Fragrance comparison

Empire Intense vs No. 33 Eau de Cologne

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 182 ratings analysed

6 wins

Empire Intense

Hinode

4.1470 votes

Rank #28,950 AromaticWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

47%scent match

Some overlap

No. 33 Eau de Cologne

Penhaligon's

3.69112 votes

Rank #15,897 AromaticFresh Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Empire Intense takes 6 of 7 categories.

Empire Intense
Choose it for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter, evening wear.
No. 33 Eau de Cologne
Choose it for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in spring.

Empire Intense6/7

No. 33 Eau de Cologne1/7

Ratings & consensus: Empire Intense
Community sentiment: Empire Intense
Longevity: Empire Intense
Sillage & projection: Empire Intense
Value for money: Empire Intense
Versatility: Empire Intense
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

Empire IntenseHinode

No. 33 Eau de ColognePenhaligon's

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.14/ 5 · 70 votes

Have 52%Had 32%Want 16%

3.69/ 5 · 112 votes

Have 47%Had 17%Want 36%

Category winnerEmpire IntenseRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

40%Love

43%Like

10%Ok

6%Dislike

1%Hate

70 votes

23%Love

44%Like

13%Ok

18%Dislike

2%Hate

112 votes

Category winnerEmpire IntenseMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity73

〰 Sillage67

♥ Love / hate79

⏱ Longevity53

〰 Sillage53

♥ Love / hate67

Category winners

LongevityEmpire Intense

SillageEmpire Intense

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value69

¤ Price value37

Category winnerEmpire IntenseBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

aromatic100%

woody92%

amber84%

powdery77%

fresh spicy69%

lavender61%

aromatic100%

fresh spicy91%

warm spicy83%

woody74%

citrus65%

herbal56%

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

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top15-30 mins

LavenderBergamotCardamom

Heart2-4 hrs

elemiVioletGeranium

Base6-8+ hrs

CashmeranAmberVetiver

Top

Clary SageBergamotCypressCorianderArtemisiaOrangeGrapefruit

Heart

LavenderCardamomGeraniumBlack PepperSaffronGingerVioletLily-of-the-Valley

Base

MuskMossCedarTobaccoTonka BeanVetiverVanillaAmber

InformationalShared notesLavender, Bergamot, Cardamom and Violet. Durations are only published for Empire Intense, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring35

Summer20

Fall78

Winter100

Day31

Night100

Spring100

Summer79

Fall0

Winter28

Day–

Night–

Category winnerEmpire IntenseMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men86

Unisex11

Women3

Men69

Unisex17

Women14

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#28,950

PerfumerJérôme Epinette

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#15,897

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews20

Category winnerNo. 33 Eau de CologneHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Empire Intense by Hinode opens with a punchy kick of fresh bergamot, sharp French lavender, and cracked cardamom pods. As the crisp herbal top settles after twenty minutes, smooth green violet leaf and resinous elemi step forward, adding a gentle powdery warmth that feels both masculine and tailored. The dry-down reli…

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, Empire Intense or No. 33 Eau de Cologne?

Empire Intense takes 6 of 7 categories. Empire Intense is rated 4.14/5 from 70 votes; No. 33 Eau de Cologne is rated 3.69/5 from 112 votes. Choose Empire Intense for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter, evening wear. Choose No. 33 Eau de Cologne for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in spring.

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

Empire Intense lasts longest (Empire Intense 73/100, No. 33 Eau de Cologne 53/100), based on community performance votes.

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

Empire Intense projects furthest (Empire Intense 67/100, No. 33 Eau de Cologne 53/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Empire Intense and No. 33 Eau de Cologne smell similar?

Some overlap: a 47% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic, woody and fresh spicy accords. Common notes include Lavender, Bergamot, Cardamom and Violet.

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

For summer, No. 33 Eau de Cologne is the stronger pick. For winter, Empire Intense is the stronger pick. Empire Intense suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

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

Empire Intense has top notes of Lavender, Bergamot and Cardamom, heart notes of elemi, Violet and Geranium, a base of Cashmeran, Amber and Vetiver. 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.