Fragrance comparison

L'Eau Froide vs Gengis Khan

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

Updated 30 Oct 2026 1,486 ratings analysed

L'Eau Froide

Serge Lutens · 2011

3.731,424 votes

Rank #4,293 AromaticFresh Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

53%scent match

Some overlap

5 wins

Gengis Khan

Marc de la Morandiere

4.1962 votes

Rank #11,714 Fresh SpicyWarm Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Gengis Khan takes 5 of 7 categories.

L'Eau Froide
Choose it for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring.
Gengis Khan
Choose it for a fresh spicy and warm spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in fall, evening wear.

L'Eau Froide2/7

Gengis Khan5/7

Ratings & consensus: Gengis Khan
Community sentiment: Gengis Khan
Longevity: Gengis Khan
Sillage & projection: Gengis Khan
Value for money: L'Eau Froide
Versatility: Gengis Khan
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

Gengis KhanMarc de la Morandiere

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.73/ 5 · 1,424 votes

Have 68%Had 32%Want 0%

4.19/ 5 · 62 votes

Have 36%Had 12%Want 52%

Category winnerGengis KhanRating 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

45%Love

37%Like

11%Ok

5%Dislike

2%Hate

62 votes

Category winnerGengis KhanMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity64

〰 Sillage55

♥ Love / hate73

⏱ Longevity70

〰 Sillage61

♥ Love / hate80

Category winners

LongevityGengis Khan

SillageGengis Khan

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value48

¤ Price value47

Category winnerL'Eau FroideBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

aromatic100%

fresh spicy92%

amber84%

green77%

marine69%

warm spicy61%

fresh spicy100%

warm spicy92%

aromatic84%

amber77%

woody69%

citrus61%

Scent match53%Some overlap · both fresh spicy, aromatic and 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

Top15-30 mins

ClovesBergamotLemonNutmegLavenderMintThymePepper

Heart2-3 hrs

RoseJasmineLily-of-the-Valley

Base6-8+ hrs

BenzoinPatchouliOlibanumPine needlesVetiver

InformationalShared notesMint, Olibanum, Vetiver and Pepper. Durations are only published for Gengis Khan, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer0

Fall0

Winter46

Day–

Night–

Spring50

Summer35

Fall100

Winter70

Day72

Night100

Category winnerGengis KhanMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men20

Unisex67

Women13

Men75

Unisex8

Women17

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#4,293

PerfumerChristopher Sheldrake

Launched2011

Reviews96

Overall rank#11,714

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews13

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 →

Marc de la Morandiere launched Gengis Khan in 1989 as an unapologetic, aromatic oriental woody blend. The first spray releases a brisk wash of lemon, bitter bergamot, and garden mint before pungent cloves and cracked black pepper seize control. It feels crisp and bristling. Within thirty minutes, herbal thyme and lave…

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 Gengis Khan?

Gengis Khan takes 5 of 7 categories. L'Eau Froide is rated 3.73/5 from 1,424 votes; Gengis Khan is rated 4.19/5 from 62 votes. Choose L'Eau Froide for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring. Choose Gengis Khan for a fresh spicy and warm spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in fall, evening wear.

Which lasts longer, L'Eau Froide or Gengis Khan?

Gengis Khan lasts longest (Gengis Khan 70/100, L'Eau Froide 64/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, L'Eau Froide or Gengis Khan?

Gengis Khan projects furthest (Gengis Khan 61/100, L'Eau Froide 55/100), based on community performance votes.

Do L'Eau Froide and Gengis Khan smell similar?

Some overlap: a 53% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share fresh spicy, aromatic and amber accords. Common notes include Mint, Olibanum, Vetiver and Pepper.

Is L'Eau Froide or Gengis Khan better for summer or winter?

For summer, Gengis Khan is the stronger pick. For winter, Gengis Khan is the stronger pick. Gengis Khan suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in L'Eau Froide and Gengis Khan?

L'Eau Froide features Sea water, Mint, Incense, Olibanum and Ginger. Gengis Khan has top notes of Cloves, Bergamot, Lemon and Nutmeg, heart notes of Rose, Jasmine and Lily-of-the-Valley, a base of Benzoin, Patchouli, Olibanum and Pine needles.