Fragrance comparison

Ustad vs Ébène

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

Updated 14 Nov 2026 139 ratings analysed

Ustad

Nabeel

3.5917 votes

Rank #47,171 AromaticFresh Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

45%scent match

Some overlap

4 wins

Ébène

Pierre Balmain · 2024

4.37122 votes

Rank #27,820 AromaticFresh Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Ébène takes 4 of 5 categories.

Ustad
Choose it for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on value for money. Best in spring, day or night wear.
Ébène
Choose it for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in fall, evening wear.

Ustad1/5

Ébène4/5

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

UstadNabeel

ÉbènePierre Balmain

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.59/ 5 · 17 votes

Have 44%Had 6%Want 50%

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

18%Love

41%Like

24%Ok

18%Dislike

0%Hate

17 votes · too few to score

59%Love

30%Like

2%Ok

7%Dislike

2%Hate

122 votes

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity68

〰 Sillage57

♥ Love / hate65

⏱ Longevity75

〰 Sillage69

♥ Love / hate84

Category winners

LongevityÉbène

SillageÉbène

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value69

¤ Price value45

Category winnerUstadBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

aromatic100%

fresh spicy92%

citrus84%

mossy77%

lavender69%

herbal61%

aromatic100%

fresh spicy92%

woody84%

amber77%

green69%

mossy61%

Scent match45%Some overlap · both aromatic, fresh spicy and mossy

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

BergamotLemonBasil

Heart

LavenderCinnamonGeraniumArtemisiaClary SageYlang-Ylang

Base

OakmossMuskCumin

Top

MintAldehydesCarawayAniseArtemisiaBasilBergamotLemon

Heart

PineCarnationGeraniumPatchouliJasmineRoseCinnamon

Base

OakmossLeatherLabdanumAmberMuskTonka Bean

InformationalShared notesBergamot, Lemon, Basil and Cinnamon. 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

Summer44

Fall100

Winter89

Day100

Night100

Spring71

Summer34

Fall100

Winter94

Day80

Night100

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men85

Unisex15

Women0

Men88

Unisex8

Women4

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#47,171

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews3

Overall rank#27,820

PerfumerMaurice Roucel

Launched2024

Reviews0

Category winnerÉbèneHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Nabeel Ustad delivers a classical aromatic fougere profile that balances sharp green herbs with warm spices. Bergamot and basil spark the opening, before settling into a soapy lavender and geranium heart. A dry down of cumin, oakmoss, and clean musk makes it a traditional scent for active daytime wear in warm weather.

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, Ustad or Ébène?

Ébène takes 4 of 5 categories. Ustad is rated 3.59/5 from 17 votes; Ébène is rated 4.37/5 from 122 votes. Choose Ustad for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on value for money. Best in spring, day or night wear. Choose Ébène for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in fall, evening wear.

Which lasts longer, Ustad or Ébène?

Ébène lasts longest (Ébène 75/100, Ustad 68/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Ustad or Ébène?

Ébène projects furthest (Ébène 69/100, Ustad 57/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Ustad and Ébène smell similar?

Some overlap: a 45% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic, fresh spicy and mossy accords. Common notes include Bergamot, Lemon, Basil and Cinnamon.

Is Ustad or Ébène better for summer or winter?

Ustad suits day or night wear; Ébène suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Ustad and Ébène?

Ustad has top notes of Bergamot, Lemon and Basil, heart notes of Lavender, Cinnamon, Geranium and Artemisia, a base of Oakmoss, Musk and Cumin. 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.