Fragrance comparison

Around Midnight vs Tabac Original

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

Updated 30 Oct 2026 1,219 ratings analysed

5 wins

Around Midnight

Mark Buxton

4.1771 votes

Rank #20,553 AmberWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

45%scent match

Some overlap

Tabac Original

Tabac

3.911,148 votes

Rank #1,252 AromaticFresh Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Around Midnight takes 5 of 7 categories.

Around Midnight
Choose it for a amber and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter, evening wear.
Tabac Original
Choose it for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring.

Around Midnight5/7

Tabac Original2/7

Ratings & consensus: Around Midnight
Community sentiment: Around Midnight
Longevity: Around Midnight
Sillage & projection: Around Midnight
Value for money: Tabac Original
Versatility: Around Midnight
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Tabac Original

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Around MidnightMark Buxton

Tabac OriginalTabac

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.17/ 5 · 71 votes

Have 30%Had 14%Want 56%

3.91/ 5 · 1,148 votes

Have 76%Had 24%Want 0%

Category winnerAround MidnightRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

42%Love

42%Like

6%Ok

10%Dislike

0%Hate

71 votes

35%Love

45%Like

10%Ok

9%Dislike

2%Hate

953 votes

Category winnerAround MidnightMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity67

〰 Sillage59

♥ Love / hate79

⏱ Longevity61

〰 Sillage54

♥ Love / hate76

Category winners

LongevityAround Midnight

SillageAround Midnight

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value69

¤ Price value88

Category winnerTabac OriginalBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

amber100%

woody92%

fresh spicy84%

herbal77%

aromatic69%

warm spicy61%

aromatic100%

fresh spicy92%

woody84%

citrus77%

floral69%

warm spicy61%

Scent match45%Some overlap · both woody, fresh spicy and aromatic

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top15 to 30 minutes

PepperChamomileGeranium

Heart1 to 2 hours

Jasmine

Base3 to 5 hours

French labdanumCedarStyraxPatchouli

Top

PetitgrainBergamotPepperLemonNeroli

Heart

ChamomileLavenderGeraniumOak

Base

SandalwoodCarnationMuskVetiverAmber

InformationalShared notesPepper, Chamomile and Geranium. Durations are only published for Around Midnight, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring27

Summer20

Fall80

Winter100

Day67

Night100

Spring100

Summer0

Fall0

Winter98

Day–

Night–

Category winnerAround MidnightMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men75

Unisex25

Women0

Men86

Unisex11

Women3

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#20,553

PerfumerMark Buxton

Launched—

Reviews6

Overall rank#1,252

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews205

Category winnerTabac OriginalHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Around Midnight by Mark Buxton is a dry, resinous oriental fougere centered on smoky woods and herbal warmth. The scent opens with a sharp burst of black pepper and aromatic chamomile, balanced by the crisp greenery of geranium. As the initial spice settles, a quiet jasmine note softens the heart before shifting into …

Reviews →

Tabac Original is a pillar of European grooming that smells like a freshly swept German barbershop. It leads with a sharp punch of petitgrain and lemon before settling into a clean, floral heart of lavender and geranium. This is not a modern gourmand. It is a dry, soapy scent for men who value a crisp, groomed present…

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, Around Midnight or Tabac Original?

Around Midnight takes 5 of 7 categories. Around Midnight is rated 4.17/5 from 71 votes; Tabac Original is rated 3.91/5 from 1,148 votes. Choose Around Midnight for a amber and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter, evening wear. Choose Tabac Original for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring.

Which lasts longer, Around Midnight or Tabac Original?

Around Midnight lasts longest (Around Midnight 67/100, Tabac Original 61/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Around Midnight or Tabac Original?

Around Midnight projects furthest (Around Midnight 59/100, Tabac Original 54/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Around Midnight and Tabac Original smell similar?

Some overlap: a 45% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share woody, fresh spicy and aromatic accords. Common notes include Pepper, Chamomile and Geranium.

Is Around Midnight or Tabac Original better for summer or winter?

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

What are the notes in Around Midnight and Tabac Original?

Around Midnight has top notes of Pepper, Chamomile and Geranium, heart notes of Jasmine, a base of French labdanum, Cedar, Styrax and Patchouli. Tabac Original has top notes of Petitgrain, Bergamot, Pepper and Lemon, heart notes of Chamomile, Lavender, Geranium and Oak, a base of Sandalwood, Carnation, Musk and Vetiver.