Fragrance comparison

Semazen vs Primal Code

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 147 ratings analysed

Semazen

Seven Gates

4.0933 votes

Rank #14,138 AromaticWarm Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

52%scent match

Some overlap

5 wins

Primal Code

Swiss Arabian

4.18114 votes

Rank #3,924 WoodyAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Primal Code takes 5 of 7 categories.

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

Semazen2/7

Primal Code5/7

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

SemazenSeven Gates

Primal CodeSwiss Arabian

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.09/ 5 · 33 votes

Have 19%Had 6%Want 76%

4.18/ 5 · 114 votes

Have 36%Had 8%Want 57%

Category winnerPrimal CodeRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

55%Love

21%Like

12%Ok

3%Dislike

9%Hate

33 votes

49%Love

38%Like

10%Ok

2%Dislike

1%Hate

90 votes

Category winnerPrimal CodeMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity83

〰 Sillage72

♥ Love / hate77

⏱ Longevity80

〰 Sillage73

♥ Love / hate82

Category winners

LongevitySemazen

SillagePrimal Code

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value44

¤ Price value75

Category winnerPrimal CodeBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

aromatic100%

warm spicy88%

woody77%

bitter65%

lavender53%

fresh spicy42%

woody100%

aromatic92%

warm spicy84%

green77%

sweet69%

vanilla61%

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

AbsintheLavenderCardamomWormwoodCinnamon

Heart

Guaiac WoodMintPatchouliCedar

Base

Tonka BeanAmberLeatherPapyrus

Top

MintCardamomPink PepperViolet Leaf

Heart

MelonPineappleCinnamonLavenderSage

Base

VanillaCedarAmberwoodGuaiac Wood

InformationalShared notesLavender, Cardamom, Cinnamon and Guaiac Wood. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring63

Summer38

Fall100

Winter94

Day50

Night100

Spring70

Summer34

Fall0

Winter100

Day–

Night–

Category winnerSemazenMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men36

Unisex59

Women5

Men89

Unisex10

Women1

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#14,138

PerfumerEmilie Bouge

Launched—

Reviews11

Overall rank#3,924

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews27

Category winnerPrimal CodeHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

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 →

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 →

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, Semazen or Primal Code?

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

Which lasts longer, Semazen or Primal Code?

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

Which projects more, Semazen or Primal Code?

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

Do Semazen and Primal Code smell similar?

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

Is Semazen or Primal Code 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 Semazen and Primal Code?

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. 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.