Fragrance comparison

Pyrgos vs Background

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

Updated 10 Oct 2026 228 ratings analysed

Pyrgos

Sigilli

3.8747 votes

Rank #11,600 Fresh SpicyAnis

Full profile Similar & dupes

37%scent match

Some overlap

3 wins

Background

Jil Sander

4.52181 votes

Rank #4,075 AnisVanilla

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Background takes 3 of 5 categories.

Pyrgos
Choose it for a fresh spicy and anis character. Wins on value for money. Best in fall, daytime wear.
Background
Choose it for a anis and vanilla character. Wins on ratings & consensus, sillage & projection and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter.

Pyrgos1/5

Background3/5

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

PyrgosSigilli

BackgroundJil Sander

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.87/ 5 · 47 votes

Have 28%Had 6%Want 66%

4.52/ 5 · 181 votes

Have 30%Had 25%Want 45%

Category winnerBackgroundRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

41%Love

35%Like

0%Ok

24%Dislike

0%Hate

17 votes · too few to score

61%Love

33%Like

2%Ok

4%Dislike

0%Hate

181 votes

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity77

〰 Sillage63

♥ Love / hate76

⏱ Longevity77

〰 Sillage68

♥ Love / hate88

Category winners

LongevityTie

SillageBackground

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value100

¤ Price value54

Category winnerPyrgosBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

fresh spicy100%

anis92%

soft spicy84%

aromatic77%

warm spicy69%

cinnamon61%

anis100%

vanilla92%

amber84%

warm spicy77%

aromatic69%

sweet61%

Scent match37%Some overlap · both anis, aromatic and warm spicy

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

WatercressBergamotLavender

Heart

AniseOreganoCinnamon

Base

Spices

Top

AniseRaspberryTarragonLavenderBergamotLemon

Heart

CinnamonCarnationJasmineLily-of-the-ValleyHeliotropeRose

Base

BenzoinVanillaCedarTonka BeanAmberSandalwoodMusk

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

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring80

Summer80

Fall100

Winter20

Day100

Night–

Spring92

Summer0

Fall0

Winter100

Day–

Night–

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men67

Unisex33

Women0

Men75

Unisex22

Women3

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#11,600

PerfumerEnrico Buccella

Launched—

Reviews19

Overall rank#4,075

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews16

Category winnerBackgroundHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Pyrgos is an unusual aromatic spice scent built around hot anise, cinnamon and herbs. It opens brisk and green with bergamot, lavender and watercress, then quickly turns red-hot, sweet, peppery and slightly medicinal, with oregano giving it a camphorous bite. It suits wearers who enjoy character more than softness. De…

Reviews →

Background by Jil Sander is a distinctive oriental fougere that opens with a brisk combination of sweet anise, tart raspberry, and herbal lavender. As the initial freshness settles on the skin, a warm core of cinnamon, carnation, and powdery heliotrope emerges, adding a cozy spicy sweetness. The base grounds the fragr…

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, Pyrgos or Background?

Background takes 3 of 5 categories. Pyrgos is rated 3.87/5 from 47 votes; Background is rated 4.52/5 from 181 votes. Choose Pyrgos for a fresh spicy and anis character. Wins on value for money. Best in fall, daytime wear. Choose Background for a anis and vanilla character. Wins on ratings & consensus, sillage & projection and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter.

Which lasts longer, Pyrgos or Background?

They last about the same: Pyrgos 77/100, Background 77/100 for longevity in community votes.

Which projects more, Pyrgos or Background?

Background projects furthest (Background 68/100, Pyrgos 63/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Pyrgos and Background smell similar?

Some overlap: a 37% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share anis, aromatic and warm spicy accords. Common notes include Bergamot, Lavender, Anise and Cinnamon.

Is Pyrgos or Background better for summer or winter?

Pyrgos suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Pyrgos and Background?

Pyrgos has top notes of Watercress, Bergamot and Lavender, heart notes of Anise, Oregano and Cinnamon, a base of Spices. Background has top notes of Anise, Raspberry, Tarragon and Lavender, heart notes of Cinnamon, Carnation, Jasmine and Lily-of-the-Valley, a base of Benzoin, Vanilla, Cedar and Tonka Bean.