Is Blue Talisman Extrait stronger than the original?

Ex Nihilo says the Extrait intensifies the original creation with deeper, more powerful notes. Reports differ on what that means in use. Fragrantica's review found it projects less but is longer-lasting, and Harvey Nichols cites around 10 hours' longevity on fabric. One Parfumo wearer found projection significantly reduced with longevity pretty much the same.

What are the notes in Blue Talisman Extrait?

Ex Nihilo lists pear and bergamot on top, orange blossom and jasmine in the heart, and sandalwood, vanilla, musks, Ambrofix™ and ambery woods in the base. The perfumer is Jordi Fernández. Ex Nihilo's own text describes the jasmine sambac and orange blossom as warm, rounded and solar, over a base enriched with vanilla and sandalwood.

How is Blue Talisman Extrait different from the EDP?

Comparing Ex Nihilo's published lists, Scento finds five shared notes: pear, bergamot, orange blossom, Ambrofix™ and musks. Ginger, mandarin, Georgywood™ and Akigalawood™ are dropped, while jasmine, sandalwood, vanilla and ambery woods are added. Fragrantica's review calls the Extrait less pear-forward and more dry-woody than the original.

Who made Blue Talisman Extrait and when was it released?

Fragrantica lists Blue Talisman Extrait de Parfum as launched in 2025, and Ex Nihilo credits Jordi Fernández as the perfumer. The eau de parfum came out in 2023, also by Fernández. Dunes Magazine reported that Ex Nihilo created the original in celebration of its 10th anniversary.

Is Blue Talisman Extrait unisex?

Fragrantica lists Blue Talisman Extrait for women and men. One YouTube reviewer from the Cal Cologne channel finds it shifted a touch masculine compared with the original. In the Scento Fragrance Index for October 2025 to September 2026, the original Blue Talisman is #4 among Europe's most-bought unisex perfumes.

When should you wear the Extrait versus the EDP?

Fragrantica's review treats the original as the everyday wear and the Extrait as an option for evenings out, such as a dinner, a movie or a theatre visit. A Brotherhood of Scent forum post pairs the eau de parfum with heat and daytime and the Extrait with evenings and cooler weather. Scentbird calls the Extrait versatile enough to wear every day.

Do you need both Blue Talisman versions?

Fragrantica's review calls the Extrait not a replacement or an alternative to Blue Talisman, but a continuation. The Cal Cologne reviewer disagrees and says you do not need both of these in your collection. Ex Nihilo's lists show a real overlap: five of nine notes are shared and the perfumer is the same. The Extrait changes the top, heart and base emphasis rather than the core pear and orange blossom idea.

What is the Quintessence collection?

Quintessence is Ex Nihilo's extrait line, which the house says expresses the most radical version of its iconic fragrances as Extraits de Parfum. Its travel set holds five extraits: Blue Talisman, Gold Immortals, The Hedonist, Lust in Paradise and Fleur Narcotique, in a 7.5 ml format.

Blue Talisman Extrait review: how it differs from the EDP

Blue Talisman Extrait de Parfum, launched in 2025,¹ keeps the original’s pear and orange blossom but trades ginger, mandarin and two woody notes for jasmine, sandalwood, vanilla and ambery woods.²^,3 Ex Nihilo says it intensifies the original with deeper, more powerful notes.² Fragrantica’s review found it projects less but lasts longer.⁴

It is a 2025 extrait by Jordi Fernández, the perfumer behind the original eau de parfum.¹
Both versions list nine notes. Five are shared, four leave and four arrive (Scento analysis of Ex Nihilo’s published note lists).²^,3
Wearers disagree on strength: one editorial review says it projects less and lasts longer, one wearer says projection drops and longevity stays the same.⁴
Several sources put the Extrait in evenings and cooler weather, while others call it a year-round, everyday wear.⁴^,5^,6^,7

Key figures

2025

Launch year of the Extrait

Fragrantica ¹

4 out, 4 in

Notes dropped and added between the eau de parfum and the Extrait

Scento analysis of Ex Nihilo’s note lists ²^,3

The original Blue Talisman among Europe’s most-bought unisex perfumes, October 2025 to September 2026

