Quick answers
Olfactive family
Spicy woody
Collection
La Route de la Soie, perfumes inspired by the historic Silk Road cities, launched in 2020 to mark the house's twenty years.
Olfactive signature
A spare spicy woody built on black pepper and nutmeg, a heart of rhubarb and cedar, and a soft base of musk and Indian sandalwood.
Creative direction
The house works with several perfumers, and
Linda Pilkington, its founder, leads the creative direction. The specific perfumer for this fragrance is not publicly disclosed by the house.
History and inspiration
Xi'an is one of the seven perfumes that launched La Route de la Soie in October 2020, Ormonde Jayne's Silk Road collection for its twentieth anniversary. It takes its name from Xi'an, the eastern terminus of the Silk Road and one of China's great historic capitals, and renders that gravity as a minimal, contemplative wood.
It opens on a dry, pungent accord of black pepper and nutmeg, then turns to a heart of tart rhubarb and clear cedar. The base is deliberately spare, with musk and Indian sandalwood giving a soft, creamy finish that lets each material read clearly.
Official olfactive pyramid
The olfactive architecture of Xi'an is presented below using the maison's own Head, Heart and Soul labels.
Head
Black Pepperdry, pungent spice
Nutmegwarm, woody spice
Heart
Rhubarbtart, fruity facet
Cedarclear, dry wood
Soul
Muskenveloping softness
Indian Sandalwoodcreamy, quiet wood
Olfactive profile
The signature of Xi'an is its clarity. With a short, legible list of materials, it reads as a meditative, almost minimalist wood, the pepper and nutmeg giving spice, the rhubarb a tart lift and the sandalwood a creamy, quiet base.
On skin it stays close and soft, a contemplative woody that whispers rather than projects. The drydown is creamy and clean, the sandalwood and musk holding a gentle warmth.
Key characteristics
Concentration
Eau de Parfum
Format
88 ml / 2.97 fl oz US
When and where to wear
Xi'an suits quiet, focused settings and cooler weather, where its restraint reads as elegant rather than understated. It works for daytime and for occasions where a discreet, refined wood is wanted.
Its softness makes it comfortable across seasons, leaning intimate, and a light scent that stays close to the skin rather than filling a room.
Similar perfumes
These perfumes share a family or character with Xi'an.
| Perfume | House | Why related |
|---|
| Santal 33 | Le Labo | a dry woody sandalwood with the same clarity of wood |
| Real Patchouly | Bois 1920 | a dry woody patchouli in the same spare register |
| Encre Noire | Lalique | a dark woody vetiver, a denser counterpoint |
| Wazamba | Parfum d'Empire | wood and incense, another reading of the woody register |
| Bois d'Ascèse | Naomi Goodsir | smoky wood and incense, a darker reading |
Frequently asked questions
What is Xi'an by Ormonde Jayne?01
Xi'an is a spicy woody Eau de Parfum by Ormonde Jayne, the independent British house founded in 2001 in London (United Kingdom). Released in 2020, it is part of La Route de la Soie, and its character is a spare, meditative wood of pepper, nutmeg and clear cedar.
What does Xi'an smell like?02
It opens on black pepper and nutmeg, turns to a heart of rhubarb and cedar, and dries down to musk and indian sandalwood. The overall impression is a spare, meditative wood of pepper, nutmeg and clear cedar.
What is the olfactive family of Xi'an?03
Ormonde Jayne composes Xi'an as a spicy woody. Its character is a spare, meditative wood of pepper, nutmeg and clear cedar.
Who created Xi'an?04
Ormonde Jayne works with several perfumers, with founder Linda Pilkington leading the creative direction. The house does not publicly disclose the specific perfumer for this fragrance.
What concentration is Xi'an?05
It is an Eau de Parfum, presented in an 88 ml / 2.97 fl oz US bottle.
When should I wear Xi'an?06
Xi'an suits quiet, focused settings and cooler weather, where its restraint reads as elegant rather than understated. It works for daytime and for occasions where a discreet, refined wood is wanted.
Is Xi'an for men or women?07
Like the rest of the Ormonde Jayne collection, Xi'an is composed in the house's gender-free spirit and can be worn by anyone drawn to a spicy woody.
What collection does Xi'an belong to?08
It belongs to La Route de la Soie, the Silk Road collection Ormonde Jayne launched in 2020 to celebrate its twentieth anniversary, a line inspired by the cities and spices of the ancient Silk Road.
Where is Xi'an made?09
Ormonde Jayne perfumes are handmade in England by the independent house, owned by founder Linda Pilkington since 2001.
Sources
Published 19 June 2026 · Last fact check: 19 June 2026 (notes and family sourced from the official Ormonde Jayne product page and cross-checked editorially) · Osmetheca
