Fragrance comparison

Mandarin vs Malbec

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 2,028 ratings analysed

Mandarin

Isabell

4.4717 votes

Rank #39,644 CitrusWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

36%scent match

Some overlap

4 wins

Malbec

O Boticário

3.432,011 votes

Rank #30,935 WoodyWarm Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Malbec takes 4 of 5 categories.

Mandarin
Choose it for a citrus and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Malbec
Choose it for a woody and warm spicy character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in winter.

Mandarin1/5

Malbec4/5

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

MandarinIsabell

MalbecO Boticário

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.47/ 5 · 17 votes

Have 43%Had 32%Want 25%

3.43/ 5 · 2,011 votes

Have 40%Had 60%Want 0%

Category winnerMandarinRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

47%Love

53%Like

0%Ok

0%Dislike

0%Hate

17 votes · too few to score

21%Love

40%Like

10%Ok

19%Dislike

10%Hate

2,011 votes

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity70

〰 Sillage50

♥ Love / hate87

⏱ Longevity71

〰 Sillage66

♥ Love / hate61

Category winners

LongevityMalbec

SillageMalbec

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value50

¤ Price value57

Category winnerMalbecBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

citrus100%

woody88%

aromatic77%

white floral65%

fresh spicy53%

powdery42%

woody100%

warm spicy92%

amber84%

citrus77%

earthy69%

mossy61%

Scent match36%Some overlap · both woody and citrus

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

Mandarin OrangeLimeAmalfi LemonJuniper

Heart

PomeloAfrican Orange FlowerJasmine

Base

SandalwoodMusk

Top

Virginia CedarIncensePepperLimeMandarin OrangeCassisBergamotViolet Leaf

Heart

CedarPatchouliSandalwood

Base

OakmossAmberBenzoinMusk

InformationalShared notesMandarin Orange, Lime, Sandalwood and Musk. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer67

Fall100

Winter0

Day100

Night–

Spring37

Summer0

Fall0

Winter100

Day–

Night–

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men0

Unisex0

Women100

Men96

Unisex3

Women2

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#39,644

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#30,935

PerfumerNapoleão Bastos

Launched—

Reviews0

Category winnerMalbecHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Mandarin by Isabell opens with a bright flash of mandarin orange, tart lime, and bitter juniper berries. The citrus top feels sharp and energetic rather than sugary. As the initial spray settles, African orange flower and bittersweet pomelo emerge in the heart, softening the initial acid bite with a dry white floral t…

Reviews →

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 →

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, Mandarin or Malbec?

Malbec takes 4 of 5 categories. Mandarin is rated 4.47/5 from 17 votes; Malbec is rated 3.43/5 from 2,011 votes. Choose Mandarin for a citrus and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose Malbec for a woody and warm spicy character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in winter.

Which lasts longer, Mandarin or Malbec?

They last about the same: Malbec 71/100, Mandarin 70/100 for longevity in community votes.

Which projects more, Mandarin or Malbec?

Malbec projects furthest (Malbec 66/100, Mandarin 50/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Mandarin and Malbec smell similar?

Some overlap: a 36% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share woody and citrus accords. Common notes include Mandarin Orange, Lime, Sandalwood and Musk.

Is Mandarin or Malbec better for summer or winter?

Mandarin suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Mandarin and Malbec?

Mandarin has top notes of Mandarin Orange, Lime, Amalfi Lemon and Juniper, heart notes of Pomelo, African Orange Flower and Jasmine, a base of Sandalwood and Musk. 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.