We may earn a commission when you buy from links on our site, including the eBay Partner Network and Amazon.

Black
Pure Black
2009

7.3 / 10 113 Ratings
A perfume by Mandarina Duck for men, released in 2009. The scent is sweet-spicy. It is being marketed by AB Parfums / Angelini Beauty.
Compare
Similar fragrances
We may earn a commission when you buy from links on our site, including the eBay Partner Network and Amazon.

Main accords

Sweet
Spicy
Synthetic
Woody
Oriental

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes Top Notes
TangerineTangerine Indian pepperIndian pepper BergamotBergamot
Heart Notes Heart Notes
Tonka beanTonka bean Orange blossomOrange blossom TiaréTiaré
Base Notes Base Notes
Atlas cedarAtlas cedar Mysore sandalwoodMysore sandalwood Bourbon vanillaBourbon vanilla

Perfumer

Ratings
Scent
7.3113 Ratings
Longevity
6.997 Ratings
Sillage
6.696 Ratings
Bottle
6.7103 Ratings
Value for money
8.158 Ratings
Submitted by DonVanVliet · last update on 12/15/2025.
Source-backed & verified

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to
Black Extreme by Mandarina Duck
Black Extreme
Dark Temptation (Aftershave) by Axe
Dark Temptation Aftershave
Le Mâle Le Parfum by Jean Paul Gaultier
Le Mâle Le Parfum
Eros (Eau de Toilette) by Versace
Eros Eau de Toilette
Layton by Parfums de Marly
Layton
1 Million (Eau de Toilette) by Rabanne
1 Million Eau de Toilette

Reviews

10 in-depth fragrance descriptions
Elysium

900 Reviews
Elysium
Elysium
Top Review 7  
Best Bang for Your Buck
A Creamsicle is a parfait with a vanilla ice cream heart and a fruit sorbet coating. The classic combination of flavours is orange and vanilla, although we can find many variations on this premise in stores. Frozen fruit juice bars have historically been popular in many cultures, combining frozen sweet juice with creamy vanilla ice cream long before the Creamsicle hit stores. The dessert tastes very creamy with a hint of crunch from the frozen juice coating.

Well, do you believe in coincidences? I finished reading a Mandarina Duck Black review the other day, which was very interesting and inviting. To be tested, I said to myself. So, in the late afternoon, I decided to take a tour of the DM store, known in Germany and now very popular also in Italy. I immediately headed to the perfume department, and it displayed Black to my great surprise, on the shelf of the offers of the month, a super discounted price, the 100ml cost only €19. I sprayed the fragrance on the blotter, and immediately a creamy, spicy, powdery cloud spread in the air; it's much better on the skin. The aroma looks like another perfume I've used in the past without being a copy. It sits in the same ballpark as Le Mâle Eau de Toilette and Gentlemen Only Absolute, to give you an idea, yet not too strong on lavender and orange blossom. It smells more expensive than it costs, and that is amazing.

For me, Black belongs to the oriental-gourmand family and turns out to be sweet, citrusy, powdery and spicy, with the sweetness of coumarin, the powdery tonka and the spiciness of citrus, just a touch. In the background, I receive a chewy, almost burnt note, perhaps from the roasted tonka beans. The black pepper I take is not too strong and balances the Hesperides cocktail well, a mix of sweet mandarin and bright bergamot. Not so sweet, not so floral, not so citrusy, not very vanilla. Each note performs a small role in this story. And the result is simply incredible.

I catch an excellent citrus opening that evolves into a very creamy tonka-vanilla combo, fragmented by zesty flashbacks. After about ten minutes, a creamy sweetness oozes from the heart, something akin to orange Creamsicle or rather butterscotch ice cream. Now the aroma is almost entirely gourmand, with a warm floral touch of tiarè and orange blossom. Tonka is the dominant note, the main protagonist, and here she plays a central role, leaving a space in the vanilla base.

Since the fragrance dries, the bergamot loses part of its initial strength, leaving the tangerine to guide the aroma, and this is the most apparent change from the opening to the dry down. I then double-checked after a few hours. The scent is very close to the skin and radiates a velvety face powder, rich in spiced vanilla, and it's not cloying like the one in cupcakes. It is no longer sweet or gourmand, somewhat powdery like a baby powder. The presence of two kinds of wood is justified as a support, although the base is neither too woody nor too dry. Sandalwood adds more creaminess to the already creamy blend, and cedar sets the scent on the skin. I don't smell the typical smell of wood shavings here.

