Fragrance comparison

212 VIP Black Smiley vs Spell Caramel

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

Updated 8 Oct 2026 612 ratings analysed

4 wins

212 VIP Black Smiley

Carolina Herrera

4.43128 votes

Rank #8,709 Fresh SpicyCitrus

Full profile Similar & dupes

36%scent match

Some overlap

Spell Caramel

Zara

3.91484 votes

Rank #1,934 SweetCitrus

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

212 VIP Black Smiley takes 4 of 7 categories.

212 VIP Black Smiley
Choose it for a fresh spicy and citrus character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter, evening wear.
Spell Caramel
Choose it for a sweet and citrus character. Wins on sillage & projection, value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter.

212 VIP Black Smiley4/7

Spell Caramel3/7

Ratings & consensus: 212 VIP Black Smiley
Community sentiment: 212 VIP Black Smiley
Longevity: 212 VIP Black Smiley
Sillage & projection: Spell Caramel
Value for money: Spell Caramel
Versatility: 212 VIP Black Smiley
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Spell Caramel

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

212 VIP Black SmileyCarolina Herrera

Spell CaramelZara

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.43/ 5 · 128 votes

Have 86%Had 14%Want 0%

3.91/ 5 · 484 votes

Have 87%Had 13%Want 0%

Category winner212 VIP Black SmileyRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

63%Love

25%Like

7%Ok

4%Dislike

2%Hate

128 votes

45%Love

40%Like

10%Ok

4%Dislike

2%Hate

400 votes

Category winner212 VIP Black SmileyMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity71

〰 Sillage57

♥ Love / hate86

⏱ Longevity68

〰 Sillage59

♥ Love / hate79

Category winners

Longevity212 VIP Black Smiley

SillageSpell Caramel

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value47

¤ Price value84

Category winnerSpell CaramelBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

fresh spicy100%

citrus92%

vanilla84%

fruity77%

aromatic69%

fresh61%

sweet100%

citrus92%

caramel84%

fruity77%

soft spicy69%

fresh spicy61%

Scent match36%Some overlap · both citrus, fresh spicy and fruity

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top15-30 mins

Blood OrangeTunisian NeroliGinger

Heart2-4 hrs

Madagascar PepperSesameLavender Extract

Base6-8+ hrs

Vanilla BeanSkinSweet Almond

Top

Blood OrangeGingerCardamom

Heart

LicoriceDavana

Base

CaramelVanillaOsmanthus

InformationalShared notesBlood Orange and Ginger. Durations are only published for 212 VIP Black Smiley, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring80

Summer0

Fall0

Winter100

Day63

Night100

Spring39

Summer15

Fall0

Winter100

Day–

Night–

Category winner212 VIP Black SmileyMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men86

Unisex9

Women5

Party 36%Date 27%Casual 24%Work 13%

Men47

Unisex48

Women6

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#8,709

PerfumerCarlos Benaïm, Juliette Karagueuzoglou

Launched—

Reviews8

Overall rank#1,934

PerfumerJordi Fernández

Launched—

Reviews77

Category winnerSpell CaramelHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Carolina Herrera 212 VIP Black Smiley kicks off with a vivid splash of blood orange and spicy ginger. It is bright. The first five minutes deliver a zesty punch before settling into roasted sesame and aromatic lavender. That contrast catches you off guard. Carlos Benaïm and Juliette Karagueuzoglou built this fragrance…

Reviews →

Spell Caramel is a warm, gourmand fragrance for men that centers on a rich, sweet caramel accord. Launched in 2023, it features an opening of bright blood orange and spicy ginger, which settle into a deep base of vanilla and osmanthus. This fragrance is best suited for colder months and evening outings, providing a 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, 212 VIP Black Smiley or Spell Caramel?

212 VIP Black Smiley takes 4 of 7 categories. 212 VIP Black Smiley is rated 4.43/5 from 128 votes; Spell Caramel is rated 3.91/5 from 484 votes. Choose 212 VIP Black Smiley for a fresh spicy and citrus character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter, evening wear. Choose Spell Caramel for a sweet and citrus character. Wins on sillage & projection, value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter.

Which lasts longer, 212 VIP Black Smiley or Spell Caramel?

212 VIP Black Smiley lasts longest (212 VIP Black Smiley 71/100, Spell Caramel 68/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, 212 VIP Black Smiley or Spell Caramel?

Projection is very close: Spell Caramel 59/100, 212 VIP Black Smiley 57/100 for sillage.

Do 212 VIP Black Smiley and Spell Caramel smell similar?

Some overlap: a 36% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share citrus, fresh spicy and fruity accords. Common notes include Blood Orange and Ginger.

Is 212 VIP Black Smiley or Spell Caramel better for summer or winter?

For summer, Spell Caramel is the stronger pick. For winter, 212 VIP Black Smiley is the stronger pick. 212 VIP Black Smiley suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in 212 VIP Black Smiley and Spell Caramel?

212 VIP Black Smiley has top notes of Blood Orange, Tunisian Neroli and Ginger, heart notes of Madagascar Pepper, Sesame and Lavender Extract, a base of Vanilla Bean, Skin and Sweet Almond. Spell Caramel has top notes of Blood Orange, Ginger and Cardamom, heart notes of Licorice and Davana, a base of Caramel, Vanilla and Osmanthus.