Fragrance comparison

Sun vs Ciao

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 5,542 ratings analysed

Sun

Jil Sander

3.635,518 votes

Rank #1,210 AmberVanilla

Full profile Similar & dupes

24%scent match

Clearly different

3 wins

Ciao

Houbigant

4.2524 votes

Rank #48,211 WoodyGreen

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Ciao takes 3 of 5 categories.

Sun
Choose it for a amber and vanilla character. Wins on value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring.
Ciao
Choose it for a woody and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in fall, daytime wear.

Sun2/5

Ciao3/5

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

SunJil Sander

CiaoHoubigant

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.63/ 5 · 5,518 votes

Have 68%Had 32%Want 0%

4.25/ 5 · 24 votes

Have 35%Had 17%Want 48%

Category winnerCiaoRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

28%Love

43%Like

9%Ok

18%Dislike

2%Hate

4,012 votes

50%Love

33%Like

8%Ok

8%Dislike

0%Hate

24 votes · too few to score

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity73

〰 Sillage65

♥ Love / hate70

⏱ Longevity93

〰 Sillage75

♥ Love / hate81

Category winners

LongevityCiao

SillageCiao

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value84

¤ Price value63

Category winnerSunBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

amber100%

vanilla92%

powdery84%

sweet77%

woody69%

warm spicy61%

woody100%

green92%

earthy84%

floral77%

fresh spicy69%

aromatic61%

Scent match24%Clearly different · both woody

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

Fruity NotesAfrican Orange FlowerPalisander RosewoodAmalfi LemonCassisBergamot

Heart

Ylang-YlangHeliotropeCarnationOrris RootLily-of-the-ValleyRose

Base

VanilleBenzoinAmberTonka BeanSandalwoodMuskStyraxTobacco Leaf

Top15-30 mins

FruitsCuminGreen NotesLemonPalisander RosewoodBasilOsmanthus

Heart2-4 hrs

Orris RootRoseHyacinthJasmineLily-of-the-ValleyCarnationYlang-YlangCassis

Base8-10+ hrs

OakmossLeatherSandalwoodAmberVetiverPatchouliMuskBenzoin

InformationalShared notesPalisander Rosewood, Cassis, Ylang-Ylang and Carnation. Durations are only published for Ciao, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer0

Fall0

Winter78

Day–

Night–

Spring50

Summer50

Fall100

Winter50

Day100

Night67

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men1

Unisex28

Women71

Men0

Unisex17

Women83

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#1,210

PerfumerPierre Bourdon

Launched—

Reviews658

Overall rank#48,211

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

Category winnerSunHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Sun by Jil Sander is a warm, golden oriental fragrance built around creamy orange blossom, powdery heliotrope, and rich benzoin vanilla. Launched in 1989, it skips typical tropical coconut or aquatic ocean notes in favor of a comforting, thick sun lotion warmth. The opening blends bright lemon and sweet fruit with sun…

Reviews →

Houbigant Ciao launches with a sharp crack of green basil, bitter lemon, and pungent cumin. It does not apologize for its vintage power. Give it five minutes to settle past the initial alcohol lift. Soon, a rich bouquet of spicy carnation, hyacinth, and powdery orris root blooms across your skin. The sweetness is mini…

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, Sun or Ciao?

Ciao takes 3 of 5 categories. Sun is rated 3.63/5 from 5,518 votes; Ciao is rated 4.25/5 from 24 votes. Choose Sun for a amber and vanilla character. Wins on value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring. Choose Ciao for a woody and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in fall, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Sun or Ciao?

Ciao lasts longest (Ciao 93/100, Sun 73/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Sun or Ciao?

Ciao projects furthest (Ciao 75/100, Sun 65/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Sun and Ciao smell similar?

Clearly different: a 24% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share woody accords. Common notes include Palisander Rosewood, Cassis, Ylang-Ylang and Carnation.

Is Sun or Ciao better for summer or winter?

Ciao suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Sun and Ciao?

Sun has top notes of Fruity Notes, African Orange Flower, Palisander Rosewood and Amalfi Lemon, heart notes of Ylang-Ylang, Heliotrope, Carnation and Orris Root, a base of Vanille, Benzoin, Amber and Tonka Bean. Ciao has top notes of Fruits, Cumin, Green Notes and Lemon, heart notes of Orris Root, Rose, Hyacinth and Jasmine, a base of Oakmoss, Leather, Sandalwood and Amber.