Fragrance comparison

Amber vs Zara Sandalwood

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

Updated 12 Oct 2026 109 ratings analysed

6 wins

Amber

Mahogany

3.9072 votes

Rank #10,374 Fresh SpicyAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

48%scent match

Some overlap

Zara Sandalwood

Zara

3.7637 votes

Rank #18,493 CitrusAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Amber takes 6 of 7 categories.

Amber
Choose it for a fresh spicy and aromatic character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring.
Zara Sandalwood
Choose it for a citrus and aromatic character. Wins on versatility. Best in fall, daytime wear.

Amber6/7

Zara Sandalwood1/7

Ratings & consensus: Amber
Community sentiment: Amber
Longevity: Amber
Sillage & projection: Amber
Value for money: Amber
Versatility: Zara Sandalwood
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Amber

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

AmberMahogany

Zara SandalwoodZara

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.90/ 5 · 72 votes

Have 47%Had 24%Want 29%

3.76/ 5 · 37 votes

Have 43%Had 18%Want 39%

Category winnerAmberRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

29%Love

50%Like

6%Ok

13%Dislike

3%Hate

72 votes

27%Love

46%Like

3%Ok

24%Dislike

0%Hate

37 votes

Category winnerAmberMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity73

〰 Sillage69

♥ Love / hate73

⏱ Longevity54

〰 Sillage63

♥ Love / hate69

Category winners

LongevityAmber

SillageAmber

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value79

¤ Price value50

Category winnerAmberBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

fresh spicy100%

aromatic92%

citrus84%

amber77%

white floral69%

woody61%

citrus100%

aromatic91%

warm spicy83%

musky74%

powdery65%

fresh spicy56%

Scent match48%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

LavenderMintPomeloBergamotLime

Heart

Orange BlossomNutmegGeraniumCardamom

Base

AmberGuaiac WoodSandalwoodMuskTeak WoodVetiver

Top

BergamotLime

Heart

Cardamom

Base

MuskVetiver

InformationalShared notesBergamot, Lime, Cardamom and Musk. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer0

Fall0

Winter74

Day–

Night–

Spring63

Summer25

Fall100

Winter63

Day100

Night71

Category winnerZara SandalwoodMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men52

Unisex43

Women4

Men60

Unisex20

Women20

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#10,374

PerfumerRoland Theil

Launched—

Reviews12

Overall rank#18,493

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews9

Category winnerAmberHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Amber by Mahogany is an aromatic fougere that relies on clean lavender and cool mint to balance a warm, wood-heavy base. It works exceptionally well as a casual daytime scent for spring, offering a crisp profile that transitions into a subtle, dry teak and guaiac wood hum on the skin.

Reviews →

Zara Sandalwood opens with an energetic splash of bergamot and sour lime that hits skin with immediate brightness. The citrus top feels sharp and crisp, cutting through warm spring air and giving your morning routine a clean boost. As the tart citrus fades, warm cardamom comes forward to meet a dry vetiver and musk b…

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, Amber or Zara Sandalwood?

Amber takes 6 of 7 categories. Amber is rated 3.90/5 from 72 votes; Zara Sandalwood is rated 3.76/5 from 37 votes. Choose Amber for a fresh spicy and aromatic character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring. Choose Zara Sandalwood for a citrus and aromatic character. Wins on versatility. Best in fall, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Amber or Zara Sandalwood?

Amber lasts longest (Amber 73/100, Zara Sandalwood 54/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Amber or Zara Sandalwood?

Amber projects furthest (Amber 69/100, Zara Sandalwood 63/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Amber and Zara Sandalwood smell similar?

Some overlap: a 48% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share citrus, aromatic and fresh spicy accords. Common notes include Bergamot, Lime, Cardamom and Musk.

Is Amber or Zara Sandalwood better for summer or winter?

For summer, Zara Sandalwood is the stronger pick. For winter, Amber is the stronger pick. Zara Sandalwood suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Amber and Zara Sandalwood?

Amber has top notes of Lavender, Mint, Pomelo and Bergamot, heart notes of Orange Blossom, Nutmeg, Geranium and Cardamom, a base of Amber, Guaiac Wood, Sandalwood and Musk. Zara Sandalwood has top notes of Bergamot and Lime, heart notes of Cardamom, a base of Musk and Vetiver.