From the very beginning, Black II smells sweet, fruity and distinctly vanilla-like to my nose. The combination of fruit and a warm, creamy sweetness stands out to me right away.
I don't find the sweetness particularly sharp or aggressive. It feels more soft, rounded and creamy. That's exactly why I can understand why many people find this fragrance so lovely. The fruity side adds a touch of liveliness, while the vanilla gives it warmth and a certain softness.
And basically, I have to say: it smells good.
My problem isn't that I find Black II poorly composed. On the contrary - as a fragrance, I'd give it an 8 out of 10.
For me, the problem only arises when I think about wearing it for several hours.
Vanilla is a note that can start to bother me quickly over time. It's prominent enough in Black II that I can easily imagine the combination of vanilla and sweetness becoming too much and overwhelming for me after a while.
That's exactly why I make a clear distinction here between "a lovely fragrance" and "a fragrance I'd want to wear myself".
Black II smells lovely. I can absolutely appreciate its warm, fruity and creamy composition, and I understand why someone who loves sweet vanilla fragrances might be very happy with it.
But personally, this style is simply too sweet and too dominated by vanilla for me.
My verdict: Black II is a lovely, fruity-sweet and creamy vanilla fragrance with a soft, rounded sweetness. As a fragrance in its own right, I give it an 8 out of 10, because I think it's genuinely good quality. I wouldn't wear it myself, though, as the vanilla and sweetness would probably become too much for me over time.
Lovely to smell, but nothing I'd want on my skin all day.
