Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › Fragrance Discussion › Male Fragrance Discussion › MFD Archive › Bulgari Black vs. Armani Code
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Bulgari Black vs. Armani Code

post #1 of 27
12/5/06 at 3:16pm
Thread Starter 
They are really pushing all of the Bulgari scents at Nordstrom. The Bulgari rep was there and they were pretty generous with samples. I have recently purchased Code. The two seem similar to me - not in the particular notes, but in the moods they evoke, or the moods I might be in to wear either.

Bulgari Black seems sweeter (vanilla/tonka?). Code is also somewhat sweet, but peppery too. I would say Bulgari Black is more "edible".
Code is the closest I have to edible in my wardrobe right now. I've never liked the overtly edible scents (ala A*Men, etc.) but I'm dipping a toe in the water...

Anyway, to the point... Do any of you own both and find a big difference, especially in sillage and longevity? Many frags don't last long on my skin.
Ideal sillage to me means that if two people are close enough to reach out and touch fingertips, they should catch a whiff...

Thanks.
Reply
Reply

Features on Basenotes

Basenotes Reader Awards 2013 - Finalists Announced.
Greatest Hits: Annick Menardo
Petals Falling From The Sky - A Report From The Cote d'Azur's Bataille De Fleurs
post #2 of 27
12/5/06 at 3:19pm
I do not own both currently but I have in the past. I have to say that Bulgari Black is by far my favorite one. The code had the olive flower in it that just turned my head. I find Bulgari Black to have better sillage and longevity as well.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 27
12/5/06 at 3:31pm
I like the recent Armani Code for women a lot more than the mens' version.

I would choose Bulgari Black over Armani Code for men anytime. It lasts longer too.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 27
12/5/06 at 3:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thrax

I find Bulgari Black to have better sillage and longevity as well.

On me, it's just the opposite ... although I like both a lot. Code is my preference because it lasts MUCH longer on me and has better sillage than Bvlgari Black. But BOTH are big compliment getters.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 27
12/5/06 at 3:40pm
I put Bulgari Black on at 5:45 this morning and it's now 6:40 and my wife just told me I smell good. Longevity is not a problem.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 27
12/5/06 at 4:36pm
Code's not bad, no, but it's not even in the same league as Black -- IMHO. Black's tea, rubber and sweet vanilla notes just can't be beat.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 27
12/5/06 at 4:45pm
Thread Starter 
OK, Jury's out...

My wife couldn't detect the Bulgari Black a mere 3 hours after application; neither could I -- damn body chemistry!.

The Bulgari PH on my OTHER wrist was another story entirely... She said, "Mmmmm", and I think I detected a slight quiver in the knees. (Well that, and her eyes rolled back into her head!)

I didn't care for the Bulgari PH at first, but it's hanging on long and strong -- and my wife likes it!

I will keep the Armani Code and get myself some Bulgari PH!

Thanks for the comments!
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 27
12/5/06 at 5:23pm
Bvlgari Black.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 27
12/5/06 at 5:45pm
It's a difficult choice because i also think both are good scents..
Bvlgari Black has the advantage to be more "unique" than Black Code though, BC seems more common i agree, but still both are complex and are masculine and are wearable enough as well.
They don't seem similar to me...in the end i would prefer Bvlgari Black between these two.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 27
12/5/06 at 6:03pm
Armani Code
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 27
12/5/06 at 6:21pm
Both are pretty good, if I had to pick one though I prefer Armani Code.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 27
12/5/06 at 8:27pm
Armani Code is by far the winner for me. I haven't had very good experiences with Bvlgari fragrances either.

By the way, why does it show up with a "u" in the database? That's not the name, It's Bvlgari and nothing else.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 27
12/6/06 at 4:59am
The 'v' is the roman or greek letter 'u'..or something like that I forget the whole story.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 27
12/16/08 at 9:14am
Quote:
Code's not bad, no, but it's not even in the same league as Black -- IMHO. Black's tea, rubber and sweet vanilla notes just can't be beat.