Ultimately, Black is a cologne that everyone should check out at least once and have in the closet if they like the sweet gourmand genre. A powdery, round vanilla sugared almond, almost a biscuit. It reminds me of a childhood smell of a bath gel pouring into the bathtub. As for longevity, I would say not so great, less than half a day, and then you have to reapply. As I said above, projection places itself close to the skin soon after an hour on me. But, considering the low price, this is not a disadvantage for me. The genre and the arrangements make me prefer this colony during the colder months; autumn is ideal. The spiciness at the beginning gives it masculinity, and it is fresh just enough to be worn for daytime use. A pleasant discovery, I did not regret the purchase, instead. A 100 ml at € 19 is always good for us, especially if the fragrance in question is delicious. After a full day wearing, I could say it is true that it vaguely recalls Allure Homme Sport Eau de Toilette, but Pure Black is more dense and vanilla.

I base the review on a 100ml bottle I have owned since October 2021.

-Elysium
1 Comment
PedroCabral

147 Reviews
PedroCabral
PedroCabral
Helpful Review 4  
The tonka bean...
Sweet perfume, at the same time that it is sprayed, there is a smell that reminds me of candy, but it is not feminine because of it. Despite this fact, I don't consider him a gourmand. Confused? I agree, but maybe that's why he becomes masculine.

A fruity fragrance caused by mandarin, spicy by Indian pepper and refreshed by bergamot with a touch sweetened by tonka bean. The fragrance remains sweet, the aroma loses its candy character and becomes more sober, more eye-catching. Cedar/sandalwood and tonka bean prolong the sweetness but at the same time an air of cleanliness, giving the impression of new clothes, smelling and being used for the first time.

I don't feel the orange blossom, but I believe it joins with the fruit and Indian pepper to give that candy-scented combination of the beginning of the perfume. It's not woody, but spicy-sweet, so it becomes an extremly young perfume, although older men can use it, but I see another 20 to 35 year old boy in a fine suit or casual, at a wedding, graduation, in a birthday, perhaps on a date for two when he wants to catch the attention of his date. It is not a perfume to be worn during the day with a t-shirt, jeans and sneakers. It looks best suited for a more refined sweater or shirt.
0 Comments
Drseid

828 Reviews
Drseid
Drseid
4  
Mandarina Duck's Pure Dud...
Mandarina Duck Pure Black starts off as a Memoire d'Homme Ricci clone... This is a very bad thing, as that scent was one of my biggest mistakes when I blind bought it many years ago. Things do develop differently with Pure Black, specifically PB has black pepper and tobacco notes that develop after the horrible opening. To be fair, this part of the scent is more appealing, but the ugly top notes still remain throughout, and I can't help but continuously think about the loathsome Memoire d'Homme by Ricci. I like PB better than that scent, but that is not saying much. Longevity with Pure Black is mercifully brief. My advice is to steer well clear of this two star out of 5 rated "pure dud".
1 Comment
Siebter

49 Reviews
Translated · Show originalShow translation
Siebter
Siebter
Top Review 15  
Vanilla with Dignity
Hm, I see hardly any similarities between "Pure Black" and "One Million." Both are on the sweet side, but otherwise...

"Pure Black" takes a very straightforward approach - the main players are tonka bean and vanilla, with orange blossom as the best supporting actor; this offers potential for pleasant, but also sticky fragrances. However, the ingredients of "Pure Black" seem very balanced to me, only the seconds immediately after spraying are somewhat synthetic - otherwise, this is a fine, warm, friendly scent that has significantly more character than nice guys like Armani Code.

The scent progression is quite linear, but the orange blossom holds its own and gives the tonka vanilla a nice twist. This fruity-floral note seems to sometimes even take center stage for me as a regular wearer of "Pure Black." Basically, PB is, as mentioned, two things: tonka bean and vanilla. I'm not a big fan of vanilla, but here it works.

"Pure Black" likely refers to the black vanilla pod, which is celebrated quite extensively here, but it could be misleading: in fact, PB is not an especially dark or gloomy scent.

Given the ingredients, it's no surprise that longevity and projection (or what is that called in German?) are comfortably above average; even on very cold days, I carry around a nicely velvety scent cloud for many hours without any problems.

I got PB for a song (15€ for 50ml or so), a rough search shows that the prices haven't changed much to date. I would easily pay double or more for it.

In summary: great winter scent, lasts long, not yet overdone. What more could you want? :-)

Edit - Just researched: interestingly, the perfumer of PB is Nathalie Lorson, who has also created Trussardi's "Inside" and "Encre Noire" by Lalique, among others.
9 Comments
ParfumAholic

257 Reviews
Translated · Show originalShow translation
ParfumAholic
ParfumAholic
Helpful Review 9  
Stick to Your Last...
Some time ago, I was (once again) browsing on Parfumo and stumbled upon Pure Black by Mandarina Duck.

