Chapter 2 vs Presence
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
21%scent match
Clearly different
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
Presence takes 4 of 7 categories.
Chapter 2Choose it for a powdery and almond character. Wins on versatility and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear.
PresenceChoose it for a mossy and floral character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and sillage & projection. Best in fall, daytime wear.
Chapter 22/7
Presence4/7
- Ratings & consensus
- Presence
- Community sentiment
- Presence
- Longevity
- Tie
- Sillage & projection
- Presence
- Value for money
- Presence
- Versatility
- Chapter 2
- Note pyramid (duration)
- Not scored
- Fragranxe ranking
- Chapter 2
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
Chapter 2AjmalPresenceHoubigantWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split3.47/ 5 · 49 votes
Have 26%Had 5%Want 69%
4.15/ 5 · 55 votes
Have 44%Had 11%Want 45%
Category winnerPresenceRating weighted by vote count
Community sentiment
How voters split from love to hate26%Love
37%Like
21%Ok
11%Dislike
5%Hate
38 votes
42%Love
44%Like
2%Ok
13%Dislike
0%Hate
55 votes
Category winnerPresenceMost positive mix (25+ votes)
Longevity & sillage
0–100 community performance scores
Category winners
LongevityTie
SillagePresence
Value for money
How fairly priced voters find itCategory winnerPresenceBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothpowdery100%
almond92%
vanilla84%
woody77%
nutty69%
sweet61%
mossy100%
floral92%
earthy84%
woody77%
fresh69%
fruity61%
Scent match21%Clearly different · both woody
Note pyramid (duration)
Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = sharedTop
JasmineBlack TeaSpices
Heart
AlmondHeliotropeOrris
Base
VanillaSandalwoodMusk
Top15-30 mins
AppleAldehydesNeroliLemonBergamot
Heart2-4 hrs
OrrisHeliotropeCarnationJasmine
Base6-8+ hrs
OakmossMuskCedarVetiverSpicesAmbergrisPatchouliSandalwood
InformationalShared notesJasmine, Spices, Heliotrope and Orris. Durations are only published for Presence, so this is not scored.
Seasons & time of day
Relative to each fragrance's best seasonSpring100
Summer59
Fall94
Winter65
Day100
Night63
Spring79
Summer50
Fall100
Winter71
Day100
Night71
Category winnerChapter 2Most year-round
Who wears it
Gender appeal votesInformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored
Ranking & credits
Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launchOverall rank#28,931
PerfumerDalia Izem
Launched—
Reviews3
Overall rank#33,073
PerfumerRaymond Kling
Launched—
Reviews0
Category winnerChapter 2Higher overall rank
In a nutshell
Description & review snapshotChapter 2 by Ajmal is a smooth black tea scent wrapped in powdery almond and soft florals. It opens with jasmine, spice, and a tea note that feels more cosy than sharp. In the heart, almond, heliotrope, and orris turn it creamy and makeup-powdery. The dry-down settles into vanilla, sandalwood, and musk, reading warm,…
Reviews →Houbigant Presence is a crisp, historic chypre built on striking contrasts. The first spray releases a brisk wash of tart green apple, fizzy aldehydes, and sharp lemon zest. Give it ten minutes. The top burns off rapidly to reveal a velvety, dry heart of earthy orris root and spicy carnation blossoms. It smells like v…
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, Chapter 2 or Presence?
Presence takes 4 of 7 categories. Chapter 2 is rated 3.47/5 from 49 votes; Presence is rated 4.15/5 from 55 votes. Choose Chapter 2 for a powdery and almond character. Wins on versatility and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose Presence for a mossy and floral character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and sillage & projection. Best in fall, daytime wear.
Which lasts longer, Chapter 2 or Presence?
They last about the same: Chapter 2 68/100, Presence 68/100 for longevity in community votes.
Which projects more, Chapter 2 or Presence?
Presence projects furthest (Presence 62/100, Chapter 2 52/100), based on community performance votes.
Do Chapter 2 and Presence smell similar?
Clearly different: a 21% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share woody accords. Common notes include Jasmine, Spices, Heliotrope and Orris.
Is Chapter 2 or Presence better for summer or winter?
For summer, Chapter 2 is the stronger pick. For winter, Presence is the stronger pick. Chapter 2 suits daytime wear; Presence suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in Chapter 2 and Presence?
Chapter 2 has top notes of Jasmine, Black Tea and Spices, heart notes of Almond, Heliotrope and Orris, a base of Vanilla, Sandalwood and Musk. Presence has top notes of Apple, Aldehydes, Neroli and Lemon, heart notes of Orris, Heliotrope, Carnation and Jasmine, a base of Oakmoss, Musk, Cedar and Vetiver.
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