Pure Black

Well I'll be...I just got my bottle of "BLACK" in today and this is way better than I expected!! It opens up with this fresh citrus blast that invigorates you and wows your senses. Then, almost IMMEDIATELY, the dry-vanillic tones of the fragrance start to blossom! It's like...walking into the downtown Kuwait souk and that beautifully sweet and comforting scent of vanilla and flowers hits you and makes you want to cuddle up with a blanket and just drift off to sleep...then there's this hint of spicyness. It pokes it's head up to say "Hey there!" every now and then as the fragrance develops while you're wrapped in that comfy bubble of dry-vanilla/dry-tonka heaven. I like that this fragrance isn't super sweet, it's got just enough sweetness to be smelled and give you an aura...but not diabeeetus sweet like my "P.R. - Phantom" is. This is a nice change from my norm as of late. I haven't gotten to the dry-down yet, but I'm expecting it to be as amazing as the opening and mid are...were...is...I don't care, I just love this! I'm going to put on more before I go out tonight and see how it does. If it holds up and keeps good...I'm ordering a backup bottle tonight when I return home. (Spray count: 4 on body, two on neck, 1ea inner elbow, 1 back of neck) (The next day...) Yuuuup...this one goes in my TOP-5 fragrances. Woke up this morning still smelling like sweet vanilla heaven. Wife cuddled up and said "Yummmm...You smell good!"...and that was it. Went out for lunch today around 1100 and layered it with Ejaazi and it was perfect! That kept the citrus note in play, added on some Ambroxan to boost and really pushed the vanilla tone out from arms length to about a 5-6ft cloud for about an hour or so. After that, it's been arms length for the past hour with a niiiiiice sillage trail!

After reading mixed reviews I decided to blind buy this and was instantly impressed. For a $24 100ml bottle this smells amazing. Mandarina Duck Black opens with a fresh, bright, juicy, refreshing tangerine note, which is accompanied by a sweet accord consisting of (mostly) tonka bean, and vanilla. There is also a warm spicy, peppery layer underneath the citrus and sweetness, which reminds me just a little bit of the opening of One Million (this is not nearly as loud/sweet/spicy/heavy). There is also a slightly white floral vibe, along with the sweetness makes this fragrance slightly unisex. As it develops, the citrus lingers for a surprisingly long time and when it eventually fades, you get this creamy, powdery, warm, smooth, sensual, tonka bean dominant dry down. On my skin this progresses quite a lot with time, which is really nice because I love the different vibes it gives off: refreshing, citrusy in the beginning, warm and sensual towards the end. There are some undeniable resemblance with Chanel Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme especially in the dry down. Not sure why some people are saying they don't smell similar at all. The citrus in the Chanel definitely smells more realistic and is overall smoother, more complex and better blended. But being sub $25 you just can't complain about Mandarina Duck Black. Great cheapie, not the most unique but it's extremely pleasant, inviting, versatile, has decent performance, and easy to reach for. Opening: 9/10 Dry down: 8.3/10 Uniqueness: 8/10 Versatility: 9.3/10 Presentation: 9/10 Sillage: 8/10 Longevity: 8/10 Sprays: 3-5 Season: Spring & summer Occasion: Casual, date, everyday Overall Rating: 8.7/10 Wife Rating: 9.3/10

One of the best i've ever tried, and my most complimented fragrance. Simply fantastic. I like the opening, but the best part is the dry down. Starts with soft sweet citrus, zero black at this point. But after a 20min, it goes darker and transforms in a very well balanced fragrance. Not much sweet, not much floral, not much citrus, not much vanilla... Every note plays a little role in this composition. And the result is just wonderful. Some people say that PB is similar to One Million... I'm 50% agree. One Million is harsh, too strong, worst balanced, even a little nauseating compared to PB, which is richer, creamier and smoother. Is like to compare Acqua di Giò with Allure Homme Sport. There are many frags that look alike One Million much more than this: 212 VIP, Antonio Banderas Golden Secret or Davidoff The Game. Just to say a few examples. If you like One Million, you'll probably like this. If you don't like One Million, test PB and you'll be surprised. And not. It has NOTHING in common with Allure Homme. It's has nice longevity, above average. On clothes lasts days, (I never spray directly on clothes, but mi shirt is still smelling). Projection is nice too, considering the softness of the composition. Unisex? Probably, but not in a femenine way. It's more masculine than other evening fragrances like One Million, Dior Homme (and intense), Armani Code Ultimate, Givenchy Play Intense...

