Fragrance comparison

8 THE CHALLENGER vs The Opening

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

Updated 10 Oct 2026 47 ratings analysed

3 wins

8 THE CHALLENGER

hOUSE OF hELIOS

4.254 votes

Rank #55,723 GreenSmoky

Full profile Similar & dupes

35%scent match

Some overlap

The Opening

NEH

3.6043 votes

Rank #18,408 WoodyAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

8 THE CHALLENGER takes 3 of 4 categories.

8 THE CHALLENGER
Choose it for a green and smoky character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in fall, evening wear.
The Opening
Choose it for a woody and aromatic character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, daytime wear.

8 THE CHALLENGER3/4

The Opening1/4

Ratings & consensus: Not scored
Community sentiment: Not scored
Longevity: 8 THE CHALLENGER
Sillage & projection: 8 THE CHALLENGER
Value for money: 8 THE CHALLENGER
Versatility: Not scored
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: The Opening

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

8 THE CHALLENGERhOUSE OF hELIOS

The OpeningNEH

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.25/ 5 · 4 votes

Have 11%Had 0%Want 89%

3.60/ 5 · 43 votes

Have 43%Had 9%Want 48%

Category winnerNot enough dataRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

50%Love

25%Like

25%Ok

0%Dislike

0%Hate

4 votes · too few to score

35%Love

23%Like

19%Ok

14%Dislike

9%Hate

43 votes

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity80

〰 Sillage75

♥ Love / hate81

⏱ Longevity67

〰 Sillage51

♥ Love / hate65

Category winners

Longevity8 THE CHALLENGER

Sillage8 THE CHALLENGER

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value50

¤ Price value47

Category winner8 THE CHALLENGERBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

green100%

smoky92%

aromatic84%

woody77%

ozonic69%

aquatic61%

woody100%

aromatic88%

warm spicy77%

powdery65%

balsamic53%

soft spicy42%

Scent match35%Some overlap · both woody and aromatic

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top15-30 mins

RhubarbPink PepperBergamot

Heart2-4 hrs

Violet LeavesCardamomFlowersSageHerbal Notes

Base7-10 hrs

SmokeLeatherOrrisSandalwoodWoodsy Notes

Top

elemiPink PepperCardamom

Heart

LavenderVioletOrris

Base

SandalwoodCedarwoodVetiverPapyrusGaiacSage

InformationalShared notesPink Pepper, Cardamom, Sage and Orris. Durations are only published for 8 THE CHALLENGER, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring33

Summer33

Fall100

Winter67

Day86

Night100

Spring87

Summer67

Fall100

Winter100

Day100

Night86

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men67

Unisex33

Women0

Work 32%Date 29%Casual 22%Party 17%

Men34

Unisex50

Women16

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#55,723

PerfumerFrank Voelkl

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#18,408

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews6

Category winnerThe OpeningHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

8 THE CHALLENGER by hOUSE OF hELIOS delivers a crisp, smoky leather profile anchored by green herbs and tart fruit. The opening hits fast with sour rhubarb, cracked pink pepper, and brisk bergamot. Within fifteen minutes, wet violet leaves and crushed garden sage cut across the initial brightness, introducing a cool, …

Reviews →

The Opening by NEH is a woody aromatic fragrance built around cardamom, violet, and dry cedarwood. It opens with a crisp pop of pink pepper and resinous elemi before settling into a cool, powdery heart of orris. Suited for crisp autumn mornings, professional office wear, and quiet evenings, it stays close to the skin …

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, 8 THE CHALLENGER or The Opening?

8 THE CHALLENGER takes 3 of 4 categories. 8 THE CHALLENGER is rated 4.25/5 from 4 votes; The Opening is rated 3.60/5 from 43 votes. Choose 8 THE CHALLENGER for a green and smoky character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in fall, evening wear. Choose The Opening for a woody and aromatic character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, 8 THE CHALLENGER or The Opening?

8 THE CHALLENGER lasts longest (8 THE CHALLENGER 80/100, The Opening 67/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, 8 THE CHALLENGER or The Opening?

8 THE CHALLENGER projects furthest (8 THE CHALLENGER 75/100, The Opening 51/100), based on community performance votes.

Do 8 THE CHALLENGER and The Opening smell similar?

Some overlap: a 35% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share woody and aromatic accords. Common notes include Pink Pepper, Cardamom, Sage and Orris.

Is 8 THE CHALLENGER or The Opening better for summer or winter?

8 THE CHALLENGER suits evening wear; The Opening suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in 8 THE CHALLENGER and The Opening?

8 THE CHALLENGER has top notes of Rhubarb, Pink Pepper and Bergamot, heart notes of Violet Leaves, Cardamom, Flowers and Sage, a base of Smoke, Leather, Orris and Sandalwood. The Opening has top notes of elemi, Pink Pepper and Cardamom, heart notes of Lavender, Violet and Orris, a base of Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Vetiver and Papyrus.