Fragrance comparison

Power vs Amber Balsam

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 1,677 ratings analysed

5 wins

Power

Kenzo

4.181,623 votes

Rank #26,644 FloralAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

39%scent match

Some overlap

Amber Balsam

Maksim Perfume

3.5254 votes

Rank #21,176 AmberBalsamic

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Power takes 5 of 7 categories.

Power
Choose it for a floral and aromatic character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring.
Amber Balsam
Choose it for a amber and balsamic character. Wins on versatility and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, evening wear.

Power5/7

Amber Balsam2/7

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

PowerKenzo

Amber BalsamMaksim Perfume

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.18/ 5 · 1,623 votes

Have 61%Had 39%Want 0%

3.52/ 5 · 54 votes

Have 34%Had 6%Want 60%

Category winnerPowerRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

42%Love

44%Like

3%Ok

10%Dislike

0%Hate

1,623 votes

43%Love

19%Like

7%Ok

11%Dislike

20%Hate

54 votes

Category winnerPowerMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity65

〰 Sillage56

♥ Love / hate79

⏱ Longevity59

〰 Sillage51

♥ Love / hate63

Category winners

LongevityPower

SillagePower

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value58

¤ Price value24

Category winnerPowerBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

floral100%

aromatic92%

amber84%

warm spicy77%

citrus69%

woody61%

amber100%

balsamic91%

warm spicy83%

woody74%

oud65%

animalic56%

Scent match39%Some overlap · both amber, warm spicy and woody

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

CorianderCardamonBergamot

Heart

Flowers

Base

Tolu BalsamLabdanumCedar

Top30 to 45 minutes

CardamonClove LeafBergamot

Heart2 to 3 hours

Gurjan balsamCinnamonGreen TeaVetiverYlang-Ylang

Base5 to 8 hours

Tolu BalsamThailand OudPeru BalsamCopaiba balmLabdanumAmbergris

InformationalShared notesCardamon, Bergamot, Tolu Balsam and Labdanum. Durations are only published for Amber Balsam, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer0

Fall0

Winter32

Day–

Night–

Spring58

Summer32

Fall100

Winter100

Day69

Night100

Category winnerAmber BalsamMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men37

Unisex58

Women6

Men40

Unisex30

Women30

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#26,644

PerfumerOlivier Polge

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#21,176

PerfumerMaxim Bortnikov

Launched—

Reviews12

Category winnerAmber BalsamHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Kenzo Power by Kenzo is a woody spicy fragrance crafted by perfumer Olivier Polge in 2008. The scent opens with a sharp burst of bergamot, green coriander, and warm cardamom. At its center lies an abstract floral heart that gives the fragrance a clean, powdery texture. The base settles into ambery labdanum, cedar, and…

Reviews →

Amber Balsam by Maksim Perfume is a rich oriental woody fragrance built around deep resins, warm spices, and dark wood. Created by Maxim Bortnikov and launched in 2024, the scent opens with a sharp burst of bergamot, crisp cardamon, and pungent clove leaf. As the initial brightness settles, resinous gurjan balsam 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.

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Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, Power or Amber Balsam?

Power takes 5 of 7 categories. Power is rated 4.18/5 from 1,623 votes; Amber Balsam is rated 3.52/5 from 54 votes. Choose Power for a floral and aromatic character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring. Choose Amber Balsam for a amber and balsamic character. Wins on versatility and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, evening wear.

Which lasts longer, Power or Amber Balsam?

Power lasts longest (Power 65/100, Amber Balsam 59/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Power or Amber Balsam?

Power projects furthest (Power 56/100, Amber Balsam 51/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Power and Amber Balsam smell similar?

Some overlap: a 39% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share amber, warm spicy and woody accords. Common notes include Cardamon, Bergamot, Tolu Balsam and Labdanum.

Is Power or Amber Balsam better for summer or winter?

For summer, Amber Balsam is the stronger pick. For winter, Amber Balsam is the stronger pick. Amber Balsam suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Power and Amber Balsam?

Power has top notes of Coriander, Cardamon and Bergamot, heart notes of Flowers, a base of Tolu Balsam, Labdanum and Cedar. Amber Balsam has top notes of Cardamon, Clove Leaf and Bergamot, heart notes of Gurjan balsam, Cinnamon, Green Tea and Vetiver, a base of Tolu Balsam, Thailand Oud, Peru Balsam and Copaiba balm.