Scento Fragrance Index ⁸

Extraits in Ex Nihilo’s Quintessence travel set

Ex Nihilo ⁹

Around 10 hours

Longevity on fabric, as stated on the retailer’s product page

Harvey Nichols ¹⁰

Blue Talisman Extrait at a glance

Blue Talisman Extrait de Parfum was launched in 2025 and the nose behind it is Jordi Fernández.¹ Ex Nihilo’s own page gives the same perfumer and lists the formats as 100ml, 50ml and 5x7.5ml, with the tagline “A hypnotic jewel”.² It joins the house’s Quintessence collection, which Ex Nihilo describes as “the most radical version of EX NIHILO’s iconic fragrances as Extraits de Parfum”.¹¹

The original came first. Blue Talisman eau de parfum was launched in 2023, also by Fernández,¹²^,13 and was created for the house’s 10th anniversary.¹⁴ Ex Nihilo was founded in Paris in 2013.¹⁵

Both are in the Scento catalogue: Blue Talisman Extrait de Parfum at Scento and Blue Talisman eau de parfum at Scento. For the wider house, see Ex Nihilo and our guide to the best Ex Nihilo perfumes.

The notes, side by side with the original

Ex Nihilo’s two published note lists make the change easy to see. The table sets them next to each other; the last column is our reading of what changed.

Blue Talisman eau de parfum against Blue Talisman Extrait, as published by Ex Nihilo
Note tier	Eau de parfum ³	Extrait ²	Change (Scento analysis)
Top	Pear, bergamot, ginger, mandarin	Pear, bergamot	Pear and bergamot kept; ginger and mandarin dropped
Heart	Orange blossom, Georgywood™	Orange blossom, jasmine	Orange blossom kept; Georgywood™ dropped; jasmine added
Base	Ambrofix™, Akigalawood™, musks	Sandalwood, vanilla, musks, Ambrofix™, ambery woods	Ambrofix™ and musks kept; Akigalawood™ dropped; sandalwood, vanilla and ambery woods added
Launch	2023 ¹²	2025 ¹	Two years apart
Perfumer	Jordi Fernández	Jordi Fernández	Same
Formats	100ml, 50ml, 5x7.5ml	100ml, 50ml, 5x7.5ml	Same

What stayed, what left, what arrived

Each list holds nine notes, but the weight moves. The eau de parfum has four top notes, two in the heart and three in the base. The Extrait has two on top, two in the heart and five in the base.²^,3 Five notes are shared: pear, bergamot, orange blossom, Ambrofix™ and musks. Ginger, mandarin, Georgywood™ and Akigalawood™ are gone, and jasmine, sandalwood, vanilla and ambery woods are new.

Put plainly, the bright citrus and woody-amber top and heart of the original thin out, and the base grows. Ex Nihilo describes the original as “a vibrant blend of juicy Pear and soft, abstract Musky notes” balanced by “an overdose of Ambrofix”.³ For the Extrait it says jasmine sambac and orange blossom reveal “warm, rounded, and solar tonalities” over a base “enriched with Vanilla and Sandalwood”.² Fragrantica’s database entry puts the shift this way: the eau de parfum “focused on citrus, amber, and woods”, while the Extrait “pivots toward a fruitier and more floral orientation, anchored by a rich, ambery base”.¹

How it wears from opening to dry-down

Sources split on the opening. The Scentbird blog, writing from the launch event, says the Extrait “skips the airy ‘blue’ citrus opening of the OG, heading straight for ripe pear and warm depth”,⁶ while Fragrantica’s review says that, like the original, it opens on “citrus, pear, and aldehydes”.⁴ In the note lists, pear and bergamot carry the top on their own once ginger and mandarin are gone.

The heart rests on jasmine and orange blossom, which Ex Nihilo calls warm and solar.² The base is where reviewers spend most of their words. Fabelish describes “a creamy blend of amber, vanilla, and sandalwood with a subtle almondy nuance”.¹⁶ Fragrantica’s review calls the sandalwood “dry and powdery” with “a creamy, almost milky facet” and pairs it with “a lightly smoky vanilla”.⁴ The same review says that, next to the original, the Extrait is “less pear-forward” and “leans more aldehydic, more dry-woody”.⁴

Taken together, the descriptions point to a pear in a warmer and denser frame that settles into sandalwood and vanilla. If you like the base of woods in a fragrance, our list of niche sandalwood perfumes covers the wider field.

