By Serpentine vs Java Wood
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
30%scent match
Clearly different
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
No clear winner: the 6 categories split 3–3.
By SerpentineChoose it for a fresh spicy and ozonic character. Wins on longevity, value for money and note pyramid duration. Best in fall, day or night wear.
Java WoodChoose it for a soft spicy and fresh spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, sillage & projection and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, daytime wear.
By Serpentine3/6
Java Wood3/6
- Ratings & consensus
- Java Wood
- Community sentiment
- Not scored
- Longevity
- By Serpentine
- Sillage & projection
- Java Wood
- Value for money
- By Serpentine
- Versatility
- Not scored
- Note pyramid (duration)
- By Serpentine
- Fragranxe ranking
- Java Wood
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
By SerpentineExaltatumJava WoodPremière NoteWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split3.40/ 5 · 20 votes
Have 14%Had 7%Want 80%
3.46/ 5 · 54 votes
Have 51%Had 9%Want 40%
Category winnerJava WoodRating weighted by vote count
Community sentiment
How voters split from love to hate35%Love
10%Like
20%Ok
30%Dislike
5%Hate
20 votes · too few to score
17%Love
44%Like
11%Ok
24%Dislike
4%Hate
54 votes
Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)
Longevity & sillage
0–100 community performance scores
Category winners
LongevityBy Serpentine
SillageJava Wood
Value for money
How fairly priced voters find itCategory winnerBy SerpentineBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothfresh spicy100%
ozonic92%
herbal84%
sweet77%
woody69%
aquatic61%
soft spicy100%
fresh spicy92%
anis84%
aromatic77%
woody69%
earthy61%
Scent match30%Clearly different · both fresh spicy and woody
Note pyramid (duration)
Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = sharedTop20-30 mins
Sichuan PepperBergamotBigaradePink Pepper
Heart2-4 hrs
Violet LeafCherryDried FruitsArtemisia
Base6-8 hrs
TobaccoFirPatchouliCedarOlibanum
Top15-30 mins
Star AniseSichuan PepperBergamot
Heart2-3 hrs
TobaccoCuminViolet Leaf
Base5-7 hrs
Haitian VetiverJava vetiver oilLicorice
Category winnerBy SerpentineLongest dry-down: 6-8 hrs
Seasons & time of day
Relative to each fragrance's best seasonSpring75
Summer13
Fall100
Winter50
Day100
Night100
Spring63
Summer50
Fall100
Winter63
Day100
Night85
Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round
Who wears it
Gender appeal votesInformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored
Ranking & credits
Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launchOverall rank#52,046
PerfumerNot listed
Launched—
Reviews2
Overall rank#43,297
PerfumerMelanie Leroux
Launched—
Reviews0
Category winnerJava WoodHigher overall rank
In a nutshell
Description & review snapshotBy Serpentine by Exaltatum is an unconventional aromatic blend that weaves crisp greenery with dark fruit and forest woods. It opens with an energetic snap of Sichuan pepper and bitter bigarade orange before softening into a curious core of tart cherry, dried fruits, and dewy violet leaf. As it settles on skin, a stur…
Reviews →Première Note Java Wood is an earthy, dry spice fragrance built around woody roots and herbal heat. The opening snaps with tart bergamot, tingling Sichuan pepper, and bitter star anise. It feels sharp. Soon, dried tobacco leaves and warm cumin bring a dusty, aromatic grit to the midsection. A foundation of dark Haitia…
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
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Common questions
Straight answers from the data above.
Which is better, By Serpentine or Java Wood?
No clear winner: the 6 categories split 3–3. By Serpentine is rated 3.40/5 from 20 votes; Java Wood is rated 3.46/5 from 54 votes. Choose By Serpentine for a fresh spicy and ozonic character. Wins on longevity, value for money and note pyramid duration. Best in fall, day or night wear. Choose Java Wood for a soft spicy and fresh spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, sillage & projection and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, daytime wear.
Which lasts longer, By Serpentine or Java Wood?
By Serpentine lasts longest (By Serpentine 67/100, Java Wood 59/100), based on community performance votes.
Which projects more, By Serpentine or Java Wood?
Java Wood projects furthest (Java Wood 57/100, By Serpentine 53/100), based on community performance votes.
Do By Serpentine and Java Wood smell similar?
Clearly different: a 30% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share fresh spicy and woody accords. Common notes include Sichuan Pepper, Bergamot, Violet Leaf and Tobacco.
Is By Serpentine or Java Wood better for summer or winter?
By Serpentine suits day or night wear; Java Wood suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in By Serpentine and Java Wood?
By Serpentine has top notes of Sichuan Pepper, Bergamot, Bigarade and Pink Pepper, heart notes of Violet Leaf, Cherry, Dried Fruits and Artemisia, a base of Tobacco, Fir, Patchouli and Cedar. Java Wood has top notes of Star Anise, Sichuan Pepper and Bergamot, heart notes of Tobacco, Cumin and Violet Leaf, a base of Haitian Vetiver, Java vetiver oil and Licorice.
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