Mysterium

The Scent Profile

Mysterium aims for Tony Iommi Monkey Special, and gets surprisingly close, maybe 90%. The opening blasts with a boozy rum and tart passionfruit; it’s a bit sharper and more synthetic than the Xerjoff, lacking that smoother, natural fruitiness. The heart brings cinnamon and patchouli forward, with a touch of leathery grit. Here's where it differs most. The original has a deeper, more nuanced patchouli. Mysterium's is a bit… generic. The drydown is a sweet, caramel-vanilla bomb. The tonka is dialed back. Overall, a pleasant, if somewhat linear, gourmand experience.

Bottom Line

Mysterium is a respectable clone. Not perfect, but it’s hard to complain. For everyone else, Mysterium offers a very good approximation . If you want a good clone on a budget, look no further.

Wear time & Sillage

Projection is decent for the first hour, pushing out at arm's length. After that, it settles closer to the skin. Longevity is average. I get about 5-6 hours before it becomes a skin scent. Reapplication might be necessary for a full day’s wear. A confirmed beast mode performer.