Fragrance comparison

Zanzibar vs Bluff

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

Updated 14 Nov 2026 191 ratings analysed

Zanzibar

Yachtsman

4.1422 votes

Rank #50,116 Warm SpicyWhite Floral

Full profile Similar & dupes

37%scent match

Some overlap

3 wins

Bluff

Lubin

3.75169 votes

Rank #12,467 WoodyCitrus

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Bluff takes 3 of 4 categories.

Zanzibar
Choose it for a warm spicy and white floral character. Wins on ratings & consensus. Best in fall, daytime wear.
Bluff
Choose it for a woody and citrus character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter.

Zanzibar1/4

Bluff3/4

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

ZanzibarYachtsman

BluffLubin

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.14/ 5 · 22 votes

Have 27%Had 10%Want 63%

3.75/ 5 · 169 votes

Have 30%Had 17%Want 53%

Category winnerZanzibarRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

32%Love

59%Like

0%Ok

9%Dislike

0%Hate

22 votes · too few to score

33%Love

46%Like

4%Ok

17%Dislike

0%Hate

98 votes

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity60

〰 Sillage50

♥ Love / hate78

⏱ Longevity66

〰 Sillage54

♥ Love / hate74

Category winners

LongevityBluff

SillageBluff

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price valueN/A

¤ Price value45

Category winnerNot enough dataBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

warm spicy100%

white floral92%

cinnamon84%

amber77%

citrus69%

fresh spicy61%

woody100%

citrus91%

fresh spicy83%

powdery74%

aromatic65%

warm spicy56%

Scent match37%Some overlap · both citrus, warm spicy and fresh spicy

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top20-30 mins

JasmineCitrusesCucumber

Heart2-4 hrs

CinnamonNutmegCloveVanille

Base6-8+ hrs

ResinOlibanumTeak WoodVirginia CedarPatchouli

Top

NutmegLimeCinnamonBergamot

Heart

Brazil nutIrisClary Sage

Base

SandalwoodVirginia CedarVetyverVanillePatchouli

InformationalShared notesCinnamon, Nutmeg, Vanille and Virginia Cedar. Durations are only published for Zanzibar, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring50

Summer50

Fall100

Winter50

Day100

Night42

Spring92

Summer0

Fall0

Winter100

Day–

Night–

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Not enough votes yet

Men57

Unisex43

Women0

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#50,116

PerfumerJohn Verde

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#12,467

PerfumerThomas Fontaine

Launched—

Reviews24

Category winnerBluffHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Zanzibar by Yachtsman kicks off with a refreshing splash of crisp cucumber, tart citruses, and sweet jasmine petals before shifting into a cozy spice market blend. That cool, watery opening quickly warms up as ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and aromatic clove take center stage alongside smooth vanilla. Grounded by dry Virgi…

Reviews →

Bluff by Lubin is a woody spicy fragrance that balances sharp lime and nutmeg against a smooth, iris-forward heart. It thrives in temperate spring weather, offering a refined, intellectual character that works as well in an office setting as it does for weekend brunch. This scent feels deliberate, structured, and avoi…

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, Zanzibar or Bluff?

Bluff takes 3 of 4 categories. Zanzibar is rated 4.14/5 from 22 votes; Bluff is rated 3.75/5 from 169 votes. Choose Zanzibar for a warm spicy and white floral character. Wins on ratings & consensus. Best in fall, daytime wear. Choose Bluff for a woody and citrus character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter.

Which lasts longer, Zanzibar or Bluff?

Bluff lasts longest (Bluff 66/100, Zanzibar 60/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Zanzibar or Bluff?

Bluff projects furthest (Bluff 54/100, Zanzibar 50/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Zanzibar and Bluff smell similar?

Some overlap: a 37% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share citrus, warm spicy and fresh spicy accords. Common notes include Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Vanille and Virginia Cedar.

Is Zanzibar or Bluff better for summer or winter?

Zanzibar suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Zanzibar and Bluff?

Zanzibar has top notes of Jasmine, Citruses and Cucumber, heart notes of Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Clove and Vanille, a base of Resin, Olibanum, Teak Wood and Virginia Cedar. Bluff has top notes of Nutmeg, Lime, Cinnamon and Bergamot, heart notes of Brazil nut, Iris and Clary Sage, a base of Sandalwood, Virginia Cedar, Vetyver and Vanille.