Fragrance comparison

Dark Magic vs Ryder

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 306 ratings analysed

Dark Magic

Swiss Arabian

4.1513 votes

Rank #38,023 OudTobacco

Full profile Similar & dupes

48%scent match

Some overlap

4 wins

Ryder

Ex Idolo

4.23293 votes

Rank #3,315 AmberWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Ryder takes 4 of 5 categories.

Dark Magic
Choose it for a oud and tobacco character. Wins on value for money. Best in fall, evening wear.
Ryder
Choose it for a amber and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in fall, evening wear.

Dark Magic1/5

Ryder4/5

Ratings & consensus: Ryder
Community sentiment: Not scored
Longevity: Ryder
Sillage & projection: Ryder
Value for money: Dark Magic
Versatility: Not scored
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Ryder

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Dark MagicSwiss Arabian

RyderEx Idolo

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.15/ 5 · 13 votes

Have 27%Had 1%Want 72%

4.23/ 5 · 293 votes

Have 71%Had 29%Want 0%

Category winnerRyderRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

54%Love

31%Like

0%Ok

8%Dislike

8%Hate

13 votes · too few to score

51%Love

31%Like

8%Ok

9%Dislike

1%Hate

293 votes

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity67

〰 Sillage45

♥ Love / hate79

⏱ Longevity80

〰 Sillage64

♥ Love / hate81

Category winners

LongevityRyder

SillageRyder

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value67

¤ Price value49

Category winnerDark MagicBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

oud100%

tobacco92%

woody84%

cannabis77%

sweet69%

amber61%

amber100%

woody83%

tobacco65%

balsamic48%

vanilla30%

Scent match48%Some overlap · both woody, amber and tobacco

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

cannabisGreen Notes

Heart

TobaccoWoodsy NotesResins

Base

Agarwood (Oud)Olibanum

Notes

AmberResinsTobaccoOlibanumTahitian Vanilladark woodsy notesJasmine

No top / heart / base split published

InformationalShared notesTobacco, Resins and Olibanum. Durations are only published for Ryder, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring50

Summer50

Fall100

Winter75

Day33

Night100

Spring26

Summer11

Fall100

Winter100

Day82

Night100

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men11

Unisex78

Women11

Men30

Unisex63

Women7

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#38,023

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews2

Overall rank#3,315

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews43

Category winnerRyderHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Dark Magic by Swiss Arabian is a deep, unisex aromatic fougere built on an intense oud and tobacco foundation. It opens with a sharp, green cannabis note that quickly grounds itself in resinous woods. Best suited for autumn evenings or winter days, this scent offers a bold, smoky presence that feels both intimate and …

Reviews →

Ryder by Ex Idolo opens with a rich wave of golden amber and sweet pipe tobacco, balanced by dry frankincense and dark woods. Instead of turning into a sugary dessert, the Tahitian vanilla settles into smooth resins and an earthy, antique cedar warmth. You get an impression of an old wooden reading room with glowing e…

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, Dark Magic or Ryder?

Ryder takes 4 of 5 categories. Dark Magic is rated 4.15/5 from 13 votes; Ryder is rated 4.23/5 from 293 votes. Choose Dark Magic for a oud and tobacco character. Wins on value for money. Best in fall, evening wear. Choose Ryder for a amber and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in fall, evening wear.

Which lasts longer, Dark Magic or Ryder?

Ryder lasts longest (Ryder 80/100, Dark Magic 67/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Dark Magic or Ryder?

Ryder projects furthest (Ryder 64/100, Dark Magic 45/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Dark Magic and Ryder smell similar?

Some overlap: a 48% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share woody, amber and tobacco accords. Common notes include Tobacco, Resins and Olibanum.

Is Dark Magic or Ryder better for summer or winter?

Dark Magic suits evening wear; Ryder suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Dark Magic and Ryder?

Dark Magic has top notes of cannabis and Green Notes, heart notes of Tobacco, Woodsy Notes and Resins, a base of Agarwood (Oud) and Olibanum. Ryder features Amber, Resins, Tobacco, Olibanum and Tahitian Vanilla.