Fragrance comparison

5:40 PM in Madagascar vs Hiroko Koshino

Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.

Updated 27 Oct 2026 789 ratings analysed

5:40 PM in Madagascar

Kenzo

4.12658 votes

Rank #26,760 VanillaFloral

Full profile Similar & dupes

36%scent match

Some overlap

6 wins

Hiroko Koshino

4.25131 votes

Rank #12,927 FloralWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Hiroko Koshino takes 6 of 7 categories.

5:40 PM in Madagascar
Choose it for a vanilla and floral character. Wins on value for money. Best in spring.
Hiroko Koshino
Choose it for a floral and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, daytime wear.

5:40 PM in Madagascar1/7

Hiroko Koshino6/7

Ratings & consensus: Hiroko Koshino
Community sentiment: Hiroko Koshino
Longevity: Hiroko Koshino
Sillage & projection: Hiroko Koshino
Value for money: 5:40 PM in Madagascar
Versatility: Hiroko Koshino
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Hiroko Koshino

Head-to-head breakdown

Every category side by side, with the winner called out.

Fragrance

5:40 PM in MadagascarKenzo

Hiroko KoshinoHiroko Koshino

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.12/ 5 · 658 votes

Have 52%Had 48%Want 0%

4.25/ 5 · 131 votes

Have 64%Had 36%Want 0%

Category winnerHiroko KoshinoRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

39%Love

47%Like

2%Ok

12%Dislike

0%Hate

658 votes

45%Love

44%Like

2%Ok

8%Dislike

1%Hate

131 votes

Category winnerHiroko KoshinoMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity60

〰 Sillage54

♥ Love / hate78

⏱ Longevity61

〰 Sillage61

♥ Love / hate81

Category winners

LongevityHiroko Koshino

SillageHiroko Koshino

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value49

¤ Price value34

Category winner5:40 PM in MadagascarBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

vanilla100%

floral86%

woody72%

powdery58%

aquatic44%

ozonic30%

floral100%

woody92%

green84%

oud77%

amber69%

aromatic61%

Scent match36%Some overlap · both floral and woody

Note pyramid (duration)

Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = shared

Top

Lotus

Heart

Virginia CedarFreesia

Base

Vanilla

Notes

TeaAgarwood (Oud)IncenseAmbrette (Musk Mallow)RoseGuaiac WoodCameliaCassisLotusFreesiaPatchouliVirginia Cedar

No top / heart / base split published

InformationalShared notesLotus, Virginia Cedar and Freesia. Durations are only published for Hiroko Koshino, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer0

Fall0

Winter67

Day–

Night–

Spring100

Summer0

Fall0

Winter89

Day100

Night92

Category winnerHiroko KoshinoMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men2

Unisex40

Women58

Men0

Unisex58

Women42

Work 35%Casual 32%Date 24%Party 9%

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#26,760

PerfumerJoAnne Bassett

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#12,927

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews8

Category winnerHiroko KoshinoHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

5:40 PM in Madagascar by Kenzo offers an unusual twist on gourmand themes by marrying clean lotus and freesia with a soft vanilla base. Released in 2009, this unisex eau de toilette opens with a watery, dewy petal sensation that feels fresh rather than sugary sweet. As it warms on skin, dry Virginia cedarwood cuts thr…

Reviews →

Hiroko Koshino by Hiroko Koshino delivers a quiet, meditative blend of damp green tea leaves, powdery dried rose petals, and smooth cedar shavings. Released in 2005, this eau de parfum captures the feeling of walking through a cool, mist-covered Japanese garden in early spring. The scent opens with a tart bite of cass…

Reviews →

InformationalRead bothTaste is personal

How we score: ratings blend public fragrance ratings with Fragranxe member votes; longevity, sillage, value and sentiment are community vote scores, and season bars are relative to each fragrance's strongest season. Categories with too little data are shown but not scored. The scent match weighs accord overlap (60%) and shared notes (40%). More in the FAQ.

Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, 5:40 PM in Madagascar or Hiroko Koshino?

Hiroko Koshino takes 6 of 7 categories. 5:40 PM in Madagascar is rated 4.12/5 from 658 votes; Hiroko Koshino is rated 4.25/5 from 131 votes. Choose 5:40 PM in Madagascar for a vanilla and floral character. Wins on value for money. Best in spring. Choose Hiroko Koshino for a floral and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, 5:40 PM in Madagascar or Hiroko Koshino?

They last about the same: Hiroko Koshino 61/100, 5:40 PM in Madagascar 60/100 for longevity in community votes.

Which projects more, 5:40 PM in Madagascar or Hiroko Koshino?

Hiroko Koshino projects furthest (Hiroko Koshino 61/100, 5:40 PM in Madagascar 54/100), based on community performance votes.

Do 5:40 PM in Madagascar and Hiroko Koshino smell similar?

Some overlap: a 36% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share floral and woody accords. Common notes include Lotus, Virginia Cedar and Freesia.

Is 5:40 PM in Madagascar or Hiroko Koshino better for summer or winter?

For summer, 5:40 PM in Madagascar is the stronger pick. For winter, Hiroko Koshino is the stronger pick. Hiroko Koshino suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in 5:40 PM in Madagascar and Hiroko Koshino?

5:40 PM in Madagascar has top notes of Lotus, heart notes of Virginia Cedar and Freesia, a base of Vanilla. Hiroko Koshino features Tea, Agarwood (Oud), Incense, Ambrette (Musk Mallow) and Rose.