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FRAGRANXE
Fragrance comparison

Colette vs Black Orchid

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

Updated 32,935 ratings analysed
Clearly different
Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Black Orchid takes 4 of 7 categories.

  • Colette

    Choose it for a citrus and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and value for money. Best in spring.

  • Black Orchid

    Choose it for a warm spicy and earthy character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and versatility. Best in winter, evening wear.

Colette3/7
Black Orchid4/7
Ratings & consensus
Colette
Community sentiment
Colette
Longevity
Black Orchid
Sillage & projection
Black Orchid
Value for money
Colette
Versatility
Black Orchid
Note pyramid (duration)
Not scored
Fragranxe ranking
Black Orchid

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance
ColetteTocca
Black OrchidTom Ford
Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split
4.18/ 5 · 1,432 votes
Have 77%Had 23%Want 0%
3.85/ 5 · 31,503 votes
Have 55%Had 17%Want 28%
Category winnerColetteRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate
42%Love
42%Like
9%Ok
7%Dislike
0%Hate

1,432 votes

50%Love
9%Like
6%Ok
21%Dislike
14%Hate

Share of community votes

Category winnerColetteMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores
⏱ Longevity48
〰 Sillage41
♥ Love / hate79
⏱ Longevity83
〰 Sillage75
♥ Love / hate77
Category winners

LongevityBlack Orchid

SillageBlack Orchid

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it
¤ Price value53
¤ Price value45
Category winnerColetteBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both
citrus100%
woody92%
powdery84%
aromatic77%
vanilla69%
amber61%
warm spicy100%
earthy85%
woody84%
sweet76%
amber67%
patchouli64%
Scent match30%Clearly different · both woody and amber

Note pyramid (duration)

Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = shared
Top
Amalfi LemonBergamotJuniper BerriesMandarin Orange
Heart
VioletPink PepperJasmineCyclamen
Base
VanilleSandalwoodMuskAmberVirginia CedarIncensePine needles
Top
TruffleGardeniaBlack CurrantYlang-YlangJasmineBergamotMandarin OrangeAmalfi Lemon
Heart
OrchidSpicesGardeniaFruity NotesYlang-YlangJasmineLotus
Base
Mexican chocolatePatchouliVanilleIncenseAmberSandalwoodVetiverWhite Musk
InformationalShared notesAmalfi Lemon, Bergamot, Mandarin Orange and Jasmine. 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
Summer0
Fall0
Winter47
Day–
Night–
Spring25
Summer15
Fall83
Winter100
Day29
Night100
Category winnerBlack OrchidMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes
Men1
Unisex13
Women87
Men12
Unisex56
Women32
InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#2,667

PerfumerIrina Burlakova

Launched—

Reviews201

Overall rank#469

PerfumerDavid Apel

Launched2006

Reviews1,594

Category winnerBlack OrchidHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Colette opens with a bright, fizzy burst of Amalfi lemon and aromatic juniper berries. It feels like a cool breeze on a sunny spring morning. As the scent settles, a soft violet and powdery iris-like texture takes over, blending with a creamy base of vanilla and warm sandalwood. This is a skin scent that sits close to…

Reviews →

Black Orchid by Tom Ford is a Oriental Floral fragrance for women. Black Orchid was launched in 2006. Black Orchid was created by David Apel and Pierre Negrin. Top notes are Truffle, Gardenia, Black Currant, Ylang-Ylang, Jasmine, Bergamot, Mandarin Orange and Amalfi Lemon; middle notes are Orchid, Spices, Gardenia, Fr…

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.

Recent comparisons

Head-to-head activity from live history

Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, Colette or Black Orchid?

Black Orchid takes 4 of 7 categories. Colette is rated 4.18/5 from 1,432 votes; Black Orchid is rated 3.85/5 from 31,503 votes. Choose Colette for a citrus and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and value for money. Best in spring. Choose Black Orchid for a warm spicy and earthy character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and versatility. Best in winter, evening wear.

Which lasts longer, Colette or Black Orchid?

Black Orchid lasts longest (Black Orchid 83/100, Colette 48/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Colette or Black Orchid?

Black Orchid projects furthest (Black Orchid 75/100, Colette 41/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Colette and Black Orchid smell similar?

Clearly different: a 30% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share woody and amber accords. Common notes include Amalfi Lemon, Bergamot, Mandarin Orange and Jasmine.

Is Colette or Black Orchid better for summer or winter?

For summer, Black Orchid is the stronger pick. For winter, Black Orchid is the stronger pick. Black Orchid suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Colette and Black Orchid?

Colette has top notes of Amalfi Lemon, Bergamot, Juniper Berries and Mandarin Orange, heart notes of Violet, Pink Pepper, Jasmine and Cyclamen, a base of Vanille, Sandalwood, Musk and Amber. Black Orchid has top notes of Truffle, Gardenia, Black Currant and Ylang-Ylang, heart notes of Orchid, Spices, Gardenia and Fruity Notes, a base of Mexican chocolate, Patchouli, Vanille and Incense.

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