Onyx Black Pana Dora 2025

I had not tested a single fragrance from Pana Dora before, but I found the notes of Onyx Black very appealing. I can say upfront that I expected a fresher scent due to the citrus notes and a slightly woody fragrance because of the pine resin and cedar. Nevertheless, in my opinion, it is successful - with only a few minor drawbacks.

Right after spraying, the slight acidity and a brightening effect from lemon and bergamot are noticeable, but the fragrance is by no means fresh. Instead, Ethylmaltol provides a distinct sweetness that is immediately accompanied by a very strong spiciness. Cinnamon stands out particularly and lasts long, and I can also filter out the slightly bitter note of nutmeg; saffron only to a limited extent. As it develops, the sweetness diminishes somewhat, and the woody and resinous notes become more prominent. Together with a bitter-smoky amber accord (instead of amber!), labdanum, and cypriol, a beautiful contrast and an extremely dense texture is created. Thus, the fragrance lingers for several hours and only decreases in intensity towards the end.

Onyx Black does not appear quite as black, but dark elements are noticeably present, and similar to the mineral, different layers merge here. In the air, it smells pleasant; however, one should be careful with the number of sprays, and I would not wear it in summer. For my taste, a bit less sweetness and a slightly woody freshness would have benefited the overall composition. Additionally, after wearing it several times, I was somewhat bothered by the earthy and slightly dirty facet of cypriol. However, the fragrance does show a certain edge and does not get lost in an artificial wood or syrupy base.