An affordable fragrance that contains some of my personal addiction ingredients (vanilla, tonka, and sandalwood)? Of course, it had to be tested! Through a dear Parfumo friend, I got my hands on the object of my desire, and today was the day, the fragrance arrived, so the test could begin.

Right after spraying, I am overwhelmed by a wave of synthetic bergamot and orange. OK, one mustn't be unfair and should give every fragrance its chance to unfold and develop (no, I don't work in the Federal Ministry of Education, and I don't have an educational mandate here).

With great anticipation and now somewhat clouded excitement, I wait for my "trio." It doesn't take long, and vanilla, tonka, and sandalwood make their appearance. However, unlike usual, they don't play together, they don't complement or blend, but rather lie flat on my skin. Huh? And now? Nothing more. Like the infamous couch potatoes, they don't move an inch, they are static and phlegmatic.

As Heidi Klum always so inimitably says? "That looks boring now, try a different pose...". Exactly what Pure Black could use.

For me, the longevity isn't particularly great either, which in this case is more of a blessing than a curse.

No, PB and I do not find common ground. I have absolutely nothing against affordable AND good fragrances, which do exist. The price alone definitely doesn't make it. There are also super expensive fragrances that certainly do not live up to their promises. But this specimen here is just too little fragrance for me. PB doesn't bring a smile to my face; I almost perceive it as loveless and quickly thrown together (instant pudding instead of pudding cooked with milk).

Given Nathalie Lorson's history, I would have expected a bit more. But everyone is allowed a bad day. Maybe it was just the guidelines from Mandarina Duck? But it doesn't matter.

Of course, this fragrance cannot possibly compete in the Champions League of Guerlain and Co., but even affordable fragrances should at least have a surprise, a wink, or something that triggers that "I-want-to-wear-this" wish.

I would say that Mandarina Duck should better continue to focus on bags, as they apparently understand that more than perfumes.
4 Comments
More reviews

Statements

18 short views on the fragrance
5
Turns out to be sweet, citrusy, powdery and spicy, with the sweetness of coumarin, the powdery tonka, and hints of the sourness of citrus.
0 Comments
4
A nice example of a vanilla/woods perfume.
0 Comments
3
Sweet dreams are made of this
0 Comments
5 years ago
3
Sweet syntethic mess.
0 Comments
2
Pretty nice tonka-orange blossom based scent. Its like a cover band that plays every hit in a medley song. Sweet, woody, creamy. Good! 3/5
0 Comments
2
I usually dislike vanilla, but this one has enough citrus and spice while keeping the vanilla in check. Winter, cool weather cozy citrus.
0 Comments
2
Fresh and spicy top. It evolves into a soft woody, with a sweet touch. Good performance for the price!
0 Comments
6
Dust-dry yet ultra-sweet vanilla with an overdose of amarena, orange blossom - and tonka: A very fine, rich perfume for winter.
Translated · Show originalShow translation
0 Comments
2
Nice cheapie. Lightly floral, vanilla, creamy. Sillage moderate. For me, after showering, it’s pleasant for lounging at home on the couch.
Translated · Show originalShow translation
0 Comments
2
Even a master perfumer like Nathalie Lorson must create a disappointing mainstream scent sometimes. Nice - nothing more.
Translated · Show originalShow translation
0 Comments
More statements

Charts

This is how the community classifies the fragrance.
Pie Chart Radar Chart

Images

8 fragrance photos of the community
More images

Popular by Mandarina Duck

Black Extreme by Mandarina Duck Let's Travel to New York for Man by Mandarina Duck Mandarina Duck by Mandarina Duck Vida Loca for Him by Mandarina Duck Mandarina Duck Man by Mandarina Duck Vida Loca for Her by Mandarina Duck Freedomland by Mandarina Duck Into the Jungle by Mandarina Duck Let's Travel to New York for Woman by Mandarina Duck Resort Lovers by Mandarina Duck Let's Travel To Miami for Woman by Mandarina Duck The Mandariners for Him by Mandarina Duck Let's Travel To Miami for Man by Mandarina Duck Let's Travel to Paris for Man by Mandarina Duck Rouge Intense by Mandarina Duck All of Me for Her by Mandarina Duck Mandarina Duck for Him by Mandarina Duck Cute Blue by Mandarina Duck Black & Red by Mandarina Duck Cool Black by Mandarina Duck