Fragrance comparison

Contemporary vs Opal

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

Updated 30 Oct 2026 296 ratings analysed

6 wins

Contemporary

Clive Christian

4.31198 votes

Rank #25,723 Fresh SpicyWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

47%scent match

Some overlap

Opal

Boadicea the Victorious

3.3298 votes

Rank #19,282 Warm SpicyFresh Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Contemporary takes 6 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.
Opal
Choose it for a warm spicy and fresh spicy character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in winter, evening wear.

Contemporary6/7

Opal1/7

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

ContemporaryClive Christian

OpalBoadicea the Victorious

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.31/ 5 · 198 votes

Have 43%Had 10%Want 47%

3.32/ 5 · 98 votes

Have 30%Had 3%Want 67%

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

40%Love

18%Like

4%Ok

9%Dislike

29%Hate

98 votes

Category winnerContemporaryMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity76

〰 Sillage61

♥ Love / hate83

⏱ Longevity62

〰 Sillage55

♥ Love / hate58

Category winners

LongevityContemporary

SillageContemporary

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value23

¤ Price value13

Category winnerContemporaryBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

fresh spicy100%

woody90%

mossy80%

aromatic70%

powdery60%

violet50%

warm spicy100%

fresh spicy92%

woody84%

powdery77%

coffee69%

aromatic61%

Scent match47%Some overlap · both fresh spicy, woody and powdery

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

CoffeeBlack PepperMetallic notesBergamotBay LeafSaffronCinnamon

Heart

SuedeOrrisCocoaClary SageLavenderDavanaGeraniumRose

Base

SandalwoodPatchouliMuskMossCedarWoody NotesTonka BeanCashmeran

InformationalShared notesGeranium, Black Pepper, Cedar and Moss. 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

Spring55

Summer43

Fall95

Winter100

Day78

Night100

Category winnerContemporaryMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men55

Unisex34

Women11

Men32

Unisex33

Women35

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#25,723

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#19,282

PerfumerJulie Lerendu

Launched—

Reviews15

Category winnerOpalHigher 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 →

Opal by Boadicea the Victorious is a dark unisex fragrance built around contrasting cold and warm elements. The scent opens with sharp black pepper, dark roasted coffee, fresh bergamot, bay leaf, and a distinct metallic edge. As the initial sharpness fades, smooth suede, earthy orris root, cocoa, and clary sage bring …

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 Opal?

Contemporary takes 6 of 7 categories. Contemporary is rated 4.31/5 from 198 votes; Opal is rated 3.32/5 from 98 votes. Choose Contemporary for a fresh spicy and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in summer, daytime wear. Choose Opal for a warm spicy and fresh spicy character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in winter, evening wear.

Which lasts longer, Contemporary or Opal?

Contemporary lasts longest (Contemporary 76/100, Opal 62/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Contemporary or Opal?

Contemporary projects furthest (Contemporary 61/100, Opal 55/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Contemporary and Opal smell similar?

Some overlap: a 47% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share fresh spicy, woody and powdery accords. Common notes include Geranium, Black Pepper, Cedar and Moss.

Is Contemporary or Opal better for summer or winter?

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

What are the notes in Contemporary and Opal?

Contemporary has top notes of Geranium, Blackberry, Violet and Black Pepper, heart notes of Cedar and Nutmeg, a base of Moss and Malt. Opal has top notes of Coffee, Black Pepper, Metallic notes and Bergamot, heart notes of Suede, Orris, Cocoa and Clary Sage, a base of Sandalwood, Patchouli, Musk and Moss.