Fragrance comparison

Java Wood vs Salt Lick

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

Updated 14 Nov 2026 57 ratings analysed

Java Wood

Première Note

3.4654 votes

Rank #43,297 Soft SpicyFresh Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

51%scent match

Some overlap

2 wins

Salt Lick

Helio

3.673 votes

Rank #59,654 Soft SpicyFloral

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Salt Lick takes 2 of 4 categories.

Java Wood
Choose it for a soft spicy and fresh spicy character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, daytime wear.
Salt Lick
Choose it for a soft spicy and floral character. Wins on longevity and sillage & projection. Best in winter, daytime wear.

Java Wood1/4

Salt Lick2/4

Ratings & consensus: Not scored
Community sentiment: Not scored
Longevity: Salt Lick
Sillage & projection: Salt Lick
Value for money: Tie
Versatility: Not scored
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Java Wood

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Java WoodPremière Note

Salt LickHelio

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.46/ 5 · 54 votes

Have 51%Had 9%Want 40%

3.67/ 5 · 3 votes

Have 8%Had 0%Want 93%

Category winnerNot enough dataRating 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

33%Love

33%Like

0%Ok

33%Dislike

0%Hate

3 votes · too few to score

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity59

〰 Sillage57

♥ Love / hate62

⏱ Longevity67

〰 Sillage69

♥ Love / hate67

Category winners

LongevitySalt Lick

SillageSalt Lick

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value50

Category winnerTieBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

soft spicy100%

fresh spicy92%

anis84%

aromatic77%

woody69%

earthy61%

soft spicy100%

floral92%

anis84%

woody77%

rose69%

fresh spicy61%

Scent match51%Some overlap · both soft spicy, anis and fresh spicy

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

Notes

LicoriceRoseStar AniseAmbrette (Musk Mallow)PatchouliSandalwoodCuminLabdanumMarigoldBergamotJasmineOlibanum

No top / heart / base split published

InformationalShared notesStar Anise, Bergamot, Cumin and Licorice. Durations are only published for Java Wood, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring63

Summer50

Fall100

Winter63

Day100

Night85

Spring0

Summer33

Fall33

Winter100

Day100

Night50

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men50

Unisex36

Women14

Men33

Unisex0

Women67

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#43,297

PerfumerMelanie Leroux

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#59,654

PerfumerRalf Schwieger

Launched—

Reviews1

Category winnerJava WoodHigher 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 →

Helio Salt Lick opens with crisp bergamot and sharp black pepper before settling into a warm core of star anise and French rose. Ralf Schwieger contrasts sweet licorice root against a sweaty, savory splash of cumin, giving the floral heart an intimate skin texture. Olibanum and dark labdanum simmer beneath the spices,…

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 Salt Lick?

Salt Lick takes 2 of 4 categories. Java Wood is rated 3.46/5 from 54 votes; Salt Lick is rated 3.67/5 from 3 votes. Choose Java Wood for a soft spicy and fresh spicy character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, daytime wear. Choose Salt Lick for a soft spicy and floral character. Wins on longevity and sillage & projection. Best in winter, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Java Wood or Salt Lick?

Salt Lick lasts longest (Salt Lick 67/100, Java Wood 59/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Java Wood or Salt Lick?

Salt Lick projects furthest (Salt Lick 69/100, Java Wood 57/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Java Wood and Salt Lick smell similar?

Some overlap: a 51% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share soft spicy, anis and fresh spicy accords. Common notes include Star Anise, Bergamot, Cumin and Licorice.

Is Java Wood or Salt Lick better for summer or winter?

Java Wood suits daytime wear; Salt Lick suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Java Wood and Salt Lick?

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. Salt Lick features Licorice, Rose, Star Anise, Ambrette (Musk Mallow) and Patchouli.