Makalu vs Vanilla Smoke
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
56%scent match
Closely related
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
No clear winner: the 5 categories split 2–2.
MakaluChoose it for a woody and amber character. Wins on ratings & consensus and sillage & projection. Best in winter, evening wear.
Vanilla SmokeChoose it for a amber and smoky character. Wins on value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter.
Makalu2/5
Vanilla Smoke2/5
- Ratings & consensus
- Makalu
- Community sentiment
- Not scored
- Longevity
- Tie
- Sillage & projection
- Makalu
- Value for money
- Vanilla Smoke
- Versatility
- Not scored
- Note pyramid (duration)
- Not scored
- Fragranxe ranking
- Vanilla Smoke
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
MakaluAlchimistaVanilla SmokePhlurWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split4.00/ 5 · 14 votes
Have 25%Had 11%Want 64%
3.50/ 5 · 354 votes
Have 48%Had 4%Want 48%
Category winnerMakaluRating weighted by vote count
Community sentiment
How voters split from love to hate43%Love
29%Like
14%Ok
14%Dislike
0%Hate
14 votes · too few to score
35%Love
30%Like
13%Ok
18%Dislike
4%Hate
304 votes
Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)
Longevity & sillage
0–100 community performance scores
Category winners
LongevityTie
SillageMakalu
Value for money
How fairly priced voters find itCategory winnerVanilla SmokeBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothwoody100%
amber92%
balsamic84%
smoky77%
leather69%
warm spicy61%
amber100%
smoky92%
balsamic84%
vanilla77%
warm spicy69%
leather61%
Scent match56%Closely related · both amber, smoky and balsamic
Note pyramid (duration)
Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = sharedTop
Peru BalsamMimosaGeraniumRoseAgarwood (Oud)ChamomileLeather
Heart
IncenseClovesJasmineYlang-YlangIrisOrange BlossomAmber
Base
BirchCedarGuaiac WoodBrown sugarSandalwoodTonka BeanPatchouli
Top
BirchPink PepperBergamot
Heart
VanillaCacaoTonka Bean
Base
IncensePeru BalsamAmber
InformationalShared notesPeru Balsam, Incense, Amber and Birch. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.
Seasons & time of day
Relative to each fragrance's best seasonSpring50
Summer25
Fall63
Winter100
Day89
Night100
Spring22
Summer8
Fall0
Winter100
Day–
Night–
Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round
Who wears it
Gender appeal votesInformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored
Ranking & credits
Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launchOverall rank#54,623
PerfumerNot listed
Launched—
Reviews0
Overall rank#11,383
PerfumerNot listed
Launched—
Reviews19
Category winnerVanilla SmokeHigher overall rank
In a nutshell
Description & review snapshotMakalu 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 →Vanilla Smoke by Phlur is a resinous, smoky scent anchored by warm incense and birch. Designed for both men and women, this 2025 release leans into a sultry profile perfect for cold autumn evenings. It opens with sharp spice and settles into a deep, creamy vanilla base that hugs the skin for hours in low-temperature s…
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.
Guided comparison
Ask about this matchup
Get a practical answer grounded in the fragrances currently selected.
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Common questions
Straight answers from the data above.
Which is better, Makalu or Vanilla Smoke?
No clear winner: the 5 categories split 2–2. Makalu is rated 4.00/5 from 14 votes; Vanilla Smoke is rated 3.50/5 from 354 votes. Choose Makalu for a woody and amber character. Wins on ratings & consensus and sillage & projection. Best in winter, evening wear. Choose Vanilla Smoke for a amber and smoky character. Wins on value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter.
Which lasts longer, Makalu or Vanilla Smoke?
They last about the same: Makalu 64/100, Vanilla Smoke 64/100 for longevity in community votes.
Which projects more, Makalu or Vanilla Smoke?
Makalu projects furthest (Makalu 64/100, Vanilla Smoke 56/100), based on community performance votes.
Do Makalu and Vanilla Smoke smell similar?
Closely related: a 56% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share amber, smoky and balsamic accords. Common notes include Peru Balsam, Incense, Amber and Birch.
Is Makalu or Vanilla Smoke better for summer or winter?
Makalu suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in Makalu and Vanilla Smoke?
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. Vanilla Smoke has top notes of Birch, Pink Pepper and Bergamot, heart notes of Vanilla, Cacao and Tonka Bean, a base of Incense, Peru Balsam and Amber.
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