Fragrance comparison

Shadow vs The True Bold

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 35 ratings analysed

4 wins

Shadow

Bejar

3.9122 votes

Rank #41,771 Warm SpicyWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

64%scent match

Closely related

The True Bold

Al Ambra

4.2813 votes

Rank #47,347 Warm SpicyAmber

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Shadow takes 4 of 5 categories.

Shadow
Choose it for a warm spicy and woody character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in fall, evening wear.
The True Bold
Choose it for a warm spicy and amber character. Wins on ratings & consensus. Best in fall, day or night wear.

Shadow4/5

The True Bold1/5

Ratings & consensus: The True Bold
Community sentiment: Not scored
Longevity: Shadow
Sillage & projection: Shadow
Value for money: Shadow
Versatility: Not scored
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Shadow

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

ShadowBejar

The True BoldAl Ambra

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.91/ 5 · 22 votes

Have 42%Had 18%Want 40%

4.28/ 5 · 13 votes

Have 28%Had 4%Want 68%

Category winnerThe True BoldRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

32%Love

55%Like

0%Ok

0%Dislike

14%Hate

22 votes · too few to score

63%Love

25%Like

0%Ok

0%Dislike

13%Hate

8 votes · too few to score

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity71

〰 Sillage57

♥ Love / hate73

⏱ Longevity55

〰 Sillage50

♥ Love / hate83

Category winners

LongevityShadow

SillageShadow

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value93

¤ Price value82

Category winnerShadowBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

warm spicy100%

woody92%

amber84%

cinnamon77%

sweet69%

fresh spicy61%

warm spicy100%

amber92%

tobacco84%

woody77%

fresh spicy69%

cinnamon61%

Scent match64%Closely related · both warm spicy, amber and woody

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

SaffronCinnamonNutmeg

Heart

Cashmere WoodSandalwoodPatchouli

Base

Sweet NotesAmber

Top

CinnamonSaffronIncenseNutmegOudGreen AppleWhite Pear

Heart

PatchouliJasmine

Base

TobaccoMadagascar VanillaAmberGuaiac WoodSandalwoodHaitian VetiverWhite Musk

InformationalShared notesSaffron, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Sandalwood. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring38

Summer8

Fall100

Winter85

Day78

Night100

Spring75

Summer25

Fall100

Winter100

Day100

Night100

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men82

Unisex18

Women0

Men63

Unisex25

Women13

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#41,771

PerfumerRamón Béjar

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#47,347

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

Category winnerShadowHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Shadow by Bejar is a dry, woody scent that centers on sharp saffron and warm cinnamon. It wears best during crisp October afternoons when the cool air tempers its heat. Cashmere wood and patchouli ground the blend, creating a quiet, earthy hum that stays close to the skin without shouting.

Reviews →

The True Bold is a warm, spiced amber that leans into cinnamon, saffron and incense, with a quick flash of crisp apple and pear up top. As it settles, patchouli and jasmine add depth, then tobacco, vanilla and smooth woods take over for a sweet, smoky finish. It suits cool weather and evenings, especially if you enjoy…

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, Shadow or The True Bold?

Shadow takes 4 of 5 categories. Shadow is rated 3.91/5 from 22 votes; The True Bold is rated 4.28/5 from 13 votes. Choose Shadow for a warm spicy and woody character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in fall, evening wear. Choose The True Bold for a warm spicy and amber character. Wins on ratings & consensus. Best in fall, day or night wear.

Which lasts longer, Shadow or The True Bold?

Shadow lasts longest (Shadow 71/100, The True Bold 55/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Shadow or The True Bold?

Shadow projects furthest (Shadow 57/100, The True Bold 50/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Shadow and The True Bold smell similar?

Closely related: a 64% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share warm spicy, amber and woody accords. Common notes include Saffron, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Sandalwood.

Is Shadow or The True Bold better for summer or winter?

Shadow suits evening wear; The True Bold suits day or night wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Shadow and The True Bold?

Shadow has top notes of Saffron, Cinnamon and Nutmeg, heart notes of Cashmere Wood, Sandalwood and Patchouli, a base of Sweet Notes and Amber. The True Bold has top notes of Cinnamon, Saffron, Incense and Nutmeg, heart notes of Patchouli and Jasmine, a base of Tobacco, Madagascar Vanilla, Amber and Guaiac Wood.