Fragrance comparison

Carnelian vs Ambre Noir

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

Updated 16 Oct 2026 48 ratings analysed

Carnelian

Vartan Perfumes

4.3312 votes

Rank #45,883 Warm SpicyAmber

Full profile Similar & dupes

35%scent match

Some overlap

4 wins

Ambre Noir

Jinkoh Store

4.5636 votes

Rank #6,973 AmberWarm Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Ambre Noir takes 4 of 5 categories.

Carnelian
Choose it for a warm spicy and amber character. Wins on value for money. Best in fall, evening wear.
Ambre Noir
Choose it for a amber and warm spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in winter, evening wear.

Carnelian1/5

Ambre Noir4/5

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

CarnelianVartan Perfumes

Ambre NoirJinkoh Store

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.33/ 5 · 12 votes

Have 19%Had 0%Want 81%

4.56/ 5 · 36 votes

Have 28%Had 13%Want 60%

Category winnerAmbre NoirRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

58%Love

33%Like

0%Ok

0%Dislike

8%Hate

12 votes · too few to score

61%Love

33%Like

6%Ok

0%Dislike

0%Hate

36 votes

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity74

〰 Sillage66

♥ Love / hate83

⏱ Longevity91

〰 Sillage80

♥ Love / hate89

Category winners

LongevityAmbre Noir

SillageAmbre Noir

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value100

¤ Price value53

Category winnerCarnelianBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

warm spicy100%

amber91%

cinnamon83%

aromatic74%

floral65%

vanilla56%

amber100%

warm spicy91%

sweet83%

balsamic74%

fruity65%

woody56%

Scent match35%Some overlap · both warm spicy and amber

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top15-30 mins

CinnamonBlack Pepper

Heart2-4 hrs

CarnationWhite TobaccoVetiver

Base6-8+ hrs

AmberVanillaTonka Bean

Top

CloveHeliotropeCinnamonBergamotCardamomBark

Heart

ApricotPlumDried PlumCarnationPowdery NotesRoseDried FruitsDates

Base

Peru BalsamAmberMyrrhAmbergrisMuskVanillaOpoponaxSpanish Labdanum

InformationalShared notesCinnamon, Carnation, Amber and Vanilla. Durations are only published for Carnelian, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring20

Summer20

Fall100

Winter100

Day44

Night100

Spring35

Summer20

Fall90

Winter100

Day63

Night100

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men0

Unisex100

Women0

Date 35%Casual 28%Party 23%Work 15%

Men30

Unisex61

Women9

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#45,883

PerfumerKristen Vartan

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#6,973

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews10

Category winnerAmbre NoirHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Carnelian by Vartan Perfumes hits the skin with a vibrant rush of fiery cinnamon and cracked black pepper. The initial kick is dry and bristly, but it calms within minutes into a clove-like carnation heart wrapped in pale, leafy white tobacco. As the hours tick by, golden amber, creamy vanilla, and roasted tonka bean …

Reviews →

Ambre Noir by Jinkoh Store opens with a dark, mouthwatering rush of simmered plum jam, spicy clove, and warm cinnamon. Rather than smelling like a dusty spice cabinet, the top notes sparkle with zesty bergamot and a velvety, almond-like heliotrope petal texture. As the fragrance warms on your skin, a feast of sticky d…

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, Carnelian or Ambre Noir?

Ambre Noir takes 4 of 5 categories. Carnelian is rated 4.33/5 from 12 votes; Ambre Noir is rated 4.56/5 from 36 votes. Choose Carnelian for a warm spicy and amber character. Wins on value for money. Best in fall, evening wear. Choose Ambre Noir for a amber and warm spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in winter, evening wear.

Which lasts longer, Carnelian or Ambre Noir?

Ambre Noir lasts longest (Ambre Noir 91/100, Carnelian 74/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Carnelian or Ambre Noir?

Ambre Noir projects furthest (Ambre Noir 80/100, Carnelian 66/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Carnelian and Ambre Noir smell similar?

Some overlap: a 35% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share warm spicy and amber accords. Common notes include Cinnamon, Carnation, Amber and Vanilla.

Is Carnelian or Ambre Noir better for summer or winter?

Carnelian suits evening wear; Ambre Noir suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Carnelian and Ambre Noir?

Carnelian has top notes of Cinnamon and Black Pepper, heart notes of Carnation, White Tobacco and Vetiver, a base of Amber, Vanilla and Tonka Bean. Ambre Noir has top notes of Clove, Heliotrope, Cinnamon and Bergamot, heart notes of Apricot, Plum, Dried Plum and Carnation, a base of Peru Balsam, Amber, Myrrh and Ambergris.