Fragrance comparison

Tabac Original vs Balafre

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

Updated 14 Nov 2026 1,282 ratings analysed

Tabac Original

Tabac

3.911,148 votes

Rank #1,290 AromaticFresh Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

59%scent match

Closely related

5 wins

Balafre

Lancôme

4.00134 votes

Rank #8,659 AromaticWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Balafre takes 5 of 7 categories.

Tabac Original
Choose it for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring.
Balafre
Choose it for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Tabac Original2/7

Balafre5/7

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Tabac OriginalTabac

BalafreLancôme

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.91/ 5 · 1,148 votes

Have 76%Had 24%Want 0%

4.00/ 5 · 134 votes

Have 37%Had 18%Want 45%

Category winnerBalafreRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

35%Love

45%Like

10%Ok

9%Dislike

2%Hate

953 votes

21%Love

61%Like

4%Ok

11%Dislike

1%Hate

70 votes

Category winnerBalafreMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity61

〰 Sillage54

♥ Love / hate76

⏱ Longevity64

〰 Sillage61

♥ Love / hate77

Category winners

LongevityBalafre

SillageBalafre

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value88

¤ Price value31

Category winnerTabac OriginalBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

aromatic100%

fresh spicy92%

woody84%

citrus77%

floral69%

warm spicy61%

aromatic100%

woody91%

green83%

fresh spicy74%

mossy65%

citrus56%

Scent match59%Closely related · both aromatic, woody and fresh spicy

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

PetitgrainBergamotPepperLemonNeroli

Heart

ChamomileLavenderGeraniumOak

Base

SandalwoodCarnationMuskVetiverAmber

Top

Green NotesLimeCypressChamomileLavenderNeroli

Heart

Pine needlesClary SageGeraniumCarnationCedar

Base

OakmossVetiverLeatherMuskAmber

InformationalShared notesNeroli, Chamomile, Lavender and Geranium. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer0

Fall0

Winter98

Day–

Night–

Spring100

Summer72

Fall67

Winter39

Day100

Night42

Category winnerBalafreMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men86

Unisex11

Women3

Men85

Unisex5

Women10

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#1,290

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews205

Overall rank#8,659

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews25

Category winnerTabac OriginalHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Tabac Original is a pillar of European grooming that smells like a freshly swept German barbershop. It leads with a sharp punch of petitgrain and lemon before settling into a clean, floral heart of lavender and geranium. This is not a modern gourmand. It is a dry, soapy scent for men who value a crisp, groomed present…

Reviews →

Balafre reads as a green, aromatic woody chypre with a brisk lime and herbal opening, then settles into pine, cedar, oakmoss and vetiver. Reviews point to a fresh, sparkling feel rather than anything sweet or heavy. It suits shoppers who enjoy classic masculine structure, foresty textures and a cleaner old-school styl…

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, Tabac Original or Balafre?

Balafre takes 5 of 7 categories. Tabac Original is rated 3.91/5 from 1,148 votes; Balafre is rated 4.00/5 from 134 votes. Choose Tabac Original for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring. Choose Balafre for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Tabac Original or Balafre?

Balafre lasts longest (Balafre 64/100, Tabac Original 61/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Tabac Original or Balafre?

Balafre projects furthest (Balafre 61/100, Tabac Original 54/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Tabac Original and Balafre smell similar?

Closely related: a 59% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic, woody and fresh spicy accords. Common notes include Neroli, Chamomile, Lavender and Geranium.

Is Tabac Original or Balafre better for summer or winter?

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

What are the notes in Tabac Original and Balafre?

Tabac Original has top notes of Petitgrain, Bergamot, Pepper and Lemon, heart notes of Chamomile, Lavender, Geranium and Oak, a base of Sandalwood, Carnation, Musk and Vetiver. Balafre has top notes of Green Notes, Lime, Cypress and Chamomile, heart notes of Pine needles, Clary Sage, Geranium and Carnation, a base of Oakmoss, Vetiver, Leather and Musk.