Fragrance comparison

Tempest vs Varanasi

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 522 ratings analysed

5 wins

Tempest

Kemi Blending Magic · 2014

4.35110 votes

Rank #28,047 WoodyCitrus

Full profile Similar & dupes

21%scent match

Clearly different

Varanasi

Meo Fusciuni

3.93412 votes

Rank #3,777 AnimalicAmber

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Tempest takes 5 of 7 categories.

Tempest
Choose it for a woody and citrus character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter, evening wear.
Varanasi
Choose it for a animalic and amber character. Wins on value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter.

Tempest5/7

Varanasi2/7

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

TempestKemi Blending Magic

VaranasiMeo Fusciuni

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.35/ 5 · 110 votes

Have 42%Had 12%Want 46%

3.93/ 5 · 412 votes

Have 83%Had 17%Want 0%

Category winnerTempestRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

56%Love

26%Like

10%Ok

0%Dislike

8%Hate

39 votes

43%Love

31%Like

8%Ok

11%Dislike

7%Hate

412 votes

Category winnerTempestMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity82

〰 Sillage71

♥ Love / hate81

⏱ Longevity80

〰 Sillage68

♥ Love / hate73

Category winners

LongevityTempest

SillageTempest

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value39

¤ Price value49

Category winnerVaranasiBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

woody100%

citrus92%

aromatic84%

fresh spicy77%

powdery69%

oud61%

animalic100%

amber92%

woody84%

leather77%

warm spicy69%

earthy61%

Scent match21%Clearly different · both woody

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

elemiOrangeLavenderBergamotLemonGingerPetitgrain

Heart

Gurjan balsamRoseCashmeranJasmineCedarCypriol Oil or Nagarmotha

Base

Agarwood (Oud)VetiverSandalwoodPatchouliAmberMusk

Top

IncenseSaffronNutmegCardamom

Heart

AmbergrisCypriol Oil or NagarmothaRoseAmbrette (Musk Mallow)Jasmine

Base

Animal notesAgarwood (Oud)LeatherNard Himalayan (Jatamansi)Gurjan balsamVetiver

InformationalShared notesGurjan balsam, Rose, Jasmine and Cypriol Oil or Nagarmotha. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring64

Summer50

Fall86

Winter100

Day75

Night100

Spring34

Summer24

Fall0

Winter100

Day–

Night–

Category winnerTempestMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men45

Unisex36

Women18

Men49

Unisex46

Women5

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#28,047

PerfumerChris Maurice

Launched2014

Reviews0

Overall rank#3,777

PerfumerGiuseppe Imprezzabile

Launched—

Reviews57

Category winnerVaranasiHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Crafted by Chris Maurice, this oriental woody scent relies on raw agarwood, resinous elemi, and sharp ginger to create a dense scent trail. Bright petitgrain and orange vanish within fifteen minutes, giving way to cashmeran and smoky vetiver. It shines in sub-zero temperatures, though the dark balsamic profile can cho…

Reviews →

Meo Fusciuni Varanasi opens with a sharp burst of smoky incense, dry saffron, and pungent animalic notes. Cold cardamom and nutmeg cut through the heavy resinous warmth, creating an immediate sense of ancient temple stone and raw leather. As the heat of skin activates the formula, rich ambergris and earthy cypriol oil…

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, Tempest or Varanasi?

Tempest takes 5 of 7 categories. Tempest is rated 4.35/5 from 110 votes; Varanasi is rated 3.93/5 from 412 votes. Choose Tempest for a woody and citrus character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter, evening wear. Choose Varanasi for a animalic and amber character. Wins on value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter.

Which lasts longer, Tempest or Varanasi?

They last about the same: Tempest 82/100, Varanasi 80/100 for longevity in community votes.

Which projects more, Tempest or Varanasi?

Tempest projects furthest (Tempest 71/100, Varanasi 68/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Tempest and Varanasi smell similar?

Clearly different: a 21% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share woody accords. Common notes include Gurjan balsam, Rose, Jasmine and Cypriol Oil or Nagarmotha.

Is Tempest or Varanasi better for summer or winter?

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

What are the notes in Tempest and Varanasi?

Tempest has top notes of elemi, Orange, Lavender and Bergamot, heart notes of Gurjan balsam, Rose, Cashmeran and Jasmine, a base of Agarwood (Oud), Vetiver, Sandalwood and Patchouli. Varanasi has top notes of Incense, Saffron, Nutmeg and Cardamom, heart notes of Ambergris, Cypriol Oil or Nagarmotha, Rose and Ambrette (Musk Mallow), a base of Animal notes, Agarwood (Oud), Leather and Nard Himalayan (Jatamansi).