Dark Rebel vs Whiplash
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
13%scent match
Clearly different
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
No clear winner: the 6 categories split 3–3.
Dark RebelChoose it for a woody and leather character. Wins on ratings & consensus, value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter, evening wear.
WhiplashChoose it for a citrus and warm spicy character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and note pyramid duration. Best in fall, daytime wear.
Dark Rebel3/6
Whiplash3/6
- Ratings & consensus
- Dark Rebel
- Community sentiment
- Not scored
- Longevity
- Whiplash
- Sillage & projection
- Whiplash
- Value for money
- Dark Rebel
- Versatility
- Not scored
- Note pyramid (duration)
- Whiplash
- Fragranxe ranking
- Dark Rebel
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
Dark RebelJohn VarvatosWhiplashEx NihiloWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split4.34/ 5 · 1,925 votes
Have 83%Had 17%Want 0%
3.76/ 5 · 21 votes
Have 16%Had 3%Want 81%
Category winnerDark RebelRating weighted by vote count
Community sentiment
How voters split from love to hate56%Love
32%Like
4%Ok
7%Dislike
1%Hate
1,925 votes
43%Love
14%Like
24%Ok
14%Dislike
5%Hate
21 votes · too few to score
Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)
Longevity & sillage
0–100 community performance scores
Category winners
LongevityWhiplash
SillageWhiplash
Value for money
How fairly priced voters find itCategory winnerDark RebelBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothwoody100%
leather92%
sweet84%
tobacco77%
aromatic69%
fresh spicy61%
citrus100%
warm spicy83%
fresh spicy65%
musky48%
floral30%
Scent match13%Clearly different · both fresh spicy
Note pyramid (duration)
Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = sharedTop15-30 mins
RumSugar CaneCardamomArtemisiaClary Sage
Heart2-4 hrs
LeatherFir ResinPepperStyrax
Base5-7 hrs
Tobacco LeafWoody NotesCastoreumAkigalawoodMexican VanillaJuniper
Top20-30 mins
OrangePepperBergamotMandarin
Heart2-3 hrs
GingerRoseCardamom
Base8-12 hrs
AmbretteAkigalawoodPatchouli
Category winnerWhiplashLongest dry-down: 8-12 hrs
Seasons & time of day
Relative to each fragrance's best seasonSpring26
Summer9
Fall0
Winter100
Day41
Night100
Spring86
Summer86
Fall100
Winter100
Day100
Night40
Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round
Who wears it
Gender appeal votesInformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored
Ranking & credits
Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launchOverall rank#645
PerfumerRodrigo Flores-Roux
Launched—
Reviews205
Overall rank#24,427
PerfumerNot listed
Launched—
Reviews6
Category winnerDark RebelHigher overall rank
In a nutshell
Description & review snapshotJohn Varvatos Dark Rebel delivers a bold, smoky punch right out of the bottle. The first spray releases dark Jamaican rum soaked in sweet sugar cane, cut sharply by aromatic clary sage and cracked cardamom. As the alcohol flashes off, the core turns rugged. You get tough black leather wrapped in sticky fir resin and w…
Reviews →Ex Nihilo Whiplash is a lively woody spicy fragrance that pulls off an unexpected trick on your skin. It kicks off with a bright splash of orange, juicy mandarin, and sparkling bergamot, sharpened by a kick of black pepper. Soon, the tart citrus softens as warm ginger and aromatic cardamom blend with a smooth touch of…
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.
Guided comparison
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Common questions
Straight answers from the data above.
Which is better, Dark Rebel or Whiplash?
No clear winner: the 6 categories split 3–3. Dark Rebel is rated 4.34/5 from 1,925 votes; Whiplash is rated 3.76/5 from 21 votes. Choose Dark Rebel for a woody and leather character. Wins on ratings & consensus, value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter, evening wear. Choose Whiplash for a citrus and warm spicy character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and note pyramid duration. Best in fall, daytime wear.
Which lasts longer, Dark Rebel or Whiplash?
Whiplash lasts longest (Whiplash 78/100, Dark Rebel 62/100), based on community performance votes.
Which projects more, Dark Rebel or Whiplash?
Whiplash projects furthest (Whiplash 67/100, Dark Rebel 57/100), based on community performance votes.
Do Dark Rebel and Whiplash smell similar?
Clearly different: a 13% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share fresh spicy accords. Common notes include Cardamom, Pepper and Akigalawood.
Is Dark Rebel or Whiplash better for summer or winter?
Dark Rebel suits evening wear; Whiplash suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in Dark Rebel and Whiplash?
Dark Rebel has top notes of Rum, Sugar Cane, Cardamom and Artemisia, heart notes of Leather, Fir Resin, Pepper and Styrax, a base of Tobacco Leaf, Woody Notes, Castoreum and Akigalawood. Whiplash has top notes of Orange, Pepper, Bergamot and Mandarin, heart notes of Ginger, Rose and Cardamom, a base of Ambrette, Akigalawood and Patchouli.
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