Stem vs Parasite
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
29%scent match
Clearly different
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
Parasite takes 6 of 8 categories.
StemChoose it for a floral and green character. Wins on community sentiment and value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear.
ParasiteChoose it for a fresh and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Stem2/8
Parasite6/8
- Ratings & consensus
- Parasite
- Community sentiment
- Stem
- Longevity
- Parasite
- Sillage & projection
- Parasite
- Value for money
- Stem
- Versatility
- Parasite
- Note pyramid (duration)
- Parasite
- Fragranxe ranking
- Parasite
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
StemMalin+GoetzParasiteMoth and Rabbit PerfumesWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split3.67/ 5 · 124 votes
Have 43%Had 8%Want 49%
3.70/ 5 · 168 votes
Have 25%Had 9%Want 66%
Category winnerParasiteRating weighted by vote count
Community sentiment
How voters split from love to hate21%Love
42%Like
23%Ok
12%Dislike
2%Hate
124 votes
26%Love
36%Like
21%Ok
15%Dislike
1%Hate
168 votes
Category winnerStemMost positive mix (25+ votes)
Longevity & sillage
0–100 community performance scores
Category winners
LongevityParasite
SillageParasite
Value for money
How fairly priced voters find itCategory winnerStemBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothfloral100%
green91%
musky83%
white floral74%
fresh spicy65%
amber56%
fresh100%
green92%
aquatic84%
woody77%
aldehydic69%
white floral61%
Scent match29%Clearly different · both green and white floral
Note pyramid (duration)
Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = sharedTop15 to 30 minutes
FreesiaHyacinthMandarin Leaf
Heart1 to 2 hours
Stems GreensJasmineGreen Branches
Base2 to 4 hours
MuskAmbroxanVetiverWhite Cedar Extract
Top15-30 mins
GrassAldehydes
Heart2-4 hrs
Water NotesLily-of-the-ValleyFreesia
Base6-8+ hrs
AmbroxanPatchouliVetiverGuaiac WoodMuskMyrrh
Category winnerParasiteLongest dry-down: 6-8+ hrs
Seasons & time of day
Relative to each fragrance's best seasonSpring100
Summer81
Fall12
Winter9
Day100
Night19
Spring100
Summer91
Fall0
Winter22
Day100
Night41
Category winnerParasiteMost year-round
Who wears it
Gender appeal votesInformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored
Ranking & credits
Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launchOverall rank#17,801
PerfumerNot listed
Launched—
Reviews34
Overall rank#17,253
PerfumerMark Buxton
Launched—
Reviews14
Category winnerParasiteHigher overall rank
In a nutshell
Description & review snapshotStem by Malin+Goetz presents a crisp take on a florist shop counter. Released in 2019, this aromatic green fragrance centers on freshly clipped foliage and pale petals rather than sugary blossoms. It opens with sharp hyacinth, bright freesia, and bitter mandarin leaf before settling into wet stems greens, soft jasmine…
Reviews →Parasite by Moth and Rabbit Perfumes is a daring, atmospheric green scent that captures the uneasy contrast between manicured luxury and hidden subterranean grit. It opens with an electric snap of freshly mowed lawn grass and chilled, soapy aldehydes that feel like cold air rushing through an open window. As the first…
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.
Guided comparison
Ask about this matchup
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Common questions
Straight answers from the data above.
Which is better, Stem or Parasite?
Parasite takes 6 of 8 categories. Stem is rated 3.67/5 from 124 votes; Parasite is rated 3.70/5 from 168 votes. Choose Stem for a floral and green character. Wins on community sentiment and value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose Parasite for a fresh and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Which lasts longer, Stem or Parasite?
Parasite lasts longest (Parasite 58/100, Stem 51/100), based on community performance votes.
Which projects more, Stem or Parasite?
Parasite projects furthest (Parasite 45/100, Stem 38/100), based on community performance votes.
Do Stem and Parasite smell similar?
Clearly different: a 29% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share green and white floral accords. Common notes include Freesia, Musk, Ambroxan and Vetiver.
Is Stem or Parasite better for summer or winter?
For summer, Parasite is the stronger pick. For winter, Parasite is the stronger pick. Stem suits daytime wear; Parasite suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in Stem and Parasite?
Stem has top notes of Freesia, Hyacinth and Mandarin Leaf, heart notes of Stems Greens, Jasmine and Green Branches, a base of Musk, Ambroxan, Vetiver and White Cedar Extract. Parasite has top notes of Grass and Aldehydes, heart notes of Water Notes, Lily-of-the-Valley and Freesia, a base of Ambroxan, Patchouli, Vetiver and Guaiac Wood.
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