Fragrance comparison

Cloud Nine vs Varanasi

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

Updated 12 Oct 2026 481 ratings analysed

5 wins

Cloud Nine

Paradis des Sens

4.2269 votes

Rank #9,824 Warm SpicyOud

Full profile Similar & dupes

40%scent match

Some overlap

Varanasi

Meo Fusciuni

3.93412 votes

Rank #3,471 AnimalicAmber

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Cloud Nine takes 5 of 7 categories.

Cloud Nine
Choose it for a warm spicy and oud character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and sillage & projection. Best in winter, evening wear.
Varanasi
Choose it for a animalic and amber character. Wins on longevity and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter.

Cloud Nine5/7

Varanasi2/7

Ratings & consensus: Cloud Nine
Community sentiment: Cloud Nine
Longevity: Varanasi
Sillage & projection: Cloud Nine
Value for money: Cloud Nine
Versatility: Cloud Nine
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Varanasi

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Cloud NineParadis des Sens

VaranasiMeo Fusciuni

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.22/ 5 · 69 votes

Have 31%Had 15%Want 54%

3.93/ 5 · 412 votes

Have 83%Had 17%Want 0%

Category winnerCloud NineRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

64%Love

14%Like

7%Ok

9%Dislike

6%Hate

69 votes

43%Love

31%Like

8%Ok

11%Dislike

7%Hate

412 votes

Category winnerCloud NineMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity77

〰 Sillage69

♥ Love / hate80

⏱ Longevity80

〰 Sillage68

♥ Love / hate73

Category winners

LongevityVaranasi

SillageCloud Nine

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value56

¤ Price value49

Category winnerCloud NineBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

warm spicy100%

oud92%

fresh spicy84%

patchouli77%

woody69%

amber61%

animalic100%

amber92%

woody84%

leather77%

warm spicy69%

earthy61%

Scent match40%Some overlap · both warm spicy, woody and amber

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top15-30 mins

NutmegChili PepperCypriol Oil or NagarmothaLavender

Heart2-4 hrs

Agarwood (Oud)SaffronIncense

Base8-12 hrs

PatchouliAmberVetiverMusk

Top

IncenseSaffronNutmegCardamom

Heart

AmbergrisCypriol Oil or NagarmothaRoseAmbrette (Musk Mallow)Jasmine

Base

Animal notesAgarwood (Oud)LeatherNard Himalayan (Jatamansi)Gurjan balsamVetiver

InformationalShared notesNutmeg, Cypriol Oil or Nagarmotha, Agarwood (Oud) and Saffron. Durations are only published for Cloud Nine, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring63

Summer25

Fall75

Winter100

Day41

Night100

Spring34

Summer24

Fall0

Winter100

Day–

Night–

Category winnerCloud NineMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men32

Unisex55

Women13

Date 36%Party 29%Casual 19%Work 16%

Men49

Unisex46

Women5

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#9,824

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews8

Overall rank#3,471

PerfumerGiuseppe Imprezzabile

Launched—

Reviews57

Category winnerVaranasiHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Cloud Nine by Paradis des Sens delivers a punch of sharp warmth right out of the nozzle. The nutmeg hits immediately. A vivid jolt of chili pepper cuts through herbal lavender, followed by the dry, smoky edge of cypriol oil. You will see a glossy oil sheen on your skin after spraying. Give it ten minutes to breathe. O…

Reviews →

Meo Fusciuni Varanasi opens with a sharp burst of smoky incense, dry saffron, and pungent animalic notes. Cold cardamom and nutmeg cut through the heavy resinous warmth, creating an immediate sense of ancient temple stone and raw leather. As the heat of skin activates the formula, rich ambergris and earthy cypriol oil…

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, Cloud Nine or Varanasi?

Cloud Nine takes 5 of 7 categories. Cloud Nine is rated 4.22/5 from 69 votes; Varanasi is rated 3.93/5 from 412 votes. Choose Cloud Nine for a warm spicy and oud character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and sillage & projection. Best in winter, evening wear. Choose Varanasi for a animalic and amber character. Wins on longevity and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter.

Which lasts longer, Cloud Nine or Varanasi?

Varanasi lasts longest (Varanasi 80/100, Cloud Nine 77/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Cloud Nine or Varanasi?

Projection is very close: Cloud Nine 69/100, Varanasi 68/100 for sillage.

Do Cloud Nine and Varanasi smell similar?

Some overlap: a 40% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share warm spicy, woody and amber accords. Common notes include Nutmeg, Cypriol Oil or Nagarmotha, Agarwood (Oud) and Saffron.

Is Cloud Nine or Varanasi better for summer or winter?

For summer, Cloud Nine is the stronger pick. For winter, Cloud Nine is the stronger pick. Cloud Nine suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Cloud Nine and Varanasi?

Cloud Nine has top notes of Nutmeg, Chili Pepper, Cypriol Oil or Nagarmotha and Lavender, heart notes of Agarwood (Oud), Saffron and Incense, a base of Patchouli, Amber, Vetiver and Musk. Varanasi has top notes of Incense, Saffron, Nutmeg and Cardamom, heart notes of Ambergris, Cypriol Oil or Nagarmotha, Rose and Ambrette (Musk Mallow), a base of Animal notes, Agarwood (Oud), Leather and Nard Himalayan (Jatamansi).