Fragrance comparison

Barq vs Zara Black

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

Updated 11 Oct 2026 191 ratings analysed

5 wins

Barq

Swiss Arabian

4.0474 votes

Rank #12,408 Warm SpicyWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

29%scent match

Clearly different

Zara Black

Zara · 2017

3.91117 votes

Rank #15,034 CitrusWarm Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Barq takes 5 of 7 categories.

Barq
Choose it for a warm spicy and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in fall, daytime wear.
Zara Black
Choose it for a citrus and warm spicy character. Wins on value for money and versatility. Best in winter, daytime wear.

Barq5/7

Zara Black2/7

Ratings & consensus: Barq
Community sentiment: Barq
Longevity: Barq
Sillage & projection: Barq
Value for money: Zara Black
Versatility: Zara Black
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Barq

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

BarqSwiss Arabian

Zara BlackZara

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.04/ 5 · 74 votes

Have 27%Had 13%Want 60%

3.91/ 5 · 117 votes

Have 50%Had 34%Want 16%

Category winnerBarqRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

39%Love

45%Like

2%Ok

15%Dislike

0%Hate

62 votes

15%Love

59%Like

10%Ok

15%Dislike

0%Hate

117 votes

Category winnerBarqMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity78

〰 Sillage67

♥ Love / hate78

⏱ Longevity51

〰 Sillage58

♥ Love / hate69

Category winners

LongevityBarq

SillageBarq

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value69

¤ Price value81

Category winnerZara BlackBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

warm spicy100%

woody92%

powdery84%

cinnamon77%

sweet69%

vanilla61%

citrus77%

warm spicy46%

sweet30%

Scent match29%Clearly different · both warm spicy and sweet

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

CardamomCinnamonTangerineOrange

Heart

White WoodRose

Base

SandalwoodVanillaBrown sugarMuskAmber

Top

Orange

Heart

Cinnamon

Base

Vanilla

InformationalShared notesCinnamon, Orange and Vanilla. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring20

Summer13

Fall100

Winter60

Day100

Night64

Spring59

Summer44

Fall97

Winter100

Day100

Night83

Category winnerZara BlackMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men0

Unisex25

Women75

Men0

Unisex13

Women87

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#12,408

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews8

Overall rank#15,034

PerfumerNot listed

Launched2017

Reviews7

Category winnerBarqHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Barq by Swiss Arabian is an oriental vanilla composition that leans into warmth and spice. It opens with bright citrus and aromatic cardamom before settling into a soft, woody heart. As it warms on the skin, notes of sandalwood, brown sugar, and musk create a sweet, grounded finish suitable for cooler autumn evenings …

Reviews →

Zara Black matches cool autumn evenings with a simple, sweet profile that feels cozy. A bright splash of orange leads into a warm cinnamon heart, eventually settling into a soft vanilla base. It is a straightforward, budget-friendly option for anyone who wants an uncomplicated spicy gourmand for casual lounging at hom…

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, Barq or Zara Black?

Barq takes 5 of 7 categories. Barq is rated 4.04/5 from 74 votes; Zara Black is rated 3.91/5 from 117 votes. Choose Barq for a warm spicy and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in fall, daytime wear. Choose Zara Black for a citrus and warm spicy character. Wins on value for money and versatility. Best in winter, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Barq or Zara Black?

Barq lasts longest (Barq 78/100, Zara Black 51/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Barq or Zara Black?

Barq projects furthest (Barq 67/100, Zara Black 58/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Barq and Zara Black smell similar?

Clearly different: a 29% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share warm spicy and sweet accords. Common notes include Cinnamon, Orange and Vanilla.

Is Barq or Zara Black better for summer or winter?

For summer, Zara Black is the stronger pick. For winter, Zara Black is the stronger pick. Barq suits daytime wear; Zara Black suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Barq and Zara Black?

Barq has top notes of Cardamom, Cinnamon, Tangerine and Orange, heart notes of White Wood and Rose, a base of Sandalwood, Vanilla, Brown sugar and Musk. Zara Black has top notes of Orange, heart notes of Cinnamon, a base of Vanilla.