Fragrance comparison

Irae vs Nombre Noir

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 489 ratings analysed

4 wins

Irae

V Canto

4.05363 votes

Rank #8,710 Fresh SpicyAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

37%scent match

Some overlap

Nombre Noir

Shiseido

4.48126 votes

Rank #27,830 AromaticFloral

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Irae takes 4 of 7 categories.

Irae
Choose it for a fresh spicy and aromatic character. Wins on longevity, value for money and versatility. Best in fall, daytime wear.
Nombre Noir
Choose it for a aromatic and floral character. Wins on ratings & consensus and community sentiment. Best in winter.

Irae4/7

Nombre Noir2/7

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

IraeV Canto

Nombre NoirShiseido

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.05/ 5 · 363 votes

Have 38%Had 15%Want 47%

4.48/ 5 · 126 votes

Have 83%Had 17%Want 0%

Category winnerNombre NoirRating 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

62%Love

30%Like

2%Ok

5%Dislike

1%Hate

126 votes

Category winnerNombre NoirMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity69

〰 Sillage65

♥ Love / hate76

⏱ Longevity68

〰 Sillage65

♥ Love / hate87

Category winners

LongevityIrae

SillageTie

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value49

¤ Price value46

Category winnerIraeBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

fresh spicy100%

aromatic92%

woody84%

citrus77%

cacao69%

amber61%

aromatic100%

floral92%

woody84%

rose77%

amber69%

warm spicy61%

Scent match37%Some overlap · both aromatic, woody and amber

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

Top

AldehydesPalisander RosewoodCorianderMarjoramBergamot

Heart

Damask RoseOsmanthusGeraniumCarnationOrrisLily-of-the-ValleyJasmineYlang-Ylang

Base

HoneyVetiverSandalwoodMuskTonka BeanBenzoinAmber

InformationalShared notesTonka Bean, Bergamot, Coriander and Palisander Rosewood. Durations are only published for Irae, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring40

Summer22

Fall100

Winter74

Day100

Night92

Spring76

Summer0

Fall0

Winter100

Day–

Night–

Category winnerIraeMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men42

Unisex49

Women9

Men0

Unisex36

Women64

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#8,710

PerfumerPaolo Terenzi

Launched—

Reviews29

Overall rank#27,830

PerfumerJean-Yves Leroy, Serge Lutens

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 →

Nombre Noir by Shiseido is a legendary creation that immediately sets itself apart through a dark, ink-like damask rose. The opening combines a sharp blast of aldehydes with green marjoram and palisander rosewood, creating a cold, mysterious atmosphere. As it warms on the skin, a rich ylang-ylang and powdery orris roo…

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 Nombre Noir?

Irae takes 4 of 7 categories. Irae is rated 4.05/5 from 363 votes; Nombre Noir is rated 4.48/5 from 126 votes. Choose Irae for a fresh spicy and aromatic character. Wins on longevity, value for money and versatility. Best in fall, daytime wear. Choose Nombre Noir for a aromatic and floral character. Wins on ratings & consensus and community sentiment. Best in winter.

Which lasts longer, Irae or Nombre Noir?

They last about the same: Irae 69/100, Nombre Noir 68/100 for longevity in community votes.

Which projects more, Irae or Nombre Noir?

Projection is very close: Irae 65/100, Nombre Noir 65/100 for sillage.

Do Irae and Nombre Noir smell similar?

Some overlap: a 37% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic, woody and amber accords. Common notes include Tonka Bean, Bergamot, Coriander and Palisander Rosewood.

Is Irae or Nombre Noir better for summer or winter?

For summer, Irae is the stronger pick. For winter, Nombre Noir is the stronger pick. Irae suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Irae and Nombre Noir?

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. Nombre Noir has top notes of Aldehydes, Palisander Rosewood, Coriander and Marjoram, heart notes of Damask Rose, Osmanthus, Geranium and Carnation, a base of Honey, Vetiver, Sandalwood and Musk.