Bottle Design:
Serge Mansau

See Prices

More

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

Mugler 2002

7.2 / 10 144 Ratings

A perfume by Mugler for men, released in 2002. The scent is spicy-woody. It was last marketed by Coty.
Compare

More

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

Main accords

Spicy

Woody

Sweet

Fresh

Citrus

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Bitter orange

Lavender

Pepper

Nocturnal Concrete

Heart Notes

Cedar

Nutmeg

Caraway

Base Notes

Gaiac wood

Marzipan

Oud

Quantified Thumbprint

Perfumer

Michel Girard

Ratings

Scent

7.2144 Ratings

Longevity

7.1116 Ratings

Sillage

6.6111 Ratings

Bottle

6.7120 Ratings

Value for money

7.743 Ratings

Submitted by DonVanVliet · last update on 01/05/2026.

Source-backed & verified

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

Photo Eau de Toilette

Guapo

Amyris Homme Eau de Toilette

Sculpture Homme Eau de Toilette

Scuderia Ferrari - Black Eau de Toilette

Mistero di Roma Uomo Eau de Toilette

Reviews

13 in-depth fragrance descriptions

04/04/2015

ColinM
516 Reviews

ColinM

Helpful Review 2

Nothing more than decent

Nothing really “black” here except for the box, and overall a barely decent fragrance which was quite disappointing for me. I didn’t have high expectations, but still I thought it was better than it actually is in my opinion. Basically 1881 Black is a sort of spicy, soapy, musky and slightly ozonic take on the original 1881 – which is still the only one I like among this line of flankers. There shall be oud in here but I don’t get any; all I smell is a really heavily synthetic spicy-musky blend smelling as much crisp and soapy as really cheap and completely unoriginal, and a tad boring after a while (the “annoying scrubber” kind of boring). But at least it’s also really cheap cost-wise, so no complaints... And after all it’s not that bad; it smells barely decent, really unworthy any attention unless you are looking for a really generic and inexpensive office/gym scent. Projection and persistence are obviously bold & long lasting given how much plastic this smells.

5,5/10

12/08/2017

7.5Scent 6Longevity 6Sillage

Elysium
914 Reviews

Elysium

3

There ain't no Black in 1881 Black

The Hidden Gem of the Line. Let’s get something out of the way: 1881 Black has absolutely nothing to do with the original Cerruti 1881. Where the original leans soapy, green, and sharp-fresh, Black is walking a whole different path. Richer. Warmer. Deeper. And dare I say—more intriguing.

I actually picked up several Cerruti fragrances back in the spring, and 1881 Black was among them. Gave it a quick sniff once, but it didn’t stand out at the time—Fairplay stole the spotlight back then. Fast forward three seasons, and one casual spray on my skin made me go, “Wait, what is this?” Suddenly, 1881 Black clicked. A clean yet spicy-woody creation with just enough sweetness to keep it rounded and smooth. That balance? Spot on.

The opening is elegant: a warm spicy accord that leans slightly sweet but still holds a certain freshness. Pepper and bitter orange stand out right away, giving it an energetic lift. There’s also something herbaceous—maybe caraway? Slightly balsamic, even medicinal at first, but that facet fades quickly. What remains is a smooth, gently spiced introduction that paves the way for deeper tones to emerge.

As it transitions into the heart, lavender shows up—soothing and calm—balancing the warmth with an almost aromatic chill. Then the magic starts: cedarwood anchors the composition, but what really takes the stage is the marzipan accord. Yes, you read that right. That almondy sweetness, creamy and rounded thanks to a whisper of oud, brings to mind a vanilla-like smoothness, without being a dessert bomb.

And the oud? Don’t expect the aggressive, smoky Middle Eastern stuff. This one is polite—soft, clean, supportive. It wraps around the almond note, giving it dimension and warmth. It’s nutty, slightly woody, almost edible… and incredibly pleasant. You can practically taste the marzipan in the air.

Now, if you’re into male gourmands like I am, 1881 Black deserves a spot in your rotation. It’s not your usual gourmand either—no cinnamon-sugar overload or candied spices. This is more subtle. More grown-up. A rich, slightly unconventional blend of sweet and spice, with a clever woody undercurrent. It doesn’t scream masculinity in the traditional leather-tobacco sense, but it wears confidently and comfortably. The kind of scent that invites closer attention.

The drydown is a cozy pleasure: soft woods, a touch of spice, and that delicate marzipan sweetness lingering like a well-made memory. It’s not linear, but also not chaotic—each phase flows naturally into the next, telling a quiet story.

Performance? Quite decent for an affordable EDT. I get several solid hours of wear with moderate projection. Not a room-filler, but it holds its own. Great for office wear, relaxed evenings, or even those quiet, introspective days when you just want to smell good for yourself. Recommended seasons? Cool, crisp autumn afternoons or chilly winter evenings—this scent thrives in colder air.

