Background vs Enigme
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
50%scent match
Some overlap
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
Background takes 6 of 7 categories.
BackgroundChoose it for a anis and vanilla character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter.
EnigmeChoose it for a woody and warm spicy character. Wins on value for money. Best in winter.
Background6/7
Enigme1/7
- Ratings & consensus
- Background
- Community sentiment
- Background
- Longevity
- Background
- Sillage & projection
- Background
- Value for money
- Enigme
- Versatility
- Background
- Note pyramid (duration)
- Not scored
- Fragranxe ranking
- Background
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
BackgroundJil SanderEnigmePierre CardinWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split4.52/ 5 · 181 votes
Have 30%Had 25%Want 45%
4.20/ 5 · 51 votes
Have 33%Had 15%Want 53%
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
45%Love
39%Like
10%Ok
2%Dislike
4%Hate
51 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 winnerEnigmeBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothanis100%
vanilla92%
amber84%
warm spicy77%
aromatic69%
sweet61%
woody100%
warm spicy92%
aromatic84%
amber77%
mossy69%
powdery61%
Scent match50%Some overlap · both warm spicy, amber and aromatic
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
CorianderLavenderTarragonOrangeBergamotLemon
Heart
CarnationCinnamonRoseJasmineGeranium
Base
OakmossSandalwoodBenzoinMuskLabdanumPatchouliCedarVanilla
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–
Spring48
Summer0
Fall0
Winter100
Day–
Night–
Category winnerBackgroundMost 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#31,464
PerfumerAlberto Morillas
Launched—
Reviews0
Category winnerBackgroundHigher 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 →Pierre Cardin Enigme is a classic aromatic spicy fragrance from 1992, composed by perfumer Alberto Morillas. The scent opens with a burst of tarragon and bergamot before settling into warm cinnamon and carnation. It finishes on a heavy base of oakmoss, benzoin, and sandalwood, making it an excellent match for cold aut…
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
Get a practical answer grounded in the fragrances currently selected.
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Common questions
Straight answers from the data above.
Which is better, Background or Enigme?
Background takes 6 of 7 categories. Background is rated 4.52/5 from 181 votes; Enigme is rated 4.20/5 from 51 votes. Choose Background for a anis and vanilla character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter. Choose Enigme for a woody and warm spicy character. Wins on value for money. Best in winter.
Which lasts longer, Background or Enigme?
They last about the same: Background 77/100, Enigme 76/100 for longevity in community votes.
Which projects more, Background or Enigme?
Projection is very close: Background 68/100, Enigme 67/100 for sillage.
Do Background and Enigme smell similar?
Some overlap: a 50% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share warm spicy, amber and aromatic accords. Common notes include Tarragon, Lavender, Bergamot and Lemon.
Is Background or Enigme better for summer or winter?
For summer, Background is the stronger pick. For winter, Background is the stronger pick. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in Background and Enigme?
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. Enigme has top notes of Coriander, Lavender, Tarragon and Orange, heart notes of Carnation, Cinnamon, Rose and Jasmine, a base of Oakmoss, Sandalwood, Benzoin and Musk.
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