Forbidden 5 vs Ruben
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
39%scent match
Some overlap
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
Ruben takes 3 of 5 categories.
Forbidden 5Choose it for a woody and citrus character. Wins on sillage & projection and value for money.
RubenChoose it for a mossy and citrus character. Wins on longevity, note pyramid duration and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Forbidden 52/5
Ruben3/5
- Ratings & consensus
- Not scored
- Community sentiment
- Not scored
- Longevity
- Ruben
- Sillage & projection
- Forbidden 5
- Value for money
- Forbidden 5
- Versatility
- Not scored
- Note pyramid (duration)
- Ruben
- Fragranxe ranking
- Ruben
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
Forbidden 5The Dua BrandRubenCriminal ElementsWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split—/ 5 · 0 votes
Have 25%Had 0%Want 75%
4.03/ 5 · 35 votes
Have 30%Had 7%Want 62%
Category winnerNot enough dataRating weighted by vote count
Community sentiment
How voters split from love to hateNot enough votes yet
40%Love
40%Like
6%Ok
11%Dislike
3%Hate
35 votes
Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)
Longevity & sillage
0–100 community performance scores
Category winners
LongevityRuben
SillageForbidden 5
Value for money
How fairly priced voters find itCategory winnerForbidden 5Best value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothwoody100%
citrus92%
fresh spicy84%
amber77%
white floral69%
aromatic61%
mossy100%
citrus92%
earthy84%
lavender77%
aromatic69%
fresh spicy61%
Scent match39%Some overlap · both citrus, fresh spicy and aromatic
Note pyramid (duration)
Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = sharedNotes
AldehydesOakmossOrange BlossomBlack CurrantGuaiac WoodTonka BeanHeliotropeGrapefruitPetitgrainPatchouliBergamotTuberose
No top / heart / base split published
Notes
OakmossLavenderBergamotPetitgrainOrange Blossom
No top / heart / base split published
Category winnerRubenLongest dry-down: 6-8+ hrs
Seasons & time of day
Relative to each fragrance's best seasonNo season votes yet
Spring100
Summer24
Fall94
Winter76
Day100
Night67
Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round
Who wears it
Gender appeal votesInformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored
Ranking & credits
Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launchOverall rank#82,499
PerfumerNot listed
Launched—
Reviews0
Overall rank#38,044
PerfumerCorey Newcombe
Launched—
Reviews0
Category winnerRubenHigher overall rank
In a nutshell
Description & review snapshotForbidden 5 by The Dua Brand is a dense leather and oriental woody fragrance designed for men and women. The opening delivers a crisp flash of aldehydes, bright bergamot, grapefruit, and sweet orange, quickly shadowed by green galbanum and petitgrain. As the bright citrus elements settle, a lavish floral bouquet of Ma…
Reviews →Ruben by Criminal Elements opens with a bright splash of tart bergamot and herbal lavender, giving you the crisp, invigorating feeling of walking outside right after a cool rain. As the sharp citrus calms down, bitter petitgrain and clean orange blossom step forward, smoothing the edges with a dry, slightly floral gre…
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.
Guided comparison
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Common questions
Straight answers from the data above.
Which lasts longer, Forbidden 5 or Ruben?
Ruben lasts longest (Ruben 74/100, Forbidden 5 70/100), based on community performance votes.
Which projects more, Forbidden 5 or Ruben?
Projection is very close: Forbidden 5 63/100, Ruben 61/100 for sillage.
Do Forbidden 5 and Ruben smell similar?
Some overlap: a 39% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share citrus, fresh spicy and aromatic accords. Common notes include Oakmoss, Orange Blossom, Petitgrain and Bergamot.
Is Forbidden 5 or Ruben better for summer or winter?
Ruben suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in Forbidden 5 and Ruben?
Forbidden 5 features Aldehydes, Oakmoss, Orange Blossom, Black Currant and Guaiac Wood. Ruben features Oakmoss, Lavender, Bergamot, Petitgrain and Orange Blossom.
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