Fragrance comparison

Black Vetiver vs Clockwork

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

Updated 21 Oct 2026 178 ratings analysed

Black Vetiver

Phaedon

3.7886 votes

Rank #17,171 CitrusAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

49%scent match

Some overlap

5 wins

Clockwork

Roads

3.6692 votes

Rank #9,826 Fresh SpicyWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Clockwork takes 5 of 7 categories.

Black Vetiver
Choose it for a citrus and aromatic character. Wins on ratings & consensus and versatility. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Clockwork
Choose it for a fresh spicy and woody character. Wins on community sentiment, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in fall, daytime wear.

Black Vetiver2/7

Clockwork5/7

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Black VetiverPhaedon

ClockworkRoads

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.78/ 5 · 86 votes

Have 28%Had 17%Want 55%

3.66/ 5 · 92 votes

Have 39%Had 19%Want 43%

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

44%Love

42%Like

0%Ok

14%Dislike

0%Hate

57 votes

Category winnerClockworkMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity60

〰 Sillage52

♥ Love / hate69

⏱ Longevity77

〰 Sillage64

♥ Love / hate75

Category winners

LongevityClockwork

SillageClockwork

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value43

¤ Price value50

Category winnerClockworkBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

citrus100%

aromatic83%

woody65%

earthy48%

fresh spicy30%

fresh spicy100%

woody90%

aromatic80%

earthy70%

vanilla60%

powdery50%

Scent match49%Some overlap · both aromatic, woody and fresh spicy

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

NutmegPepperLemonBergamot

Heart

CedarBalsam Fir

Base

VetiverVanillaOakmossAmberViolet

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

Spring63

Summer63

Fall100

Winter44

Day100

Night56

Category winnerBlack VetiverMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men58

Unisex42

Women0

Men67

Unisex33

Women0

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#17,171

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews12

Overall rank#9,826

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews22

Category winnerClockworkHigher 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 →

Clockwork by Roads is an unconventional woody fragrance that balances sharp, spiced citruses with a resinous, balsamic depth. Launched in 2014, it offers a sophisticated profile for men and women who appreciate dry, earthy scents. With its unique blend of nutmeg, cedar, and vetiver, this composition feels precise, mod…

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 Clockwork?

Clockwork takes 5 of 7 categories. Black Vetiver is rated 3.78/5 from 86 votes; Clockwork is rated 3.66/5 from 92 votes. Choose Black Vetiver for a citrus and aromatic character. Wins on ratings & consensus and versatility. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose Clockwork for a fresh spicy and woody character. Wins on community sentiment, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in fall, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Black Vetiver or Clockwork?

Clockwork lasts longest (Clockwork 77/100, Black Vetiver 60/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Black Vetiver or Clockwork?

Clockwork projects furthest (Clockwork 64/100, Black Vetiver 52/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Black Vetiver and Clockwork smell similar?

Some overlap: a 49% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic, woody and fresh spicy accords. Common notes include Lemon, Vetiver and Pepper.

Is Black Vetiver or Clockwork better for summer or winter?

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

What are the notes in Black Vetiver and Clockwork?

Black Vetiver features Lemon, Vetiver and Pepper. Clockwork has top notes of Nutmeg, Pepper, Lemon and Bergamot, heart notes of Cedar and Balsam Fir, a base of Vetiver, Vanilla, Oakmoss and Amber.