Fragrance comparison

Java Wood vs Galbanum & Rain

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

Updated 14 Nov 2026 94 ratings analysed

Java Wood

Première Note

3.4654 votes

Rank #43,297 Soft SpicyFresh Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

33%scent match

Clearly different

5 wins

Galbanum & Rain

Clean

3.7040 votes

Rank #41,336 WoodyEarthy

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Galbanum & Rain takes 5 of 8 categories.

Java Wood
Choose it for a soft spicy and fresh spicy character. Wins on community sentiment, value for money and versatility. Best in fall, daytime wear.
Galbanum & Rain
Choose it for a woody and earthy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Java Wood3/8

Galbanum & Rain5/8

Ratings & consensus: Galbanum & Rain
Community sentiment: Java Wood
Longevity: Galbanum & Rain
Sillage & projection: Galbanum & Rain
Value for money: Java Wood
Versatility: Java Wood
Note pyramid (duration): Galbanum & Rain
Fragranxe ranking: Galbanum & Rain

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Java WoodPremière Note

Galbanum & RainClean

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.46/ 5 · 54 votes

Have 51%Had 9%Want 40%

3.70/ 5 · 40 votes

Have 26%Had 8%Want 65%

Category winnerGalbanum & RainRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

17%Love

44%Like

11%Ok

24%Dislike

4%Hate

54 votes

43%Love

18%Like

10%Ok

28%Dislike

3%Hate

40 votes

Category winnerJava WoodMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity59

〰 Sillage57

♥ Love / hate62

⏱ Longevity66

〰 Sillage58

♥ Love / hate68

Category winners

LongevityGalbanum & Rain

SillageGalbanum & Rain

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value50

¤ Price value46

Category winnerJava WoodBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

soft spicy100%

fresh spicy92%

anis84%

aromatic77%

woody69%

earthy61%

woody100%

earthy92%

aquatic84%

mossy77%

green69%

aromatic61%

Scent match33%Clearly different · both woody, earthy and aromatic

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top15-30 mins

Star AniseSichuan PepperBergamot

Heart2-3 hrs

TobaccoCuminViolet Leaf

Base5-7 hrs

Haitian VetiverJava vetiver oilLicorice

Top30 to 45 minutes

Water NotesSichuan PepperStar Anise

Heart2 to 4 hours

GalbanumIncense

Base5 to 8 hours

MossClearwoodCedarHaitian VetiverPatchouli

Category winnerGalbanum & RainLongest dry-down: 5 to 8 hours

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring63

Summer50

Fall100

Winter63

Day100

Night85

Spring100

Summer90

Fall70

Winter15

Day100

Night22

Category winnerJava WoodMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men50

Unisex36

Women14

Men38

Unisex50

Women13

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#43,297

PerfumerMelanie Leroux

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#41,336

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

Category winnerGalbanum & RainHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Première Note Java Wood is an earthy, dry spice fragrance built around woody roots and herbal heat. The opening snaps with tart bergamot, tingling Sichuan pepper, and bitter star anise. It feels sharp. Soon, dried tobacco leaves and warm cumin bring a dusty, aromatic grit to the midsection. A foundation of dark Haitia…

Reviews →

Galbanum & Rain by Clean presents an earthy, damp green profile that steps away from conventional sweet fresh scents. The fragrance begins with cool water notes combined with the subtle bite of Sichuan pepper and star anise. As the opening settles, bitter green galbanum takes center stage alongside a veil of smoky inc…

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.

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Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, Java Wood or Galbanum & Rain?

Galbanum & Rain takes 5 of 8 categories. Java Wood is rated 3.46/5 from 54 votes; Galbanum & Rain is rated 3.70/5 from 40 votes. Choose Java Wood for a soft spicy and fresh spicy character. Wins on community sentiment, value for money and versatility. Best in fall, daytime wear. Choose Galbanum & Rain for a woody and earthy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Java Wood or Galbanum & Rain?

Galbanum & Rain lasts longest (Galbanum & Rain 66/100, Java Wood 59/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Java Wood or Galbanum & Rain?

Projection is very close: Galbanum & Rain 58/100, Java Wood 57/100 for sillage.

Do Java Wood and Galbanum & Rain smell similar?

Clearly different: a 33% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share woody, earthy and aromatic accords. Common notes include Star Anise, Sichuan Pepper and Haitian Vetiver.

Is Java Wood or Galbanum & Rain better for summer or winter?

For summer, Galbanum & Rain is the stronger pick. For winter, Java Wood is the stronger pick. Java Wood suits daytime wear; Galbanum & Rain suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Java Wood and Galbanum & Rain?

Java Wood has top notes of Star Anise, Sichuan Pepper and Bergamot, heart notes of Tobacco, Cumin and Violet Leaf, a base of Haitian Vetiver, Java vetiver oil and Licorice. Galbanum & Rain has top notes of Water Notes, Sichuan Pepper and Star Anise, heart notes of Galbanum and Incense, a base of Moss, Clearwood, Cedar and Haitian Vetiver.