Fragrance comparison

Black Vetiver vs Bursch

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

Updated 21 Oct 2026 143 ratings analysed

Black Vetiver

Phaedon

3.7886 votes

Rank #17,171 CitrusAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

61%scent match

Closely related

Bursch

Acqua di Biella

3.5557 votes

Rank #17,224 AromaticWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

No clear winner: the 5 categories split 2–2.

Black Vetiver
Choose it for a citrus and aromatic character. Wins on ratings & consensus and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Bursch
Choose it for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on longevity and value for money. Best in fall, daytime wear.

Black Vetiver2/5

Bursch2/5

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Black VetiverPhaedon

BurschAcqua di Biella

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.78/ 5 · 86 votes

Have 28%Had 17%Want 55%

3.55/ 5 · 57 votes

Have 26%Had 21%Want 52%

Category winnerBlack VetiverRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

23%Love

50%Like

8%Ok

19%Dislike

0%Hate

86 votes

42%Love

21%Like

16%Ok

21%Dislike

0%Hate

19 votes · too few to score

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity60

〰 Sillage52

♥ Love / hate69

⏱ Longevity66

〰 Sillage52

♥ Love / hate69

Category winners

LongevityBursch

SillageTie

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value43

¤ Price value50

Category winnerBurschBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

citrus100%

aromatic83%

woody65%

earthy48%

fresh spicy30%

aromatic100%

woody92%

citrus84%

earthy77%

amber69%

green61%

Scent match61%Closely related · both citrus, aromatic and woody

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Notes

LemonVetiverPepper

No top / heart / base split published

Top

RumRhubarbBergamotLemon

Heart

CorianderIncenseMyrrhPepper

Base

VetiverCedarOakmossWhite Musk

InformationalShared notesLemon, Vetiver and Pepper. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer53

Fall95

Winter26

Day100

Night38

Spring60

Summer40

Fall100

Winter20

Day100

Night71

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men58

Unisex42

Women0

Men67

Unisex17

Women17

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#17,171

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews12

Overall rank#17,224

PerfumerMaurizio Cerizza

Launched—

Reviews15

Category winnerBlack VetiverHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Phaedon Black Vetiver opens with a crisp burst of tart lemon backed by cracked black pepper before settling into a clean, woody vetiver base. Despite the brooding name, it wears bright and breezy on skin, making it an easy daytime pick for warm spring mornings and humid office commutes. The smoky elements stay muted, …

Reviews →

Bursch by Acqua di Biella is a Aromatic Fougere fragrance for men. Bursch was launched in 2005. The nose behind this fragrance is Maurizio Cerizza. Top notes are Rum, Rhubarb, Bergamot and Lemon; middle notes are Coriander, Incense, Myrrh and Pepper; base notes are Vetiver, Cedar, Oakmoss and White Musk.

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, Black Vetiver or Bursch?

No clear winner: the 5 categories split 2–2. Black Vetiver is rated 3.78/5 from 86 votes; Bursch is rated 3.55/5 from 57 votes. Choose Black Vetiver for a citrus and aromatic character. Wins on ratings & consensus and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose Bursch for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on longevity and value for money. Best in fall, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Black Vetiver or Bursch?

Bursch lasts longest (Bursch 66/100, Black Vetiver 60/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Black Vetiver or Bursch?

Projection is very close: Black Vetiver 52/100, Bursch 52/100 for sillage.

Do Black Vetiver and Bursch smell similar?

Closely related: a 61% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share citrus, aromatic and woody accords. Common notes include Lemon, Vetiver and Pepper.

Is Black Vetiver or Bursch better for summer or winter?

Black Vetiver suits daytime wear; Bursch suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Black Vetiver and Bursch?

Black Vetiver features Lemon, Vetiver and Pepper. Bursch has top notes of Rum, Rhubarb, Bergamot and Lemon, heart notes of Coriander, Incense, Myrrh and Pepper, a base of Vetiver, Cedar, Oakmoss and White Musk.