Fragrance comparison

Malbec vs Malbec Play

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 2,090 ratings analysed

4 wins

Malbec

O Boticário

3.432,011 votes

Rank #30,902 WoodyWarm Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

61%scent match

Closely related

Malbec Play

O Boticário

3.5279 votes

Rank #40,798 Fresh SpicyWarm Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Malbec takes 4 of 7 categories.

Malbec
Choose it for a woody and warm spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in winter.
Malbec Play
Choose it for a fresh spicy and warm spicy character. Wins on community sentiment, value for money and versatility. Best in spring.

Malbec4/7

Malbec Play3/7

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

MalbecO Boticário

Malbec PlayO Boticário

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.43/ 5 · 2,011 votes

Have 40%Had 60%Want 0%

3.52/ 5 · 79 votes

Have 45%Had 43%Want 12%

Category winnerMalbecRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

21%Love

40%Like

10%Ok

19%Dislike

10%Hate

2,011 votes

18%Love

42%Like

22%Ok

13%Dislike

6%Hate

79 votes

Category winnerMalbec PlayMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity71

〰 Sillage66

♥ Love / hate61

⏱ Longevity55

〰 Sillage47

♥ Love / hate63

Category winners

LongevityMalbec

SillageMalbec

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value57

¤ Price value61

Category winnerMalbec PlayBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

woody100%

warm spicy92%

amber84%

citrus77%

earthy69%

mossy61%

fresh spicy100%

warm spicy92%

wine84%

citrus77%

woody69%

amber61%

Scent match61%Closely related · both warm spicy, woody and citrus

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

Virginia CedarIncensePepperLimeMandarin OrangeCassisBergamotViolet Leaf

Heart

CedarPatchouliSandalwood

Base

OakmossAmberBenzoinMusk

Top

Black PepperViolet LeafCardamomLimeBergamotGreen AppleMandarin Orange

Heart

Red WinePatchouliCedarLavender

Base

OakmossAmberBenzoinMusk

InformationalShared notesCedar, Lime, Mandarin Orange and Bergamot. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring37

Summer0

Fall0

Winter100

Day–

Night–

Spring100

Summer78

Fall81

Winter58

Day–

Night–

Category winnerMalbec PlayMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men96

Unisex3

Women2

Men95

Unisex5

Women0

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#30,902

PerfumerNapoleão Bastos

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#40,798

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

Category winnerMalbecHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

O Boticário Malbec is a grounded woody spicy fragrance that balances dry cedarwood with zesty citrus and dark warmth. It opens with a lively burst of lime, bergamot, and crushed black pepper before settling into a sturdy heart of Virginia cedar, earthy patchouli, and smooth sandalwood. Inspired by traditional wine agi…

Reviews →

Malbec Play by O Boticário takes the signature oak-aged red wine DNA of the Malbec line and gives it an energetic, youthful twist. The first spray hits you with zesty lime, crisp green apple, and cracked black pepper, cutting through the air with clean freshness. Within twenty minutes, the bright fruit gives way to a …

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, Malbec or Malbec Play?

Malbec takes 4 of 7 categories. Malbec is rated 3.43/5 from 2,011 votes; Malbec Play is rated 3.52/5 from 79 votes. Choose Malbec for a woody and warm spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in winter. Choose Malbec Play for a fresh spicy and warm spicy character. Wins on community sentiment, value for money and versatility. Best in spring.

Which lasts longer, Malbec or Malbec Play?

Malbec lasts longest (Malbec 71/100, Malbec Play 55/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Malbec or Malbec Play?

Malbec projects furthest (Malbec 66/100, Malbec Play 47/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Malbec and Malbec Play smell similar?

Closely related: a 61% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share warm spicy, woody and citrus accords. Common notes include Cedar, Lime, Mandarin Orange and Bergamot.

Is Malbec or Malbec Play better for summer or winter?

For summer, Malbec Play is the stronger pick. For winter, Malbec is the stronger pick. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Malbec and Malbec Play?

Malbec has top notes of Virginia Cedar, Incense, Pepper and Lime, heart notes of Cedar, Patchouli and Sandalwood, a base of Oakmoss, Amber, Benzoin and Musk. Malbec Play has top notes of Black Pepper, Violet Leaf, Cardamom and Lime, heart notes of Red Wine, Patchouli, Cedar and Lavender, a base of Oakmoss, Amber, Benzoin and Musk.