Background vs Sagamore
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
52%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.
SagamoreChoose it for a aromatic and warm spicy character. Wins on value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter, daytime wear.
Background5/7
Sagamore2/7
- Ratings & consensus
- Background
- Community sentiment
- Background
- Longevity
- Background
- Sillage & projection
- Background
- Value for money
- Sagamore
- Versatility
- Background
- Note pyramid (duration)
- Not scored
- Fragranxe ranking
- Sagamore
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
BackgroundJil SanderSagamoreLancômeWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split4.52/ 5 · 181 votes
Have 30%Had 25%Want 45%
4.14/ 5 · 354 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
45%Love
46%Like
2%Ok
6%Dislike
1%Hate
243 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 winnerSagamoreBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothanis100%
vanilla92%
amber84%
warm spicy77%
aromatic69%
sweet61%
aromatic100%
warm spicy92%
amber84%
citrus77%
fresh spicy69%
woody61%
Scent match52%Some overlap · both warm spicy, aromatic 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
Clary SageLavenderBergamotLemonPetitgrain
Heart
CarnationJasmineGingerCinnamonGeraniumLily-of-the-ValleyRose
Base
SandalwoodAmberMuskPatchouliStyraxBenzoinVanilla
InformationalShared notesLavender, Bergamot, Lemon and Cinnamon. 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–
Spring90
Summer0
Fall0
Winter100
Day100
Night20
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#3,330
PerfumerCalice Becker, Pauline Zanoni
Launched2005
Reviews44
Category winnerSagamoreHigher 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 →Sagamore is a classic-leaning citrus aromatic that opens bright with bergamot, lemon, lavender and sage, then turns drier, spicier and more woody on skin. The overall feel is refined, gentle and quietly masculine, with the kind of polished chypre character that appeals more to lovers of traditional French-style perfum…
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 Sagamore?
Background takes 5 of 7 categories. Background is rated 4.52/5 from 181 votes; Sagamore is rated 4.14/5 from 354 votes. Choose Background for a anis and vanilla character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter. Choose Sagamore for a aromatic and warm spicy character. Wins on value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter, daytime wear.
Which lasts longer, Background or Sagamore?
Background lasts longest (Background 77/100, Sagamore 73/100), based on community performance votes.
Which projects more, Background or Sagamore?
Background projects furthest (Background 68/100, Sagamore 63/100), based on community performance votes.
Do Background and Sagamore smell similar?
Some overlap: a 52% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share warm spicy, aromatic and amber accords. Common notes include Lavender, Bergamot, Lemon and Cinnamon.
Is Background or Sagamore better for summer or winter?
For summer, Background is the stronger pick. For winter, Background is the stronger pick. Sagamore suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in Background and Sagamore?
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. Sagamore has top notes of Clary Sage, Lavender, Bergamot and Lemon, heart notes of Carnation, Jasmine, Ginger and Cinnamon, a base of Sandalwood, Amber, Musk and Patchouli.
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