Nick Rhodes Unveils Duran Duran’s Daring New Scents with Xerjoff
A Whiff of Duran Duran’s Soul
Picture this: Duran Duran, the new wave icons who’ve spent decades painting the airwaves with sound and vision, stepping into a whole new realm—scent. Teaming up with Italy’s luxe perfume maestros Xerjoff, the band’s Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes, alongside John Taylor and Roger Taylor, have conjured up two unisex fragrances: NeoRio and Black Moonlight. At 62, Rhodes spills to Billboard that these aren’t just perfumes—they’re the essence of the band’s split personality, bottled. “We’ve always played with sound and sight to stir folks up,” he says. “Adding smell? That was too tempting to pass up.”
The spark came from an unlikely corner—Xerjoff’s 2021 collab with Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi, a fellow Birmingham lad, on his Monkey Special scent. Inspired, Rhodes and crew approached their fragrance debut like a fresh track—no preconceptions, just a blank slate. They tossed out a handful of smells they vibed with. “Everyone loves freshly cut grass,” Rhodes chuckles, “but you wouldn’t want to wear it all day.” With Xerjoff’s founder Sergio Momo guiding them, they veered off the floral path—roses and gardenias took a backseat to wilder notes like drying paint, cracked-open books, or even a hint of petrol and leather.
Two Scents, Two Stories
What emerged were two distinct vibes mirroring Duran Duran’s musical DNA. Black Moonlight leans into the shadows—a sultry mix of bergamot, mandarin, and saffron that dances with lavender and jasmine, grounded by patchouli and Tonka bean. Rhodes calls it “dark and mysterious,” a fit for his own brooding streak, promising a “veil of sophistication” that echoes the band’s moodier cuts. Then there’s NeoRio, a burst of candied fig and rum laced with elemi and saffron, softened by rose oil and Peru balsam. It’s “sparkly and bright,” Rhodes says, a nod to Le Bon’s sunnier pull—magnetic and unpredictable, like a summer anthem with a twist.
Working with Momo, dubbed the “Willy Wonka of perfume,” was a trip. “He’s got every scent in the world up his sleeve,” Rhodes marvels. They trusted their gut, much like laying down an album, and landed on fragrances that could double as song titles in Duran Duran’s playbook. Momo agrees, noting in a statement, “Their innovative spirit shaped every bit of this—from the juice to the bottle.” Available now, these scents are more than a spritz—they’re a sensory bridge between the band’s art and your nose. At home, Rhodes laughs, he and his partner squabble over who wears what, their scents mingling in the hallway like a happy accident. With European shows kicking off June 3 in Finland, Duran Duran’s ready to carry this new chapter on tour.
