Fragrance comparison

L'Eau Froide vs Bucephalus XII

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

Updated 30 Oct 2026 1,462 ratings analysed

L'Eau Froide

Serge Lutens · 2011

3.731,424 votes

Rank #4,293 AromaticFresh Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

23%scent match

Clearly different

4 wins

Bucephalus XII

Armaf

3.8938 votes

Rank #16,035 MuskyWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Bucephalus XII takes 4 of 7 categories.

L'Eau Froide
Choose it for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring.
Bucephalus XII
Choose it for a musky and woody character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in fall, daytime wear.

L'Eau Froide3/7

Bucephalus XII4/7

Ratings & consensus: L'Eau Froide
Community sentiment: L'Eau Froide
Longevity: Bucephalus XII
Sillage & projection: Bucephalus XII
Value for money: Bucephalus XII
Versatility: Bucephalus XII
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: L'Eau Froide

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

L'Eau FroideSerge Lutens

Bucephalus XIIArmaf

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.73/ 5 · 1,424 votes

Have 68%Had 32%Want 0%

3.89/ 5 · 38 votes

Have 39%Had 5%Want 57%

Category winnerL'Eau FroideRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

34%Love

39%Like

17%Ok

7%Dislike

2%Hate

168 votes

42%Love

29%Like

13%Ok

8%Dislike

8%Hate

38 votes

Category winnerL'Eau FroideMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity64

〰 Sillage55

♥ Love / hate73

⏱ Longevity72

〰 Sillage64

♥ Love / hate72

Category winners

LongevityBucephalus XII

SillageBucephalus XII

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value48

¤ Price value68

Category winnerBucephalus XIIBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

aromatic100%

fresh spicy92%

amber84%

green77%

marine69%

warm spicy61%

musky100%

woody91%

powdery83%

amber74%

citrus65%

earthy56%

Scent match23%Clearly different · both amber

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Notes

Sea waterMintIncenseOlibanumGingerVetiverMuskPepper

No top / heart / base split published

Top

LemonOrange BlossomMint

Heart

SpicesPepperGingerNutmeg

Base

MuskAmberSandalwoodPatchouliVetiver

InformationalShared notesMint, Ginger, Vetiver and Musk. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer0

Fall0

Winter46

Day–

Night–

Spring88

Summer63

Fall100

Winter92

Day100

Night91

Category winnerBucephalus XIIMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men20

Unisex67

Women13

Men82

Unisex16

Women3

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#4,293

PerfumerChristopher Sheldrake

Launched2011

Reviews96

Overall rank#16,035

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews6

Category winnerL'Eau FroideHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

L'Eau Froide by Serge Lutens is a bracing unisex scent that defies traditional aquatic conventions. It balances sharp, cooling mint with resinous olibanum and incense, creating a crisp, clean aesthetic. Perfect for intense summer heat or high-humidity days, it offers an invigorating experience that feels both glacial …

Reviews →

Armaf Bucephalus XII opens with a bright burst of mint and lemon, backed by sweet orange blossom. As the initial freshness subsides, ginger and black pepper take over, creating a spicy warmth on the skin. The final phase settles into a dense, sweet base of amber, patchouli, and sandalwood that projects an aroma remini…

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, L'Eau Froide or Bucephalus XII?

Bucephalus XII takes 4 of 7 categories. L'Eau Froide is rated 3.73/5 from 1,424 votes; Bucephalus XII is rated 3.89/5 from 38 votes. Choose L'Eau Froide for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring. Choose Bucephalus XII for a musky and woody character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in fall, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, L'Eau Froide or Bucephalus XII?

Bucephalus XII lasts longest (Bucephalus XII 72/100, L'Eau Froide 64/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, L'Eau Froide or Bucephalus XII?

Bucephalus XII projects furthest (Bucephalus XII 64/100, L'Eau Froide 55/100), based on community performance votes.

Do L'Eau Froide and Bucephalus XII smell similar?

Clearly different: a 23% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share amber accords. Common notes include Mint, Ginger, Vetiver and Musk.

Is L'Eau Froide or Bucephalus XII better for summer or winter?

For summer, Bucephalus XII is the stronger pick. For winter, Bucephalus XII is the stronger pick. Bucephalus XII suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in L'Eau Froide and Bucephalus XII?

L'Eau Froide features Sea water, Mint, Incense, Olibanum and Ginger. Bucephalus XII has top notes of Lemon, Orange Blossom and Mint, heart notes of Spices, Pepper, Ginger and Nutmeg, a base of Musk, Amber, Sandalwood and Patchouli.