Background vs Maroussia
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
46%scent match
Some overlap
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
Background takes 5 of 7 categories.
BackgroundChoose it for a anis and vanilla character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter.
MaroussiaChoose it for a powdery and amber character. Wins on value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter, evening wear.
Background5/7
Maroussia2/7
- Ratings & consensus
- Background
- Community sentiment
- Background
- Longevity
- Background
- Sillage & projection
- Background
- Value for money
- Maroussia
- Versatility
- Background
- Note pyramid (duration)
- Not scored
- Fragranxe ranking
- Maroussia
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
BackgroundJil SanderMaroussiaSlava ZaitsevWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split4.52/ 5 · 181 votes
Have 30%Had 25%Want 45%
3.70/ 5 · 3,125 votes
Have 67%Had 33%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
27%Love
44%Like
5%Ok
22%Dislike
3%Hate
3,125 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 winnerMaroussiaBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothanis100%
vanilla92%
amber84%
warm spicy77%
aromatic69%
sweet61%
powdery100%
amber92%
woody84%
floral77%
warm spicy69%
vanilla61%
Scent match46%Some overlap · both amber, vanilla and warm spicy
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
Top15-30 mins
AldehydesOrange BlossomPeachBergamot
Heart3-5 hrs
CarnationYlang-YlangTuberoseHeliotropeIrisJasmineRoseOrchid
Base7-10+ hrs
CivetSandalwoodAmberBenzoinVanillaMuskTonka BeanCedar
InformationalShared notesBergamot, Carnation, Jasmine and Heliotrope. Durations are only published for Maroussia, so this is not scored.
Seasons & time of day
Relative to each fragrance's best seasonSpring92
Summer0
Fall0
Winter100
Day–
Night–
Spring27
Summer16
Fall0
Winter100
Day75
Night100
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#2,451
PerfumerNot listed
Launched—
Reviews203
Category winnerMaroussiaHigher 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 →Slava Zaitsev Maroussia hits the air with a brisk, soapy rush of aldehydes, crisp bergamot, and sweet orange blossom that immediately brings to mind frosty morning air. As the initial fizzy burst settles, a dense core of spicy carnation, creamy ylang-ylang, and buttery tuberose unfolds across the skin, giving the frag…
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 Maroussia?
Background takes 5 of 7 categories. Background is rated 4.52/5 from 181 votes; Maroussia is rated 3.70/5 from 3,125 votes. Choose Background for a anis and vanilla character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter. Choose Maroussia for a powdery and amber character. Wins on value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter, evening wear.
Which lasts longer, Background or Maroussia?
Background lasts longest (Background 77/100, Maroussia 67/100), based on community performance votes.
Which projects more, Background or Maroussia?
Background projects furthest (Background 68/100, Maroussia 62/100), based on community performance votes.
Do Background and Maroussia smell similar?
Some overlap: a 46% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share amber, vanilla and warm spicy accords. Common notes include Bergamot, Carnation, Jasmine and Heliotrope.
Is Background or Maroussia better for summer or winter?
For summer, Maroussia is the stronger pick. For winter, Background is the stronger pick. Maroussia suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in Background and Maroussia?
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. Maroussia has top notes of Aldehydes, Orange Blossom, Peach and Bergamot, heart notes of Carnation, Ylang-Ylang, Tuberose and Heliotrope, a base of Civet, Sandalwood, Amber and Benzoin.
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