Fragrance comparison

Ébène vs Epitome

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 136 ratings analysed

4 wins

Ébène

Pierre Balmain · 2024

4.37122 votes

Rank #28,008 AromaticFresh Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

51%scent match

Some overlap

Epitome

Hint

4.0014 votes

Rank #40,187 Fresh SpicyWarm Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Ébène takes 4 of 5 categories.

Ébène
Choose it for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in fall, evening wear.
Epitome
Choose it for a fresh spicy and warm spicy character. Wins on value for money. Best in fall, daytime wear.

Ébène4/5

Epitome1/5

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

ÉbènePierre Balmain

EpitomeHint

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.37/ 5 · 122 votes

Have 64%Had 36%Want 0%

4.00/ 5 · 14 votes

Have 51%Had 5%Want 44%

Category winnerÉbèneRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

59%Love

30%Like

2%Ok

7%Dislike

2%Hate

122 votes

29%Love

43%Like

29%Ok

0%Dislike

0%Hate

14 votes · too few to score

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity75

〰 Sillage69

♥ Love / hate84

⏱ Longevity63

〰 Sillage53

♥ Love / hate75

Category winners

LongevityÉbène

SillageÉbène

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value45

¤ Price value86

Category winnerEpitomeBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

aromatic100%

fresh spicy92%

woody84%

amber77%

green69%

mossy61%

fresh spicy100%

warm spicy92%

aromatic84%

woody77%

green69%

patchouli61%

Scent match51%Some overlap · both fresh spicy, aromatic and woody

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

MintAldehydesCarawayAniseArtemisiaBasilBergamotLemon

Heart

PineCarnationGeraniumPatchouliJasmineRoseCinnamon

Base

OakmossLeatherLabdanumAmberMuskTonka Bean

Top15-30 mins

CardamomPepperMintBergamot

Heart2-4 hrs

FigCoconut MilkBasil

Base5-7 hrs

PatchouliAmberAtlas Cedar

InformationalShared notesMint, Basil, Bergamot and Patchouli. Durations are only published for Epitome, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring71

Summer34

Fall100

Winter94

Day80

Night100

Spring73

Summer45

Fall100

Winter36

Day100

Night70

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men88

Unisex8

Women4

Men63

Unisex31

Women6

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#28,008

PerfumerMaurice Roucel

Launched2024

Reviews0

Overall rank#40,187

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews2

Category winnerÉbèneHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Ébène by Pierre Balmain delivers a dark wood experience driven by myrrh oil and deep ebony wood. Built for winter evenings in a heavy coat, this scent contrasts hot cinnamon against dry tobacco. It wears heavy and warm on the skin, offering a smoky performance that stands out in cold weather.

Reviews →

Epitome by Hint opens with an energizing blast of crushed mint leaves, zesty bergamot, and cracked black pepper, giving an immediate sensation like stepping out of a clean shower at a boutique hotel. As the brisk citrus and herbal kick settles on your skin, the fragrance reveals a subtle heart of green fig, smooth coc…

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

Saffron AmberIlluminumRUNNER-UP vs

Septieme Sens (7e Sens)Sonia RykielWINNER

1 person compared this today

Fancy NightsJessica SimpsonRUNNER-UP vs

Nino Cerruti Pour FemmeCerrutiWINNER

3 people compared this today

Sweet DreamsHouse Of SillageWINNER vs

Safari ElixirAthoor Al AlamRUNNER-UP

1 person compared this today

PrometheuNecalliWINNER vs

Bruno ImperialAnfar LondonRUNNER-UP

1 person compared this today

Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, Ébène or Epitome?

Ébène takes 4 of 5 categories. Ébène is rated 4.37/5 from 122 votes; Epitome is rated 4.00/5 from 14 votes. Choose Ébène for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in fall, evening wear. Choose Epitome for a fresh spicy and warm spicy character. Wins on value for money. Best in fall, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Ébène or Epitome?

Ébène lasts longest (Ébène 75/100, Epitome 63/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Ébène or Epitome?

Ébène projects furthest (Ébène 69/100, Epitome 53/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Ébène and Epitome smell similar?

Some overlap: a 51% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share fresh spicy, aromatic and woody accords. Common notes include Mint, Basil, Bergamot and Patchouli.

Is Ébène or Epitome better for summer or winter?

Ébène suits evening wear; Epitome suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Ébène and Epitome?

Ébène has top notes of Mint, Aldehydes, Caraway and Anise, heart notes of Pine, Carnation, Geranium and Patchouli, a base of Oakmoss, Leather, Labdanum and Amber. Epitome has top notes of Cardamom, Pepper, Mint and Bergamot, heart notes of Fig, Coconut Milk and Basil, a base of Patchouli, Amber and Atlas Cedar.