Fragrance comparison

Dark Shadows vs Saffron Dusk

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

Updated 11 Oct 2026 66 ratings analysed

Dark Shadows

Panthenol EXTRA

3.577 votes

Rank #52,272 Warm SpicyWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

57%scent match

Closely related

Saffron Dusk

Lake & Skye

3.1459 votes

Rank #21,829 Warm SpicyLeather

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

No clear winner: the 4 categories split 2–2.

Dark Shadows
Choose it for a warm spicy and woody character. Wins on longevity and value for money. Best in fall, evening wear.
Saffron Dusk
Choose it for a warm spicy and leather character. Wins on sillage & projection and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, evening wear.

Dark Shadows2/4

Saffron Dusk2/4

Ratings & consensus: Not scored
Community sentiment: Not scored
Longevity: Dark Shadows
Sillage & projection: Saffron Dusk
Value for money: Dark Shadows
Versatility: Not scored
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Saffron Dusk

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Dark ShadowsPanthenol EXTRA

Saffron DuskLake & Skye

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.57/ 5 · 7 votes

Have 33%Had 8%Want 58%

3.14/ 5 · 59 votes

Have 50%Had 12%Want 38%

Category winnerNot enough dataRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

14%Love

57%Like

0%Ok

29%Dislike

0%Hate

7 votes · too few to score

14%Love

29%Like

25%Ok

22%Dislike

10%Hate

59 votes

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity56

〰 Sillage44

♥ Love / hate64

⏱ Longevity53

〰 Sillage53

♥ Love / hate53

Category winners

LongevityDark Shadows

SillageSaffron Dusk

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value81

¤ Price value48

Category winnerDark ShadowsBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

warm spicy100%

woody92%

fresh spicy84%

vanilla77%

aromatic69%

metallic61%

warm spicy100%

leather91%

woody83%

aromatic74%

metallic65%

earthy56%

Scent match57%Closely related · both warm spicy, woody and aromatic

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top15-30 mins

Neroli

Heart2-4 hrs

SaffronPepper

Base6-8 hrs

Tonka BeanCedarwoodSandalwoodMusk

Top

SaffronPepper

Heart

LeatherRoseNeroli

Base

VetiverSandalwood

InformationalShared notesNeroli, Saffron, Pepper and Sandalwood. Durations are only published for Dark Shadows, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring80

Summer0

Fall100

Winter100

Day79

Night100

Spring37

Summer21

Fall100

Winter79

Day65

Night100

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men80

Unisex20

Women0

Casual 36%Work 30%Date 22%Party 13%

Men14

Unisex71

Women14

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#52,272

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews1

Overall rank#21,829

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews17

Category winnerSaffron DuskHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Dark Shadows by Panthenol EXTRA brings an intriguing contrast between crisp citrus and brooding warmth. The opening sparks with sharp neroli. That fleeting floral freshness quickly yields to a dry rush of black pepper and bittersweet saffron. It feels brisk. Soon, the fragrance pivots into its true identity as a warm …

Reviews →

Lake & Skye Saffron Dusk starts with a dry, prickling heat. The first spray pairs black pepper with a dry saffron note, avoiding the syrupy sweetness often found in modern spice blends. It feels immediate and texture-driven, dry rather than wet. On skin, the initial sharpness shifts into a soft leather and quiet rose…

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, Dark Shadows or Saffron Dusk?

No clear winner: the 4 categories split 2–2. Dark Shadows is rated 3.57/5 from 7 votes; Saffron Dusk is rated 3.14/5 from 59 votes. Choose Dark Shadows for a warm spicy and woody character. Wins on longevity and value for money. Best in fall, evening wear. Choose Saffron Dusk for a warm spicy and leather character. Wins on sillage & projection and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, evening wear.

Which lasts longer, Dark Shadows or Saffron Dusk?

Dark Shadows lasts longest (Dark Shadows 56/100, Saffron Dusk 53/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Dark Shadows or Saffron Dusk?

Saffron Dusk projects furthest (Saffron Dusk 53/100, Dark Shadows 44/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Dark Shadows and Saffron Dusk smell similar?

Closely related: a 57% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share warm spicy, woody and aromatic accords. Common notes include Neroli, Saffron, Pepper and Sandalwood.

Is Dark Shadows or Saffron Dusk better for summer or winter?

Dark Shadows suits evening wear; Saffron Dusk suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Dark Shadows and Saffron Dusk?

Dark Shadows has top notes of Neroli, heart notes of Saffron and Pepper, a base of Tonka Bean, Cedarwood, Sandalwood and Musk. Saffron Dusk has top notes of Saffron and Pepper, heart notes of Leather, Rose and Neroli, a base of Vetiver and Sandalwood.