Fragrance comparison

Mandarin Carnival vs Shades Of Lust

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

Updated 12 Oct 2026 509 ratings analysed

4 wins

Mandarin Carnival

The Merchant of Venice

3.80456 votes

Rank #8,158 CitrusFruity

Full profile Similar & dupes

63%scent match

Closely related

Shades Of Lust

Zara

3.4953 votes

Rank #18,610 FruityWhite Floral

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Mandarin Carnival takes 4 of 7 categories.

Mandarin Carnival
Choose it for a citrus and fruity character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and sillage & projection. Best in spring.
Shades Of Lust
Choose it for a fruity and white floral character. Wins on longevity, value for money and versatility. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Mandarin Carnival4/7

Shades Of Lust3/7

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Mandarin CarnivalThe Merchant of Venice

Shades Of LustZara

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.80/ 5 · 456 votes

Have 77%Had 23%Want 0%

3.49/ 5 · 53 votes

Have 44%Had 6%Want 50%

Category winnerMandarin CarnivalRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

26%Love

43%Like

15%Ok

14%Dislike

1%Hate

456 votes

21%Love

40%Like

17%Ok

13%Dislike

9%Hate

53 votes

Category winnerMandarin CarnivalMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity59

〰 Sillage57

♥ Love / hate70

⏱ Longevity62

〰 Sillage47

♥ Love / hate62

Category winners

LongevityShades Of Lust

SillageMandarin Carnival

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value39

¤ Price value80

Category winnerShades Of LustBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

citrus100%

fruity86%

white floral72%

sweet58%

aquatic44%

musky30%

fruity100%

white floral88%

sweet77%

musky65%

powdery53%

citrus42%

Scent match63%Closely related · both fruity, white floral and citrus

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

Italian MandarinTamarindBitter Almond

Heart

Orange BlossomWhite Peach

Base

Watery NotesMuskRoseCashmere Wood

Top

White Peach

Heart

Orange Blossom

Base

Musk

InformationalShared notesOrange Blossom, White Peach 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

Summer0

Fall0

Winter17

Day–

Night–

Spring100

Summer76

Fall67

Winter33

Day100

Night55

Category winnerShades Of LustMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men3

Unisex48

Women50

Men3

Unisex6

Women91

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#8,158

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews39

Overall rank#18,610

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews6

Category winnerMandarin CarnivalHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Mandarin Carnival opens with a bright burst of freshly peeled Italian mandarin and tangy tamarind, creating an immediate sensation of sweet, sunny citrus. A hint of bitter almond adds a smooth nutty edge that keeps the sharp fruit juice balanced and round. As the initial splash settles, dewy orange blossom and juicy w…

Reviews →

Zara Shades Of Lust opens with an intense spray of white peach that carries a crisp, slightly sharp fruitiness. The heart quickly unfolds with fresh orange blossom, softening the initial fruit pop into a lush white floral profile. As hours pass, the scent settles into a dense base of powdery musk that adds warmth and …

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, Mandarin Carnival or Shades Of Lust?

Mandarin Carnival takes 4 of 7 categories. Mandarin Carnival is rated 3.80/5 from 456 votes; Shades Of Lust is rated 3.49/5 from 53 votes. Choose Mandarin Carnival for a citrus and fruity character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and sillage & projection. Best in spring. Choose Shades Of Lust for a fruity and white floral character. Wins on longevity, value for money and versatility. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Mandarin Carnival or Shades Of Lust?

Shades Of Lust lasts longest (Shades Of Lust 62/100, Mandarin Carnival 59/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Mandarin Carnival or Shades Of Lust?

Mandarin Carnival projects furthest (Mandarin Carnival 57/100, Shades Of Lust 47/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Mandarin Carnival and Shades Of Lust smell similar?

Closely related: a 63% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share fruity, white floral and citrus accords. Common notes include Orange Blossom, White Peach and Musk.

Is Mandarin Carnival or Shades Of Lust better for summer or winter?

For summer, Shades Of Lust is the stronger pick. For winter, Shades Of Lust is the stronger pick. Shades Of Lust suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Mandarin Carnival and Shades Of Lust?

Mandarin Carnival has top notes of Italian Mandarin, Tamarind and Bitter Almond, heart notes of Orange Blossom and White Peach, a base of Watery Notes, Musk, Rose and Cashmere Wood. Shades Of Lust has top notes of White Peach, heart notes of Orange Blossom, a base of Musk.