Fragrance comparison

Ching Shih vs L'Eau du Navigateur

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

Updated 30 Oct 2026 616 ratings analysed

Ching Shih

Marissa Zappas

3.9689 votes

Rank #15,498 SmokyAmber

Full profile Similar & dupes

38%scent match

Some overlap

7 wins

L'Eau du Navigateur

L'Artisan Parfumeur

4.18527 votes

Rank #4,530 Warm SpicyWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

L'Eau du Navigateur takes 7 of 8 categories.

Ching Shih
Choose it for a smoky and amber character. Wins on versatility. Best in fall, daytime wear.
L'Eau du Navigateur
Choose it for a warm spicy and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in fall, daytime wear.

Ching Shih1/8

L'Eau du Navigateur7/8

Ratings & consensus: L'Eau du Navigateur
Community sentiment: L'Eau du Navigateur
Longevity: L'Eau du Navigateur
Sillage & projection: L'Eau du Navigateur
Value for money: L'Eau du Navigateur
Versatility: Ching Shih
Note pyramid (duration): L'Eau du Navigateur
Fragranxe ranking: L'Eau du Navigateur

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Ching ShihMarissa Zappas

L'Eau du NavigateurL'Artisan Parfumeur

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.96/ 5 · 89 votes

Have 25%Had 4%Want 71%

4.18/ 5 · 527 votes

Have 64%Had 36%Want 0%

Category winnerL'Eau du NavigateurRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

34%Love

38%Like

20%Ok

6%Dislike

2%Hate

89 votes

43%Love

44%Like

2%Ok

12%Dislike

0%Hate

527 votes

Category winnerL'Eau du NavigateurMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity61

〰 Sillage46

♥ Love / hate74

⏱ Longevity68

〰 Sillage60

♥ Love / hate79

Category winners

LongevityL'Eau du Navigateur

SillageL'Eau du Navigateur

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value47

¤ Price value52

Category winnerL'Eau du NavigateurBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

smoky100%

amber91%

warm spicy83%

floral74%

fruity65%

balsamic56%

warm spicy100%

woody92%

amber84%

tobacco77%

coffee69%

balsamic61%

Scent match38%Some overlap · both warm spicy, amber and balsamic

Note pyramid (duration)

Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = shared

Notes

IncenseOsmanthusgunpowderMyrrhOrrisSpices

No top / heart / base split published

Notes

SpicesRumTobaccoWoodsy NotesCoffeeResinIncenseLeatherMyrrhCedarFloral Notes

No top / heart / base split published

Category winnerL'Eau du NavigateurLongest dry-down: 6-8+ hrs

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring42

Summer17

Fall100

Winter78

Day100

Night72

Spring35

Summer25

Fall100

Winter74

Day100

Night75

Category winnerChing ShihMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men18

Unisex67

Women15

Men49

Unisex49

Women3

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#15,498

PerfumerMarissa Zappas

Launched—

Reviews22

Overall rank#4,530

PerfumerJean-Claude Ellena, Jean-Francois Laporte

Launched—

Reviews34

Category winnerL'Eau du NavigateurHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Ching Shih by Marissa Zappas is a smoky and warm spicy unisex perfume built around a vivid contrast of burnt gunpowder and delicate osmanthus. The scent opens with a flash of dry smoke, sulfurous powder, and sharp spices before settling into a soft floral fruitiness. As it warms on the skin, earthy orris introduces a …

Reviews →

L'Eau du Navigateur opens with an immediate kick of dark roasted coffee beans, sweet pipe tobacco, and aged dark rum. Created in 1979 by Jean-Claude Ellena and Jean-Francois Laporte, this pioneering woody spicy blend smells like the hold of a historic wooden trading vessel packed with dried spices, resins, and leather…

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.

Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, Ching Shih or L'Eau du Navigateur?

L'Eau du Navigateur takes 7 of 8 categories. Ching Shih is rated 3.96/5 from 89 votes; L'Eau du Navigateur is rated 4.18/5 from 527 votes. Choose Ching Shih for a smoky and amber character. Wins on versatility. Best in fall, daytime wear. Choose L'Eau du Navigateur for a warm spicy and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in fall, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Ching Shih or L'Eau du Navigateur?

L'Eau du Navigateur lasts longest (L'Eau du Navigateur 68/100, Ching Shih 61/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Ching Shih or L'Eau du Navigateur?

L'Eau du Navigateur projects furthest (L'Eau du Navigateur 60/100, Ching Shih 46/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Ching Shih and L'Eau du Navigateur smell similar?

Some overlap: a 38% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share warm spicy, amber and balsamic accords. Common notes include Incense, Myrrh and Spices.

Is Ching Shih or L'Eau du Navigateur better for summer or winter?

For summer, L'Eau du Navigateur is the stronger pick. For winter, Ching Shih is the stronger pick. Ching Shih suits daytime wear; L'Eau du Navigateur suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.