Fragrance comparison

Illusion vs Renato Balestra Pour Homme

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

Updated 24 Oct 2026 54 ratings analysed

Illusion

Denim

3.6712 votes

Rank #46,702 HerbalAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

54%scent match

Some overlap

4 wins

Renato Balestra Pour Homme

Renato Balestra

3.9842 votes

Rank #24,886 AromaticFresh Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Renato Balestra Pour Homme takes 4 of 5 categories.

Illusion
Choose it for a herbal and aromatic character. Wins on value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Renato Balestra Pour Homme
Choose it for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in fall, daytime wear.

Illusion1/5

Renato Balestra Pour Homme4/5

Ratings & consensus: Renato Balestra Pour Homme
Community sentiment: Not scored
Longevity: Renato Balestra Pour Homme
Sillage & projection: Renato Balestra Pour Homme
Value for money: Illusion
Versatility: Not scored
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Renato Balestra Pour Homme

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

IllusionDenim

Renato Balestra Pour HommeRenato Balestra

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.67/ 5 · 12 votes

Have 37%Had 17%Want 47%

3.98/ 5 · 42 votes

Have 46%Had 18%Want 36%

Category winnerRenato Balestra Pour HommeRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

17%Love

50%Like

25%Ok

0%Dislike

8%Hate

12 votes · too few to score

24%Love

60%Like

10%Ok

5%Dislike

2%Hate

42 votes

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity55

〰 Sillage50

♥ Love / hate67

⏱ Longevity67

〰 Sillage59

♥ Love / hate74

Category winners

LongevityRenato Balestra Pour Homme

SillageRenato Balestra Pour Homme

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value70

¤ Price value66

Category winnerIllusionBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

herbal100%

aromatic86%

fresh spicy72%

woody58%

powdery44%

bitter30%

aromatic100%

fresh spicy91%

herbal83%

citrus74%

woody65%

warm spicy56%

Scent match54%Some overlap · both aromatic, herbal and fresh spicy

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top15-30 mins

ArtemisiaThymeBasil

Heart2-3 hrs

SandalwoodRussian Leather

Base4-6 hrs

White MuskSiam BenzoinAmbergris

Top

Mandarin OrangeSageArtemisiaBergamotBasilCloveThymeJuniper Berries

Heart

LavenderGeraniumVirginia CedarCarnationLily-of-the-ValleyCardamomCorianderPine

Base

oak mossMuskVetiverLeatherAmberGuaiac WoodAmyrisebony tree

InformationalShared notesArtemisia, Thyme and Basil. Durations are only published for Illusion, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer80

Fall60

Winter100

Day100

Night35

Spring88

Summer36

Fall100

Winter68

Day100

Night89

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men75

Unisex25

Women0

Casual 40%Work 35%Date 15%Party 10%

Men92

Unisex8

Women0

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#46,702

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews4

Overall rank#24,886

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews4

Category winnerRenato Balestra Pour HommeHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Denim Illusion is a crisp, bitter-green oriental fougere that cuts through morning air with sharp aromatic bite. The first blast delivers a potent dose of bitter artemisia, crushed garden thyme, and peppery basil. It smells like crushed Mediterranean herbs steeped in cold well water. Within twenty minutes, the sharp h…

Reviews →

Renato Balestra Pour Homme opens with sharp artemisia, bitter bergamot, and crushed thyme, giving off an immediate 1980s barbering snap. It settles into a heart of lavender and pine needles before grounding in dark oak moss and leather. Best suited for autumn evenings and tailored jackets.

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.

Which is better, Illusion or Renato Balestra Pour Homme?

Renato Balestra Pour Homme takes 4 of 5 categories. Illusion is rated 3.67/5 from 12 votes; Renato Balestra Pour Homme is rated 3.98/5 from 42 votes. Choose Illusion for a herbal and aromatic character. Wins on value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose Renato Balestra Pour Homme for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in fall, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Illusion or Renato Balestra Pour Homme?

Renato Balestra Pour Homme lasts longest (Renato Balestra Pour Homme 67/100, Illusion 55/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Illusion or Renato Balestra Pour Homme?

Renato Balestra Pour Homme projects furthest (Renato Balestra Pour Homme 59/100, Illusion 50/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Illusion and Renato Balestra Pour Homme smell similar?

Some overlap: a 54% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic, herbal and fresh spicy accords. Common notes include Artemisia, Thyme and Basil.

Is Illusion or Renato Balestra Pour Homme better for summer or winter?

Illusion suits daytime wear; Renato Balestra Pour Homme suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Illusion and Renato Balestra Pour Homme?

Illusion has top notes of Artemisia, Thyme and Basil, heart notes of Sandalwood and Russian Leather, a base of White Musk, Siam Benzoin and Ambergris. Renato Balestra Pour Homme has top notes of Mandarin Orange, Sage, Artemisia and Bergamot, heart notes of Lavender, Geranium, Virginia Cedar and Carnation, a base of oak moss, Musk, Vetiver and Leather.