Fragrance comparison

Aromatics Elixir vs Retrospection

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

Updated 30 Oct 2026 6,649 ratings analysed

6 wins

Aromatics Elixir

Clinique

3.796,615 votes

Rank #26,602 AromaticWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

45%scent match

Some overlap

Retrospection

JMP Artisan Perfumes

3.5934 votes

Rank #18,512 AromaticWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Aromatics Elixir takes 6 of 8 categories.

Aromatics Elixir
Choose it for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in fall, day or night wear.
Retrospection
Choose it for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on versatility and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, evening wear.

Aromatics Elixir6/8

Retrospection2/8

Ratings & consensus: Aromatics Elixir
Community sentiment: Aromatics Elixir
Longevity: Aromatics Elixir
Sillage & projection: Aromatics Elixir
Value for money: Aromatics Elixir
Versatility: Retrospection
Note pyramid (duration): Aromatics Elixir
Fragranxe ranking: Retrospection

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Aromatics ElixirClinique

RetrospectionJMP Artisan Perfumes

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.79/ 5 · 6,615 votes

Have 55%Had 22%Want 24%

3.59/ 5 · 34 votes

Have 30%Had 12%Want 57%

Category winnerAromatics ElixirRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

40%Love

30%Like

3%Ok

23%Dislike

4%Hate

6,615 votes

24%Love

35%Like

24%Ok

12%Dislike

6%Hate

34 votes

Category winnerAromatics ElixirMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity85

〰 Sillage77

♥ Love / hate70

⏱ Longevity80

〰 Sillage71

♥ Love / hate65

Category winners

LongevityAromatics Elixir

SillageAromatics Elixir

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value65

¤ Price value61

Category winnerAromatics ElixirBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

aromatic100%

woody92%

earthy84%

warm spicy77%

herbal69%

mossy61%

aromatic100%

woody92%

animalic84%

fresh spicy77%

white floral69%

green61%

Scent match45%Some overlap · both aromatic and woody

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top30 to 45 minutes

ChamomileAldehydesClary SageCorianderGeraniumLemon VerbenaBrazilian RosewoodBergamot

Heart3 to 4 hours

CarnationRoseYlang-YlangOrris RootJasmineTuberoseOrange Blossom

Base8 to 10+ hours

OakmossPatchouliIncenseVetiverSandalwoodMusk

Top15-30 mins

GalbanumAldehydesBergamotWormwoodLavenderRosemaryPetitgrain

Heart2-4 hrs

Orange BlossomLily-of-the-ValleyJasmineGeraniumCorianderRoseClary SageCloves

Base8-10+ hrs

OakmossCivetLeatherBeeswaxMuskOrris RootVetiverSandalwood

Category winnerAromatics ElixirLongest dry-down: 8 to 10+ hours

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring43

Summer31

Fall100

Winter97

Day94

Night100

Spring86

Summer21

Fall100

Winter71

Day83

Night100

Category winnerRetrospectionMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men4

Unisex45

Women52

Men65

Unisex23

Women12

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#26,602

PerfumerBernard Chant

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#18,512

PerfumerJakub Pietrynka

Launched—

Reviews6

Category winnerRetrospectionHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Clinique Aromatics Elixir is a powerhouse chypre fragrance built on herbal bitterness, powdery florals, and dark forest woods. The scent opens with a sharp burst of chamomile, lemon verbena, and soapy aldehydes, creating an intensely crisp, herbal atmosphere. As the brisk opening settles, a dense floral core of carnat…

Reviews →

Retrospection by JMP Artisan Perfumes resurrects the bold, unapologetic swagger of traditional masculine perfumery from the late twentieth century. Created by Polish independent perfumer Jakub Pietrynka, this composition opens with a sharp burst of bitter galbanum, soapy aldehydes, and zesty bergamot. Within minutes, …

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, Aromatics Elixir or Retrospection?

Aromatics Elixir takes 6 of 8 categories. Aromatics Elixir is rated 3.79/5 from 6,615 votes; Retrospection is rated 3.59/5 from 34 votes. Choose Aromatics Elixir for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in fall, day or night wear. Choose Retrospection for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on versatility and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, evening wear.

Which lasts longer, Aromatics Elixir or Retrospection?

Aromatics Elixir lasts longest (Aromatics Elixir 85/100, Retrospection 80/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Aromatics Elixir or Retrospection?

Aromatics Elixir projects furthest (Aromatics Elixir 77/100, Retrospection 71/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Aromatics Elixir and Retrospection smell similar?

Some overlap: a 45% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic and woody accords. Common notes include Aldehydes, Clary Sage, Coriander and Geranium.

Is Aromatics Elixir or Retrospection better for summer or winter?

For summer, Aromatics Elixir is the stronger pick. For winter, Aromatics Elixir is the stronger pick. Aromatics Elixir suits day or night wear; Retrospection suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Aromatics Elixir and Retrospection?

Aromatics Elixir has top notes of Chamomile, Aldehydes, Clary Sage and Coriander, heart notes of Carnation, Rose, Ylang-Ylang and Orris Root, a base of Oakmoss, Patchouli, Incense and Vetiver. Retrospection has top notes of Galbanum, Aldehydes, Bergamot and Wormwood, heart notes of Orange Blossom, Lily-of-the-Valley, Jasmine and Geranium, a base of Oakmoss, Civet, Leather and Beeswax.