Fragrance comparison

Mata Hari vs Varens Homme Intense

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

Updated 25 Oct 2026 68 ratings analysed

Mata Hari

DSH Perfumes

4.4144 votes

Rank #18,865 FloralAmber

Full profile Similar & dupes

26%scent match

Clearly different

Varens Homme Intense

Ulric de Varens

4.0824 votes

Rank #18,842 Fresh SpicyWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

No clear winner: the 6 categories split 3–3.

Mata Hari
Choose it for a floral and amber character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and note pyramid duration. Best in fall, evening wear.
Varens Homme Intense
Choose it for a fresh spicy and woody character. Wins on sillage & projection, value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, evening wear.

Mata Hari3/6

Varens Homme Intense3/6

Ratings & consensus: Mata Hari
Community sentiment: Not scored
Longevity: Mata Hari
Sillage & projection: Varens Homme Intense
Value for money: Varens Homme Intense
Versatility: Not scored
Note pyramid (duration): Mata Hari
Fragranxe ranking: Varens Homme Intense

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Mata HariDSH Perfumes

Varens Homme IntenseUlric de Varens

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.41/ 5 · 44 votes

Have 75%Had 25%Want 0%

4.08/ 5 · 24 votes

Have 50%Had 21%Want 29%

Category winnerMata HariRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

57%Love

36%Like

0%Ok

5%Dislike

2%Hate

44 votes

33%Love

54%Like

4%Ok

4%Dislike

4%Hate

24 votes · too few to score

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity77

〰 Sillage58

♥ Love / hate85

⏱ Longevity62

〰 Sillage66

♥ Love / hate77

Category winners

LongevityMata Hari

SillageVarens Homme Intense

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value75

¤ Price value90

Category winnerVarens Homme IntenseBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

floral100%

amber92%

warm spicy84%

sweet77%

woody69%

aromatic61%

fresh spicy100%

woody83%

floral65%

citrus48%

powdery30%

Scent match26%Clearly different · both floral and woody

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top15-30 mins

Fruity NotesOrangeNeroliBlood OrangeCorianderBergamotMandarin OrangeTarragon

Heart2-4 hrs

CloveCinnamonWhite HoneyChampacaJasmineTuberoseOrris RootLilac

Base6-8+ hrs

MyrhhLeatherMuskoak mossBenzoinTobaccoFrench labdanumPeru Balsam

Top15-30 mins

BergamotMandarin Orange

Heart1-2 hrs

CuminFloral NotesNutmeg

Base3-4 hrs

CedarSandalwood

Category winnerMata HariLongest dry-down: 6-8+ hrs

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring50

Summer29

Fall100

Winter100

Day41

Night100

Spring70

Summer50

Fall100

Winter60

Day92

Night100

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men0

Unisex0

Women100

Date 42%Party 32%Casual 16%Work 11%

Men64

Unisex27

Women9

Casual 38%Work 33%Date 18%Party 10%

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#18,865

PerfumerDawn Spencer Hurwitz

Launched—

Reviews9

Overall rank#18,842

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews7

Category winnerVarens Homme IntenseHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Mata Hari by DSH Perfumes is a fierce, vintage-styled fruity chypre built on uncompromising botanical contrasts. The scent hits the skin with a tart blast of blood orange, bitter coriander, and sweet candied fruit notes. It does not apologize. Within twenty minutes, the bright citrus flash fades into a thick, sultry b…

Reviews →

Varens Homme Intense by Ulric de Varens opens with an immediate kick of sparkling bergamot and bright mandarin orange. That initial citrus brightness flashes off quickly. Within twenty minutes, the fragrance shifts into a dry, herbal heart of warm cumin and ground nutmeg, softened by subtle floral notes. It smells cle…

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, Mata Hari or Varens Homme Intense?

No clear winner: the 6 categories split 3–3. Mata Hari is rated 4.41/5 from 44 votes; Varens Homme Intense is rated 4.08/5 from 24 votes. Choose Mata Hari for a floral and amber character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and note pyramid duration. Best in fall, evening wear. Choose Varens Homme Intense for a fresh spicy and woody character. Wins on sillage & projection, value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, evening wear.

Which lasts longer, Mata Hari or Varens Homme Intense?

Mata Hari lasts longest (Mata Hari 77/100, Varens Homme Intense 62/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Mata Hari or Varens Homme Intense?

Varens Homme Intense projects furthest (Varens Homme Intense 66/100, Mata Hari 58/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Mata Hari and Varens Homme Intense smell similar?

Clearly different: a 26% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share floral and woody accords. Common notes include Bergamot and Mandarin Orange.

Is Mata Hari or Varens Homme Intense better for summer or winter?

Mata Hari suits evening wear; Varens Homme Intense suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Mata Hari and Varens Homme Intense?

Mata Hari has top notes of Fruity Notes, Orange, Neroli and Blood Orange, heart notes of Clove, Cinnamon, White Honey and Champaca, a base of Myrhh, Leather, Musk and oak moss. Varens Homme Intense has top notes of Bergamot and Mandarin Orange, heart notes of Cumin, Floral Notes and Nutmeg, a base of Cedar and Sandalwood.