Background vs Ellen Tracy
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
26%scent match
Clearly different
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.
Ellen TracyChoose it for a woody and fruity character. Wins on value for money, versatility and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, daytime wear.
Background4/7
Ellen Tracy3/7
- Ratings & consensus
- Background
- Community sentiment
- Background
- Longevity
- Background
- Sillage & projection
- Background
- Value for money
- Ellen Tracy
- Versatility
- Ellen Tracy
- Note pyramid (duration)
- Not scored
- Fragranxe ranking
- Ellen Tracy
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
BackgroundJil SanderEllen TracyEllen TracyWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split4.52/ 5 · 181 votes
Have 30%Had 25%Want 45%
3.85/ 5 · 1,090 votes
Have 51%Had 31%Want 18%
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
25%Love
53%Like
5%Ok
17%Dislike
1%Hate
1,090 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 winnerEllen TracyBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothanis100%
vanilla92%
amber84%
warm spicy77%
aromatic69%
sweet61%
woody100%
fruity92%
powdery84%
floral77%
sweet69%
warm spicy61%
Scent match26%Clearly different · both warm spicy and sweet
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
Top15 to 30 minutes
PeachPlumCinnamonGalbanumHiacynthOsmanthusBergamotGreen Notes
Heart2 to 3 hours
Orris RootAldehydesRoseOrchidTuberoseYlang-YlangCarnationFreesia
Base3 to 5 hours
SandalwoodMuskCedarAmberOakmossTonka BeanRaspberry
InformationalShared notesRaspberry, Bergamot, Cinnamon and Carnation. Durations are only published for Ellen Tracy, so this is not scored.
Seasons & time of day
Relative to each fragrance's best seasonSpring92
Summer0
Fall0
Winter100
Day–
Night–
Spring81
Summer62
Fall100
Winter71
Day100
Night37
Category winnerEllen TracyMost 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#4,104
PerfumerNot listed
Launched—
Reviews167
Category winnerEllen TracyHigher 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 →Ellen Tracy by Ellen Tracy delivers a soft, comforting profile centered on ripe fruit, powdery florals, and creamy woods. The scent opens with sweet peach and juicy plum sharpened by crisp green notes, tangy bergamot, and a dusting of cinnamon. As the brightness settles, a classic floral heart emerges, featuring powde…
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 Ellen Tracy?
Background takes 4 of 7 categories. Background is rated 4.52/5 from 181 votes; Ellen Tracy is rated 3.85/5 from 1,090 votes. Choose Background for a anis and vanilla character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter. Choose Ellen Tracy for a woody and fruity character. Wins on value for money, versatility and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, daytime wear.
Which lasts longer, Background or Ellen Tracy?
Background lasts longest (Background 77/100, Ellen Tracy 61/100), based on community performance votes.
Which projects more, Background or Ellen Tracy?
Background projects furthest (Background 68/100, Ellen Tracy 54/100), based on community performance votes.
Do Background and Ellen Tracy smell similar?
Clearly different: a 26% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share warm spicy and sweet accords. Common notes include Raspberry, Bergamot, Cinnamon and Carnation.
Is Background or Ellen Tracy better for summer or winter?
For summer, Ellen Tracy is the stronger pick. For winter, Background is the stronger pick. Ellen Tracy suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in Background and Ellen Tracy?
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. Ellen Tracy has top notes of Peach, Plum, Cinnamon and Galbanum, heart notes of Orris Root, Aldehydes, Rose and Orchid, a base of Sandalwood, Musk, Cedar and Amber.
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