Fragrance comparison

Black Onyx vs Theorem

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 251 ratings analysed

4 wins

Black Onyx

Armaf

3.93239 votes

Rank #4,196 Warm SpicyAmber

Full profile Similar & dupes

45%scent match

Some overlap

Theorem

Soma Parfums

4.0012 votes

Rank #45,070 Warm SpicyIris

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Black Onyx takes 4 of 5 categories.

Black Onyx
Choose it for a warm spicy and amber character. Wins on ratings & consensus, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in winter.
Theorem
Choose it for a warm spicy and iris character. Wins on longevity. Best in fall, evening wear.

Black Onyx4/5

Theorem1/5

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Black OnyxArmaf

TheoremSoma Parfums

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.93/ 5 · 239 votes

Have 72%Had 28%Want 0%

4.00/ 5 · 12 votes

Have 20%Had 3%Want 77%

Category winnerBlack OnyxRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

35%Love

42%Like

6%Ok

13%Dislike

3%Hate

239 votes

50%Love

25%Like

8%Ok

8%Dislike

8%Hate

12 votes · too few to score

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity73

〰 Sillage68

♥ Love / hate73

⏱ Longevity76

〰 Sillage65

♥ Love / hate75

Category winners

LongevityTheorem

SillageBlack Onyx

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value72

¤ Price value55

Category winnerBlack OnyxBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

warm spicy100%

amber90%

aromatic80%

patchouli70%

citrus60%

oud50%

warm spicy100%

iris92%

rose84%

cacao77%

patchouli69%

earthy61%

Scent match45%Some overlap · both warm spicy and patchouli

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

CardamomLemonCinnamon

Heart

MyrrhAgarwood (Oud)Rose

Base

PatchouliWhite MuskAmber

Top

CardamomCinnamon

Heart

IrisRose

Base

PatchouliCacaoAmberMyrrh

InformationalShared notesCardamom, Cinnamon, Myrrh and Rose. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring75

Summer32

Fall0

Winter100

Day–

Night–

Spring50

Summer0

Fall100

Winter100

Day67

Night100

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men83

Unisex14

Women3

Men17

Unisex50

Women33

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#4,196

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews53

Overall rank#45,070

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews1

Category winnerBlack OnyxHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Armaf Black Onyx hits the skin with a stark, dry blast of warm cardamom and sharp cinnamon, cut through by a brief splash of lemon. It quickly sheds any initial brightness, settling into a dark, resinous heart of myrrh and dry agarwood. Unlike typical sweet, syrupy amber fragrances, this remains dry, herbal, and sligh…

Reviews →

Theorem by Soma Parfums opens with a sharp burst of cardamom and cinnamon before yielding to soft iris and rose. Dustings of dark cacao and rich patchouli ground the heart, while golden amber and myrrh form a warm, resinous dry-down. It suits cool autumn evenings and formal winter gatherings when you want a quiet, coz…

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.

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Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, Black Onyx or Theorem?

Black Onyx takes 4 of 5 categories. Black Onyx is rated 3.93/5 from 239 votes; Theorem is rated 4.00/5 from 12 votes. Choose Black Onyx for a warm spicy and amber character. Wins on ratings & consensus, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in winter. Choose Theorem for a warm spicy and iris character. Wins on longevity. Best in fall, evening wear.

Which lasts longer, Black Onyx or Theorem?

Theorem lasts longest (Theorem 76/100, Black Onyx 73/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Black Onyx or Theorem?

Black Onyx projects furthest (Black Onyx 68/100, Theorem 65/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Black Onyx and Theorem smell similar?

Some overlap: a 45% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share warm spicy and patchouli accords. Common notes include Cardamom, Cinnamon, Myrrh and Rose.

Is Black Onyx or Theorem better for summer or winter?

Theorem suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Black Onyx and Theorem?

Black Onyx has top notes of Cardamom, Lemon and Cinnamon, heart notes of Myrrh, Agarwood (Oud) and Rose, a base of Patchouli, White Musk and Amber. Theorem has top notes of Cardamom and Cinnamon, heart notes of Iris and Rose, a base of Patchouli, Cacao, Amber and Myrrh.