Fragrance comparison

Ad Astra vs Lightsource

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

Updated 14 Nov 2026 184 ratings analysed

Ad Astra

Helder Machado Perfumes

3.605 votes

Rank #66,882 CitrusAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

45%scent match

Some overlap

Lightsource

Andrea Maack

4.01179 votes

Rank #9,874 CitrusAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

No clear winner: the 4 categories split 2–2.

Ad Astra
Choose it for a citrus and aromatic character. Wins on sillage & projection and value for money. Best in summer, daytime wear.
Lightsource
Choose it for a citrus and aromatic character. Wins on longevity and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring.

Ad Astra2/4

Lightsource2/4

Ratings & consensus: Not scored
Community sentiment: Not scored
Longevity: Lightsource
Sillage & projection: Ad Astra
Value for money: Ad Astra
Versatility: Not scored
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Lightsource

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Ad AstraHelder Machado Perfumes

LightsourceAndrea Maack

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.60/ 5 · 5 votes

Have 32%Had 3%Want 65%

4.01/ 5 · 179 votes

Have 83%Had 17%Want 0%

Category winnerNot enough dataRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

20%Love

40%Like

20%Ok

20%Dislike

0%Hate

5 votes · too few to score

40%Love

32%Like

18%Ok

8%Dislike

2%Hate

179 votes

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity56

〰 Sillage45

♥ Love / hate65

⏱ Longevity58

〰 Sillage44

♥ Love / hate75

Category winners

LongevityLightsource

SillageAd Astra

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value50

¤ Price value45

Category winnerAd AstraBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

citrus100%

aromatic91%

woody83%

fresh spicy74%

lavender65%

warm spicy56%

citrus100%

aromatic92%

rose84%

fresh spicy77%

white floral69%

fruity61%

Scent match45%Some overlap · both citrus, aromatic and fresh spicy

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

LemonBergamotPink PepperPetitgrainOrange

Heart

LavenderBlack PepperClovesRosemaryApricot

Base

CedarVetiverPatchouliTonka BeanAmberMusk

Notes

LemonPetitgrainFigRosePink PepperBlack PepperStar Jasmine

No top / heart / base split published

InformationalShared notesLemon, Pink Pepper, Petitgrain and Black Pepper. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring33

Summer100

Fall67

Winter33

Day100

Night33

Spring100

Summer100

Fall34

Winter16

Day–

Night–

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men50

Unisex33

Women17

Men7

Unisex68

Women25

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#66,882

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#9,874

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews27

Category winnerLightsourceHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Helder Machado Ad Astra opens with a sharp burst of lemon, bergamot, and tart petitgrain. Pink pepper adds a brisk spark across the top, giving the citrus accord a crisp, icy snap. As the initial brightness settles, aromatic rosemary and lavender take over the heart, supported by dark black pepper and a subtle streak …

Reviews →

Andrea Maack Lightsource offers a bright burst of green citrus that feels modern and unconventional. The scent shifts from a sharp lemon opening to a dry, green pepperiness on the skin. It works beautifully for casual daytime wear during the high heat of summer.

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.

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Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, Ad Astra or Lightsource?

No clear winner: the 4 categories split 2–2. Ad Astra is rated 3.60/5 from 5 votes; Lightsource is rated 4.01/5 from 179 votes. Choose Ad Astra for a citrus and aromatic character. Wins on sillage & projection and value for money. Best in summer, daytime wear. Choose Lightsource for a citrus and aromatic character. Wins on longevity and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring.

Which lasts longer, Ad Astra or Lightsource?

They last about the same: Lightsource 58/100, Ad Astra 56/100 for longevity in community votes.

Which projects more, Ad Astra or Lightsource?

Projection is very close: Ad Astra 45/100, Lightsource 44/100 for sillage.

Do Ad Astra and Lightsource smell similar?

Some overlap: a 45% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share citrus, aromatic and fresh spicy accords. Common notes include Lemon, Pink Pepper, Petitgrain and Black Pepper.

Is Ad Astra or Lightsource better for summer or winter?

Ad Astra suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Ad Astra and Lightsource?

Ad Astra has top notes of Lemon, Bergamot, Pink Pepper and Petitgrain, heart notes of Lavender, Black Pepper, Cloves and Rosemary, a base of Cedar, Vetiver, Patchouli and Tonka Bean. Lightsource features Lemon, Petitgrain, Fig, Rose and Pink Pepper.