Fragrance comparison

Labdanum 18 vs 18 Shades of Labdanum

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

Updated 5 Nov 2026 1,553 ratings analysed

Labdanum 18

Le Labo

3.951,551 votes

Rank #1,903 MuskyAmber

Full profile Similar & dupes

79%scent match

Very similar

3 wins

18 Shades of Labdanum

The Dua Brand

5.002 votes

Rank #46,808 AmberWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

18 Shades of Labdanum takes 3 of 4 categories.

Labdanum 18
Choose it for a musky and amber character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, day or night wear.
18 Shades of Labdanum
Choose it for a amber and woody character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in fall, evening wear.

Labdanum 181/4

18 Shades of Labdanum3/4

Ratings & consensus: Not scored
Community sentiment: Not scored
Longevity: 18 Shades of Labdanum
Sillage & projection: 18 Shades of Labdanum
Value for money: 18 Shades of Labdanum
Versatility: Not scored
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Labdanum 18

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Labdanum 18Le Labo

18 Shades of LabdanumThe Dua Brand

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.95/ 5 · 1,551 votes

Have 37%Had 12%Want 52%

5.00/ 5 · 2 votes

Have 89%Had 0%Want 11%

Category winnerNot enough dataRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

38%Love

36%Like

11%Ok

13%Dislike

2%Hate

1,551 votes

100%Love

0%Like

0%Ok

0%Dislike

0%Hate

2 votes · too few to score

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity69

〰 Sillage58

♥ Love / hate74

⏱ Longevity87

〰 Sillage75

♥ Love / hate100

Category winners

Longevity18 Shades of Labdanum

Sillage18 Shades of Labdanum

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value27

¤ Price value63

Category winner18 Shades of LabdanumBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

musky100%

amber92%

woody84%

vanilla77%

leather69%

animalic61%

amber100%

woody92%

musky84%

leather77%

smoky69%

balsamic61%

Scent match79%Very similar · both amber, musky and woody

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Notes

French labdanumVanillaCivettaMuskCastoreumResinsTonka BeanGurjan balsamBirchPatchouliCinnamon

No top / heart / base split published

Notes

French labdanumResinsBirchGurjan balsamTonka BeanPatchouliCastoreumCinnamonVanillaCivetMusk

No top / heart / base split published

InformationalShared notesFrench labdanum, Vanilla, Musk and Castoreum. Durations are only published for Labdanum 18, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring40

Summer22

Fall100

Winter92

Day99

Night100

Spring0

Summer0

Fall100

Winter100

Day–

Night100

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men12

Unisex62

Women26

Men100

Unisex0

Women0

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#1,903

PerfumerMaurice Roucel

Launched—

Reviews204

Overall rank#46,808

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

Category winnerLabdanum 18Higher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Labdanum 18 by Le Labo is an amber, musky scent built around a soft and powdery warmth. Rather than projecting an aggressive, dark leather aroma, it hugs close to the skin with sweet vanilla, balsamic resins, and cozy musk. Notes of French labdanum, cinnamon, and gurjan balsam provide a rich, golden center, while hint…

Reviews →

18 Shades of Labdanum by The Dua Brand is a Oriental fragrance for women and men. 18 Shades of Labdanum was launched in 2021. From the way people describe wearing it, this comes across best as an easygoing style that many people can appreciate quickly.

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, Labdanum 18 or 18 Shades of Labdanum?

18 Shades of Labdanum takes 3 of 4 categories. Labdanum 18 is rated 3.95/5 from 1,551 votes; 18 Shades of Labdanum is rated 5.00/5 from 2 votes. Choose Labdanum 18 for a musky and amber character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, day or night wear. Choose 18 Shades of Labdanum for a amber and woody character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in fall, evening wear.

Which lasts longer, Labdanum 18 or 18 Shades of Labdanum?

18 Shades of Labdanum lasts longest (18 Shades of Labdanum 87/100, Labdanum 18 69/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Labdanum 18 or 18 Shades of Labdanum?

18 Shades of Labdanum projects furthest (18 Shades of Labdanum 75/100, Labdanum 18 58/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Labdanum 18 and 18 Shades of Labdanum smell similar?

Very similar: a 79% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share amber, musky and woody accords. Common notes include French labdanum, Vanilla, Musk and Castoreum.

Is Labdanum 18 or 18 Shades of Labdanum better for summer or winter?

Labdanum 18 suits day or night wear; 18 Shades of Labdanum suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Labdanum 18 and 18 Shades of Labdanum?

Labdanum 18 features French labdanum, Vanilla, Civetta, Musk and Castoreum. 18 Shades of Labdanum features French labdanum, Resins, Birch, Gurjan balsam and Tonka Bean.