Fragrance comparison

Diwan vs Labdanum 18

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

Updated 5 Nov 2026 1,626 ratings analysed

5 wins

Diwan

The Spirit of Dubai

4.5275 votes

Rank #26,167 AmberSmoky

Full profile Similar & dupes

26%scent match

Clearly different

Labdanum 18

Le Labo

3.951,551 votes

Rank #1,903 MuskyAmber

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Diwan takes 5 of 7 categories.

Diwan
Choose it for a amber and smoky character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter.
Labdanum 18
Choose it for a musky and amber character. Wins on versatility and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, day or night wear.

Diwan5/7

Labdanum 182/7

Ratings & consensus: Diwan
Community sentiment: Diwan
Longevity: Diwan
Sillage & projection: Diwan
Value for money: Diwan
Versatility: Labdanum 18
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Labdanum 18

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

DiwanThe Spirit of Dubai

Labdanum 18Le Labo

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.52/ 5 · 75 votes

Have 21%Had 4%Want 74%

3.95/ 5 · 1,551 votes

Have 37%Had 12%Want 52%

Category winnerDiwanRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

73%Love

12%Like

9%Ok

4%Dislike

1%Hate

75 votes

38%Love

36%Like

11%Ok

13%Dislike

2%Hate

1,551 votes

Category winnerDiwanMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity88

〰 Sillage80

♥ Love / hate88

⏱ Longevity69

〰 Sillage58

♥ Love / hate74

Category winners

LongevityDiwan

SillageDiwan

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value28

¤ Price value27

Category winnerDiwanBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

amber100%

smoky92%

fruity84%

woody77%

rose69%

oud61%

musky100%

amber92%

woody84%

vanilla77%

leather69%

animalic61%

Scent match26%Clearly different · both amber and woody

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

Agarwood (Oud)IncenseSmokeRoseDewberryRaspberryAnimal notesStrawberry

Heart

Taif RoseAmberCoffeeEarthy NotesPowdery NotesGeraniumRhubarbFloral Notes

Base

Indian OudWoody NotesLeatherOlibanumGurjan balsamGuaiac WoodCastoreumMyrhh

Notes

French labdanumVanillaCivettaMuskCastoreumResinsTonka BeanGurjan balsamBirchPatchouliCinnamon

No top / heart / base split published

InformationalShared notesGurjan balsam and Castoreum. Durations are only published for Labdanum 18, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring84

Summer53

Fall0

Winter100

Day–

Night–

Spring40

Summer22

Fall100

Winter92

Day99

Night100

Category winnerLabdanum 18Most year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men51

Unisex40

Women9

Men12

Unisex62

Women26

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#26,167

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#1,903

PerfumerMaurice Roucel

Launched—

Reviews204

Category winnerLabdanum 18Higher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Diwan by The Spirit of Dubai hits skin with heavy incense, dark smoke, and raw Indian oud. Sweet dewberry and ripe plum soften the opening bite before Taif rose and roasted coffee settle into thick amber and castoreum. Built for freezing winter nights, it leaves a dense trail of leather and resins that clings to coats…

Reviews →

Labdanum 18 by Le Labo is an amber, musky scent built around a soft and powdery warmth. Rather than projecting an aggressive, dark leather aroma, it hugs close to the skin with sweet vanilla, balsamic resins, and cozy musk. Notes of French labdanum, cinnamon, and gurjan balsam provide a rich, golden center, while hint…

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, Diwan or Labdanum 18?

Diwan takes 5 of 7 categories. Diwan is rated 4.52/5 from 75 votes; Labdanum 18 is rated 3.95/5 from 1,551 votes. Choose Diwan for a amber and smoky character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter. Choose Labdanum 18 for a musky and amber character. Wins on versatility and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, day or night wear.

Which lasts longer, Diwan or Labdanum 18?

Diwan lasts longest (Diwan 88/100, Labdanum 18 69/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Diwan or Labdanum 18?

Diwan projects furthest (Diwan 80/100, Labdanum 18 58/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Diwan and Labdanum 18 smell similar?

Clearly different: a 26% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share amber and woody accords. Common notes include Gurjan balsam and Castoreum.

Is Diwan or Labdanum 18 better for summer or winter?

For summer, Diwan is the stronger pick. For winter, Diwan is the stronger pick. Labdanum 18 suits day or night wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Diwan and Labdanum 18?

Diwan has top notes of Agarwood (Oud), Incense, Smoke and Rose, heart notes of Taif Rose, Amber, Coffee and Earthy Notes, a base of Indian Oud, Woody Notes, Leather and Olibanum. Labdanum 18 features French labdanum, Vanilla, Civetta, Musk and Castoreum.