Fragrance comparison

Contemporary vs No. 33 Eau de Cologne

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

Updated 30 Oct 2026 310 ratings analysed

5 wins

Contemporary

Clive Christian

4.31198 votes

Rank #25,723 Fresh SpicyWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

45%scent match

Some overlap

No. 33 Eau de Cologne

Penhaligon's

3.69112 votes

Rank #15,115 AromaticFresh Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Contemporary takes 5 of 7 categories.

Contemporary
Choose it for a fresh spicy and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in summer, daytime wear.
No. 33 Eau de Cologne
Choose it for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring.

Contemporary5/7

No. 33 Eau de Cologne2/7

Ratings & consensus: Contemporary
Community sentiment: Contemporary
Longevity: Contemporary
Sillage & projection: Contemporary
Value for money: No. 33 Eau de Cologne
Versatility: Contemporary
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: No. 33 Eau de Cologne

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

ContemporaryClive Christian

No. 33 Eau de ColognePenhaligon's

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.31/ 5 · 198 votes

Have 43%Had 10%Want 47%

3.69/ 5 · 112 votes

Have 47%Had 17%Want 36%

Category winnerContemporaryRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

56%Love

28%Like

8%Ok

6%Dislike

2%Hate

198 votes

23%Love

44%Like

13%Ok

18%Dislike

2%Hate

112 votes

Category winnerContemporaryMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity76

〰 Sillage61

♥ Love / hate83

⏱ Longevity53

〰 Sillage53

♥ Love / hate67

Category winners

LongevityContemporary

SillageContemporary

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value23

¤ Price value37

Category winnerNo. 33 Eau de CologneBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

fresh spicy100%

woody90%

mossy80%

aromatic70%

powdery60%

violet50%

aromatic100%

fresh spicy91%

warm spicy83%

woody74%

citrus65%

herbal56%

Scent match45%Some overlap · both fresh spicy, aromatic and woody

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top30 to 60 minutes

GeraniumBlackberryVioletBlack Pepper

Heart3 to 4 hours

CedarNutmeg

Base4 to 7 hours

MossMalt

Top

Clary SageBergamotCypressCorianderArtemisiaOrangeGrapefruit

Heart

LavenderCardamomGeraniumBlack PepperSaffronGingerVioletLily-of-the-Valley

Base

MuskMossCedarTobaccoTonka BeanVetiverVanillaAmber

InformationalShared notesGeranium, Violet, Black Pepper and Cedar. Durations are only published for Contemporary, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring94

Summer100

Fall75

Winter49

Day100

Night70

Spring100

Summer79

Fall0

Winter28

Day–

Night–

Category winnerContemporaryMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men55

Unisex34

Women11

Men69

Unisex17

Women14

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#25,723

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#15,115

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews20

Category winnerNo. 33 Eau de CologneHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Contemporary by Clive Christian takes the traditional aromatic fougere framework and gives it a sharper, fruitier edge. The scent opens with a burst of tart blackberry and crisp geranium, dusted with pungent black pepper and clean, slightly powdery violet. As the tart fruit settles, warm nutmeg and dry cedar take over…

Reviews →

Penhaligon's No. 33 Eau de Cologne is a fresh aromatic fougere built around lavender, clary sage, citrus, cypress, cardamom and soft woods. On skin it often reads clean, green, gently spicy and slightly sweet, with a classic British grooming feel rather than a heavy statement scent. The main caution is strength. Sever…

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.

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Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, Contemporary or No. 33 Eau de Cologne?

Contemporary takes 5 of 7 categories. Contemporary is rated 4.31/5 from 198 votes; No. 33 Eau de Cologne is rated 3.69/5 from 112 votes. Choose Contemporary for a fresh spicy and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in summer, daytime wear. Choose No. 33 Eau de Cologne for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring.

Which lasts longer, Contemporary or No. 33 Eau de Cologne?

Contemporary lasts longest (Contemporary 76/100, No. 33 Eau de Cologne 53/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Contemporary or No. 33 Eau de Cologne?

Contemporary projects furthest (Contemporary 61/100, No. 33 Eau de Cologne 53/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Contemporary and No. 33 Eau de Cologne smell similar?

Some overlap: a 45% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share fresh spicy, aromatic and woody accords. Common notes include Geranium, Violet, Black Pepper and Cedar.

Is Contemporary or No. 33 Eau de Cologne better for summer or winter?

For summer, Contemporary is the stronger pick. For winter, Contemporary is the stronger pick. Contemporary suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Contemporary and No. 33 Eau de Cologne?

Contemporary has top notes of Geranium, Blackberry, Violet and Black Pepper, heart notes of Cedar and Nutmeg, a base of Moss and Malt. No. 33 Eau de Cologne has top notes of Clary Sage, Bergamot, Cypress and Coriander, heart notes of Lavender, Cardamom, Geranium and Black Pepper, a base of Musk, Moss, Cedar and Tobacco.