Bvlgari Black has nothing on Armani Code. Black is nice, Code is top of the notch
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 27
12/16/08 at 10:20am
Only black scent I have is Karen Low's Pure Instinct Black; love it to death...I'd like to smell the Bvlgari that's for sure, though,
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 27
12/16/08 at 10:24am
Armani Code is one of those 'oh nice..... wait, now I forgot how is smells' scents, while Bulgari Black is: "Huh? Wait, what? Mmmm.... wow, what IS this?"
Reply
Reply
post #17 of 27
12/16/08 at 10:36am
Quote:
Armani Code is one of those 'oh nice..... wait, now I forgot how is smells' scents, while Bulgari Black is: "Huh? Wait, what? Mmmm.... wow, what IS this?"

Hahaha well me being a Code lover and you being a Bulgari lover I had expected you to react
Reply
Reply
post #18 of 27
12/16/08 at 2:39pm
Bvlgari Black all day long
Reply
Reply
post #19 of 27
12/16/08 at 3:37pm
I've yet to try on an Armani scent that lasts much more than a few hours. I was given a bottle of Code and swapped for Mania and would wear them both to try and figure out which one fizzled faster. Say that fast a few times. Bulgari Black is far more interesting from the start and is still a hell of a lot more interesting seven or eight hours later.
Reply
Reply
post #20 of 27
12/16/08 at 5:18pm
I love them both, and they both last on my skin, thankfully. Both are very enjoyable to me, but in different ways. Black is very interesting to me, while Code is very comforting. Black is tea and rubber and something else, and toys with my sense of smell. Code is guaiac wood with a ton of vanilla - very soft and powdery to me. If I had to choose, most days I would pick Black.
Reply
Reply
post #21 of 27
12/16/08 at 6:40pm
When I started my path as a colognosieur, I thought these were quite similar. Nowadays I do not even know why I compared the two. True, they are both smokey, but while BB smells like smooth rubber and and black tea, Code dries down to a boring vanilla and that Armani Note I do not like. When I want a smoky sweet leather/rubber perfume, I reach for J. Varvatos and Bulgari Black. I ended up giving Code to one of my relatives.
Reply
Reply
post #22 of 27
12/17/08 at 3:16am
Bulgari Black is boring
Reply
Reply
post #23 of 27
12/17/08 at 2:33pm
I find Armani Code has a bit better longevity and sillage on my skin. However, I find Bulgari Black to be a much more interesting scent. I consider Armani Code to be a well-made, but somewhat boring scent. I would categorize it as a "safe" scent that one could easily wear at the office. Bulgari Black has a kinda kinky, sexy vibe to it. It's intriguing how some detect a lot of vanilla and others only a hint.

EDIT: Just remembered a great quote/description of Bulgari Black from awhile back:

"burning tire Ã* la mode"
Reply
Reply
post #24 of 27
12/17/08 at 4:11pm
Sod them both.

Desir by Rochas beats either in the drydown.

If you couldn't have the Desir, buy Santos by Cartier for sheer class and sophistication. In a smell off with women blindfolded the Santos would win hands down.
Reply
Reply
post #25 of 27
12/17/08 at 5:52pm
Black is really in your face, whereas Code is more subtle. Black is eccentric, Code is mainstream. I think Black has better longevity, but I'm not sure about sillage. You probably couldn't go far wrong with like half a dozen sprays of Code, but Black is a one or two shot frag.
Reply
Reply
post #26 of 27
12/17/08 at 7:33pm
If you want an almond/powdery take on BB, try FUBU Plush for men.
Reply
Reply
post #27 of 27
12/18/08 at 8:25am
Bvlgari Black is one of my favorite fragrances.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: MFD Archive

Features on Basenotes

Basenotes Reader Awards 2013 - Finalists Announced.
Greatest Hits: Annick Menardo
Petals Falling From The Sky - A Report From The Cote d'Azur's Bataille De Fleurs
Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › Fragrance Discussion › Male Fragrance Discussion › MFD Archive › Bulgari Black vs. Armani Code