Fragrance comparison

The White vs Desir Noir

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

Updated 20 Oct 2026 69 ratings analysed

The White

The Sum

3.7633 votes

Rank #21,756 IrisPowdery

Full profile Similar & dupes

59%scent match

Closely related

6 wins

Desir Noir

Sylhouette Parfums

4.0436 votes

Rank #19,587 IrisPowdery

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Desir Noir takes 6 of 7 categories.

The White
Choose it for a iris and powdery character. Wins on versatility. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Desir Noir
Choose it for a iris and powdery character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in fall, evening wear.

The White1/7

Desir Noir6/7

Ratings & consensus: Desir Noir
Community sentiment: Desir Noir
Longevity: Desir Noir
Sillage & projection: Desir Noir
Value for money: Desir Noir
Versatility: The White
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Desir Noir

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

The WhiteThe Sum

Desir NoirSylhouette Parfums

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.76/ 5 · 33 votes

Have 12%Had 6%Want 82%

4.04/ 5 · 36 votes

Have 5%Had 1%Want 93%

Category winnerDesir NoirRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

39%Love

30%Like

0%Ok

27%Dislike

3%Hate

33 votes

44%Love

33%Like

15%Ok

0%Dislike

7%Hate

27 votes

Category winnerDesir NoirMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity63

〰 Sillage52

♥ Love / hate69

⏱ Longevity83

〰 Sillage68

♥ Love / hate80

Category winners

LongevityDesir Noir

SillageDesir Noir

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value25

¤ Price value59

Category winnerDesir NoirBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

iris100%

powdery86%

woody72%

violet58%

smoky44%

earthy30%

iris100%

powdery90%

smoky80%

earthy70%

musky60%

woody50%

Scent match59%Closely related · both iris, powdery and smoky

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Notes

IrisSmokeWoody Notes

No top / heart / base split published

Notes

Orris RootCigaretteSmokeIrisNatural MuskCocoaTonka BeanHoney

No top / heart / base split published

InformationalShared notesIris and Smoke. 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

Summer67

Fall83

Winter75

Day100

Night36

Spring56

Summer11

Fall100

Winter67

Day44

Night100

Category winnerThe WhiteMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men0

Unisex50

Women50

Men33

Unisex33

Women33

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#21,756

PerfumerJosh Meyer

Launched—

Reviews8

Overall rank#19,587

PerfumerSy Truong

Launched—

Reviews12

Category winnerDesir NoirHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

The White by The Sum pairs crisp iris root with a pale cloud of white smoke and dry woods. Crafted by perfumer Josh Meyer, it feels clean, quiet, and minimalist on skin. It shines in cool spring mornings or quiet office settings, offering a tranquil aura without heavy amber sweetness or dense spice.

Reviews →

Desir Noir is a moody, unisex fragrance that centers on powdery iris and smoky tobacco. It plays with the contrast between cosmetic dustiness and the sharp edge of cigarette smoke, grounded by sweet honey and cocoa. This 2024 release is best suited for chilly nights when you want a dark, alluring scent that lingers on…

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.

Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, The White or Desir Noir?

Desir Noir takes 6 of 7 categories. The White is rated 3.76/5 from 33 votes; Desir Noir is rated 4.04/5 from 36 votes. Choose The White for a iris and powdery character. Wins on versatility. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose Desir Noir for a iris and powdery character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in fall, evening wear.

Which lasts longer, The White or Desir Noir?

Desir Noir lasts longest (Desir Noir 83/100, The White 63/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, The White or Desir Noir?

Desir Noir projects furthest (Desir Noir 68/100, The White 52/100), based on community performance votes.

Do The White and Desir Noir smell similar?

Closely related: a 59% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share iris, powdery and smoky accords. Common notes include Iris and Smoke.

Is The White or Desir Noir better for summer or winter?

For summer, The White is the stronger pick. For winter, The White is the stronger pick. The White suits daytime wear; Desir Noir suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.