Overall, 1881 Black is a surprising, underrated flanker that dares to go gourmand without falling into cliché. It plays with warm woods, sweet almonds, and gentle spices in a way that’s both inviting and distinctive. A sleeper hit in the Cerruti lineup, and a welcome curveball in any modern man’s collection.

— Elysium

Updated on 04/20/2025

01/11/2015

9Scent 7.5Longevity 7.5Sillage

Plainsong
16 Reviews

Translated · Show original

Plainsong

Top Review 18

Basically underrated

I didn't grow up in Bavaria; I just live there. And if there's one thing that runs through many households I've come to know here, it's: wood stoves. I really only saw them in action for the first time here, and I admire anyone who, with focused concentration and full dedication, pushes logs into the stove. How incredibly masculine: I am a man, I have made fire.
1881 Black smells exactly like pushing logs into the stove. For the naming, the responsible parties should be nailed to the wall - I would have thought of something similarly dishwater-like given the close relation to Cerruti 1881 - but the scattered, euphoric comments here, combined with the bargain price, led me to a blind purchase. And what a blind purchase it was!
From the very first moment, a delicate smoky aroma envelops you - I can't really make out a scent progression at all. The base note dominates the throat and nose from the start, but never imposes itself - marzipan is a wonderfully successful, because subtle combination.
I am generally very attracted to the dark, the black. But 1881 Black is, alongside Body Kouros, the only fragrance that fills that allure with soul. Black Sun by Salvador Dali is pure label deception, Aigner Black and Encre Noire are humorless fellows whose dusty dryness I cherish on a few days in autumn - but filling something shadowy with soul is only achieved by a few. And 1881 Black does this effortlessly. Heavy sweetness combined with a bastion of caring masculinity - a wonderful counterpoint to the nose carnival. If I'm not careful, this fragrance might accidentally make me conservative.

02/18/2014

8Scent 7.5Longevity 5Sillage

Leimbacher
2876 Reviews

Translated · Show original

Leimbacher

Top Review 14

Surprise, Surprise, the Marzipan-Oud is heating things up!

There are always perfumes from which you expect nothing, and they then ruthlessly take advantage of that low expectation and truly stand out. So, thank you once again to Combat for your collection of many hidden gems and for not being stingy with samples. Cerruti 1881 Black has little in common with its original, leaving it far behind, appealing to a much younger audience, and combining the familiar with a wonderful effect through Marzipan-Oud... I wasn't the only one amazed during the test!

The beginning struck me as extremely suspicious and familiar - soapy, summery sweetness reminiscent of Roma Uomo and Italian counterparts from the 90s. Even here, the fragrance has a similar scratchy synthetic quality, but it also has a spicier, darker undertone. Oud and spices like nutmeg blend with the bright notes of sun-heated stones from the Acropolis and the Colosseum. A hint of marzipan can be discerned, just very well washed. Orange, cedar, lavender, gaiac - all subtle and even office-appropriate. I actually like it even better towards the end, so aside from the slightly coarse scratchy synthetic note, there’s nothing to criticize, and Cerruti 1881 Black ultimately shoots into unexpected valuation spheres!

Bottle: I find the original a bit fancier, but even in black, it’s not an eyesore!
Sillage: somehow the 90s meet the current oud trend - but gently!
Longevity: the price is once again no indication - 8 good hours and longer than the simultaneously tested Amouage. I don’t think I need to say more.

Anyone who loves their 90s perfumes like Minotaure or Sculpture and wants to experience them with a darker twist and finish doesn't need to look any further.

03/10/2018

7.5Scent 7Longevity 7Sillage

Val
117 Reviews

Translated · Show original

Val

Very helpful Review 9

Back to the 90's!

I believe this fragrance deserves a comment because it does a lot of things right and, despite its age, fits incredibly well into today's time.

With "Black" as an association of dark and gloomy, I can't relate to this fragrance at all.
On the contrary - Cerruti 1881 Black feels fresh and masculinely spicy with a fine aquatic nuance.

It has a bit of a scent reminiscent of Dad's aftershave. Perhaps that's why 1881 Black is labeled as a drugstore fragrance by some.
However, for me, it is too complex and niche to be just an aftershave.

I find it particularly difficult to follow the fragrance pyramid with this scent.
I can only somewhat relate to bitter orange, pepper, and woods.
Marzipan and oud probably belong more to the realm of fantasy.

As far as I know, 1881 Black has always been an outsider, even though it is very pleasant, timeless, and unique.
The spicy, woody freshness is suitable for both younger and older men.
It can be worn excellently for going out, but also for sports or leisure.
And it certainly does not miss its effect on the female gender!
Compliments are guaranteed!

The longevity is in the good middle range, as is the sillage, which slowly retreats after a strong 30 minutes but remains present.

Conclusion:

Cerruti 1881 Black is a hidden gem, as it has the uniqueness and charm of a 90s fragrance, yet never smells dusty or outdated.
It is a modern spicy masculine scent that would certainly quickly find many fans with a new name and new marketing.
At a price of under €20 for 100ml, Cerruti 1881 Black is definitely worth a blind buy!

Updated on 03/10/2018

More reviews