Fragrance comparison

Mainstream vs Riviera

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 29 ratings analysed

3 wins

Mainstream

Sly John's Lab

3.8010 votes

Rank #61,989 AromaticCitrus

Full profile Similar & dupes

52%scent match

Some overlap

Riviera

Mendes Perfumes

3.5819 votes

Rank #45,912 AromaticWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Mainstream takes 3 of 5 categories.

Mainstream
Choose it for a aromatic and citrus character. Wins on ratings & consensus, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Riviera
Choose it for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on longevity and fragranxe ranking. Best in summer, daytime wear.

Mainstream3/5

Riviera2/5

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

MainstreamSly John's Lab

RivieraMendes Perfumes

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.80/ 5 · 10 votes

Have 18%Had 9%Want 73%

3.58/ 5 · 19 votes

Have 43%Had 19%Want 38%

Category winnerMainstreamRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

70%Love

0%Like

0%Ok

0%Dislike

30%Hate

10 votes · too few to score

32%Love

37%Like

0%Ok

21%Dislike

11%Hate

19 votes · too few to score

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity57

〰 Sillage55

♥ Love / hate70

⏱ Longevity60

〰 Sillage41

♥ Love / hate64

Category winners

LongevityRiviera

SillageMainstream

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value65

¤ Price value48

Category winnerMainstreamBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

aromatic100%

citrus91%

cannabis83%

fresh spicy74%

green65%

herbal56%

aromatic100%

woody92%

fresh spicy84%

citrus77%

green69%

amber61%

Scent match52%Some overlap · both aromatic, citrus and fresh spicy

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top15-30 mins

LimeGraperfuitBergamot

Heart2-4 hrs

WormwoodcannabisBlack PepperPink Pepper

Base5-7 hrs

PatchouliVetiverGuaiac Wood

Top

BergamotLimeCassisPeppermintPink PepperBlack Pepper

Heart

MojitoSea NotesRosemaryCypressJasmine SambacGeraniumLavenderCardamom

Base

Orris RootPatchouliVetiverCedarwoodOakOlibanumAmberMusk

InformationalShared notesLime, Bergamot, Black Pepper and Pink Pepper. Durations are only published for Mainstream, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer43

Fall43

Winter14

Day100

Night50

Spring88

Summer100

Fall100

Winter38

Day100

Night89

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men86

Unisex14

Women0

Men91

Unisex9

Women0

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#61,989

PerfumerChris Maurice

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#45,912

PerfumerDominique Preyssas

Launched—

Reviews3

Category winnerRivieraHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Mainstream by Sly John's Lab delivers a zesty, unconventional green kick right from the first spray. The scent opens with a bright burst of crushed lime, bitter grapefruit, and sparkling bergamot that feels like cutting open chilled citrus fruit on a warm morning. As the sharp juiciness settles, a distinctive core of …

Reviews →

Riviera opens with a sharp burst of bergamot and peppermint paired with crisp black pepper. As the top notes fade, sea notes and cypress emerge alongside green rosemary and lavender to build a breezy marine heart. The base settles into dry cedarwood, vetiver, and subtle oak. It works best during warm spring and summer…

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.

Recent comparisons

Head-to-head activity from live history

Saffron AmberIlluminumRUNNER-UP vs

Septieme Sens (7e Sens)Sonia RykielWINNER

1 person compared this today

Fancy NightsJessica SimpsonRUNNER-UP vs

Nino Cerruti Pour FemmeCerrutiWINNER

3 people compared this today

Sweet DreamsHouse Of SillageWINNER vs

Safari ElixirAthoor Al AlamRUNNER-UP

1 person compared this today

PrometheuNecalliWINNER vs

Bruno ImperialAnfar LondonRUNNER-UP

1 person compared this today

Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, Mainstream or Riviera?

Mainstream takes 3 of 5 categories. Mainstream is rated 3.80/5 from 10 votes; Riviera is rated 3.58/5 from 19 votes. Choose Mainstream for a aromatic and citrus character. Wins on ratings & consensus, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose Riviera for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on longevity and fragranxe ranking. Best in summer, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Mainstream or Riviera?

Riviera lasts longest (Riviera 60/100, Mainstream 57/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Mainstream or Riviera?

Mainstream projects furthest (Mainstream 55/100, Riviera 41/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Mainstream and Riviera smell similar?

Some overlap: a 52% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic, citrus and fresh spicy accords. Common notes include Lime, Bergamot, Black Pepper and Pink Pepper.

Is Mainstream or Riviera better for summer or winter?

Mainstream suits daytime wear; Riviera suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Mainstream and Riviera?

Mainstream has top notes of Lime, Graperfuit and Bergamot, heart notes of Wormwood, cannabis, Black Pepper and Pink Pepper, a base of Patchouli, Vetiver and Guaiac Wood. Riviera has top notes of Bergamot, Lime, Cassis and Peppermint, heart notes of Mojito, Sea Notes, Rosemary and Cypress, a base of Orris Root, Patchouli, Vetiver and Cedarwood.