Fragrance comparison

Potion vs Ébène

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

Updated 14 Nov 2026 1,596 ratings analysed

Potion

DSQUARED²

4.151,474 votes

Rank #1,225 AmberWarm Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

36%scent match

Some overlap

5 wins

Ébène

Pierre Balmain · 2024

4.37122 votes

Rank #27,812 AromaticFresh Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Ébène takes 5 of 7 categories.

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

Potion2/7

Ébène5/7

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

PotionDSQUARED²

ÉbènePierre Balmain

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.15/ 5 · 1,474 votes

Have 43%Had 26%Want 31%

4.37/ 5 · 122 votes

Have 64%Had 36%Want 0%

Category winnerÉbèneRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

41%Love

45%Like

2%Ok

12%Dislike

0%Hate

1,474 votes

59%Love

30%Like

2%Ok

7%Dislike

2%Hate

122 votes

Category winnerÉbèneMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity66

〰 Sillage54

♥ Love / hate79

⏱ Longevity75

〰 Sillage69

♥ Love / hate84

Category winners

LongevityÉbène

SillageÉbène

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value58

¤ Price value45

Category winnerPotionBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

amber100%

warm spicy92%

musky84%

cinnamon77%

woody69%

fresh spicy61%

aromatic100%

fresh spicy92%

woody84%

amber77%

green69%

mossy61%

Scent match36%Some overlap · both amber, woody and fresh spicy

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top15 to 30 minutes

AngelicaMintThyme

Heart2 to 3 hours

CinnamonPepperGentianaRose

Base3 to 5 hours

AmberCashmere WoodPatchouliMusk

Top

MintAldehydesCarawayAniseArtemisiaBasilBergamotLemon

Heart

PineCarnationGeraniumPatchouliJasmineRoseCinnamon

Base

OakmossLeatherLabdanumAmberMuskTonka Bean

InformationalShared notesMint, Cinnamon, Rose and Amber. Durations are only published for Potion, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring29

Summer10

Fall100

Winter93

Day85

Night100

Spring71

Summer34

Fall100

Winter94

Day80

Night100

Category winnerÉbèneMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men72

Unisex25

Women3

Men88

Unisex8

Women4

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#1,225

PerfumerAnnick Menardo

Launched—

Reviews151

Overall rank#27,812

PerfumerMaurice Roucel

Launched2024

Reviews0

Category winnerPotionHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Potion by DSQUARED² is a warm, aromatic woody fragrance built around amber, cinnamon, and distinctive herbal accents. Created by perfumer Annick Menardo and launched in 2011 as an Eau de Parfum, it opens with a curious mix of cool mint, aromatic thyme, and green angelica. As the opening settles, the heart reveals crac…

Reviews →

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 →

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, Potion or Ébène?

Ébène takes 5 of 7 categories. Potion is rated 4.15/5 from 1,474 votes; Ébène is rated 4.37/5 from 122 votes. Choose Potion for a amber and warm spicy character. Wins on value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, evening wear. Choose Ébène for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in fall, evening wear.

Which lasts longer, Potion or Ébène?

Ébène lasts longest (Ébène 75/100, Potion 66/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Potion or Ébène?

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

Do Potion and Ébène smell similar?

Some overlap: a 36% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share amber, woody and fresh spicy accords. Common notes include Mint, Cinnamon, Rose and Amber.

Is Potion or Ébène better for summer or winter?

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

What are the notes in Potion and Ébène?

Potion has top notes of Angelica, Mint and Thyme, heart notes of Cinnamon, Pepper, Gentiana and Rose, a base of Amber, Cashmere Wood, Patchouli and Musk. 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.