Pure Black
Mandarina DuckEDT2009
Side by side
Pure Black vs. Be Exceptional
Is Pure Black better than Be Exceptional?
Pure Black peaks in winter, while Be Exceptional belongs to fall. The side by side below shows where they overlap.
Why this score
Performance proximity
Accord profile overlap
Gender alignment
Tonka Bean
vanillacitruswoodypowderyaromaticfresh spicyamber
This match is a verified relationship from our fragrance graph. The score weighs each fragrance's notes, accords, mood, occasion, weather fit, gender, and performance — the same scale as the badges on every “reminds of” rail.
The essentials
What's different between Pure Black and Be Exceptional?
| Pure Black | Be Exceptional | |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration | EDT | — |
| Launched | 2009 | 2017 |
| Gender | Male | Male |
| Perfumer | Nathalie Lorson | Nathalie Gracia-Cetto |
| Best season | Winter | Fall |
Scent DNA
How do Pure Black and Be Exceptional smell?
Pure Black
Vanilla
Citrus
Sweet
Woody
White Floral
Powdery
Aromatic
Warm Spicy
Be Exceptional
Amber
Fresh Spicy
Iris
Citrus
Leather
Powdery
Earthy
Aromatic
Shared between both fragrances
The pyramid
What notes do Pure Black and Be Exceptional share?
Top—
BergamotGrapefruitRed Ginger
Heart
Tonka BeanTiare FlowerAfrican Orange Flower
IrisLeatherTonka Bean
Base
Bourbon VanillaSandalwoodCedarwood
AmberPatchouliVetiver
Notes both fragrances share
Shared note families
Floral Notes
Tiare FlowerAfrican Orange Flower
Iris
Oriental Notes
Tonka BeanBourbon Vanilla
Tonka Bean
Where they fit
When and where do Pure Black and Be Exceptional work?
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
Community taste
Which performs better, Pure Black or Be Exceptional?
| Pure Black | Be Exceptional | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Longevity | 6-10 hours | 6-10 hours |
| Sillage | moderate | moderate |
No varnish
What do reviewers say about Pure Black and Be Exceptional?
Sweet masculine scents get a bad name from cloying knockoffs. Pure Black is vanilla done right, creamy, warm, and unapologetically sweet, but grounded enough to avoid becoming a wallflower.Pure Black
Resinous-sweet and sophisticated. This isn't the fragrance that announces itself across the room, it's the one that lingers after you've already left.Be Exceptional
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