Fragrance comparison

Illusion vs Shem - el- Nessim

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 357 ratings analysed

3 wins

Illusion

Ajmal

3.6523 votes

Rank #43,917 RoseWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

34%scent match

Clearly different

Shem - el- Nessim

Grossmith

4.40334 votes

Rank #2,915 PowderyWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Illusion takes 3 of 5 categories.

Illusion
Choose it for a rose and woody character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in fall, daytime wear.
Shem - el- Nessim
Choose it for a powdery and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, day or night wear.

Illusion3/5

Shem - el- Nessim2/5

Ratings & consensus: Shem - el- Nessim
Community sentiment: Not scored
Longevity: Illusion
Sillage & projection: Illusion
Value for money: Illusion
Versatility: Not scored
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Shem - el- Nessim

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

IllusionAjmal

Shem - el- NessimGrossmith

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.65/ 5 · 23 votes

Have 16%Had 19%Want 65%

4.40/ 5 · 334 votes

Have 35%Had 11%Want 55%

Category winnerShem - el- NessimRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

17%Love

52%Like

9%Ok

22%Dislike

0%Hate

23 votes · too few to score

60%Love

27%Like

5%Ok

8%Dislike

0%Hate

334 votes

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity80

〰 Sillage79

♥ Love / hate66

⏱ Longevity75

〰 Sillage69

♥ Love / hate85

Category winners

LongevityIllusion

SillageIllusion

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value75

¤ Price value19

Category winnerIllusionBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

rose100%

woody92%

fresh spicy84%

aromatic77%

warm spicy69%

patchouli61%

powdery100%

woody92%

iris84%

white floral77%

floral69%

vanilla61%

Scent match34%Clearly different · both woody

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

Bergamot

Heart

RoseGeranium

Base

PatchouliSandalwoodVanillaCedar

Top15 to 30 minutes

NeroliBergamot

Heart3 to 5 hours

Orris RootYlang-YlangJasmineGeraniumRose

Base6 to 8 hours

HeliotropeSandalwoodPatchouliCedarMuskVanilla

InformationalShared notesBergamot, Rose, Geranium and Patchouli. Durations are only published for Shem - el- Nessim, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring86

Summer14

Fall100

Winter57

Day100

Night60

Spring65

Summer39

Fall100

Winter84

Day100

Night100

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men0

Unisex0

Women100

Men1

Unisex44

Women55

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#43,917

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#2,915

PerfumerTrevor Nicholl

Launched—

Reviews57

Category winnerShem - el- NessimHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Ajmal Illusion is a rose-led oriental woody scent that opens with a quick flash of bergamot, then settles into a fresh, slightly spicy rose and geranium heart. The dry-down leans warmer and more grounded, with patchouli and smooth woods wrapped in a soft touch of vanilla. It often reads strongest in cooler weather, an…

Reviews →

Shem - el- Nessim opens with a brisk splash of bergamot and neroli before revealing a dense heart of powdery orris root, rose, and ylang-ylang. The scent feels like stepping into a classic boudoir from the early twentieth century, where cosmetic powders and fresh blossoms mingle on polished wood. As the initial bright…

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.

Recent comparisons

Head-to-head activity from live history

Fancy NightsJessica SimpsonRUNNER-UP vs

Nino Cerruti Pour FemmeCerrutiWINNER

3 people compared this today

Sweet DreamsHouse Of SillageWINNER vs

Safari ElixirAthoor Al AlamRUNNER-UP

1 person compared this today

PrometheuNecalliWINNER vs

Bruno ImperialAnfar LondonRUNNER-UP

1 person compared this today

Super CedarByredoRUNNER-UP vs

NorthMendittorosaWINNER

1 person compared this today

Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, Illusion or Shem - el- Nessim?

Illusion takes 3 of 5 categories. Illusion is rated 3.65/5 from 23 votes; Shem - el- Nessim is rated 4.40/5 from 334 votes. Choose Illusion for a rose and woody character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in fall, daytime wear. Choose Shem - el- Nessim for a powdery and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, day or night wear.

Which lasts longer, Illusion or Shem - el- Nessim?

Illusion lasts longest (Illusion 80/100, Shem - el- Nessim 75/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Illusion or Shem - el- Nessim?

Illusion projects furthest (Illusion 79/100, Shem - el- Nessim 69/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Illusion and Shem - el- Nessim smell similar?

Clearly different: a 34% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share woody accords. Common notes include Bergamot, Rose, Geranium and Patchouli.

Is Illusion or Shem - el- Nessim better for summer or winter?

Illusion suits daytime wear; Shem - el- Nessim suits day or night wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Illusion and Shem - el- Nessim?

Illusion has top notes of Bergamot, heart notes of Rose and Geranium, a base of Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vanilla and Cedar. Shem - el- Nessim has top notes of Neroli and Bergamot, heart notes of Orris Root, Ylang-Ylang, Jasmine and Geranium, a base of Heliotrope, Sandalwood, Patchouli and Cedar.