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FRAGRANXE
Fragrance comparison

Basala vs Vetyver

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

Updated 494 ratings analysed
Some overlap
Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

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

  • Basala

    Choose it for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in winter.

  • Vetyver

    Choose it for a citrus and aromatic character. Wins on value for money, versatility and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Basala3/7
Vetyver3/7
Ratings & consensus
Basala
Community sentiment
Tie
Longevity
Basala
Sillage & projection
Basala
Value for money
Vetyver
Versatility
Vetyver
Note pyramid (duration)
Not scored
Fragranxe ranking
Vetyver

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance
BasalaShiseido
VetyverRoger & Gallet
Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split
4.38/ 5 · 391 votes
Have 50%Had 50%Want 0%
4.04/ 5 · 103 votes
Have 44%Had 26%Want 30%
Category winnerBasalaRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate
55%Love
37%Like
1%Ok
7%Dislike
0%Hate

391 votes

29%Love
61%Like
4%Ok
4%Dislike
1%Hate

92 votes

Category winnerTieMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores
⏱ Longevity77
〰 Sillage71
♥ Love / hate85
⏱ Longevity51
〰 Sillage47
♥ Love / hate78
Category winners

LongevityBasala

SillageBasala

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it
¤ Price value52
¤ Price value75
Category winnerVetyverBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both
aromatic100%
fresh spicy92%
woody84%
warm spicy77%
amber69%
herbal61%
citrus100%
aromatic92%
woody84%
fresh spicy77%
mossy69%
fresh61%
Scent match48%Some overlap · both aromatic, fresh spicy and woody

Note pyramid (duration)

Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = shared
Top
LavenderClary SageBasilRosemaryFruity NotesArtemisiaGreen NotesBergamot
Heart
CarawayRoseCinnamonFirCarnationJasmine
Base
LeatherLabdanumCedarOakmossAmberPatchouliMuskCoconut
Top
LemonBergamotOrangeLavenderRosemaryNeroli
Heart
FirCedarTonka BeanCarnationOrris Root
Base
OakmossMuskAmber
InformationalShared notesLavender, Rosemary, Bergamot and Fir. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season
Spring52
Summer22
Fall0
Winter100
Day–
Night–
Spring100
Summer97
Fall64
Winter24
Day100
Night35
Category winnerVetyverMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes
Men84
Unisex13
Women3
Men37
Unisex63
Women0
InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#25,846

PerfumerDominique Preyssas

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#12,673

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews23

Category winnerVetyverHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Shiseido Basala hits the skin with a sharp, bracing rush of green rosemary, clary sage, and bitter artemisia. It is a dry, red-hued chypre from the early nineties that completely bypasses the clean, aquatic trends of its era. As the initial herbal blast simmers down, a warm wave of cinnamon and carnation emerges, brin…

Reviews →

Vetyver opens with bright lemon, bergamot and aromatic herbs, then settles into a dry, mossy woods accord with fir, lavender and a soft smoky vetiver impression. It wears like a classic French cologne, fresh, tidy and slightly old-school. The catch is performance. Many wearers find the opening appealing but short-live…

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

Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, Basala or Vetyver?

No clear winner: the 7 categories split 3–3. Basala is rated 4.38/5 from 391 votes; Vetyver is rated 4.04/5 from 103 votes. Choose Basala for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in winter. Choose Vetyver for a citrus and aromatic character. Wins on value for money, versatility and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Basala or Vetyver?

Basala lasts longest (Basala 77/100, Vetyver 51/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Basala or Vetyver?

Basala projects furthest (Basala 71/100, Vetyver 47/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Basala and Vetyver smell similar?

Some overlap: a 48% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic, fresh spicy and woody accords. Common notes include Lavender, Rosemary, Bergamot and Fir.

Is Basala or Vetyver better for summer or winter?

For summer, Vetyver is the stronger pick. For winter, Basala is the stronger pick. Vetyver suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Basala and Vetyver?

Basala has top notes of Lavender, Clary Sage, Basil and Rosemary, heart notes of Caraway, Rose, Cinnamon and Fir, a base of Leather, Labdanum, Cedar and Oakmoss. Vetyver has top notes of Lemon, Bergamot, Orange and Lavender, heart notes of Fir, Cedar, Tonka Bean and Carnation, a base of Oakmoss, Musk and Amber.

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