Ex Nihilo Fleur Narcotique EDP vs Extrait

Fleur Narcotique is the fragrance most people know Ex Nihilo for. The Extrait isn't its stronger version in the sense of 'the same, just denser' — Quentin Bisch reworked the composition and added flowers. So the question isn't just how much more it gives you, but whether you're even after the same thing.

Property	Fleur Narcotique EDP	Fleur Narcotique Extrait
Concentration	EDP	Extrait
Top notes	Bergamot, lychee, pear	osmanthus, bergamot, lychee
Heart notes	Petalia™, jasmine, orange blossom	freesia, jasmine, orange blossom, petalia
Base notes	musk, wood, moss	moss, sandalwood, musk
Longevity (community rating)	6–8 hours	12+ hours
Sillage (community rating)	Moderate, arm's length	Strong
Full bottle	€190 / 50 ml	€460 / 100 ml
Price per millilitre	€3.80	€4.60
Decant 5 ml	€25	€30
Decant 10 ml	€45	€52

The difference isn't strength but direction. The EDP opens fruity — pear and lychee — and stays bright. The Extrait comes in with osmanthus, adds freesia to the heart and sandalwood to the base, so it's more floral and softer towards the end. If it's exactly that fruity brightness you love in the EDP, the Extrait isn't an upgrade but a different fragrance. If the EDP always felt a little thin to you, the Extrait is what you've been looking for. The extra cost per millilitre is 80 cents — at that price it makes sense to find the answer with a decant of both rather than a full bottle.

Is the Extrait stronger than the EDP?

It's denser, which for an extrait means more perfume oil and less alcohol. That's not the same as louder. As a rule the Extrait stays closer to the skin and for longer, while the EDP stands out more in the first hour. Which one comes across stronger on you depends on your skin.

Why is the Extrait more expensive even though the bottle is bigger?

Because prices aren't compared by bottle but by millilitre. The EDP costs €3.80 per millilitre, the Extrait €4.60. A bigger bottle only means a higher total, not a better ratio.

Which is better for a man?

In our database the EDP is listed as feminine and the Extrait as unisex. In practice, with sandalwood and moss in the base, the Extrait is more neutral, but both remain floral fragrances — if you don't enjoy wearing florals, no concentration will change that.

Is it worth buying both?

Rarely. They overlap enough to compete with each other in a collection. Take one decant of each, wear each on its own for a week and keep the one you actually reach for.