Fragrance comparison

Creation 1984 vs No. III Swim

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

Updated 22 Oct 2026 1,219 ratings analysed

4 wins

Creation 1984

Ted Lapidus

3.871,170 votes

Rank #2,458 WoodyGreen

Full profile Similar & dupes

45%scent match

Some overlap

No. III Swim

Gabar

4.3349 votes

Rank #12,790 GreenFruity

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Creation 1984 takes 4 of 7 categories.

Creation 1984
Choose it for a woody and green character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in winter.
No. III Swim
Choose it for a green and fruity character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and versatility. Best in summer, daytime wear.

Creation 19844/7

No. III Swim3/7

Ratings & consensus: No. III Swim
Community sentiment: No. III Swim
Longevity: Creation 1984
Sillage & projection: Creation 1984
Value for money: Creation 1984
Versatility: No. III Swim
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Creation 1984

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Creation 1984Ted Lapidus

No. III SwimGabar

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.87/ 5 · 1,170 votes

Have 50%Had 50%Want 0%

4.33/ 5 · 49 votes

Have 10%Had 2%Want 87%

Category winnerNo. III SwimRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

28%Love

51%Like

2%Ok

18%Dislike

1%Hate

1,170 votes

47%Love

41%Like

10%Ok

2%Dislike

0%Hate

49 votes

Category winnerNo. III SwimMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity80

〰 Sillage73

♥ Love / hate72

⏱ Longevity69

〰 Sillage55

♥ Love / hate83

Category winners

LongevityCreation 1984

SillageCreation 1984

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value64

¤ Price value54

Category winnerCreation 1984Best value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

woody100%

green92%

aromatic84%

earthy77%

white floral69%

mossy61%

green100%

fruity90%

woody80%

aromatic70%

fresh60%

soft spicy50%

Scent match45%Some overlap · both green, woody and aromatic

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

GalbanumMangoBlack CurrantPassionfruitPeachBergamotNeroliLemon

Heart

NarcissusCarnationTuberoseYlang-YlangOrrisGardeniaLily-of-the-ValleyJasmine

Base

OakmossVetiverSandalwoodPatchouliAmberMuskVanilla

Top15-30 mins

Currant budsGalbanum

Heart2-4 hrs

FigGreen TeaOrrisJasmine

Base6-8+ hrs

CedarPatchouliMuskAmberTonka Bean

InformationalShared notesGalbanum, Orris, Jasmine and Patchouli. Durations are only published for No. III Swim, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring84

Summer0

Fall0

Winter100

Day–

Night–

Spring90

Summer100

Fall21

Winter7

Day100

Night35

Category winnerNo. III SwimMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men2

Unisex29

Women69

Men5

Unisex62

Women33

Casual 42%Work 31%Date 19%Party 8%

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#2,458

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews55

Overall rank#12,790

PerfumerRuth Mastenbroek

Launched—

Reviews19

Category winnerCreation 1984Higher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Creation 1984 by Ted Lapidus is a powerhouse chypre that clashes bitter galbanum with sweet mango. This vintage classic targets collectors who appreciate green oakmoss and complex, sunny floral blends. It projects a nostalgic, self-assured aura, perfect for cool spring days when you want a fragrance that cuts through …

Reviews →

Gabar No. III Swim captures the crisp sensation of jumping into cold river water on a warm afternoon. It opens with a piercing snap of crushed galbanum resin and tart currant buds. The greenness bites hard. Within fifteen minutes, the sharpness yields to a lush, unsweetened wild fig note wrapped in earthy green tea le…

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, Creation 1984 or No. III Swim?

Creation 1984 takes 4 of 7 categories. Creation 1984 is rated 3.87/5 from 1,170 votes; No. III Swim is rated 4.33/5 from 49 votes. Choose Creation 1984 for a woody and green character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in winter. Choose No. III Swim for a green and fruity character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and versatility. Best in summer, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Creation 1984 or No. III Swim?

Creation 1984 lasts longest (Creation 1984 80/100, No. III Swim 69/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Creation 1984 or No. III Swim?

Creation 1984 projects furthest (Creation 1984 73/100, No. III Swim 55/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Creation 1984 and No. III Swim smell similar?

Some overlap: a 45% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share green, woody and aromatic accords. Common notes include Galbanum, Orris, Jasmine and Patchouli.

Is Creation 1984 or No. III Swim better for summer or winter?

For summer, No. III Swim is the stronger pick. For winter, Creation 1984 is the stronger pick. No. III Swim suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Creation 1984 and No. III Swim?

Creation 1984 has top notes of Galbanum, Mango, Black Currant and Passionfruit, heart notes of Narcissus, Carnation, Tuberose and Ylang-Ylang, a base of Oakmoss, Vetiver, Sandalwood and Patchouli. No. III Swim has top notes of Currant buds and Galbanum, heart notes of Fig, Green Tea, Orris and Jasmine, a base of Cedar, Patchouli, Musk and Amber.