Fragrance comparison

Bal d'Afrique vs Dragon

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 18,890 ratings analysed

3 wins

Bal d'Afrique

Byredo · 2009

4.1018,867 votes

Rank #1,424 AromaticWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

48%scent match

Some overlap

Dragon

Hint

3.9123 votes

Rank #23,269 WoodyAquatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Bal d'Afrique takes 3 of 5 categories.

Bal d'Afrique
Choose it for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring.
Dragon
Choose it for a woody and aquatic character. Wins on value for money. Best in fall, day or night wear.

Bal d'Afrique3/5

Dragon1/5

Ratings & consensus: Bal d'Afrique
Community sentiment: Not scored
Longevity: Bal d'Afrique
Sillage & projection: Tie
Value for money: Dragon
Versatility: Not scored
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

DragonHint

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.10/ 5 · 18,867 votes

Have 76%Had 24%Want 0%

3.91/ 5 · 23 votes

Have 31%Had 5%Want 64%

Category winnerBal d'AfriqueRating 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

39%Love

30%Like

22%Ok

0%Dislike

9%Hate

23 votes · too few to score

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity61

〰 Sillage53

♥ Love / hate79

⏱ Longevity60

〰 Sillage53

♥ Love / hate73

Category winners

LongevityBal d'Afrique

SillageTie

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value36

¤ Price value79

Category winnerDragonBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

aromatic100%

woody83%

floral65%

powdery61%

woody100%

aquatic86%

musky72%

powdery58%

fresh44%

floral30%

Scent match48%Some overlap · both woody, powdery and floral

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

EucalyptusAfrican Orange FlowerBergamotLemon

Heart2-3 hrs

Bamboo LeafWatery NotesLotusVioletCyclamenJasmine

Base5-7 hrs

MuskCedarwoodPalisander RosewoodVetiverAmber

InformationalShared notesBergamot, African Orange Flower, Violet and Cyclamen. Durations are only published for Dragon, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer0

Fall0

Winter30

Day–

Night–

Spring77

Summer77

Fall100

Winter38

Day100

Night93

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men4

Unisex47

Women49

Men20

Unisex75

Women5

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#1,424

PerfumerJérôme Epinette

Launched2009

Reviews1,068

Overall rank#23,269

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews7

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 →

Hint Dragon opens with a crisp kick of eucalyptus, tart lemon, and sunny bergamot that feels like stepping into a brisk morning breeze. The scent quickly settles into a calm heart of fresh bamboo leaf, dewy lotus, and airy watery notes, giving it a peaceful, spa-like botanical personality rather than the fiery smoke i…

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.

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Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, Bal d'Afrique or Dragon?

Bal d'Afrique takes 3 of 5 categories. Bal d'Afrique is rated 4.10/5 from 18,867 votes; Dragon is rated 3.91/5 from 23 votes. Choose Bal d'Afrique for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring. Choose Dragon for a woody and aquatic character. Wins on value for money. Best in fall, day or night wear.

Which lasts longer, Bal d'Afrique or Dragon?

They last about the same: Bal d'Afrique 61/100, Dragon 60/100 for longevity in community votes.

Which projects more, Bal d'Afrique or Dragon?

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

Do Bal d'Afrique and Dragon smell similar?

Some overlap: a 48% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share woody, powdery and floral accords. Common notes include Bergamot, African Orange Flower, Violet and Cyclamen.

Is Bal d'Afrique or Dragon better for summer or winter?

Dragon suits day or night wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Bal d'Afrique and Dragon?

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. Dragon has top notes of Eucalyptus, African Orange Flower, Bergamot and Lemon, heart notes of Bamboo Leaf, Watery Notes, Lotus and Violet, a base of Musk, Cedarwood, Palisander Rosewood and Vetiver.