Mandarina Duck Pure Black (2009)
by Mandarina Duck

This was a blind buy for me, and a big mistake. I love Nathalie Lorson's work with Encre Noir so I figured this would be a safe bet, right...? Wrong! Mandarina Duck Pure Black starts off as a Memoire d'Homme Ricci clone... This is a very bad thing, as that scent was one of my biggest mistakes when I blind bought it many years ago. Things do develop differently with Pure Black, specifically PB has black pepper and tobacco notes that develop after the horrible opening. To be fair, this part of the scent is more appealing, but the ugly top notes still remain throughout, and I can't help but continuously think about the loathsome Memoire d'Homme by Ricci. I like PB better than that scent, but that is not saying much. Longevity with Pure Black is mercifully brief. My advice is to steer well clear of Pure Black.

21st December, 2011.

This is actually far and away my favorite fragrance. I love that this lovely scent hits you square in the face with its vanilla bean and tobacco notes, but as it settles on the skin its Indian pepper and agarwood elements begin to announce themselves. I've lost count of how many times women have stopped me to ask what I am wearing, which is why I've taken to lovingly referring to it as "liquid hug tightener."

As it is an edt, my only gripe with it is overall wear time. I get, at most, 4.5 to 5 hours before all that is still discernible is its vanilla base. But then, I have the sort of body chemistry that will fade almost any edt with little problem. I take exception to the notion some have that it is mainly a cold weather cologne. I think its so soft and subtle that it really doesn't matter what time of year it's worn, especially for those who work in climate controlled environments.

26th March, 2011.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS FRAGRANCE!!! It reminds me of a combination of Paco Rabanne 1 Million and Christian Lacroix Tumulte Pour Homme.

Mandarina Duck Pure Black is thick, resinous, woodsy, tobacco with a little floral-sweetness thrown in. It is a perfect fragrance for Autumn and Winter. Applied lightly and you can wear this into work. Pure Black is very nice for an evening out, going to clubs, a dinner date or even a black-tie affair.

This is a thick, heavy fragrance so if you are a reserved kinda guy, than look elsewhere. The sillage is moderate to noticeable and the longevity is better than average.

I really do love this fragrance and highly recommend it...a must buy!

16th October, 2010.

This was a blind buy and one that I am happy with. It reminds me a little of Jil Sander Man. I like the opening blast of black pepper and mandarin, with a little bergamot lurking in the background. The middle turns a bit sweeter with the slightest hint of some delicate florals. The base mellows into some nice wood accords- sandalwood and maybe some Cedar, over a layer of vanilla and mild tobacco.

2nd March, 2010. (Last Edited: 19th September, 2011.)

Pure Black is sweet and thick like tree bark. Has an herbal coffee/psuedo tobacco quality to it. It's more like chewing tobacco. Kinda thick and resinous... like tree bark. I'm also reminded a bit of Joop! Go Electric Heat (of all things) with Go's "dense" feel of green cedarwoods. Also comparable to Jil Sander Man (the purple rectangular bottle) with the tobacco and woods accords. While not "pure" black, it's still as thick as a black fragrance could be without getting into Serge Lutens territory.

13rd September, 2009.