Fragrance comparison

Tabac vs Tsar

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

Updated 14 Nov 2026 2,747 ratings analysed

Tabac

4.05932 votes

Rank #1,376 AromaticWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

42%scent match

Some overlap

6 wins

Tsar

Van Cleef & Arpels

4.191,815 votes

Rank #750 AromaticWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Tsar takes 6 of 7 categories.

Tabac
Choose it for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on value for money. Best in winter.
Tsar
Choose it for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter, daytime wear.

Tabac1/7

Tsar6/7

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

TabacTabac

TsarVan Cleef & Arpels

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.05/ 5 · 932 votes

Have 67%Had 33%Want 0%

4.19/ 5 · 1,815 votes

Have 63%Had 38%Want 0%

Category winnerTsarRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

38%Love

45%Like

2%Ok

14%Dislike

1%Hate

932 votes

45%Love

41%Like

3%Ok

11%Dislike

1%Hate

1,815 votes

Category winnerTsarMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity60

〰 Sillage54

♥ Love / hate76

⏱ Longevity72

〰 Sillage62

♥ Love / hate80

Category winners

LongevityTsar

SillageTsar

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value87

¤ Price value48

Category winnerTabacBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

aromatic100%

woody92%

aldehydic84%

citrus77%

floral69%

powdery61%

aromatic100%

woody90%

fresh spicy80%

green70%

earthy60%

mossy50%

Scent match42%Some overlap · both aromatic and woody

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

AldehydesLavenderNeroliLemonBergamot

Heart

CarnationSandalwoodPine Tree NeedlesRoseJasmineOrris Root

Base

TobaccoMuskOakmossAmberTonka BeanVanilla

Top20-30 mins

Green NotesLavenderArtemisiaRosemaryBergamotCorianderCinnamonNeroli

Heart2-4 hrs

Pine TreeJuniper BerriesCarnationTarragonGeraniumCarawayJasmineRose

Base6-8+ hrs

OakmossLeatherCedarPatchouliVetiverSandalwoodMuskAmber

InformationalShared notesLavender, Neroli, Bergamot and Carnation. Durations are only published for Tsar, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring97

Summer0

Fall0

Winter100

Day–

Night–

Spring91

Summer51

Fall0

Winter100

Day100

Night73

Category winnerTsarMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men87

Unisex10

Women3

Men94

Unisex5

Women1

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#1,376

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews151

Overall rank#750

PerfumerPhilippe Bousseton

Launched—

Reviews204

Category winnerTsarHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Tabac remains a staple for men who appreciate a traditional barbershop profile. It opens with sharp aldehydes and lavender that settle into a clean, soapy heart of carnation and pine tree needles. The dry down introduces a light tobacco note mixed with oakmoss and vanilla. This is a reliable daily choice for someone w…

Reviews →

Van Cleef & Arpels Tsar is a quintessential green aromatic cologne that captures the crisp air of a dense pine forest. It opens with an invigorating rush of cool lavender, bitter artemisia, and crushed rosemary, creating the sensation of walking through morning woodland dew. As the scent settles, aromatic juniper berr…

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.

Recent comparisons

Head-to-head activity from live history

BohemeSegreti di LuccaRUNNER-UP vs

Soir de LuneSisleyWINNER

1 person compared this today

Orange FlowerOscar de la RentaRUNNER-UP vs

Ti AmoRoja DoveWINNER

1 person compared this today

Eau de BruxellesLibertin Louison Technique IndiscreteRUNNER-UP vs

Private ClubJeanne ArthesWINNER

1 person compared this today

PatchouliJouriRUNNER-UP vs

al03biehl parfumkunstwerkeWINNER

1 person compared this today

Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, Tabac or Tsar?

Tsar takes 6 of 7 categories. Tabac is rated 4.05/5 from 932 votes; Tsar is rated 4.19/5 from 1,815 votes. Choose Tabac for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on value for money. Best in winter. Choose Tsar for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Tabac or Tsar?

Tsar lasts longest (Tsar 72/100, Tabac 60/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Tabac or Tsar?

Tsar projects furthest (Tsar 62/100, Tabac 54/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Tabac and Tsar smell similar?

Some overlap: a 42% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic and woody accords. Common notes include Lavender, Neroli, Bergamot and Carnation.

Is Tabac or Tsar better for summer or winter?

For summer, Tsar is the stronger pick. For winter, Tabac is the stronger pick. Tsar suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Tabac and Tsar?

Tabac has top notes of Aldehydes, Lavender, Neroli and Lemon, heart notes of Carnation, Sandalwood, Pine Tree Needles and Rose, a base of Tobacco, Musk, Oakmoss and Amber. Tsar has top notes of Green Notes, Lavender, Artemisia and Rosemary, heart notes of Pine Tree, Juniper Berries, Carnation and Tarragon, a base of Oakmoss, Leather, Cedar and Patchouli.