Fragrance comparison

Rouge Formidable vs Shu Uemura

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

Updated 10 Oct 2026 14 ratings analysed

Rouge Formidable

Kesling

3.502 votes

Rank #60,790 FruityWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

41%scent match

Some overlap

2 wins

Shu Uemura

3.8312 votes

Rank #53,185 SweetWhite Floral

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Shu Uemura takes 2 of 3 categories.

Rouge Formidable
Choose it for a fruity and woody character. Wins on sillage & projection. Best in fall, daytime wear.
Shu Uemura
Choose it for a sweet and white floral character. Wins on longevity and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, evening wear.

Rouge Formidable1/3

Shu Uemura2/3

Ratings & consensus: Not scored
Community sentiment: Not scored
Longevity: Shu Uemura
Sillage & projection: Rouge Formidable
Value for money: Not scored
Versatility: Not scored
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Shu Uemura

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Rouge FormidableKesling

Shu UemuraShu Uemura

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.50/ 5 · 2 votes

Have 28%Had 0%Want 72%

3.83/ 5 · 12 votes

Have 19%Had 19%Want 62%

Category winnerNot enough dataRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

50%Love

0%Like

0%Ok

50%Dislike

0%Hate

2 votes · too few to score

17%Love

67%Like

0%Ok

17%Dislike

0%Hate

12 votes · too few to score

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity20

〰 Sillage81

♥ Love / hate63

⏱ Longevity60

〰 Sillage79

♥ Love / hate71

Category winners

LongevityShu Uemura

SillageRouge Formidable

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price valueN/A

Category winnerNot enough dataBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

fruity100%

woody92%

warm spicy84%

powdery77%

soft spicy69%

floral61%

sweet100%

white floral92%

woody84%

fruity77%

powdery69%

vanilla61%

Scent match41%Some overlap · both fruity, woody and powdery

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

Black Currant

Heart

IrisLily-of-the-ValleyYlang-Ylang

Base

ClovesVanillaSandalwood

Top

Black CurrantApricotBergamotPeachOrangeCoconut

Heart

JasmineMarigoldIrisLily-of-the-ValleyYlang-YlangRose

Base

VanillaCastoreumTonka BeanMossCivetAmberPatchouli

InformationalShared notesBlack Currant, Iris, Lily-of-the-Valley and Ylang-Ylang. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring0

Summer0

Fall100

Winter0

Day100

Night–

Spring0

Summer0

Fall100

Winter50

Day–

Night100

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men0

Unisex100

Women0

Men0

Unisex0

Women100

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#60,790

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#53,185

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

Category winnerShu UemuraHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Rouge Formidable by Kesling is a 1998 release that centers on a jammy black currant opening softened by a powdery heart. This oriental floral scent brings together warm spices like cloves and creamy vanilla, creating an intimate experience for fall days. It is a classic composition for those who appreciate a blend of …

Reviews →

Shu Uemura by Shu Uemura launches with a bright, unusual burst of tart black currant and ripe peach, backed by a surprising splash of sweet coconut. As the initial fruitiness settles on the skin, a heavy floral heart of powdery iris, earthy marigold, and rich rose begins to dominate the air. The base introduces a dark…

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, Rouge Formidable or Shu Uemura?

Shu Uemura takes 2 of 3 categories. Rouge Formidable is rated 3.50/5 from 2 votes; Shu Uemura is rated 3.83/5 from 12 votes. Choose Rouge Formidable for a fruity and woody character. Wins on sillage & projection. Best in fall, daytime wear. Choose Shu Uemura for a sweet and white floral character. Wins on longevity and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, evening wear.

Which lasts longer, Rouge Formidable or Shu Uemura?

Shu Uemura lasts longest (Shu Uemura 60/100, Rouge Formidable 20/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Rouge Formidable or Shu Uemura?

Projection is very close: Rouge Formidable 81/100, Shu Uemura 79/100 for sillage.

Do Rouge Formidable and Shu Uemura smell similar?

Some overlap: a 41% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share fruity, woody and powdery accords. Common notes include Black Currant, Iris, Lily-of-the-Valley and Ylang-Ylang.

Is Rouge Formidable or Shu Uemura better for summer or winter?

Rouge Formidable suits daytime wear; Shu Uemura suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Rouge Formidable and Shu Uemura?

Rouge Formidable has top notes of Black Currant, heart notes of Iris, Lily-of-the-Valley and Ylang-Ylang, a base of Cloves, Vanilla and Sandalwood. Shu Uemura has top notes of Black Currant, Apricot, Bergamot and Peach, heart notes of Jasmine, Marigold, Iris and Lily-of-the-Valley, a base of Vanilla, Castoreum, Tonka Bean and Moss.