Background vs Tsar
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
25%scent match
Clearly different
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.
TsarChoose it for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on versatility and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter, daytime wear.
Background5/7
Tsar2/7
- Ratings & consensus
- Background
- Community sentiment
- Background
- Longevity
- Background
- Sillage & projection
- Background
- Value for money
- Background
- Versatility
- Tsar
- Note pyramid (duration)
- Not scored
- Fragranxe ranking
- Tsar
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
BackgroundJil SanderTsarVan Cleef & ArpelsWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split4.52/ 5 · 181 votes
Have 30%Had 25%Want 45%
4.19/ 5 · 1,815 votes
Have 63%Had 38%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
41%Like
3%Ok
11%Dislike
1%Hate
1,815 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 winnerBackgroundBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothanis100%
vanilla92%
amber84%
warm spicy77%
aromatic69%
sweet61%
aromatic100%
woody90%
fresh spicy80%
green70%
earthy60%
mossy50%
Scent match25%Clearly different · both 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
Top20-30 mins
Green NotesLavenderArtemisiaRosemaryBergamotCorianderCinnamonNeroli
Heart2-4 hrs
Pine TreeJuniper BerriesCarnationTarragonGeraniumCarawayJasmineRose
Base6-8+ hrs
OakmossLeatherCedarPatchouliVetiverSandalwoodMuskAmber
InformationalShared notesTarragon, Lavender, Bergamot and Cinnamon. Durations are only published for Tsar, so this is not scored.
Seasons & time of day
Relative to each fragrance's best seasonSpring92
Summer0
Fall0
Winter100
Day–
Night–
Spring91
Summer51
Fall0
Winter100
Day100
Night73
Category winnerTsarMost 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#750
PerfumerPhilippe Bousseton
Launched—
Reviews204
Category winnerTsarHigher 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 →Van Cleef & Arpels Tsar is a quintessential green aromatic cologne that captures the crisp air of a dense pine forest. It opens with an invigorating rush of cool lavender, bitter artemisia, and crushed rosemary, creating the sensation of walking through morning woodland dew. As the scent settles, aromatic juniper berr…
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 Tsar?
Background takes 5 of 7 categories. Background is rated 4.52/5 from 181 votes; Tsar is rated 4.19/5 from 1,815 votes. Choose Background for a anis and vanilla character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter. Choose Tsar for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on versatility and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter, daytime wear.
Which lasts longer, Background or Tsar?
Background lasts longest (Background 77/100, Tsar 72/100), based on community performance votes.
Which projects more, Background or Tsar?
Background projects furthest (Background 68/100, Tsar 62/100), based on community performance votes.
Do Background and Tsar smell similar?
Clearly different: a 25% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic accords. Common notes include Tarragon, Lavender, Bergamot and Cinnamon.
Is Background or Tsar better for summer or winter?
For summer, Tsar is the stronger pick. For winter, Background is the stronger pick. Tsar suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in Background and Tsar?
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. Tsar has top notes of Green Notes, Lavender, Artemisia and Rosemary, heart notes of Pine Tree, Juniper Berries, Carnation and Tarragon, a base of Oakmoss, Leather, Cedar and Patchouli.
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