for five percent of the cost.
Final Verdict
Torino 21 is a genuinely pleasant, well-blended green citrus with unusually persistent mint and honest but modest performance. It is not a masterpiece, and it is priced like one. Try a decant first, buy the clone for everyday duty, and reserve the full bottle for people who already know they love this exact style.