Fragrance comparison

Encode vs Shadow

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

Updated 18 Oct 2026 42 ratings analysed

1 wins

Encode

Maison Alhambra

3.7442 votes

Rank #16,906 AromaticFresh Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

49%scent match

Some overlap

Shadow

Gulf Orchid

—0 votes

Rank #74,217 AromaticWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Encode takes 1 of 1 categories.

Encode
Choose it for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Shadow
Choose it for a aromatic and woody character.

Encode1/1

Shadow0/1

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

EncodeMaison Alhambra

ShadowGulf Orchid

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.74/ 5 · 42 votes

Have 46%Had 14%Want 39%

—/ 5 · 0 votes

Have 20%Had 10%Want 70%

Category winnerNot enough dataRating 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

Not enough votes yet

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity61

〰 Sillage51

♥ Love / hate68

⏱ LongevityN/A

〰 SillageN/A

♥ Love / hateN/A

Category winners

LongevityNo data

SillageNo data

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value91

¤ Price valueN/A

Category winnerNot enough dataBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

aromatic100%

fresh spicy92%

citrus84%

warm spicy77%

cacao69%

amber61%

aromatic100%

woody92%

fresh spicy84%

amber77%

animalic69%

fresh61%

Scent match49%Some overlap · both aromatic, fresh spicy and amber

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

BergamotSagePepper

Heart

LeatherVetiver

Base

AmbroxanCocoaPatchouli

Top15-30 mins

BergamotPepper

Heart2-4 hrs

Tonka BeanAmbergrisLavenderCaloneSage

Base6-8+ hrs

LeatherVetiverDry Wood

InformationalShared notesBergamot, Sage, Pepper and Leather. Durations are only published for Shadow, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer95

Fall73

Winter45

Day100

Night60

Spring–

Summer–

Fall–

Winter–

Day100

Night73

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men90

Unisex7

Women3

Men0

Unisex0

Women100

Work 33%Casual 30%Date 21%Party 16%

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#16,906

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews8

Overall rank#74,217

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

Category winnerEncodeHigher 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 →

Shadow by Gulf Orchid hits the skin with an energetic blast of bright bergamot and cracked black pepper. That sharp citrus punch quickly reveals a clean heart of French lavender, aromatic clary sage, and a breezy touch of calone that feels like cool sea air. As the initial freshness settles over the first hour, rich a…

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.

Do Encode and Shadow smell similar?

Some overlap: a 49% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic, fresh spicy and amber accords. Common notes include Bergamot, Sage, Pepper and Leather.

Is Encode or Shadow better for summer or winter?

Encode suits daytime wear; Shadow suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Encode and Shadow?

Encode has top notes of Bergamot, Sage and Pepper, heart notes of Leather and Vetiver, a base of Ambroxan, Cocoa and Patchouli. Shadow has top notes of Bergamot and Pepper, heart notes of Tonka Bean, Ambergris, Lavender and Calone, a base of Leather, Vetiver and Dry Wood.