Black Smoky vs Labdanum 18
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
28%scent match
Clearly different
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
Black Smoky takes 4 of 5 categories.
Black SmokyChoose it for a smoky and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in summer.
Labdanum 18Choose it for a musky and amber character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, day or night wear.
Black Smoky4/5
Labdanum 181/5
- Ratings & consensus
- Black Smoky
- Community sentiment
- Not scored
- Longevity
- Black Smoky
- Sillage & projection
- Black Smoky
- Value for money
- Black Smoky
- Versatility
- Not scored
- Note pyramid (duration)
- Not scored
- Fragranxe ranking
- Labdanum 18
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
Black SmokyAreejLabdanum 18Le LaboWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split4.18/ 5 · 22 votes
Have 50%Had 0%Want 50%
3.95/ 5 · 1,551 votes
Have 37%Had 12%Want 52%
Category winnerBlack SmokyRating weighted by vote count
Community sentiment
How voters split from love to hate73%Love
9%Like
0%Ok
0%Dislike
18%Hate
22 votes · too few to score
38%Love
36%Like
11%Ok
13%Dislike
2%Hate
1,551 votes
Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)
Longevity & sillage
0–100 community performance scores
Category winners
LongevityBlack Smoky
SillageBlack Smoky
Value for money
How fairly priced voters find itCategory winnerBlack SmokyBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothsmoky100%
woody92%
warm spicy84%
amber77%
oud69%
coffee61%
musky100%
amber92%
woody84%
vanilla77%
leather69%
animalic61%
Scent match28%Clearly different · both woody and amber
Note pyramid (duration)
Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = sharedTop
cannabisGreen NotesSaffronDavanaThyme
Heart
CoffeeTobaccoVioletWoody NotesRaspberryCinnamonResins
Base
Guaiac WoodIncenseOudTonka BeanAnimal notesVanillaCedarAmber
Notes
French labdanumVanillaCivettaMuskCastoreumResinsTonka BeanGurjan balsamBirchPatchouliCinnamon
No top / heart / base split published
InformationalShared notesCinnamon, Resins, Tonka Bean and Vanilla. Durations are only published for Labdanum 18, so this is not scored.
Seasons & time of day
Relative to each fragrance's best seasonSpring0
Summer100
Fall50
Winter50
Day–
Night–
Spring40
Summer22
Fall100
Winter92
Day99
Night100
Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round
Who wears it
Gender appeal votesInformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored
Ranking & credits
Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launchOverall rank#31,221
PerfumerNot listed
Launched—
Reviews0
Overall rank#1,903
PerfumerMaurice Roucel
Launched—
Reviews204
Category winnerLabdanum 18Higher overall rank
In a nutshell
Description & review snapshotBlack Smoky opens with an aggressive herbal strike of cannabis, green thyme, and dry saffron. Bitter roasted coffee and dry tobacco leaves emerge within twenty minutes, cutting through the initial green harshness while spicy cinnamon and sweet violet ground the dark heart. As the fragrance settles during cold winter …
Reviews →Labdanum 18 by Le Labo is an amber, musky scent built around a soft and powdery warmth. Rather than projecting an aggressive, dark leather aroma, it hugs close to the skin with sweet vanilla, balsamic resins, and cozy musk. Notes of French labdanum, cinnamon, and gurjan balsam provide a rich, golden center, while hint…
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.
Guided comparison
Ask about this matchup
Get a practical answer grounded in the fragrances currently selected.
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Common questions
Straight answers from the data above.
Which is better, Black Smoky or Labdanum 18?
Black Smoky takes 4 of 5 categories. Black Smoky is rated 4.18/5 from 22 votes; Labdanum 18 is rated 3.95/5 from 1,551 votes. Choose Black Smoky for a smoky and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in summer. Choose Labdanum 18 for a musky and amber character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, day or night wear.
Which lasts longer, Black Smoky or Labdanum 18?
Black Smoky lasts longest (Black Smoky 100/100, Labdanum 18 69/100), based on community performance votes.
Which projects more, Black Smoky or Labdanum 18?
Black Smoky projects furthest (Black Smoky 100/100, Labdanum 18 58/100), based on community performance votes.
Do Black Smoky and Labdanum 18 smell similar?
Clearly different: a 28% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share woody and amber accords. Common notes include Cinnamon, Resins, Tonka Bean and Vanilla.
Is Black Smoky or Labdanum 18 better for summer or winter?
Labdanum 18 suits day or night wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in Black Smoky and Labdanum 18?
Black Smoky has top notes of cannabis, Green Notes, Saffron and Davana, heart notes of Coffee, Tobacco, Violet and Woody Notes, a base of Guaiac Wood, Incense, Oud and Tonka Bean. Labdanum 18 features French labdanum, Vanilla, Civetta, Musk and Castoreum.
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