Below Zero vs Basic Instinct
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
41%scent match
Some overlap
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
No clear winner: the 3 categories split 1–1.
Below ZeroChoose it for a white floral and musky character. Wins on sillage & projection. Best in spring, day or night wear.
Basic InstinctChoose it for a ozonic and aquatic character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Below Zero1/3
Basic Instinct1/3
- Ratings & consensus
- Not scored
- Community sentiment
- Not scored
- Longevity
- Tie
- Sillage & projection
- Below Zero
- Value for money
- Not scored
- Versatility
- Not scored
- Note pyramid (duration)
- Not scored
- Fragranxe ranking
- Basic Instinct
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
Below ZeroAXEBasic InstinctVan GilsWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split2.62/ 5 · 8 votes
Have 31%Had 38%Want 31%
4.05/ 5 · 152 votes
Have 65%Had 35%Want 0%
Category winnerNot enough dataRating weighted by vote count
Community sentiment
How voters split from love to hate13%Love
13%Like
0%Ok
75%Dislike
0%Hate
8 votes · too few to score
38%Love
43%Like
11%Ok
6%Dislike
3%Hate
152 votes
Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)
Longevity & sillage
0–100 community performance scores
Category winners
LongevityTie
SillageBelow Zero
Value for money
How fairly priced voters find itCategory winnerNot enough dataBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothwhite floral100%
musky86%
citrus72%
sweet58%
animalic44%
soapy30%
ozonic100%
aquatic92%
citrus84%
woody77%
sweet69%
white floral61%
Scent match41%Some overlap · both white floral, citrus and sweet
Note pyramid (duration)
Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = sharedTop
Mandarin OrangeNutmegSageLavender
Heart
Orange BlossomCedar
Base
MuskPatchouli
Top15-30 mins
CucumberMelonMandarin OrangeLavenderBergamotPineappleNutmeg
Heart2-4 hrs
Orange BlossomRoseVioletJasmine
Base5-7 hrs
MuskRumWoody NotesOakmossPatchouliAmberVetiver
InformationalShared notesMandarin Orange, Nutmeg, Lavender and Orange Blossom. Durations are only published for Basic Instinct, so this is not scored.
Seasons & time of day
Relative to each fragrance's best seasonSpring100
Summer50
Fall50
Winter100
Day100
Night100
Spring100
Summer0
Fall0
Winter7
Day100
Night28
Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round
Who wears it
Gender appeal votesNot enough votes yet
InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored
Ranking & credits
Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launchOverall rank#72,745
PerfumerNot listed
Launched—
Reviews0
Overall rank#9,773
PerfumerPierre Bourdon
Launched—
Reviews17
Category winnerBasic InstinctHigher overall rank
In a nutshell
Description & review snapshotBelow Zero by AXE is an aromatic fragrance for men, released in 2013. It centers on a crisp blend of mandarin orange, nutmeg, sage, and lavender over a foundation of cedar and musk. It functions as an everyday body spray, suitable for casual wear during warmer days when a clean, refreshing profile is preferred by the …
Reviews →Basic Instinct by Van Gils delivers an invigorating rush of crisp cucumber, sweet honeydew melon, and bright mandarin orange right out of the nozzle. Created in 2002 by master perfumer Pierre Bourdon, this scent captures the golden era of early two-thousands aquatic freshness with an unexpected twist. Instead of disso…
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, Below Zero or Basic Instinct?
No clear winner: the 3 categories split 1–1. Below Zero is rated 2.62/5 from 8 votes; Basic Instinct is rated 4.05/5 from 152 votes. Choose Below Zero for a white floral and musky character. Wins on sillage & projection. Best in spring, day or night wear. Choose Basic Instinct for a ozonic and aquatic character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Which lasts longer, Below Zero or Basic Instinct?
They last about the same: Below Zero 60/100, Basic Instinct 60/100 for longevity in community votes.
Which projects more, Below Zero or Basic Instinct?
Below Zero projects furthest (Below Zero 63/100, Basic Instinct 52/100), based on community performance votes.
Do Below Zero and Basic Instinct smell similar?
Some overlap: a 41% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share white floral, citrus and sweet accords. Common notes include Mandarin Orange, Nutmeg, Lavender and Orange Blossom.
Is Below Zero or Basic Instinct better for summer or winter?
Below Zero suits day or night wear; Basic Instinct suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in Below Zero and Basic Instinct?
Below Zero has top notes of Mandarin Orange, Nutmeg, Sage and Lavender, heart notes of Orange Blossom and Cedar, a base of Musk and Patchouli. Basic Instinct has top notes of Cucumber, Melon, Mandarin Orange and Lavender, heart notes of Orange Blossom, Rose, Violet and Jasmine, a base of Musk, Rum, Woody Notes and Oakmoss.
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