Fragrance comparison

Phoenix vs Reckless

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 912 ratings analysed

Phoenix

AXE

3.44155 votes

Rank #14,032 MuskyFresh Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

27%scent match

Clearly different

6 wins

Reckless

Roja Dove

4.20757 votes

Rank #804 WoodyAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Reckless takes 6 of 7 categories.

Phoenix
Choose it for a musky and fresh spicy character. Wins on value for money. Best in spring.
Reckless
Choose it for a woody and aromatic character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Phoenix1/7

Reckless6/7

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

PhoenixAXE

RecklessRoja Dove

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.44/ 5 · 155 votes

Have 23%Had 67%Want 10%

4.20/ 5 · 757 votes

Have 72%Had 28%Want 0%

Category winnerRecklessRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

21%Love

41%Like

17%Ok

13%Dislike

7%Hate

150 votes

47%Love

38%Like

4%Ok

9%Dislike

2%Hate

413 votes

Category winnerRecklessMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity49

〰 Sillage56

♥ Love / hate65

⏱ Longevity80

〰 Sillage71

♥ Love / hate83

Category winners

LongevityReckless

SillageReckless

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value86

¤ Price value47

Category winnerPhoenixBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

musky100%

fresh spicy92%

aromatic84%

lavender77%

earthy69%

powdery61%

woody100%

aromatic92%

powdery84%

warm spicy77%

white floral69%

yellow floral61%

Scent match27%Clearly different · both aromatic and powdery

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

LavenderGeraniumCitruses

Heart

Soil TinctureViolet

Base

MuskLeather

Top

AldehydesCitrusesBergamotTarragon

Heart

JasmineYlang-YlangPeachRoseVioletGeraniumAmaryllis

Base

CloveCastoreumVetiveroak mossOrris RootSandalwoodLeatherCinnamon

InformationalShared notesGeranium, Citruses, Violet and Leather. 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

Winter77

Day–

Night–

Spring100

Summer61

Fall94

Winter48

Day100

Night46

Category winnerRecklessMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men80

Unisex19

Women1

Men2

Unisex15

Women83

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#14,032

PerfumerAnn Gottlieb

Launched—

Reviews25

Overall rank#804

PerfumerRoja Dove

Launched—

Reviews115

Category winnerRecklessHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Phoenix by AXE is a polarizing aromatic fougere that defined an era for many young men. With notes of lavender, geranium, and citrus paired with an earthy soil tincture and base of musk and leather, it offers a distinct, clean, and herbal profile that remains deeply tied to high school nostalgia and informal daily wea…

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Reckless reads as a polished sweet floral with jasmine, ylang-ylang and sparkling aldehydes up top, then a softer fruity, powdery heart. Several wearers compare it to Love, Don't Be Shy, but with a cleaner floral profile and a smoother, more balanced feel. It suits someone who wants a feminine, dressed-up scent with s…

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, Phoenix or Reckless?

Reckless takes 6 of 7 categories. Phoenix is rated 3.44/5 from 155 votes; Reckless is rated 4.20/5 from 757 votes. Choose Phoenix for a musky and fresh spicy character. Wins on value for money. Best in spring. Choose Reckless for a woody and aromatic character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Phoenix or Reckless?

Reckless lasts longest (Reckless 80/100, Phoenix 49/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Phoenix or Reckless?

Reckless projects furthest (Reckless 71/100, Phoenix 56/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Phoenix and Reckless smell similar?

Clearly different: a 27% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic and powdery accords. Common notes include Geranium, Citruses, Violet and Leather.

Is Phoenix or Reckless better for summer or winter?

For summer, Reckless is the stronger pick. For winter, Phoenix is the stronger pick. Reckless suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Phoenix and Reckless?

Phoenix has top notes of Lavender, Geranium and Citruses, heart notes of Soil Tincture and Violet, a base of Musk and Leather. Reckless has top notes of Aldehydes, Citruses, Bergamot and Tarragon, heart notes of Jasmine, Ylang-Ylang, Peach and Rose, a base of Clove, Castoreum, Vetiver and oak moss.