Longevity and projection: what wearers report

This is where reports pull apart, so we set them out one by one rather than average them. Each is one source’s view, not a measurement.

Fragrantica’s review: “It projects less, but it is longer-lasting – thanks to a generous dose of sandalwood in the base.” It also calls the Extrait a “softer, calmer aura” than the original.⁴
Harvey Nichols (retailer copy for the 50 ml): “Around 10 hours’ longevity on fabric”, with “strong projection for the first 2.5 hours, then close sillage”.¹⁰
A YouTube side-by-side by the Cal Cologne channel: the reviewer gets “a comfortable 4 to 6 hours from both” versions, then a skin scent of about 8 to 9 hours from the eau de parfum and about 10 to 11 hours from the Extrait. He also finds the original projects a little stronger, which he puts down to the age of his eau de parfum bottle.⁷
A Parfumo wearer who disagrees: “The projection is significantly reduced compared to the EdP and the longevity is pretty much the same.”¹⁷
Another Parfumo wearer: the Extrait “is somewhat gentler and remains noticeably more present on my skin for much longer”, and “two well-placed sprays are perfectly sufficient”.¹⁸

The pattern is consistent on projection and mixed on staying power. Four of the five reports describe the Extrait as quieter or gentler, and three say it lasts longer. The Parfumo wearer who found longevity unchanged is the exception, and the retailer’s strong first 2.5 hours is the one claim pointing the other way on projection.

The lesson is that a higher concentration does not automatically mean a louder fragrance. Heavier base materials such as sandalwood can hold close to the skin for hours while throwing less into the room. Our explainers on perfume concentrations and on how concentration affects sillage go through why. Ex Nihilo does not publish a concentration figure for either version.

Extrait or eau de parfum: who each one suits

Treat these as sources’ leanings, not rules.

Season and time of day. Fragrantica’s review places the original as the everyday wear and the Extrait as “an option for special occasions”, such as “evenings out – a dinner, a movie, a theater visit”.⁴ A forum post in the Brotherhood of Scent community puts it as “EDP = heat, daytime, easy wear / Extrait = evenings, cooler weather, richer vibe”.⁵ Scentbird disagrees in part, calling the Extrait “nocturnal, sensual, and softer-leaning than the original, but versatile enough to wear every day”.⁶
Airy or dense. If you want the bright, pear-and-musk lift of the original, the eau de parfum is the more direct route. If you want a deeper, creamier base, the Extrait is built for that.
Unisex lean. Fragrantica lists the Extrait “for women and men”.¹ The Cal Cologne reviewer finds it “shifted a touch masculine” next to the original and “suitable as a year-round” fragrance.⁷

Do you need both? Fragrantica’s review calls the Extrait “not a replacement or an alternative to Blue Talisman, but a continuation”.⁴ That is one editor’s view. The Cal Cologne reviewer disagrees: “you do not need both of these in your collection”.⁷ The overlap is real: five of nine notes are shared and the perfumer is the same.

The original is the one in Scento’s own order data. In the Scento Fragrance Index for October 2025 to September 2026, it ranks #13 among the most-bought perfumes across Europe and #4 among the most-bought unisex perfumes in Europe. By country, it is #8 in France and #7 in Greece overall, and among unisex perfumes it is #2 in Greece, #3 in France and #5 in Germany.⁸ The Extrait does not appear in the index, so there is no ranking to quote for it. Our unisex perfumes ranking shows where the original sits among its peers.

Other extraits in Ex Nihilo’s Quintessence set

Blue Talisman Extrait is one of five in the Quintessence travel set, alongside Gold Immortals Extrait, The Hedonist Extrait, Lust in Paradise Extrait and Fleur Narcotique Extrait.⁹ Three of the others are in our catalogue, with the maker’s notes below.

