Fragrance comparison

Senchal vs Raffinee

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

Updated 29 Oct 2026 350 ratings analysed

5 wins

Senchal

Charles of the Ritz

4.2631 votes

Rank #48,234 AmberFloral

Full profile Similar & dupes

49%scent match

Some overlap

Raffinee

Houbigant

4.04319 votes

Rank #26,534 Warm SpicyFloral

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Senchal takes 5 of 8 categories.

Senchal
Choose it for a amber and floral character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and sillage & projection. Best in winter, evening wear.
Raffinee
Choose it for a warm spicy and floral character. Wins on longevity, note pyramid duration and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter, evening wear.

Senchal5/8

Raffinee3/8

Ratings & consensus: Senchal
Community sentiment: Senchal
Longevity: Raffinee
Sillage & projection: Senchal
Value for money: Senchal
Versatility: Senchal
Note pyramid (duration): Raffinee
Fragranxe ranking: Raffinee

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

SenchalCharles of the Ritz

RaffineeHoubigant

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.26/ 5 · 31 votes

Have 43%Had 17%Want 41%

4.04/ 5 · 319 votes

Have 59%Had 41%Want 0%

Category winnerSenchalRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

39%Love

52%Like

6%Ok

3%Dislike

0%Hate

31 votes

40%Love

42%Like

2%Ok

15%Dislike

2%Hate

319 votes

Category winnerSenchalMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity71

〰 Sillage69

♥ Love / hate81

⏱ Longevity78

〰 Sillage68

♥ Love / hate76

Category winners

LongevityRaffinee

SillageSenchal

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value75

¤ Price value59

Category winnerSenchalBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

amber100%

floral92%

white floral84%

warm spicy77%

woody69%

aldehydic61%

warm spicy100%

floral92%

aromatic84%

woody77%

powdery69%

sweet61%

Scent match49%Some overlap · both floral, warm spicy and woody

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top20-30 mins

AldehydesOrange BlossomBergamotLemonPineapple

Heart2-4 hrs

CarnationJasmineLilacOrris RootYlang-YlangTuberoseRose

Base6-8+ hrs

AmberBenzoinVetiverMuskLabdanumCinnamonCedarVanilla

Top15-30 mins

CarnationPlumClary SageOrange BlossomBergamotRoseJasmineLemon

Heart2-4 hrs

Orris RootTonka BeanMimosaTuberoseYlang-YlangHiacynthOrchidOsmanthus

Base8-12 hrs

SpicesCinnamonIncenseSandalwoodVanillaMuskCypressVetiver

Category winnerRaffineeLongest dry-down: 8-12 hrs

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring40

Summer20

Fall70

Winter100

Day56

Night100

Spring35

Summer19

Fall0

Winter100

Day32

Night100

Category winnerSenchalMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men0

Unisex33

Women67

Date 35%Casual 28%Party 20%Work 18%

Men3

Unisex20

Women77

Date 38%Party 36%Casual 15%Work 11%

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#48,234

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#26,534

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

Category winnerRaffineeHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Senchal by Charles of the Ritz is a full-bodied 1981 amber floral that balances fizzy sparkle with deep, cozy resin warmth. The first blast releases bubbly aldehydes alongside tangy pineapple, crisp bergamot, and sweet orange blossom. Within twenty minutes, the initial citrus snap mellows out completely. What follows …

Reviews →

Raffinee by Houbigant is an unapologetic powerhouse from 1982 that captures the bold theatrical spirit of early eighties perfumery. The spray opens with a punchy burst of dark stewed plum, sharp clary sage, and clove-like carnation. You get a brief alcoholic sting for two minutes before the dense oils grip the skin. O…

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, Senchal or Raffinee?

Senchal takes 5 of 8 categories. Senchal is rated 4.26/5 from 31 votes; Raffinee is rated 4.04/5 from 319 votes. Choose Senchal for a amber and floral character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and sillage & projection. Best in winter, evening wear. Choose Raffinee for a warm spicy and floral character. Wins on longevity, note pyramid duration and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter, evening wear.

Which lasts longer, Senchal or Raffinee?

Raffinee lasts longest (Raffinee 78/100, Senchal 71/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Senchal or Raffinee?

Projection is very close: Senchal 69/100, Raffinee 68/100 for sillage.

Do Senchal and Raffinee smell similar?

Some overlap: a 49% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share floral, warm spicy and woody accords. Common notes include Orange Blossom, Bergamot, Lemon and Carnation.

Is Senchal or Raffinee better for summer or winter?

For summer, Senchal is the stronger pick. For winter, Senchal is the stronger pick. Senchal suits evening wear; Raffinee suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Senchal and Raffinee?

Senchal has top notes of Aldehydes, Orange Blossom, Bergamot and Lemon, heart notes of Carnation, Jasmine, Lilac and Orris Root, a base of Amber, Benzoin, Vetiver and Musk. Raffinee has top notes of Carnation, Plum, Clary Sage and Orange Blossom, heart notes of Orris Root, Tonka Bean, Mimosa and Tuberose, a base of Spices, Cinnamon, Incense and Sandalwood.