Fragrance comparison

Opal vs Sandal Ruby

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

Updated 17 Oct 2026 359 ratings analysed

Opal

Boadicea the Victorious

3.3298 votes

Rank #18,451 Warm SpicyFresh Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

48%scent match

Some overlap

6 wins

Sandal Ruby

Carolina Herrera

4.12261 votes

Rank #4,988 WoodyWarm Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Sandal Ruby takes 6 of 7 categories.

Opal
Choose it for a warm spicy and fresh spicy character. Wins on versatility. Best in winter, evening wear.
Sandal Ruby
Choose it for a woody and warm spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter, evening wear.

Opal1/7

Sandal Ruby6/7

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

OpalBoadicea the Victorious

Sandal RubyCarolina Herrera

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.32/ 5 · 98 votes

Have 30%Had 3%Want 67%

4.12/ 5 · 261 votes

Have 80%Had 20%Want 0%

Category winnerSandal RubyRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

40%Love

18%Like

4%Ok

9%Dislike

29%Hate

98 votes

49%Love

31%Like

6%Ok

8%Dislike

5%Hate

261 votes

Category winnerSandal RubyMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity62

〰 Sillage55

♥ Love / hate58

⏱ Longevity78

〰 Sillage68

♥ Love / hate78

Category winners

LongevitySandal Ruby

SillageSandal Ruby

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value13

¤ Price value28

Category winnerSandal RubyBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

warm spicy100%

fresh spicy92%

woody84%

powdery77%

coffee69%

aromatic61%

woody100%

warm spicy92%

fresh spicy84%

cinnamon77%

tuberose69%

patchouli61%

Scent match48%Some overlap · both warm spicy, woody and fresh spicy

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

CoffeeBlack PepperMetallic notesBergamotBay LeafSaffronCinnamon

Heart

SuedeOrrisCocoaClary SageLavenderDavanaGeraniumRose

Base

SandalwoodPatchouliMuskMossCedarWoody NotesTonka BeanCashmeran

Top20-30 mins

CinnamonBlack Pepper

Heart2-4 hrs

TuberoseGeranium

Base6-10 hrs

SandalwoodPatchouliAtlas Cedar

InformationalShared notesBlack Pepper, Cinnamon, Geranium and Sandalwood. Durations are only published for Sandal Ruby, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring55

Summer43

Fall95

Winter100

Day78

Night100

Spring44

Summer20

Fall0

Winter100

Day37

Night100

Category winnerOpalMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men32

Unisex33

Women35

Men5

Unisex60

Women35

Date 41%Party 25%Work 19%Casual 14%

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#18,451

PerfumerJulie Lerendu

Launched—

Reviews15

Overall rank#4,988

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews39

Category winnerSandal RubyHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Opal by Boadicea the Victorious is a dark unisex fragrance built around contrasting cold and warm elements. The scent opens with sharp black pepper, dark roasted coffee, fresh bergamot, bay leaf, and a distinct metallic edge. As the initial sharpness fades, smooth suede, earthy orris root, cocoa, and clary sage bring …

Reviews →

Carolina Herrera Sandal Ruby is a rich, warm spicy fragrance that pairs dry cinnamon bark with buttery sandalwood and lush floral depth. The opening hits immediately with a sharp flash of black pepper before melting into a creamy heart of tuberose petals. Three sprays are plenty. Grounded by earthy patchouli and Atlas…

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, Opal or Sandal Ruby?

Sandal Ruby takes 6 of 7 categories. Opal is rated 3.32/5 from 98 votes; Sandal Ruby is rated 4.12/5 from 261 votes. Choose Opal for a warm spicy and fresh spicy character. Wins on versatility. Best in winter, evening wear. Choose Sandal Ruby for a woody and warm spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter, evening wear.

Which lasts longer, Opal or Sandal Ruby?

Sandal Ruby lasts longest (Sandal Ruby 78/100, Opal 62/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Opal or Sandal Ruby?

Sandal Ruby projects furthest (Sandal Ruby 68/100, Opal 55/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Opal and Sandal Ruby smell similar?

Some overlap: a 48% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share warm spicy, woody and fresh spicy accords. Common notes include Black Pepper, Cinnamon, Geranium and Sandalwood.

Is Opal or Sandal Ruby better for summer or winter?

For summer, Opal is the stronger pick. For winter, Opal is the stronger pick. Opal suits evening wear; Sandal Ruby suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Opal and Sandal Ruby?

Opal has top notes of Coffee, Black Pepper, Metallic notes and Bergamot, heart notes of Suede, Orris, Cocoa and Clary Sage, a base of Sandalwood, Patchouli, Musk and Moss. Sandal Ruby has top notes of Cinnamon and Black Pepper, heart notes of Tuberose and Geranium, a base of Sandalwood, Patchouli and Atlas Cedar.