Fragrance comparison

Ching Shih vs Sand Desert At Sunset Intense

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

Updated 30 Oct 2026 645 ratings analysed

Ching Shih

Marissa Zappas

3.9689 votes

Rank #15,498 SmokyAmber

Full profile Similar & dupes

34%scent match

Clearly different

6 wins

Sand Desert At Sunset Intense

Zara

4.55556 votes

Rank #743 AmberWarm Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Sand Desert At Sunset Intense takes 6 of 7 categories.

Ching Shih
Choose it for a smoky and amber character. Wins on versatility. Best in fall, daytime wear.
Sand Desert At Sunset Intense
Choose it for a amber and warm spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter.

Ching Shih1/7

Sand Desert At Sunset Intense6/7

Ratings & consensus: Sand Desert At Sunset Intense
Community sentiment: Sand Desert At Sunset Intense
Longevity: Sand Desert At Sunset Intense
Sillage & projection: Sand Desert At Sunset Intense
Value for money: Sand Desert At Sunset Intense
Versatility: Ching Shih
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Sand Desert At Sunset Intense

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Ching ShihMarissa Zappas

Sand Desert At Sunset IntenseZara

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.96/ 5 · 89 votes

Have 25%Had 4%Want 71%

4.55/ 5 · 556 votes

Have 93%Had 7%Want 0%

Category winnerSand Desert At Sunset IntenseRating 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

66%Love

26%Like

7%Ok

1%Dislike

0%Hate

556 votes

Category winnerSand Desert At Sunset IntenseMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity61

〰 Sillage46

♥ Love / hate74

⏱ Longevity71

〰 Sillage57

♥ Love / hate89

Category winners

LongevitySand Desert At Sunset Intense

SillageSand Desert At Sunset Intense

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value47

¤ Price value89

Category winnerSand Desert At Sunset IntenseBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

smoky100%

amber91%

warm spicy83%

floral74%

fruity65%

balsamic56%

amber100%

warm spicy92%

vanilla84%

cinnamon77%

sweet69%

cacao61%

Scent match34%Clearly different · both amber and warm spicy

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

CinnamonVanillaTonka BeanAmberCocoaIncenseButterBitter OrangeMyrrhCedarwoodBergamotOrris

No top / heart / base split published

InformationalShared notesIncense, Myrrh and Orris. Durations are only published for Ching Shih, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring42

Summer17

Fall100

Winter78

Day100

Night72

Spring30

Summer10

Fall0

Winter100

Day–

Night–

Category winnerChing ShihMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men18

Unisex67

Women15

Men57

Unisex39

Women4

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#15,498

PerfumerMarissa Zappas

Launched—

Reviews22

Overall rank#743

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews55

Category winnerSand Desert At Sunset IntenseHigher 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 →

Designed for chilly winter evenings and crisp fall days, Zara Sand Desert At Sunset Intense shifts from a bright bitter orange opening to a dry, resinous vanilla base. It offers an affordable option for gourmand lovers who want a cozy, spiced aroma. The scent stays close to the skin after its initial projection burst.

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 Sand Desert At Sunset Intense?

Sand Desert At Sunset Intense takes 6 of 7 categories. Ching Shih is rated 3.96/5 from 89 votes; Sand Desert At Sunset Intense is rated 4.55/5 from 556 votes. Choose Ching Shih for a smoky and amber character. Wins on versatility. Best in fall, daytime wear. Choose Sand Desert At Sunset Intense for a amber and warm spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter.

Which lasts longer, Ching Shih or Sand Desert At Sunset Intense?

Sand Desert At Sunset Intense lasts longest (Sand Desert At Sunset Intense 71/100, Ching Shih 61/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Ching Shih or Sand Desert At Sunset Intense?

Sand Desert At Sunset Intense projects furthest (Sand Desert At Sunset Intense 57/100, Ching Shih 46/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Ching Shih and Sand Desert At Sunset Intense smell similar?

Clearly different: a 34% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share amber and warm spicy accords. Common notes include Incense, Myrrh and Orris.

Is Ching Shih or Sand Desert At Sunset Intense better for summer or winter?

For summer, Ching Shih is the stronger pick. For winter, Sand Desert At Sunset Intense is the stronger pick. Ching Shih suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Ching Shih and Sand Desert At Sunset Intense?

Ching Shih features Incense, Osmanthus, gunpowder, Myrrh and Orris. Sand Desert At Sunset Intense features Cinnamon, Vanilla, Tonka Bean, Amber and Cocoa.