Fragrance comparison

Ciao vs Grain de Sable

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

Updated 9 Oct 2026 38 ratings analysed

3 wins

Ciao

Houbigant

4.2524 votes

Rank #47,593 WoodyGreen

Full profile Similar & dupes

34%scent match

Clearly different

Grain de Sable

Nicky Verfaillie

4.1414 votes

Rank #20,360 White FloralFresh

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Ciao takes 3 of 5 categories.

Ciao
Choose it for a woody and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in fall, daytime wear.
Grain de Sable
Choose it for a white floral and fresh character. Wins on value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in summer, daytime wear.

Ciao3/5

Grain de Sable2/5

Ratings & consensus: Ciao
Community sentiment: Not scored
Longevity: Ciao
Sillage & projection: Ciao
Value for money: Grain de Sable
Versatility: Not scored
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Grain de Sable

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

CiaoHoubigant

Grain de SableNicky Verfaillie

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.25/ 5 · 24 votes

Have 35%Had 17%Want 48%

4.14/ 5 · 14 votes

Have 36%Had 25%Want 39%

Category winnerCiaoRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

50%Love

33%Like

8%Ok

8%Dislike

0%Hate

24 votes · too few to score

36%Love

50%Like

7%Ok

7%Dislike

0%Hate

14 votes · too few to score

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity93

〰 Sillage75

♥ Love / hate81

⏱ Longevity68

〰 Sillage55

♥ Love / hate79

Category winners

LongevityCiao

SillageCiao

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value63

¤ Price value75

Category winnerGrain de SableBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

woody100%

green92%

earthy84%

floral77%

fresh spicy69%

aromatic61%

white floral100%

fresh92%

green84%

fresh spicy77%

tropical69%

sweet61%

Scent match34%Clearly different · both green and fresh spicy

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top15-30 mins

FruitsCuminGreen NotesLemonPalisander RosewoodBasilOsmanthus

Heart2-4 hrs

Orris RootRoseHyacinthJasmineLily-of-the-ValleyCarnationYlang-YlangCassis

Base8-10+ hrs

OakmossLeatherSandalwoodAmberVetiverPatchouliMuskBenzoin

Top

BasilMelonCitrusesCalonePeach

Heart

LilyLily-of-the-ValleyPapayaJasmineYlang-YlangRoseIrisHyacinth

Base

OakmossVetiverPatchouliMuskSandalwood

InformationalShared notesBasil, Rose, Hyacinth and Jasmine. Durations are only published for Ciao, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring50

Summer50

Fall100

Winter50

Day100

Night64

Spring80

Summer100

Fall40

Winter20

Day100

Night20

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men0

Unisex17

Women83

Casual 39%Work 30%Date 18%Party 12%

Men0

Unisex25

Women75

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#47,593

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#20,360

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews6

Category winnerGrain de SableHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Houbigant Ciao launches with a sharp crack of green basil, bitter lemon, and pungent cumin. It does not apologize for its vintage power. Give it five minutes to settle past the initial alcohol lift. Soon, a rich bouquet of spicy carnation, hyacinth, and powdery orris root blooms across your skin. The sweetness is mini…

Reviews →

Grain de Sable is a 1977 release that captures the essence of a beach holiday through a blend of juicy melon, papaya, and white florals. This classic scent provides a crisp, aquatic profile balanced by earthy oakmoss. It is ideal for those who appreciate vintage perfumery with a tropical lean, making it an excellent c…

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, Ciao or Grain de Sable?

Ciao takes 3 of 5 categories. Ciao is rated 4.25/5 from 24 votes; Grain de Sable is rated 4.14/5 from 14 votes. Choose Ciao for a woody and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in fall, daytime wear. Choose Grain de Sable for a white floral and fresh character. Wins on value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in summer, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Ciao or Grain de Sable?

Ciao lasts longest (Ciao 93/100, Grain de Sable 68/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Ciao or Grain de Sable?

Ciao projects furthest (Ciao 75/100, Grain de Sable 55/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Ciao and Grain de Sable smell similar?

Clearly different: a 34% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share green and fresh spicy accords. Common notes include Basil, Rose, Hyacinth and Jasmine.

Is Ciao or Grain de Sable better for summer or winter?

Ciao suits daytime wear; Grain de Sable suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Ciao and Grain de Sable?

Ciao has top notes of Fruits, Cumin, Green Notes and Lemon, heart notes of Orris Root, Rose, Hyacinth and Jasmine, a base of Oakmoss, Leather, Sandalwood and Amber. Grain de Sable has top notes of Basil, Melon, Citruses and Calone, heart notes of Lily, Lily-of-the-Valley, Papaya and Jasmine, a base of Oakmoss, Vetiver, Patchouli and Musk.