Fragrance comparison

The Different vs 5 The Guardian Master

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

Updated 15 Oct 2026 47 ratings analysed

The Different

VELVET SAM

4.502 votes

Rank #54,396 WoodyAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

19%scent match

Clearly different

3 wins

5 The Guardian Master

Spiritum

3.9845 votes

Rank #16,852 Warm SpicyAmber

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

5 The Guardian Master takes 3 of 4 categories.

The Different
Choose it for a woody and aromatic character. Wins on value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear.
5 The Guardian Master
Choose it for a warm spicy and amber character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, evening wear.

The Different1/4

5 The Guardian Master3/4

Ratings & consensus: Not scored
Community sentiment: Not scored
Longevity: 5 The Guardian Master
Sillage & projection: 5 The Guardian Master
Value for money: The Different
Versatility: Not scored
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: 5 The Guardian Master

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

The DifferentVELVET SAM

5 The Guardian MasterSpiritum

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.50/ 5 · 2 votes

Have 29%Had 7%Want 64%

3.98/ 5 · 45 votes

Have 22%Had 11%Want 67%

Category winnerNot enough dataRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

50%Love

50%Like

0%Ok

0%Dislike

0%Hate

2 votes · too few to score

38%Love

36%Like

18%Ok

4%Dislike

4%Hate

45 votes

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity60

〰 Sillage50

♥ Love / hate88

⏱ Longevity75

〰 Sillage55

♥ Love / hate74

Category winners

Longevity5 The Guardian Master

Sillage5 The Guardian Master

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value63

¤ Price value46

Category winnerThe DifferentBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

woody100%

aromatic92%

warm spicy84%

rose77%

powdery69%

earthy61%

warm spicy100%

amber92%

sweet84%

fresh spicy77%

vanilla69%

cinnamon61%

Scent match19%Clearly different · both warm spicy

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top15-30 mins

CardamomPink PepperWatery Notes

Heart2-4 hrs

elemiRoseIrisCypress

Base6-8 hrs

OakmossAmbergrisSandalwood

Top

Pink PepperCardamomNutmegOlibanumPepper OilRed Chilli PepperTurmeric

Heart

CinnamonTobaccoIrisCedarJasmineClary Sage

Base

Tonka BeanPlumBourbon VanillaLabdanumLeatherSandalwoodMuskAmber

InformationalShared notesCardamom, Pink Pepper, Iris and Sandalwood. Durations are only published for The Different, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer0

Fall100

Winter0

Day100

Night61

Spring41

Summer24

Fall100

Winter94

Day86

Night100

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men33

Unisex33

Women33

Work 38%Casual 34%Date 19%Party 9%

Men32

Unisex60

Women8

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#54,396

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#16,852

PerfumerPhilippe Paparella-Paris

Launched—

Reviews5

Category winner5 The Guardian MasterHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

The Different by VELVET SAM opens with an immediate flash of cool green cardamom and cracked pink pepper, cut through by a splash of fresh watery notes. Within fifteen minutes, the brisk aquatic splash softens into an aromatic heart of crushed cypress needles, dewy rose petals, and powdery iris. The foundation settles…

Reviews →

Spiritum 5 The Guardian Master is a deep, warming fragrance centered on fiery spices, dry tobacco, and golden resins. It starts with a lively burst of pink pepper, red chilli, cardamom, and frankincense, smelling like a crackling kitchen spice rack before settling into smooth cedar, rich pipe tobacco, and warm cinnamo…

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.

Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, The Different or 5 The Guardian Master?

5 The Guardian Master takes 3 of 4 categories. The Different is rated 4.50/5 from 2 votes; 5 The Guardian Master is rated 3.98/5 from 45 votes. Choose The Different for a woody and aromatic character. Wins on value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose 5 The Guardian Master for a warm spicy and amber character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, evening wear.

Which lasts longer, The Different or 5 The Guardian Master?

5 The Guardian Master lasts longest (5 The Guardian Master 75/100, The Different 60/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, The Different or 5 The Guardian Master?

5 The Guardian Master projects furthest (5 The Guardian Master 55/100, The Different 50/100), based on community performance votes.

Do The Different and 5 The Guardian Master smell similar?

Clearly different: a 19% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share warm spicy accords. Common notes include Cardamom, Pink Pepper, Iris and Sandalwood.

Is The Different or 5 The Guardian Master better for summer or winter?

The Different suits daytime wear; 5 The Guardian Master suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in The Different and 5 The Guardian Master?

The Different has top notes of Cardamom, Pink Pepper and Watery Notes, heart notes of elemi, Rose, Iris and Cypress, a base of Oakmoss, Ambergris and Sandalwood. 5 The Guardian Master has top notes of Pink Pepper, Cardamom, Nutmeg and Olibanum, heart notes of Cinnamon, Tobacco, Iris and Cedar, a base of Tonka Bean, Plum, Bourbon Vanilla and Labdanum.