Fragrance comparison

Ébène vs Tabac

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

Updated 14 Nov 2026 1,054 ratings analysed

5 wins

Ébène

Pierre Balmain · 2024

4.37122 votes

Rank #27,812 AromaticFresh Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

42%scent match

Some overlap

Tabac

4.05932 votes

Rank #1,376 AromaticWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Ébène takes 5 of 7 categories.

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

Ébène5/7

Tabac2/7

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

ÉbènePierre Balmain

TabacTabac

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.37/ 5 · 122 votes

Have 64%Had 36%Want 0%

4.05/ 5 · 932 votes

Have 67%Had 33%Want 0%

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

38%Love

45%Like

2%Ok

14%Dislike

1%Hate

932 votes

Category winnerÉbèneMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity75

〰 Sillage69

♥ Love / hate84

⏱ Longevity60

〰 Sillage54

♥ Love / hate76

Category winners

LongevityÉbène

SillageÉbène

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value45

¤ Price value87

Category winnerTabacBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

aromatic100%

fresh spicy92%

woody84%

amber77%

green69%

mossy61%

aromatic100%

woody92%

aldehydic84%

citrus77%

floral69%

powdery61%

Scent match42%Some overlap · both 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

Top

AldehydesLavenderNeroliLemonBergamot

Heart

CarnationSandalwoodPine Tree NeedlesRoseJasmineOrris Root

Base

TobaccoMuskOakmossAmberTonka BeanVanilla

InformationalShared notesAldehydes, Bergamot, Lemon and Carnation. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring71

Summer34

Fall100

Winter94

Day80

Night100

Spring97

Summer0

Fall0

Winter100

Day–

Night–

Category winnerÉbèneMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men88

Unisex8

Women4

Men87

Unisex10

Women3

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#27,812

PerfumerMaurice Roucel

Launched2024

Reviews0

Overall rank#1,376

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews151

Category winnerTabacHigher 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 →

Tabac remains a staple for men who appreciate a traditional barbershop profile. It opens with sharp aldehydes and lavender that settle into a clean, soapy heart of carnation and pine tree needles. The dry down introduces a light tobacco note mixed with oakmoss and vanilla. This is a reliable daily choice for someone w…

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, Ébène or Tabac?

Ébène takes 5 of 7 categories. Ébène is rated 4.37/5 from 122 votes; Tabac is rated 4.05/5 from 932 votes. Choose Ébène for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in fall, evening wear. Choose Tabac for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter.

Which lasts longer, Ébène or Tabac?

Ébène lasts longest (Ébène 75/100, Tabac 60/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Ébène or Tabac?

Ébène projects furthest (Ébène 69/100, Tabac 54/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Ébène and Tabac smell similar?

Some overlap: a 42% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic and woody accords. Common notes include Aldehydes, Bergamot, Lemon and Carnation.

Is Ébène or Tabac better for summer or winter?

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

What are the notes in Ébène and Tabac?

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. Tabac has top notes of Aldehydes, Lavender, Neroli and Lemon, heart notes of Carnation, Sandalwood, Pine Tree Needles and Rose, a base of Tobacco, Musk, Oakmoss and Amber.