Fragrance comparison

Bal d'Afrique vs Chalayan Airborne

Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.

Updated 15 Nov 2026 18,951 ratings analysed

Bal d'Afrique

Byredo · 2009

4.1018,867 votes

Rank #1,424 AromaticWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

49%scent match

Some overlap

Chalayan Airborne

Hussein Chalayan

4.2384 votes

Rank #14,364 AromaticCitrus

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

No clear winner: the 7 categories split 3–3.

Bal d'Afrique
Choose it for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on longevity, versatility and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring.
Chalayan Airborne
Choose it for a aromatic and citrus character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Bal d'Afrique3/7

Chalayan Airborne3/7

Ratings & consensus: Chalayan Airborne
Community sentiment: Chalayan Airborne
Longevity: Bal d'Afrique
Sillage & projection: Tie
Value for money: Chalayan Airborne
Versatility: Bal d'Afrique
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Bal d'Afrique

Head-to-head breakdown

Every category side by side, with the winner called out.

Fragrance

Bal d'AfriqueByredo

Chalayan AirborneHussein Chalayan

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.10/ 5 · 18,867 votes

Have 76%Had 24%Want 0%

4.23/ 5 · 84 votes

Have 34%Had 14%Want 52%

Category winnerChalayan AirborneRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

44%Love

36%Like

11%Ok

8%Dislike

1%Hate

16,124 votes

40%Love

50%Like

1%Ok

8%Dislike

0%Hate

84 votes

Category winnerChalayan AirborneMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity61

〰 Sillage53

♥ Love / hate79

⏱ Longevity59

〰 Sillage53

♥ Love / hate81

Category winners

LongevityBal d'Afrique

SillageTie

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value36

¤ Price value45

Category winnerChalayan AirborneBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

aromatic100%

woody83%

floral65%

powdery61%

aromatic100%

citrus86%

woody72%

balsamic58%

fresh spicy44%

terpenic30%

Scent match49%Some overlap · both aromatic and woody

Note pyramid (duration)

Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = shared

Top

Amalfi LemonMarigoldBergamotBlack CurrantAfrican Orange Flower

Heart

VioletCyclamenJasmine

Base

VetiverMuskAmberVirginia Cedar

Top15-30 mins

Amalfi LemonBergamotAfrican Orange Flower

Heart2-4 hrs

Mastic or LentisqueJuniper Berries

Base5-7 hrs

Virginia CedarIncenseMusk

InformationalShared notesAmalfi Lemon, Bergamot, African Orange Flower and Musk. Durations are only published for Chalayan Airborne, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer0

Fall0

Winter30

Day–

Night–

Spring100

Summer0

Fall0

Winter14

Day100

Night10

Category winnerBal d'AfriqueMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men4

Unisex47

Women49

Men18

Unisex82

Women0

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#1,424

PerfumerJérôme Epinette

Launched2009

Reviews1,068

Overall rank#14,364

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews9

Category winnerBal d'AfriqueHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Bal d'Afrique by Byredo is a bright floral woody fragrance that captures a breezy, sun-drenched day. It features a lively mix of Amalfi lemon, African marigold, and bergamot, leading into a soft heart of violet and cyclamen. The base of vetiver and musk settles into a clean, skin-like finish that works comfortably for…

Reviews →

Chalayan Airborne opens with a bracing splash of tart Amalfi lemon, bitter bergamot, and a quiet touch of African orange flower that feels like snapping open fresh citrus rind. As the brisk opening calms down over fifteen to thirty minutes, the real star steps forward: green mastic resin paired with dry, peppery junip…

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.

Recent comparisons

Head-to-head activity from live history

Fancy NightsJessica SimpsonRUNNER-UP vs

Nino Cerruti Pour FemmeCerrutiWINNER

3 people compared this today

Sweet DreamsHouse Of SillageWINNER vs

Safari ElixirAthoor Al AlamRUNNER-UP

1 person compared this today

PrometheuNecalliWINNER vs

Bruno ImperialAnfar LondonRUNNER-UP

1 person compared this today

Super CedarByredoRUNNER-UP vs

NorthMendittorosaWINNER

1 person compared this today

Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, Bal d'Afrique or Chalayan Airborne?

No clear winner: the 7 categories split 3–3. Bal d'Afrique is rated 4.10/5 from 18,867 votes; Chalayan Airborne is rated 4.23/5 from 84 votes. Choose Bal d'Afrique for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on longevity, versatility and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring. Choose Chalayan Airborne for a aromatic and citrus character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Bal d'Afrique or Chalayan Airborne?

They last about the same: Bal d'Afrique 61/100, Chalayan Airborne 59/100 for longevity in community votes.

Which projects more, Bal d'Afrique or Chalayan Airborne?

Projection is very close: Bal d'Afrique 53/100, Chalayan Airborne 53/100 for sillage.

Do Bal d'Afrique and Chalayan Airborne smell similar?

Some overlap: a 49% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic and woody accords. Common notes include Amalfi Lemon, Bergamot, African Orange Flower and Musk.

Is Bal d'Afrique or Chalayan Airborne better for summer or winter?

For summer, Bal d'Afrique is the stronger pick. For winter, Bal d'Afrique is the stronger pick. Chalayan Airborne suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Bal d'Afrique and Chalayan Airborne?

Bal d'Afrique has top notes of Amalfi Lemon, Marigold, Bergamot and Black Currant, heart notes of Violet, Cyclamen and Jasmine, a base of Vetiver, Musk, Amber and Virginia Cedar. Chalayan Airborne has top notes of Amalfi Lemon, Bergamot and African Orange Flower, heart notes of Mastic or Lentisque and Juniper Berries, a base of Virginia Cedar, Incense and Musk.