Source vs Noir
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
38%scent match
Some overlap
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
Source takes 3 of 5 categories.
SourceChoose it for a fresh spicy and sweet character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in fall, evening wear.
NoirChoose it for a amber and powdery character. Wins on ratings & consensus and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter.
Source3/5
Noir2/5
- Ratings & consensus
- Noir
- Community sentiment
- Not scored
- Longevity
- Source
- Sillage & projection
- Source
- Value for money
- Source
- Versatility
- Not scored
- Note pyramid (duration)
- Not scored
- Fragranxe ranking
- Noir
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
SourceVallenseNoirTom FordWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split3.64/ 5 · 11 votes
Have 22%Had 9%Want 69%
4.06/ 5 · 4,336 votes
Have 76%Had 24%Want 0%
Category winnerNoirRating weighted by vote count
Community sentiment
How voters split from love to hate27%Love
36%Like
18%Ok
9%Dislike
9%Hate
11 votes · too few to score
43%Love
37%Like
6%Ok
13%Dislike
2%Hate
4,336 votes
Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)
Longevity & sillage
0–100 community performance scores
Category winners
LongevitySource
SillageSource
Value for money
How fairly priced voters find itCategory winnerSourceBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothfresh spicy100%
sweet92%
oud84%
green77%
amber69%
woody61%
amber100%
powdery92%
fresh spicy84%
woody77%
violet69%
patchouli61%
Scent match38%Some overlap · both fresh spicy, amber and woody
Note pyramid (duration)
Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = sharedTop15-30 mins
Black PepperBulgarian RoseMandarin
Heart2-4 hrs
PralineOudFrankincenseCypriol
Base6-8+ hrs
VetiverGrassBenzoinAmber
Top
VioletPink PepperCarawayBergamotVerbena
Heart
Tuscan IrisBulgarian RoseBlack PepperNutmegGeraniumClary Sage
Base
Indonesian Patchouli LeafAmberVanillaLeatherCivetOpoponaxBenzoinVetiver
InformationalShared notesBlack Pepper, Bulgarian Rose, Vetiver and Benzoin. Durations are only published for Source, so this is not scored.
Seasons & time of day
Relative to each fragrance's best seasonSpring33
Summer0
Fall100
Winter100
Day–
Night100
Spring38
Summer13
Fall0
Winter100
Day–
Night–
Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round
Who wears it
Gender appeal votesInformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored
Ranking & credits
Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launchOverall rank#50,083
PerfumerPia Long
Launched—
Reviews2
Overall rank#26,440
PerfumerOlivier Gillotin
Launched—
Reviews0
Category winnerNoirHigher overall rank
In a nutshell
Description & review snapshotVallense Source opens with a zesty kick of mandarin alongside cracked black pepper before settling into a warm blend of Bulgarian rose, nutty praline, and smoky frankincense. As it develops on skin, smooth oud and resinous benzoin balance the initial sweetness, grounded by earthy green vetiver in the base. It smells l…
Reviews →Tom Ford Noir opens with a clean, sharp burst of bergamot and verbena, but this bright start quickly fades as a heavy blanket of powdery violet and caraway seeds takes over. On the skin, the fragrance warms up and shifts from a fresh, spicy herbal blend into a dense, dark floral heart dominated by Tuscan iris and Bulg…
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.
Guided comparison
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Common questions
Straight answers from the data above.
Which is better, Source or Noir?
Source takes 3 of 5 categories. Source is rated 3.64/5 from 11 votes; Noir is rated 4.06/5 from 4,336 votes. Choose Source for a fresh spicy and sweet character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in fall, evening wear. Choose Noir for a amber and powdery character. Wins on ratings & consensus and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter.
Which lasts longer, Source or Noir?
Source lasts longest (Source 85/100, Noir 71/100), based on community performance votes.
Which projects more, Source or Noir?
Source projects furthest (Source 75/100, Noir 59/100), based on community performance votes.
Do Source and Noir smell similar?
Some overlap: a 38% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share fresh spicy, amber and woody accords. Common notes include Black Pepper, Bulgarian Rose, Vetiver and Benzoin.
Is Source or Noir better for summer or winter?
Source suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in Source and Noir?
Source has top notes of Black Pepper, Bulgarian Rose and Mandarin, heart notes of Praline, Oud, Frankincense and Cypriol, a base of Vetiver, Grass, Benzoin and Amber. Noir has top notes of Violet, Pink Pepper, Caraway and Bergamot, heart notes of Tuscan Iris, Bulgarian Rose, Black Pepper and Nutmeg, a base of Indonesian Patchouli Leaf, Amber, Vanilla and Leather.
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