Fragrance comparison

Primal Code vs Semazen

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 147 ratings analysed

5 wins

Primal Code

Swiss Arabian

4.18114 votes

Rank #3,924 WoodyAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

52%scent match

Some overlap

Semazen

Seven Gates

4.0933 votes

Rank #14,138 AromaticWarm Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Primal Code takes 5 of 7 categories.

Primal Code
Choose it for a woody and aromatic character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and sillage & projection. Best in winter.
Semazen
Choose it for a aromatic and warm spicy character. Wins on longevity and versatility. Best in fall, evening wear.

Primal Code5/7

Semazen2/7

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Primal CodeSwiss Arabian

SemazenSeven Gates

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.18/ 5 · 114 votes

Have 36%Had 8%Want 57%

4.09/ 5 · 33 votes

Have 19%Had 6%Want 76%

Category winnerPrimal CodeRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

49%Love

38%Like

10%Ok

2%Dislike

1%Hate

90 votes

55%Love

21%Like

12%Ok

3%Dislike

9%Hate

33 votes

Category winnerPrimal CodeMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity80

〰 Sillage73

♥ Love / hate82

⏱ Longevity83

〰 Sillage72

♥ Love / hate77

Category winners

LongevitySemazen

SillagePrimal Code

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value75

¤ Price value44

Category winnerPrimal CodeBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

woody100%

aromatic92%

warm spicy84%

green77%

sweet69%

vanilla61%

aromatic100%

warm spicy88%

woody77%

bitter65%

lavender53%

fresh spicy42%

Scent match52%Some overlap · both aromatic, woody and warm spicy

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

MintCardamomPink PepperViolet Leaf

Heart

MelonPineappleCinnamonLavenderSage

Base

VanillaCedarAmberwoodGuaiac Wood

Top

AbsintheLavenderCardamomWormwoodCinnamon

Heart

Guaiac WoodMintPatchouliCedar

Base

Tonka BeanAmberLeatherPapyrus

InformationalShared notesMint, Cardamom, Cinnamon and Lavender. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring70

Summer34

Fall0

Winter100

Day–

Night–

Spring63

Summer38

Fall100

Winter94

Day50

Night100

Category winnerSemazenMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men89

Unisex10

Women1

Men36

Unisex59

Women5

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#3,924

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews27

Overall rank#14,138

PerfumerEmilie Bouge

Launched—

Reviews11

Category winnerPrimal CodeHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Primal Code by Swiss Arabian is a bold aromatic fougere designed for men who favor sweet, spicy scents. Opening with a crisp blend of mint and cardamom, it transitions into fruity pineapple and melon heart notes. A warm vanilla and amberwood base provides a long-lasting, inviting finish, making it a reliable choice fo…

Reviews →

Semazen by Seven Gates delivers a dark, aromatic experience built around a core of bitter absinthe and dry woods. The fragrance suits individuals seeking a mystical, herbaceous scent that stands out in cold weather. It balances fresh lavender with a warm, resinous dry-down, making it a distinct choice for crisp autumn…

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, Primal Code or Semazen?

Primal Code takes 5 of 7 categories. Primal Code is rated 4.18/5 from 114 votes; Semazen is rated 4.09/5 from 33 votes. Choose Primal Code for a woody and aromatic character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and sillage & projection. Best in winter. Choose Semazen for a aromatic and warm spicy character. Wins on longevity and versatility. Best in fall, evening wear.

Which lasts longer, Primal Code or Semazen?

Semazen lasts longest (Semazen 83/100, Primal Code 80/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Primal Code or Semazen?

Projection is very close: Primal Code 73/100, Semazen 72/100 for sillage.

Do Primal Code and Semazen smell similar?

Some overlap: a 52% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic, woody and warm spicy accords. Common notes include Mint, Cardamom, Cinnamon and Lavender.

Is Primal Code or Semazen better for summer or winter?

For summer, Semazen is the stronger pick. For winter, Primal Code is the stronger pick. Semazen suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Primal Code and Semazen?

Primal Code has top notes of Mint, Cardamom, Pink Pepper and Violet Leaf, heart notes of Melon, Pineapple, Cinnamon and Lavender, a base of Vanilla, Cedar, Amberwood and Guaiac Wood. Semazen has top notes of Absinthe, Lavender, Cardamom and Wormwood, heart notes of Guaiac Wood, Mint, Patchouli and Cedar, a base of Tonka Bean, Amber, Leather and Papyrus.