Fragrance comparison

Strictly Cologne vs Absinto Proibido for Man

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 18 ratings analysed

4 wins

Strictly Cologne

Van Gils

3.7010 votes

Rank #49,955 AromaticWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

53%scent match

Some overlap

Absinto Proibido for Man

Água de Cheiro

3.758 votes

Rank #62,841 Fresh SpicyAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Strictly Cologne takes 4 of 4 categories.

Strictly Cologne
Choose it for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Absinto Proibido for Man
Choose it for a fresh spicy and aromatic character. Best in summer, evening wear.

Strictly Cologne4/4

Absinto Proibido for Man0/4

Ratings & consensus: Not scored
Community sentiment: Not scored
Longevity: Strictly Cologne
Sillage & projection: Strictly Cologne
Value for money: Strictly Cologne
Versatility: Not scored
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Strictly Cologne

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Strictly CologneVan Gils

Absinto Proibido for ManÁgua de Cheiro

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.70/ 5 · 10 votes

Have 58%Had 17%Want 25%

3.75/ 5 · 8 votes

Have 33%Had 37%Want 30%

Category winnerNot enough dataRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

30%Love

30%Like

20%Ok

20%Dislike

0%Hate

10 votes · too few to score

0%Love

75%Like

25%Ok

0%Dislike

0%Hate

8 votes · too few to score

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity57

〰 Sillage50

♥ Love / hate68

⏱ Longevity50

〰 Sillage39

♥ Love / hate69

Category winners

LongevityStrictly Cologne

SillageStrictly Cologne

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value67

¤ Price value64

Category winnerStrictly CologneBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

aromatic100%

woody92%

fresh spicy84%

citrus77%

warm spicy69%

herbal61%

fresh spicy100%

aromatic92%

powdery84%

warm spicy77%

soft spicy69%

herbal61%

Scent match53%Some overlap · both aromatic, fresh spicy and warm spicy

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top15-30 mins

BergamotLemonJuniperPink PepperCardamom

Heart2-3 hrs

GeraniumArtemisiaVioletAbsinthe

Base4-6 hrs

CedarPalisander RosewoodSuedeAmberwoodMoss

Top

Green AppleCardamomBergamot

Heart

GeraniumVioletNutmeg

Base

SandalwoodSuedeAniseFennelArtemisia

InformationalShared notesBergamot, Cardamom, Geranium and Artemisia. Durations are only published for Strictly Cologne, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer38

Fall63

Winter50

Day100

Night43

Spring75

Summer100

Fall100

Winter75

Day67

Night100

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men100

Unisex0

Women0

Men100

Unisex0

Women0

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#49,955

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews1

Overall rank#62,841

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

Category winnerStrictly CologneHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Strictly Cologne by Van Gils opens with a bracing splash of crisp bergamot, tart lemon, and sharp juniper berries, accented by a pinch of pink pepper and green cardamom. As the initial citrus blast softens, the fragrance shifts into an aromatic herbal heart of absinthe, bitter artemisia, and powdery violet leaves, bal…

Reviews →

Absinto Proibido for Man is an aromatic fougere that balances sharp green apple with a dusting of cardamom. It sits close to the skin, offering a crisp, herbal profile suitable for daily office wear. The scent transitions into a woody, anise-forward base that provides a subtle, grounding presence. It is a reliable cho…

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, Strictly Cologne or Absinto Proibido for Man?

Strictly Cologne takes 4 of 4 categories. Strictly Cologne is rated 3.70/5 from 10 votes; Absinto Proibido for Man is rated 3.75/5 from 8 votes. Choose Strictly Cologne for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose Absinto Proibido for Man for a fresh spicy and aromatic character. Best in summer, evening wear.

Which lasts longer, Strictly Cologne or Absinto Proibido for Man?

Strictly Cologne lasts longest (Strictly Cologne 57/100, Absinto Proibido for Man 50/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Strictly Cologne or Absinto Proibido for Man?

Strictly Cologne projects furthest (Strictly Cologne 50/100, Absinto Proibido for Man 39/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Strictly Cologne and Absinto Proibido for Man smell similar?

Some overlap: a 53% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic, fresh spicy and warm spicy accords. Common notes include Bergamot, Cardamom, Geranium and Artemisia.

Is Strictly Cologne or Absinto Proibido for Man better for summer or winter?

Strictly Cologne suits daytime wear; Absinto Proibido for Man suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Strictly Cologne and Absinto Proibido for Man?

Strictly Cologne has top notes of Bergamot, Lemon, Juniper and Pink Pepper, heart notes of Geranium, Artemisia, Violet and Absinthe, a base of Cedar, Palisander Rosewood, Suede and Amberwood. Absinto Proibido for Man has top notes of Green Apple, Cardamom and Bergamot, heart notes of Geranium, Violet and Nutmeg, a base of Sandalwood, Suede, Anise and Fennel.