Fragrance comparison

Encode vs A Better Man

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 91 ratings analysed

Encode

Maison Alhambra

3.7442 votes

Rank #18,587 AromaticFresh Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

50%scent match

Some overlap

3 wins

A Better Man

Toni Gard

3.5249 votes

Rank #14,454 WoodyMusky

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

A Better Man takes 3 of 5 categories.

Encode
Choose it for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus and value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear.
A Better Man
Choose it for a woody and musky character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Encode2/5

A Better Man3/5

Ratings & consensus: Encode
Community sentiment: Not scored
Longevity: A Better Man
Sillage & projection: A Better Man
Value for money: Encode
Versatility: Not scored
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: A Better Man

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

EncodeMaison Alhambra

A Better ManToni Gard

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.74/ 5 · 42 votes

Have 46%Had 14%Want 39%

3.52/ 5 · 49 votes

Have 26%Had 19%Want 55%

Category winnerEncodeRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

26%Love

38%Like

21%Ok

12%Dislike

2%Hate

42 votes

15%Love

38%Like

15%Ok

31%Dislike

0%Hate

13 votes · too few to score

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity61

〰 Sillage51

♥ Love / hate68

⏱ Longevity70

〰 Sillage60

♥ Love / hate71

Category winners

LongevityA Better Man

SillageA Better Man

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value91

¤ Price value70

Category winnerEncodeBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

aromatic100%

fresh spicy92%

citrus84%

warm spicy77%

cacao69%

amber61%

woody100%

musky92%

aromatic84%

amber77%

warm spicy69%

fresh spicy61%

Scent match50%Some overlap · both aromatic, fresh spicy and warm spicy

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

BergamotSagePepper

Heart

LeatherVetiver

Base

AmbroxanCocoaPatchouli

Top

Tonic WaterBergamotPepperGin

Heart

CedarGingerJuniper

Base

AmbroxanMuskPatchouliVetiver

InformationalShared notesBergamot, Pepper, Vetiver and Ambroxan. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer95

Fall73

Winter45

Day100

Night60

Spring100

Summer83

Fall67

Winter17

Day100

Night67

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men90

Unisex7

Women3

Men83

Unisex0

Women17

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#18,587

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews8

Overall rank#14,454

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews27

Category winnerA Better ManHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Encode by Maison Alhambra presents an aromatic profile for men, grounded in a blend of bergamot, leather, and cocoa. It fits well into cooler spring or autumn days, offering a distinct scent experience for those seeking a budget-friendly option for daily wear. It leans heavily into a masculine fougere character with n…

Reviews →

A Better Man by Toni Gard opens with a sharp, spirited splash of gin, tonic water, and bergamot. It quickly transitions into a clean, aromatic heart defined by juniper and ginger, resting on a base of dry vetiver and modern ambroxan. This scent is an understated choice for office wear or casual spring outings, offerin…

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, Encode or A Better Man?

A Better Man takes 3 of 5 categories. Encode is rated 3.74/5 from 42 votes; A Better Man is rated 3.52/5 from 49 votes. Choose Encode for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus and value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose A Better Man for a woody and musky character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Encode or A Better Man?

A Better Man lasts longest (A Better Man 70/100, Encode 61/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Encode or A Better Man?

A Better Man projects furthest (A Better Man 60/100, Encode 51/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Encode and A Better Man smell similar?

Some overlap: a 50% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic, fresh spicy and warm spicy accords. Common notes include Bergamot, Pepper, Vetiver and Ambroxan.

Is Encode or A Better Man better for summer or winter?

Encode suits daytime wear; A Better Man suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Encode and A Better Man?

Encode has top notes of Bergamot, Sage and Pepper, heart notes of Leather and Vetiver, a base of Ambroxan, Cocoa and Patchouli. A Better Man has top notes of Tonic Water, Bergamot, Pepper and Gin, heart notes of Cedar, Ginger and Juniper, a base of Ambroxan, Musk, Patchouli and Vetiver.