Fragrance comparison

Case Study #4 Black Wood vs Reception

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 68 ratings analysed

Case Study #4 Black Wood

RboW

3.8010 votes

Rank #48,926 Warm SpicyBalsamic

Full profile Similar & dupes

33%scent match

Clearly different

4 wins

Reception

Amouage

3.6958 votes

Rank #40,728 AromaticAmber

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Reception takes 4 of 5 categories.

Case Study #4 Black Wood
Choose it for a warm spicy and balsamic character. Wins on value for money. Best in fall, evening wear.
Reception
Choose it for a aromatic and amber character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in fall, evening wear.

Case Study #4 Black Wood1/5

Reception4/5

Ratings & consensus: Reception
Community sentiment: Not scored
Longevity: Reception
Sillage & projection: Reception
Value for money: Case Study #4 Black Wood
Versatility: Not scored
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Reception

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Case Study #4 Black WoodRboW

ReceptionAmouage

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.80/ 5 · 10 votes

Have 30%Had 3%Want 68%

3.69/ 5 · 58 votes

Have 16%Had 3%Want 80%

Category winnerReceptionRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

20%Love

50%Like

20%Ok

10%Dislike

0%Hate

10 votes · too few to score

52%Love

12%Like

10%Ok

5%Dislike

21%Hate

58 votes

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity53

〰 Sillage45

♥ Love / hate70

⏱ Longevity60

〰 Sillage52

♥ Love / hate67

Category winners

LongevityReception

SillageReception

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value68

¤ Price value13

Category winnerCase Study #4 Black WoodBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

warm spicy100%

balsamic83%

amber65%

patchouli48%

fresh30%

aromatic100%

amber88%

woody77%

soft spicy65%

fresh spicy53%

warm spicy42%

Scent match33%Clearly different · both amber and warm spicy

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

PimentoBergamotLemon

Heart

MyrrhRoseCypressLabdanumCypriolClove

Base

AmbraromePatchouliFrankincenseSandalwoodCedarwoodLeatherVetiverMusk

Top

CorianderPink PepperCoffeePineJuniperLemonLabdanum

Heart

FrankincenseCedarwoodPatchouli

Base

Palo SantoVanillaMuskCypriol

InformationalShared notesLemon, Labdanum, Cypriol and Patchouli. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring0

Summer0

Fall100

Winter57

Day75

Night100

Spring59

Summer41

Fall100

Winter95

Day65

Night100

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men63

Unisex38

Women0

Men30

Unisex33

Women37

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#48,926

PerfumerClaude Dir

Launched—

Reviews1

Overall rank#40,728

PerfumerPierre Negrin

Launched—

Reviews0

Category winnerReceptionHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Case Study #4 Black Wood by RboW is a sharp, aromatic spicy fragrance built around prominent labdanum, resinous myrrh, and crisp cypress. It excels in cool autumn weather, offering a dark and herbal profile that leans unisex. This complex scent provides an intriguing, woods-forward experience for those who appreciate …

Reviews →

Reception by Amouage is a complex oriental vanilla that blends green pine and warm balsamic resins. It suits enthusiasts who want an aromatic wood scent with a soft vanilla base. Ideal for crisp autumn nights, it sits closer to the skin than many of the older, heavier powerhouses from the house.

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, Case Study #4 Black Wood or Reception?

Reception takes 4 of 5 categories. Case Study #4 Black Wood is rated 3.80/5 from 10 votes; Reception is rated 3.69/5 from 58 votes. Choose Case Study #4 Black Wood for a warm spicy and balsamic character. Wins on value for money. Best in fall, evening wear. Choose Reception for a aromatic and amber character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in fall, evening wear.

Which lasts longer, Case Study #4 Black Wood or Reception?

Reception lasts longest (Reception 60/100, Case Study #4 Black Wood 53/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Case Study #4 Black Wood or Reception?

Reception projects furthest (Reception 52/100, Case Study #4 Black Wood 45/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Case Study #4 Black Wood and Reception smell similar?

Clearly different: a 33% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share amber and warm spicy accords. Common notes include Lemon, Labdanum, Cypriol and Patchouli.

Is Case Study #4 Black Wood or Reception better for summer or winter?

Case Study #4 Black Wood suits evening wear; Reception suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Case Study #4 Black Wood and Reception?

Case Study #4 Black Wood has top notes of Pimento, Bergamot and Lemon, heart notes of Myrrh, Rose, Cypress and Labdanum, a base of Ambrarome, Patchouli, Frankincense and Sandalwood. Reception has top notes of Coriander, Pink Pepper, Coffee and Pine, heart notes of Frankincense, Cedarwood and Patchouli, a base of Palo Santo, Vanilla, Musk and Cypriol.