Silver Black / Onyx (2005)
by Azzaro

Not very interesting and feels like a spicy and soapy fougere. Lacks distinctiveness but certainly not terrible.

I've got Silver Black, not Onyx. No need to overspray, which I could see might cause problems. I use 3 sprays. Well blended, yet you get hints of individual notes, or at least you think you do. There is also a nice aromatic quality to it, but it's also a bit musky. When I think of other well blended frags, I remember that I get bored with them after a while (Pasha, Must, and Valenti's 101, for example), but that doesn't happen with SB. It keeps you interested in it, yet never becomes boring or overwhelming.

I was prepared to not like this as I don't care for any other Azzaro offering. However, after giving the sample I received a couple tries, I bought a bottle at a local discount store.

The scent is dry throughout its life, so the ever-present apple top notes remain noticeable but not overbearing (as is the case with fruity scents like dunhill desire). The apple notes fade into a light woods and musk that doesn't project far off the skin but lasts a long time. This is one scent that could work at the office or a night out, in the summer or the winter. There is nothing spectacular about onyx that would keep it in my regular rotation, but I could never see objecting to wearing it.

The bottle is very 80s - a huge monolithic black cube that is miami vice masculine.

Is this the most refined, elegant, smooth fragrance ever? Certainly not. However, to me it seems to be a more mature version of Drakkar and possibly some of the Axe products. It is similar to the original Azzaro pour homme, but sweeter with more fruit. Onyx does have anise and caraway notes present, which resemble the original.

This is probably the best name to scent combination I have ever encountered...well, next to Polo Blue maybe. Anyway, Onyx is right on, namewise, Silver black I am not so sure. And the dual name is weird too. Anyway, the opening is unique and not bad but not great. The dry down is nothing but tar to my nose. It isn't well blended though, so it smells more like a very '70s/'80s scent that was slightly altered to smell modern. It's not bad, especially if you are into those 'weired' scents like Paco Rabanne's Utlraviolet. Unique but not appertizing.

This is yet another flagrant example of how shabbily the FDA treats US residents when it comes to fragrance.
This "babysitter" gov't only allows "dead" scents to be imported and until internet sales exploded and by sheer volume enabled cross border scent shipments the only way to experience the true perfumers art was to travel abroad and sneak some back.
Thus we come to Onyx vs. Black/Silver as they are actually two distinct potions.
Is it by chance most of those negative reviews come from N.A. where Onyx is on the shelves, while most of the positive reviews are from around the world based on B/S?
No, both CAN be correct!!!
The extra animate spark in B/S is the glue that creates the cohesion of timeless intrigue, unequivocally.
Mating these unusual ingredients is a risk that pays off handsomely...my only nitpick is that the green apple on top is a hint too sweet, but after that lingering moment the rest of the aromatic experience is invitingly unique (Manly yet modern).
So hop on the internet and try some genuine B/S soon and just leave the Onyx on the shelf where it just may belong.
Oh and for the record, despite the specific naming, the bottle is in fact a heavy brown; therefore, you CAN see how much liquid remains...a significant pet peeve for many, including myself.