Fragrance comparison

1881 Acqua Forte vs Unforgivable Black

Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.

Updated 16 Oct 2026 177 ratings analysed

1881 Acqua Forte

Cerruti

3.8497 votes

Rank #15,522 Fresh SpicyWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

53%scent match

Some overlap

5 wins

Unforgivable Black

Sean John

3.6880 votes

Rank #11,033 CitrusAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Unforgivable Black takes 5 of 7 categories.

1881 Acqua Forte
Choose it for a fresh spicy and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus and value for money. Best in summer, daytime wear.
Unforgivable Black
Choose it for a citrus and aromatic character. Wins on community sentiment, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in summer, day or night wear.

1881 Acqua Forte2/7

Unforgivable Black5/7

Ratings & consensus: 1881 Acqua Forte
Community sentiment: Unforgivable Black
Longevity: Unforgivable Black
Sillage & projection: Unforgivable Black
Value for money: 1881 Acqua Forte
Versatility: Unforgivable Black
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Unforgivable Black

Head-to-head breakdown

Every category side by side, with the winner called out.

Fragrance

1881 Acqua ForteCerruti

Unforgivable BlackSean John

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.84/ 5 · 97 votes

Have 34%Had 19%Want 47%

3.68/ 5 · 80 votes

Have 58%Had 42%Want 0%

Category winner1881 Acqua ForteRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

25%Love

54%Like

3%Ok

18%Dislike

1%Hate

97 votes

39%Love

41%Like

3%Ok

16%Dislike

1%Hate

75 votes

Category winnerUnforgivable BlackMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity55

〰 Sillage53

♥ Love / hate71

⏱ Longevity67

〰 Sillage67

♥ Love / hate74

Category winners

LongevityUnforgivable Black

SillageUnforgivable Black

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value69

¤ Price value60

Category winner1881 Acqua ForteBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

fresh spicy100%

woody92%

citrus84%

aromatic77%

green69%

fresh61%

citrus100%

aromatic90%

woody80%

fresh spicy70%

rum60%

warm spicy50%

Scent match53%Some overlap · both citrus, woody and fresh spicy

Note pyramid (duration)

Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = shared

Top15-30 mins

YuzuCardamom

Heart2-3 hrs

BasilCalone

Base4-6 hrs

Palisander RosewoodCashmere Wood

Top

Green MandarinGrapefruitTangerineSicilian LemonBergamotPearCardamomLavender

Heart

IrisBasilClary SageRosemary

Base

Coconut RumCashmere WoodAmberAustralian SandalwoodTonka Bean

InformationalShared notesCardamom, Basil and Cashmere Wood. Durations are only published for 1881 Acqua Forte, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring91

Summer100

Fall35

Winter9

Day100

Night17

Spring94

Summer100

Fall75

Winter100

Day100

Night95

Category winnerUnforgivable BlackMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men100

Unisex0

Women0

Casual 40%Work 35%Date 15%Party 10%

Men86

Unisex14

Women0

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#15,522

PerfumerOlivier Cresp

Launched—

Reviews17

Overall rank#11,033

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews17

Category winnerUnforgivable BlackHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Cerruti 1881 Acqua Forte delivers a crisp splash of tart Japanese yuzu right out of the nozzle, tempered by a snappy crackle of green cardamom. It skips the sticky sweetness of modern mall releases. Instead, master perfumer Olivier Cresp leans into transparent, coastal air. A distinct marine wash of calone carries the…

Reviews →

Unforgivable Black by Sean John is a woody aromatic fragrance built around a core of coconut rum and dry woods. It opens with a bright blast of green mandarin and grapefruit before settling into a warmer, more mysterious base. Best suited for evening wear or casual nights out, it offers a distinct profile that sits co…

Reviews →

InformationalRead bothTaste is personal

How we score: ratings blend public fragrance ratings with Fragranxe member votes; longevity, sillage, value and sentiment are community vote scores, and season bars are relative to each fragrance's strongest season. Categories with too little data are shown but not scored. The scent match weighs accord overlap (60%) and shared notes (40%). More in the FAQ.

Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, 1881 Acqua Forte or Unforgivable Black?

Unforgivable Black takes 5 of 7 categories. 1881 Acqua Forte is rated 3.84/5 from 97 votes; Unforgivable Black is rated 3.68/5 from 80 votes. Choose 1881 Acqua Forte for a fresh spicy and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus and value for money. Best in summer, daytime wear. Choose Unforgivable Black for a citrus and aromatic character. Wins on community sentiment, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in summer, day or night wear.

Which lasts longer, 1881 Acqua Forte or Unforgivable Black?

Unforgivable Black lasts longest (Unforgivable Black 67/100, 1881 Acqua Forte 55/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, 1881 Acqua Forte or Unforgivable Black?

Unforgivable Black projects furthest (Unforgivable Black 67/100, 1881 Acqua Forte 53/100), based on community performance votes.

Do 1881 Acqua Forte and Unforgivable Black smell similar?

Some overlap: a 53% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share citrus, woody and fresh spicy accords. Common notes include Cardamom, Basil and Cashmere Wood.

Is 1881 Acqua Forte or Unforgivable Black better for summer or winter?

For summer, 1881 Acqua Forte is the stronger pick. For winter, Unforgivable Black is the stronger pick. 1881 Acqua Forte suits daytime wear; Unforgivable Black suits day or night wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in 1881 Acqua Forte and Unforgivable Black?

1881 Acqua Forte has top notes of Yuzu and Cardamom, heart notes of Basil and Calone, a base of Palisander Rosewood and Cashmere Wood. Unforgivable Black has top notes of Green Mandarin, Grapefruit, Tangerine and Sicilian Lemon, heart notes of Iris, Basil, Clary Sage and Rosemary, a base of Coconut Rum, Cashmere Wood, Amber and Australian Sandalwood.