I am a cologne junkie in addition to being a men's fragrance salesman. I have smelled a great many fragrances, obviously, and I have NEVER, ever, evereverevereverever...smelled a scent as effing amazing as Pure Black. I have 2 large bottles of it on my shelf. I do like to keep my personal stock up. ;) There is just no way to fully convey the awesometasticness of MDPB to the uninitiated. Yes, it's sweet. Okay, maybe it does smell a little like pipe tobacco up front. On the skin...oh my. The Indian Pepper and woodsy undertones start popping. I can never wear this in public and not have a woman come up to me or comment on it. Of course, it doesn't hurt that I'm pretty damned hot, but when you add the fragrance...it's a lady killer. It's awesome that it isn't available at all retailers, to be sure, which is why I am grateful to have it at my disposal for those guys looking for a surefire, and do excuse the base parlance here, panty dropper. I had one cat to whom I sold a bottle return to me, declare me a fragrance deity, and regaled me with tales of carnal conquest which began with one sniff of PB. He said one girl even bit him. lol I think MDPB is just...it's the business. The shiz. Period.

I have a very different impression from previous reviewers...On me this is reminiscent of CH Men, and Hana Morei HiM - but without the boozy notes. I don't get La Nuit at all or anything as sweet as Pi. Lasting for 4-6 hrs on one spray it's really nice. It's love for me and the dominant notes I get from opening to base are sweet cinnamon woods. Very comfortable fragrance for me and my wife finds it sweet and delicious. Great, great buy. Edit: I've been wearing for many days now. It's a really beautiful fragrance and linear in the sense that it doesn't follow the traditional scent pyramid, rather it fades in and out between notes. I still get the woody cinnamon backbone, but the floral notes definitely stand out and give it a beautiful top layer that is pleasing. If I were to give this a title or catch phrase, I would say this is 1 million for the office. Not to say this smells like a 1 million clone/copy as the floral notes in Pure Black give it a unique character. It's wearer is approachable and mysterious. I love this.

My gosh, this stuff is fantastic. It's that perfect balance of citrus, creaminess, and woody notes. I think it's also more versatile than people are giving it credit for. Would it work better at night? Yeah, probably. But I also have absolutely no problem with wearing this during the day, either. It's fresh enough that you can definitely get away with wearing it before nighttime. It's a very masculine, yet pleasing, fragrance. I get very little pepper in the opening, but there's just enough that it gives it a little something extra than just the sweeter notes. The performance is also really good. Definitely worth the $20 I spent on it. Probably gonna get a backup, too. UPDATE: Still loving this. I find myself constantly fighting the urge to put this on instead of my other Fall/Winter scents because it just smells so nice and clean. The citrus and creamier notes are just so well balanced. I will reiterate that I don't see this as much of a "dark" scent really at all. It's brighter than they would have you believe.

It was much different from what i expected. This is a very light fragrance. Its fruity and a bit sweet. I almost thought it was feminine and my fiance agreed but she said it also is a bit manly to where she wouldn't wear it. Her mother said it smells like a mens cologne. I guess it might be my false expectations of something a bit thicker, or darker or something because the high ratings for fall and winter and my experience with winter and fall fragrances was nothing like with this one. The white floral notes are really out there. I really like the smell once i got over my expectations. I bought it for $22 on fragrencenet and i do not regret it. I just don't see how its considered a winter scent based on the ratings here. I think its not strong enough for winter i see this a spring summer fragrance. The more i wear it the more it the more i feel its less feminine and more manly and maybe because i don't have much experience with white floral notes and it threw me off at first.

On first try of Pure Black I get similarities to boss bottled, but it's more like what boss bottled wants to be when it grow up. I don't know about armani code because in all honesty I can't remember what it smells like even though I went through 2 bottles of it. It's must have been boring. Pure Black is a scent you wont forget. Even though pepper is in the top notes it really gets incredible in the dry down, about 3 to 4 hours in. I'm glad this isn't readily available in my area, I'm selfish with this, I want to be the only one to smell this good. I won't say much about longevity because 8 to 12 hours is normal for me and this is in that range. Sillage? I can smell myself, other than that...f*ck knows? who cares. Amazing fragrance, cool bottle. 9/10

It's fresh and creamy You can tell from first whiff it's citrus, tonka and vanilla with just the right dash of flower wood and pepper. I dont like fragrances with pepper because of my allergies but you can't tell it's in there it's perfectly blended into something fresh creamy sweet and nice. This is my favorite cologne out of my collection. It's simple inoffensive and every day wear for me that's a compliment getter. Doesn't project heavy just right when u walk pass somebody they'll get the whiff and start following you. Longevity for me is about 5hrs at work then i reapply. To me it's just the definition of strong but sweet and smooth. For the cool laid back guys.

