Background vs Bijan Men
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
47%scent match
Some overlap
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
Background takes 4 of 7 categories.
BackgroundChoose it for a anis and vanilla character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter.
Bijan MenChoose it for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on value for money, versatility and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, daytime wear.
Background4/7
Bijan Men3/7
- Ratings & consensus
- Background
- Community sentiment
- Background
- Longevity
- Background
- Sillage & projection
- Background
- Value for money
- Bijan Men
- Versatility
- Bijan Men
- Note pyramid (duration)
- Not scored
- Fragranxe ranking
- Bijan Men
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
BackgroundJil SanderBijan MenBijanWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split4.52/ 5 · 181 votes
Have 30%Had 25%Want 45%
4.04/ 5 · 950 votes
Have 78%Had 22%Want 0%
Category winnerBackgroundRating weighted by vote count
Community sentiment
How voters split from love to hate61%Love
33%Like
2%Ok
4%Dislike
0%Hate
181 votes
41%Love
38%Like
7%Ok
12%Dislike
2%Hate
950 votes
Category winnerBackgroundMost positive mix (25+ votes)
Longevity & sillage
0–100 community performance scores
Category winners
LongevityBackground
SillageBackground
Value for money
How fairly priced voters find itCategory winnerBijan MenBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothanis100%
vanilla92%
amber84%
warm spicy77%
aromatic69%
sweet61%
aromatic100%
woody92%
warm spicy84%
powdery77%
fresh spicy69%
amber61%
Scent match47%Some overlap · both aromatic, warm spicy and amber
Note pyramid (duration)
Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = sharedTop
AniseRaspberryTarragonLavenderBergamotLemon
Heart
CinnamonCarnationJasmineLily-of-the-ValleyHeliotropeRose
Base
BenzoinVanillaCedarTonka BeanAmberSandalwoodMusk
Top
SageNutmegLavenderLemonBergamotMandarin OrangeFruity NotesPine needles
Heart
CarnationCinnamonSandalwoodAmberTarragonIrisYlang-YlangJasmine
Base
LeatherPatchouliMuskVetiverBenzoinCedarVanillaTonka Bean
InformationalShared notesTarragon, Lavender, Bergamot and Lemon. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.
Seasons & time of day
Relative to each fragrance's best seasonSpring92
Summer0
Fall0
Winter100
Day–
Night–
Spring60
Summer26
Fall100
Winter100
Day100
Night–
Category winnerBijan MenMost year-round
Who wears it
Gender appeal votesInformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored
Ranking & credits
Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launchOverall rank#4,595
PerfumerNot listed
Launched—
Reviews16
Overall rank#477
PerfumerClaudette Belnavis
Launched—
Reviews200
Category winnerBijan MenHigher overall rank
In a nutshell
Description & review snapshotBackground by Jil Sander is a distinctive oriental fougere that opens with a brisk combination of sweet anise, tart raspberry, and herbal lavender. As the initial freshness settles on the skin, a warm core of cinnamon, carnation, and powdery heliotrope emerges, adding a cozy spicy sweetness. The base grounds the fragr…
Reviews →Bijan Men is a big 1980s aromatic fougere with herbs, spice, powder, leather, oakmoss and honeyed warmth. Reviewers often describe it as confident, unusual and strongly projecting, with a dusty incense quality that makes it feel more complex than its current price suggests. It suits people who enjoy vintage masculine …
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.
Guided comparison
Ask about this matchup
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Common questions
Straight answers from the data above.
Which is better, Background or Bijan Men?
Background takes 4 of 7 categories. Background is rated 4.52/5 from 181 votes; Bijan Men is rated 4.04/5 from 950 votes. Choose Background for a anis and vanilla character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter. Choose Bijan Men for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on value for money, versatility and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, daytime wear.
Which lasts longer, Background or Bijan Men?
They last about the same: Background 77/100, Bijan Men 75/100 for longevity in community votes.
Which projects more, Background or Bijan Men?
Projection is very close: Background 68/100, Bijan Men 67/100 for sillage.
Do Background and Bijan Men smell similar?
Some overlap: a 47% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic, warm spicy and amber accords. Common notes include Tarragon, Lavender, Bergamot and Lemon.
Is Background or Bijan Men better for summer or winter?
For summer, Bijan Men is the stronger pick. For winter, Background is the stronger pick. Bijan Men suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in Background and Bijan Men?
Background has top notes of Anise, Raspberry, Tarragon and Lavender, heart notes of Cinnamon, Carnation, Jasmine and Lily-of-the-Valley, a base of Benzoin, Vanilla, Cedar and Tonka Bean. Bijan Men has top notes of Sage, Nutmeg, Lavender and Lemon, heart notes of Carnation, Cinnamon, Sandalwood and Amber, a base of Leather, Patchouli, Musk and Vetiver.
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