Fragrance comparison

Makalu vs Trillium

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

Updated 9 Oct 2026 88 ratings analysed

4 wins

Makalu

Alchimista

4.0014 votes

Rank #47,478 WoodyAmber

Full profile Similar & dupes

4%scent match

Clearly different

Trillium

House of Matriarch

3.7874 votes

Rank #35,684 FloralHerbal

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Makalu takes 4 of 5 categories.

Makalu
Choose it for a woody and amber character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in winter, evening wear.
Trillium
Choose it for a floral and herbal character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Makalu4/5

Trillium1/5

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

MakaluAlchimista

TrilliumHouse of Matriarch

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.00/ 5 · 14 votes

Have 25%Had 11%Want 64%

3.78/ 5 · 74 votes

Have 34%Had 7%Want 59%

Category winnerMakaluRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

43%Love

29%Like

14%Ok

14%Dislike

0%Hate

14 votes · too few to score

34%Love

35%Like

9%Ok

19%Dislike

3%Hate

74 votes

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity64

〰 Sillage64

♥ Love / hate75

⏱ Longevity61

〰 Sillage51

♥ Love / hate70

Category winners

LongevityMakalu

SillageMakalu

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value44

¤ Price value41

Category winnerMakaluBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family

woody100%

amber92%

balsamic84%

smoky77%

leather69%

warm spicy61%

floral100%

herbal91%

green83%

powdery74%

yellow floral65%

aromatic56%

Scent match4%Clearly different

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

Peru BalsamMimosaGeraniumRoseAgarwood (Oud)ChamomileLeather

Heart

IncenseClovesJasmineYlang-YlangIrisOrange BlossomAmber

Base

BirchCedarGuaiac WoodBrown sugarSandalwoodTonka BeanPatchouli

Top20-30 mins

ChamomileMimosaAglaiaGreen Tea

Heart2-4 hrs

Black TeaCoffee blossom

Base5-7 hrs

Jasmine TeaTolu BalsamCashmere MuskAmber

InformationalShared notesMimosa, Chamomile and Amber. Durations are only published for Trillium, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring50

Summer25

Fall63

Winter100

Day89

Night100

Spring100

Summer57

Fall43

Winter27

Day100

Night28

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men25

Unisex75

Women0

Men7

Unisex57

Women36

Work 38%Casual 32%Date 22%Party 8%

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#47,478

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#35,684

PerfumerChristi Meshell

Launched—

Reviews0

Category winnerTrilliumHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Makalu by Alchimista is a resinous, smoky floral woody scent with a soft leather edge. It opens balsamic and slightly sweet, then turns incense-led with jasmine, orange blossom and a warm amber glow. The dry-down leans woody and musky, with birch smoke, sandalwood and a hint of brown sugar and tonka that keeps it cosy…

Reviews →

House of Matriarch Trillium opens with a soothing rush of dried Roman chamomile blossoms, sunny mimosa, and crisp green tea leaves. It immediately feels natural and grounded rather than synthetic or sugary. The bitter tang of black tea and delicate coffee blossoms soon joins the cup, cutting through the powdery floral…

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, Makalu or Trillium?

Makalu takes 4 of 5 categories. Makalu is rated 4.00/5 from 14 votes; Trillium is rated 3.78/5 from 74 votes. Choose Makalu for a woody and amber character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in winter, evening wear. Choose Trillium for a floral and herbal character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Makalu or Trillium?

Makalu lasts longest (Makalu 64/100, Trillium 61/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Makalu or Trillium?

Makalu projects furthest (Makalu 64/100, Trillium 51/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Makalu and Trillium smell similar?

Clearly different: a 4% scent match on Fragranxe. They share few main accords. Common notes include Mimosa, Chamomile and Amber.

Is Makalu or Trillium better for summer or winter?

Makalu suits evening wear; Trillium suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Makalu and Trillium?

Makalu has top notes of Peru Balsam, Mimosa, Geranium and Rose, heart notes of Incense, Cloves, Jasmine and Ylang-Ylang, a base of Birch, Cedar, Guaiac Wood and Brown sugar. Trillium has top notes of Chamomile, Mimosa, Aglaia and Green Tea, heart notes of Black Tea and Coffee blossom, a base of Jasmine Tea, Tolu Balsam, Cashmere Musk and Amber.