Fragrance comparison

Macassar vs Tsar

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

Updated 14 Nov 2026 2,165 ratings analysed

4 wins

Macassar

Rochas

4.38350 votes

Rank #1,022 WoodyAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

62%scent match

Closely related

Tsar

Van Cleef & Arpels

4.191,815 votes

Rank #750 AromaticWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Macassar takes 4 of 7 categories.

Macassar
Choose it for a woody and aromatic character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter.
Tsar
Choose it for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on value for money, versatility and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter, daytime wear.

Macassar4/7

Tsar3/7

Ratings & consensus: Macassar
Community sentiment: Macassar
Longevity: Macassar
Sillage & projection: Macassar
Value for money: Tsar
Versatility: Tsar
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Tsar

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

MacassarRochas

TsarVan Cleef & Arpels

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.38/ 5 · 350 votes

Have 64%Had 36%Want 0%

4.19/ 5 · 1,815 votes

Have 63%Had 38%Want 0%

Category winnerMacassarRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

65%Love

28%Like

3%Ok

4%Dislike

1%Hate

240 votes

45%Love

41%Like

3%Ok

11%Dislike

1%Hate

1,815 votes

Category winnerMacassarMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity82

〰 Sillage71

♥ Love / hate88

⏱ Longevity72

〰 Sillage62

♥ Love / hate80

Category winners

LongevityMacassar

SillageMacassar

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value46

¤ Price value48

Category winnerTsarBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

woody100%

aromatic92%

earthy84%

leather77%

mossy69%

warm spicy61%

aromatic100%

woody90%

fresh spicy80%

green70%

earthy60%

mossy50%

Scent match62%Closely related · both aromatic, woody and earthy

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

Pine Tree NeedlesArtemisiaGreen NotesFruity NotesBergamot

Heart

PatchouliCedarCarnationJasmineVetiverGeranium

Base

LeatherOakmossMuskAmberCoconut

Top20-30 mins

Green NotesLavenderArtemisiaRosemaryBergamotCorianderCinnamonNeroli

Heart2-4 hrs

Pine TreeJuniper BerriesCarnationTarragonGeraniumCarawayJasmineRose

Base6-8+ hrs

OakmossLeatherCedarPatchouliVetiverSandalwoodMuskAmber

InformationalShared notesArtemisia, Green Notes, Bergamot and Patchouli. Durations are only published for Tsar, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring51

Summer38

Fall0

Winter100

Day–

Night–

Spring91

Summer51

Fall0

Winter100

Day100

Night73

Category winnerTsarMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men93

Unisex4

Women4

Men94

Unisex5

Women1

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#1,022

PerfumerNicolas Mamounas, Roger Pellegrino

Launched—

Reviews67

Overall rank#750

PerfumerPhilippe Bousseton

Launched—

Reviews204

Category winnerTsarHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Macassar by Rochas is an assertive, woody leather fragrance that defines 1980s masculine perfumery. It opens with sharp pine needles and green artemisia, grounding into a base of smoky leather and oakmoss. This is a bold, uncompromising scent that projects authority, perfect for those who appreciate the stark, dry cha…

Reviews →

Van Cleef & Arpels Tsar is a quintessential green aromatic cologne that captures the crisp air of a dense pine forest. It opens with an invigorating rush of cool lavender, bitter artemisia, and crushed rosemary, creating the sensation of walking through morning woodland dew. As the scent settles, aromatic juniper berr…

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, Macassar or Tsar?

Macassar takes 4 of 7 categories. Macassar is rated 4.38/5 from 350 votes; Tsar is rated 4.19/5 from 1,815 votes. Choose Macassar for a woody and aromatic character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter. Choose Tsar for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on value for money, versatility and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Macassar or Tsar?

Macassar lasts longest (Macassar 82/100, Tsar 72/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Macassar or Tsar?

Macassar projects furthest (Macassar 71/100, Tsar 62/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Macassar and Tsar smell similar?

Closely related: a 62% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic, woody and earthy accords. Common notes include Artemisia, Green Notes, Bergamot and Patchouli.

Is Macassar or Tsar better for summer or winter?

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

What are the notes in Macassar and Tsar?

Macassar has top notes of Pine Tree Needles, Artemisia, Green Notes and Fruity Notes, heart notes of Patchouli, Cedar, Carnation and Jasmine, a base of Leather, Oakmoss, Musk and Amber. Tsar has top notes of Green Notes, Lavender, Artemisia and Rosemary, heart notes of Pine Tree, Juniper Berries, Carnation and Tarragon, a base of Oakmoss, Leather, Cedar and Patchouli.