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FRAGRANXE
Fragrance comparison

Ylang 49 vs Spectacular

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

Updated 1,421 ratings analysed
Clearly different
Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Spectacular takes 6 of 8 categories.

  • Ylang 49

    Choose it for a woody and earthy character. Wins on versatility and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, daytime wear.

  • Spectacular

    Choose it for a amber and white floral character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, evening wear.

Ylang 492/8
Spectacular6/8
Ratings & consensus
Spectacular
Community sentiment
Spectacular
Longevity
Spectacular
Sillage & projection
Spectacular
Value for money
Spectacular
Versatility
Ylang 49
Note pyramid (duration)
Spectacular
Fragranxe ranking
Ylang 49

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance
Ylang 49Le Labo
SpectacularJoan Collins
Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split
3.85/ 5 · 1,303 votes
Have 40%Had 13%Want 47%
4.09/ 5 · 118 votes
Have 71%Had 29%Want 0%
Category winnerSpectacularRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate
38%Love
32%Like
12%Ok
14%Dislike
4%Hate

1,303 votes

39%Love
47%Like
4%Ok
5%Dislike
5%Hate

118 votes

Category winnerSpectacularMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores
⏱ Longevity75
〰 Sillage69
♥ Love / hate71
⏱ Longevity81
〰 Sillage72
♥ Love / hate77
Category winners

LongevitySpectacular

SillageSpectacular

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it
¤ Price value29
¤ Price value74
Category winnerSpectacularBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both
woody100%
earthy92%
patchouli84%
yellow floral77%
mossy69%
white floral61%
amber100%
white floral92%
woody84%
animalic77%
powdery69%
musky61%
Scent match32%Clearly different · both woody and white floral

Note pyramid (duration)

Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = shared
Notes
PatchouliYlang-YlangOakmossTahitian GardeniaVetiverBenzoinSandalwood

No top / heart / base split published

Top20-30 mins
GardeniaAldehydesPeachBergamotGreen Notes
Heart3-4 hrs
TuberoseNarcissusJasmineBenzoinYlang-YlangSandalwoodOrris RootLily-of-the-Valley
Base8-10+ hrs
CivetMuskIncenseLeatherAmberPatchouliStyraxVetiver
Category winnerSpectacularLongest dry-down: 8-10+ hrs

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season
Spring88
Summer50
Fall100
Winter64
Day100
Night80
Spring100
Summer41
Fall0
Winter94
Day78
Night100
Category winnerYlang 49Most year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes
Men7
Unisex41
Women51
Men3
Unisex17
Women79
InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#1,706

PerfumerFrank Voelkl

Launched—

Reviews185

Overall rank#6,520

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews35

Category winnerYlang 49Higher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Ylang 49 by Le Labo is a rich floral chypre centered on lush flowers and deep forest earth. The fragrance opens with an immediate burst of creamy ylang-ylang and ripe Tahitian gardenia, delivering a heady floral punch. Beneath the floral surface, the scent turns dark and grounding. Heavy patchouli and crisp oakmoss fo…

Reviews →

Joan Collins Spectacular smells like unapologetic 1980s theatrical glamor captured inside a glass flacon. The first spray explodes with crisp green aldehydes and ripe peach before rich gardenia takes over the room. It does not whisper. Warm honeyed tuberose and earthy oakmoss quickly join the party, anchored by a deep…

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.

Recent comparisons

Head-to-head activity from live history

Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, Ylang 49 or Spectacular?

Spectacular takes 6 of 8 categories. Ylang 49 is rated 3.85/5 from 1,303 votes; Spectacular is rated 4.09/5 from 118 votes. Choose Ylang 49 for a woody and earthy character. Wins on versatility and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, daytime wear. Choose Spectacular for a amber and white floral character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, evening wear.

Which lasts longer, Ylang 49 or Spectacular?

Spectacular lasts longest (Spectacular 81/100, Ylang 49 75/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Ylang 49 or Spectacular?

Spectacular projects furthest (Spectacular 72/100, Ylang 49 69/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Ylang 49 and Spectacular smell similar?

Clearly different: a 32% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share woody and white floral accords. Common notes include Patchouli, Ylang-Ylang, Tahitian Gardenia and Vetiver.

Is Ylang 49 or Spectacular better for summer or winter?

For summer, Ylang 49 is the stronger pick. For winter, Spectacular is the stronger pick. Ylang 49 suits daytime wear; Spectacular suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Ylang 49 and Spectacular?

Ylang 49 features Patchouli, Ylang-Ylang, Oakmoss, Tahitian Gardenia and Vetiver. Spectacular has top notes of Gardenia, Aldehydes, Peach and Bergamot, heart notes of Tuberose, Narcissus, Jasmine and Benzoin, a base of Civet, Musk, Incense and Leather.

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