Fragrance comparison

Irae vs Cuba Blue

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 365 ratings analysed

4 wins

Irae

V Canto

4.05363 votes

Rank #8,710 Fresh SpicyAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

54%scent match

Some overlap

Cuba Blue

Parfums Guy Alari

1.502 votes

Rank #82,308 AromaticWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Irae takes 4 of 5 categories.

Irae
Choose it for a fresh spicy and aromatic character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and note pyramid duration. Best in fall, daytime wear.
Cuba Blue
Choose it for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on value for money. Best in spring, day or night wear.

Irae4/5

Cuba Blue1/5

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

IraeV Canto

Cuba BlueParfums Guy Alari

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.05/ 5 · 363 votes

Have 38%Had 15%Want 47%

1.50/ 5 · 2 votes

Have 71%Had 14%Want 14%

Category winnerNot enough dataRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

37%Love

44%Like

5%Ok

13%Dislike

1%Hate

363 votes

0%Love

0%Like

0%Ok

50%Dislike

50%Hate

2 votes · too few to score

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity69

〰 Sillage65

♥ Love / hate76

⏱ Longevity60

〰 Sillage50

♥ Love / hate13

Category winners

LongevityIrae

SillageIrae

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value49

¤ Price value75

Category winnerCuba BlueBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

fresh spicy100%

aromatic92%

woody84%

citrus77%

cacao69%

amber61%

aromatic100%

woody92%

citrus84%

fresh spicy77%

warm spicy69%

white floral61%

Scent match54%Some overlap · both aromatic, fresh spicy and woody

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top30 to 45 minutes

Cacao PodTonka BeanBergamot

Heart2 to 4 hours

Sichuan PepperWormwoodCorianderHot iron

Base6 to 8 hours

OakPalisander RosewoodCrystal Amber

Top15-30 mins

RosemaryBergamotNeroliPineappleCitrus

Heart2-3 hrs

OakmossCyclamenJasmineCoriander

Base4-6 hrs

CardamomMuskPalisander RosewoodSandalwoodTonka BeanCedar

Category winnerIraeLongest dry-down: 6 to 8 hours

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring40

Summer22

Fall100

Winter74

Day100

Night92

Spring100

Summer100

Fall100

Winter0

Day100

Night100

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men42

Unisex49

Women9

Not enough votes yet

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#8,710

PerfumerPaolo Terenzi

Launched—

Reviews29

Overall rank#82,308

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

Category winnerIraeHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Irae by V Canto offers an unconventional contrast of bitter cacao pod, bright bergamot, and striking hot iron. Created by perfumer Paolo Terenzi, this unisex fragrance steps away from standard gourmand sweetness. The opening pairs dry cocoa and citrus against a sharp kick of Sichuan pepper and bitter wormwood. As the …

Reviews →

Cuba Blue by Parfums Guy Alari is a straightforward, refreshing aromatic fougere built for easy morning routines. The initial spray delivers an immediate burst of tart bergamot, juicy pineapple, and sharp rosemary. Within minutes, the zesty opening settles into a clean heart of green coriander, soft jasmine, and dry o…

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, Irae or Cuba Blue?

Irae takes 4 of 5 categories. Irae is rated 4.05/5 from 363 votes; Cuba Blue is rated 1.50/5 from 2 votes. Choose Irae for a fresh spicy and aromatic character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and note pyramid duration. Best in fall, daytime wear. Choose Cuba Blue for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on value for money. Best in spring, day or night wear.

Which lasts longer, Irae or Cuba Blue?

Irae lasts longest (Irae 69/100, Cuba Blue 60/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Irae or Cuba Blue?

Irae projects furthest (Irae 65/100, Cuba Blue 50/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Irae and Cuba Blue smell similar?

Some overlap: a 54% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic, fresh spicy and woody accords. Common notes include Tonka Bean, Bergamot, Coriander and Palisander Rosewood.

Is Irae or Cuba Blue better for summer or winter?

Irae suits daytime wear; Cuba Blue suits day or night wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Irae and Cuba Blue?

Irae has top notes of Cacao Pod, Tonka Bean and Bergamot, heart notes of Sichuan Pepper, Wormwood, Coriander and Hot iron, a base of Oak, Palisander Rosewood and Crystal Amber. Cuba Blue has top notes of Rosemary, Bergamot, Neroli and Pineapple, heart notes of Oakmoss, Cyclamen, Jasmine and Coriander, a base of Cardamom, Musk, Palisander Rosewood and Sandalwood.