Fragrance comparison

Mainstream vs Search

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 1,410 ratings analysed

Mainstream

Sly John's Lab

3.8010 votes

Rank #61,989 AromaticCitrus

Full profile Similar & dupes

51%scent match

Some overlap

4 wins

Amouage

3.971,400 votes

Rank #28,349 CitrusAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Search takes 4 of 5 categories.

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

Mainstream1/5

Search4/5

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

MainstreamSly John's Lab

SearchAmouage

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.80/ 5 · 10 votes

Have 18%Had 9%Want 73%

3.97/ 5 · 1,400 votes

Have 81%Had 19%Want 0%

Category winnerSearchRating 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

44%Love

28%Like

14%Ok

9%Dislike

5%Hate

1,400 votes

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity57

〰 Sillage55

♥ Love / hate70

⏱ Longevity73

〰 Sillage60

♥ Love / hate74

Category winners

LongevitySearch

SillageSearch

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value65

¤ Price value28

Category winnerMainstreamBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

aromatic100%

citrus91%

cannabis83%

fresh spicy74%

green65%

herbal56%

citrus100%

aromatic88%

fresh spicy77%

woody65%

amber53%

conifer42%

Scent match51%Some overlap · both citrus, aromatic 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

LimeLemonMandarin Orange

Heart

OlibanumelemiBlack Pepper

Base

Cade oilVetiverGuaiac Wood

InformationalShared notesLime, Black Pepper, Vetiver and Guaiac Wood. 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

Spring100

Summer0

Fall0

Winter32

Day–

Night–

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men86

Unisex14

Women0

Men72

Unisex25

Women3

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#61,989

PerfumerChris Maurice

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#28,349

PerfumerAlexis Grugeon

Launched—

Reviews0

Category winnerSearchHigher 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 →

Amouage Search introduces a sharp lime and lemon opening that collides with dark, smoky woods. Alexis Grugeon builds a fierce contrast where bright citrus oils refuse to fade even under a heavy blanket of burning frankincense and vetiver. It is a rugged, dry choice for warm days when you want freshness with serious gr…

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, Mainstream or Search?

Search takes 4 of 5 categories. Mainstream is rated 3.80/5 from 10 votes; Search is rated 3.97/5 from 1,400 votes. Choose Mainstream for a aromatic and citrus character. Wins on value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose Search for a citrus and aromatic character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in spring.

Which lasts longer, Mainstream or Search?

Search lasts longest (Search 73/100, Mainstream 57/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Mainstream or Search?

Search projects furthest (Search 60/100, Mainstream 55/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Mainstream and Search smell similar?

Some overlap: a 51% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share citrus, aromatic and fresh spicy accords. Common notes include Lime, Black Pepper, Vetiver and Guaiac Wood.

Is Mainstream or Search better for summer or winter?

Mainstream suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Mainstream and Search?

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. Search has top notes of Lime, Lemon and Mandarin Orange, heart notes of Olibanum, elemi and Black Pepper, a base of Cade oil, Vetiver and Guaiac Wood.