Illustrious Unknown vs Retrospection
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
35%scent match
Some overlap
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
Retrospection takes 1 of 1 categories.
Illustrious UnknownChoose it for a woody and aromatic character.
RetrospectionChoose it for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, evening wear.
Illustrious Unknown0/1
Retrospection1/1
- 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
- Retrospection
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
Illustrious UnknownPARUMRetrospectionJMP Artisan PerfumesWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split4.50/ 5 · 2 votes
Have 36%Had 0%Want 64%
3.59/ 5 · 34 votes
Have 30%Had 12%Want 57%
Category winnerNot enough dataRating weighted by vote count
Community sentiment
How voters split from love to hate50%Love
50%Like
0%Ok
0%Dislike
0%Hate
2 votes · too few to score
24%Love
35%Like
24%Ok
12%Dislike
6%Hate
34 votes
Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)
Longevity & sillage
0–100 community performance scores
Category winners
LongevityNo data
SillageNo data
Value for money
How fairly priced voters find itCategory winnerNot enough dataBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothwoody100%
aromatic92%
amber84%
warm spicy77%
citrus69%
balsamic61%
aromatic100%
woody92%
animalic84%
fresh spicy77%
white floral69%
green61%
Scent match35%Some overlap · both woody and aromatic
Note pyramid (duration)
Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = sharedTop
OrangeBergamotRosemary
Heart
Clary SageCoumarinCinnamonLavenderAglaiaYlang-Ylang
Base
BenzoinIncenseAmbergrisSandalwoodPatchouliCedarOlibanumVetiver
Top15-30 mins
GalbanumAldehydesBergamotWormwoodLavenderRosemaryPetitgrain
Heart2-4 hrs
Orange BlossomLily-of-the-ValleyJasmineGeraniumCorianderRoseClary SageCloves
Base8-10+ hrs
OakmossCivetLeatherBeeswaxMuskOrris RootVetiverSandalwood
InformationalShared notesBergamot, Rosemary, Clary Sage and Lavender. Durations are only published for Retrospection, so this is not scored.
Seasons & time of day
Relative to each fragrance's best seasonNo season votes yet
Spring86
Summer21
Fall100
Winter71
Day83
Night100
Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round
Who wears it
Gender appeal votesNot enough votes yet
InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored
Ranking & credits
Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launchOverall rank#60,315
PerfumerNot listed
Launched—
Reviews0
Overall rank#19,634
PerfumerJakub Pietrynka
Launched—
Reviews6
Category winnerRetrospectionHigher overall rank
In a nutshell
Description & review snapshotIllustrious Unknown by PARUM opens with a sharp burst of bitter orange, bergamot, and culinary rosemary that quickly commands attention. As the initial citrus sparkle recedes, the composition reveals a complex aromatic heart centered on clary sage, dry cinnamon, and French lavender. The foundation settles into a dark,…
Reviews →Retrospection by JMP Artisan Perfumes resurrects the bold, unapologetic swagger of traditional masculine perfumery from the late twentieth century. Created by Polish independent perfumer Jakub Pietrynka, this composition opens with a sharp burst of bitter galbanum, soapy aldehydes, and zesty bergamot. Within minutes, …
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 is better, Illustrious Unknown or Retrospection?
Retrospection takes 1 of 1 categories. Illustrious Unknown is rated 4.50/5 from 2 votes; Retrospection is rated 3.59/5 from 34 votes. Choose Illustrious Unknown for a woody and aromatic character. Choose Retrospection for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, evening wear.
Do Illustrious Unknown and Retrospection smell similar?
Some overlap: a 35% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share woody and aromatic accords. Common notes include Bergamot, Rosemary, Clary Sage and Lavender.
Is Illustrious Unknown or Retrospection better for summer or winter?
Retrospection suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in Illustrious Unknown and Retrospection?
Illustrious Unknown has top notes of Orange, Bergamot and Rosemary, heart notes of Clary Sage, Coumarin, Cinnamon and Lavender, a base of Benzoin, Incense, Ambergris and Sandalwood. Retrospection has top notes of Galbanum, Aldehydes, Bergamot and Wormwood, heart notes of Orange Blossom, Lily-of-the-Valley, Jasmine and Geranium, a base of Oakmoss, Civet, Leather and Beeswax.
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