My, my, my...I bought MDPB at the advice of a dear friend and wasn't he spot on! This fragrance definitely has a sweet and yet smoky tone to it that works and blends wonderfully. The notes of pepper, vanilla and an energizing orange peel feel give it an enticing, sensual and soothing effect. The drydown keeps you interested as the notes all come out to play; this frag has great longevity and sillage. I'm ever so surprise that this cologne is so affordable and it would be a great addition to anyone's repertoire. Mandarina Duck Pure Black has slowly become my personal favorites Longevity 8/10 Sillage 8/10 Scent 9/10

One of the best cheapies money can buy in my humble opinion. I get mostly Tonka, vanilla, white florals, and sandalwood which makes for a very pleasant powdery sweetness. Dries down to a non gourmand, sweet soapy-ish, clean smelling Tonka/vanilla reminiscent of how Prada Luna Rossa Sport dries down but with less soapy accords. One of my favorites just to wear for myself and enjoy catching whiffs, and it’s one of Nathalie Lorson’s creations so you really can’t go wrong. Not sure if Pure Black & Black are or were the same, but mine just says “Black” on the bottom.

This is a "thick" fragrance. Very nice vanilla/tonka almost boozy scent. I have a bottle from 2011 so I can't speak for the new reformulated batches. This will last multiple days on my clothing and gets many compliments. Several times people have asked me if I'm wearing a root beer float flavored fragrance, but they mean it in the best possible way. Considering the extremely low price I have to suggest this to anyone needing a very strong, formal scent. I bought a partially used 3.4oz tester from Fragrancenet for $5 and consider it one of my best purchases.

Sweet with a powdery touch to it. It's got a hint of orange blossom and a little bit of citrus at the top. Some people used to say it's a cheaper version of Chanel's Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme, but it's not quite the same. It's like Kenzo Jungle and Gucci Envy in the same ballpark. Has a good amount of Tonka in it, but it's still a lovely scent for fall and winter that's versatile and well-liked by many. Although it's not talked about much anymore, it's still very affordable and worth trying- somewhat underrated.

I do not understand how Nathalie Lorson does it! This is extremely affordable and SO GOOD!!! A creamy, sweet scent, but clean and very well blended. Citruses work so well with the tonka/vanilla combo! This is basically a slightly darker version of Chanel Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme. Performs decently well. Projects for a good couple hours and becomes a skin scent after about 4 hours. Gone completely after 6. If you're struggling to wear Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme during the colder months, look no further!

This had been one of my cold weather favorite fragrance for a few years. The new bottle I bought early this year kinda let me down. It was made in Italy (my old bottles were all made in Spain). The scent itself didn't change much, but it was definitely different. Especially when you compared it with Spain made version side by side. The performance became much much weaker. This diluted Italy made batch of pure black might be more suitable for cool night of warm season since it is still a nice sweet skin scent.

I have the 2012 formulation and it blows the new formulation out of the water. I bought this early in my fragrance journey. I haven't worn it in years plus this is not the typical fragrance I wear today. I have plenty of juice left and I'm glad I have it in my collection. It's a great fragrance for winter,spring and fall. Good for day time wear but best for night time. I believe this to be unisex and if my memory serves me,my wife has wore this a handful of times and it smelled great on her.

Absolute budget banger from Nathalie Lorson! 15-year-old cheapie that smells better and performs better than 80% of the new stuff hitting the designer market. Think Armani Code meets Nikos Sculpture and they start hanging out with Le Male Le Parfum. But a bit less dense.... Performance is average to slightly above for me, 3-5 hours or so. Which is all I get from new releases that cost a lot more. This stuff ROCKS...and it does so for less than $30. Bottle is cool, cap is shit.

It's not really like CAHSEE. It's more of a dried down CAHSEE, but with a amped vanilla/tonka and a stronger orange smell, without any mint. Have you guys smelt Boss in motion? It's closer to it than it is to CAHSEE. I'd say it's different than boss in motion in the opening tho, as I find that one very fizzy. But it gets closer in the dry down. It's basically orange + lots of vanilla + tonka + a little of sweet tobacco. I like it and it's performance its actually good.

Got this tonight as an early Valentine’s Day gift.. I sprayed it and it reminded me of something I have..As soon as I was trying to think of it my fiancé mentioned it smells like that Moschino Forever!! And I said, You are right! It’s sweater and there is a lot les citrus.. It is also done by the same perfumer Natalie Lorson!!! This is really really good and I can not wait to wear this on Valentine’s Day :) Thank you sweetheart for the early gift!! Rating 8.5/10

This is a fantastic fragrance. Very decadent, delicious,and fresh scent. I wouldn't recommend it for the summer, but it would be perfect in every other season. The pepper on the opening somewhat reminds of sauvage but it only lasts for a moment. The Orange gives it an slight fresh feel but the tonka settles it and deepens the sent. It is my wife's favorite out of my collection. For the $20 I invested, I have no complaints. Highly recommend!