Lust in Paradise Extrait by Ex Nihilo

Top notes are blackcurrant, pink pepper, Rosyfolia™ and red ginger. The heart holds Petalia™, rose absolute and jasmine sambac, over a base of Akigalawood™, cedarwood, Ambrofix™ and musks. The perfumer is Louise Turner.¹⁹ It suits readers who want a rose with spice and a woody finish. Lust in Paradise Extrait at Scento

The Hedonist Extrait by Ex Nihilo

Grapefruit, bergamot and ginger open it. Akigalawood™, cedarwood and lychee form the heart, and the base is ambery woods, vetiver, tonka bean and patchouli. The perfumer is Jordi Fernández, who also made Blue Talisman.²⁰ It suits those who like a fresh citrus start with a dry, woody finish. The Hedonist Extrait at Scento

Fleur Narcotique Extrait by Ex Nihilo

Osmanthus, bergamot and lychee sit on top, with freesia, jasmine, Petalia™ and orange blossom in the heart. Oakmoss, sandalwood and musks make up the base. The perfumer is Quentin Bisch.²¹ It suits wearers who want a floral with a mossy, woody depth. Fleur Narcotique Extrait at Scento

If you prefer the lighter eau de parfum style, each has an original. The maker lists Lust in Paradise as pink pepper and Rosyfolia™ over Petalia™, rose absolute, musk, white cedarwood and Ambrofix™.²² The Hedonist pairs bergamot and ginger with cedarwood, Akigalawood™, vetiver, musks and tonka bean.²³ Fleur Narcotique combines bergamot, lychee and peach with Petalia™, orange blossom, jasmine, musk, transparent wood and moss.²⁴ They are at Lust in Paradise, The Hedonist and Fleur Narcotique.

How we compiled this

We read Ex Nihilo’s own product and collection pages, Fragrantica’s editorial review and database entries, a retailer page, two Parfumo user reviews, a YouTube comparison, a launch-event blog post and a fan forum thread, all on 30 October 2026. Note differences between the two versions are our own analysis of Ex Nihilo’s published lists. Performance claims are attributed to the person or page that made them. The ranks come from the Scento Fragrance Index, which covers October 2025 to September 2026.

Sources

Blue Talisman Extrait de Parfum, Fragrantica. fragrantica.com
BLUE TALISMAN EXTRAIT, Ex Nihilo. ex-nihilo-paris.com
BLUE TALISMAN Eau de parfum, Ex Nihilo. ex-nihilo-paris.com
Blue Talisman Extrait by Ex Nihilo: A Study in Light and Shadow, Fragrantica, 8 September 2025. fragrantica.com
SOTD: Blue Talisman EDP Followed by SOTE Blue Talisman EXTRAIT, Brotherhood Of Scent. skool.com
Inside Scentbird’s Exclusive Launch Party for Ex Nihilo’s Blue Talisman Extrait, Scentbird Blog, 30 September 2025. scentbird.com
Blue Talisman EDP vs Extrait – Full Comparison & Review, Cal Cologne, YouTube. youtube.com
Scento Fragrance Index, Scento, October 2025 to September 2026.
Travel Set QUINTESSENCE, Ex Nihilo. us.ex-nihilo-paris.com
EX NIHILO Blue Talisman Extrait Parfum 50 ml, Harvey Nichols. harveynichols.com
Quintessence collection, Ex Nihilo. ex-nihilo-paris.com
Blue Talisman, Fragrantica. fragrantica.com
Blue Talisman Eau de Parfum, Parfumo. parfumo.com
Ex Nihilo launches the Blue Talisman in celebration of their 10th year anniversary, Dunes Magazine, 13 October 2023. dunesmagazine.com
Blue Talisman, Nose Paris. noseparis.com
Blue Talisman by Ex Nihilo Levels Up: Meet the Extrait de Parfum, Fabelish, 21 September 2025. fabelish.com
User review of Blue Talisman Eau de Parfum with an Extrait postscript, Parfumo. parfumo.com
User review of Blue Talisman Extrait, Parfumo. parfumo.com
Lust in Paradise Extrait, Ex Nihilo. ex-nihilo-paris.com
The Hedonist Extrait, Ex Nihilo. us.ex-nihilo-paris.com
Fleur Narcotique Extrait, Ex Nihilo. ex-nihilo-paris.com
Lust in Paradise Eau de Parfum, Ex Nihilo. us.ex-nihilo-paris.com
The Hedonist Eau de Parfum, Ex Nihilo. us.ex-nihilo-paris.com
Iconic Miniatures Set, Ex Nihilo (Fleur Narcotique eau de parfum notes). us.ex-nihilo-paris.com