Eau Maximum vs Higher Black
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
41%scent match
Some overlap
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
Higher Black takes 6 of 7 categories.
Eau MaximumChoose it for a citrus and aromatic character. Wins on value for money. Best in spring.
Higher BlackChoose it for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Eau Maximum1/7
Higher Black6/7
- Ratings & consensus
- Higher Black
- Community sentiment
- Higher Black
- Longevity
- Higher Black
- Sillage & projection
- Higher Black
- Value for money
- Eau Maximum
- Versatility
- Higher Black
- Note pyramid (duration)
- Not scored
- Fragranxe ranking
- Higher Black
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
Eau MaximumNickelHigher BlackDiorWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split4.04/ 5 · 67 votes
Have 54%Had 24%Want 22%
4.35/ 5 · 60 votes
Have 20%Had 16%Want 64%
Category winnerHigher BlackRating weighted by vote count
Community sentiment
How voters split from love to hate37%Love
46%Like
1%Ok
13%Dislike
1%Hate
67 votes
53%Love
37%Like
2%Ok
8%Dislike
0%Hate
60 votes
Category winnerHigher BlackMost positive mix (25+ votes)
Longevity & sillage
0–100 community performance scores
Category winners
LongevityHigher Black
SillageHigher Black
Value for money
How fairly priced voters find itCategory winnerEau MaximumBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothcitrus100%
aromatic83%
green65%
fresh spicy48%
herbal30%
aromatic100%
woody92%
fruity84%
fresh spicy77%
green69%
sweet61%
Scent match41%Some overlap · both aromatic, green and fresh spicy
Note pyramid (duration)
Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = sharedTop
MintGrapefruitOrange
Heart
TeaThymeAmalfi LemonSageRosemary
Base
MuskPatchouliNutmegCinnamon
Top
PeachMintPearAmalfi Lemon
Heart
CypressSpicesRosemary
Base
Pear WoodMusk
InformationalShared notesMint, Amalfi Lemon, Rosemary and Musk. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.
Seasons & time of day
Relative to each fragrance's best seasonSpring100
Summer0
Fall0
Winter11
Day–
Night–
Spring100
Summer100
Fall83
Winter38
Day100
Night67
Category winnerHigher BlackMost year-round
Who wears it
Gender appeal votesInformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored
Ranking & credits
Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launchOverall rank#12,846
PerfumerNot listed
Launched—
Reviews16
Overall rank#11,103
PerfumerOlivier Gillotin, Olivier Pescheux
Launched2002
Reviews7
Category winnerHigher BlackHigher overall rank
In a nutshell
Description & review snapshotEau Maximum by Nickel is an aromatic spicy scent released in 2006. It opens with a crisp, cooling blast of mint and grapefruit, settling into a herbal core of tea, thyme, and rosemary. Designed for the active man, it provides a clean, energetic profile that holds up well during physical activity or hot summer days.
Reviews →Dior Higher Black opens with a clean, energizing splash of crisp green pear, chilled mint, and bright Amalfi lemon mixed with juicy peach. As the lively fruit notes settle on skin, earthy cypress and fragrant garden rosemary take over, giving the scent a brisk herbal backbone with a pinch of peppery spice. The drydown…
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, Eau Maximum or Higher Black?
Higher Black takes 6 of 7 categories. Eau Maximum is rated 4.04/5 from 67 votes; Higher Black is rated 4.35/5 from 60 votes. Choose Eau Maximum for a citrus and aromatic character. Wins on value for money. Best in spring. Choose Higher Black for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Which lasts longer, Eau Maximum or Higher Black?
Higher Black lasts longest (Higher Black 76/100, Eau Maximum 68/100), based on community performance votes.
Which projects more, Eau Maximum or Higher Black?
Higher Black projects furthest (Higher Black 72/100, Eau Maximum 65/100), based on community performance votes.
Do Eau Maximum and Higher Black smell similar?
Some overlap: a 41% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic, green and fresh spicy accords. Common notes include Mint, Amalfi Lemon, Rosemary and Musk.
Is Eau Maximum or Higher Black better for summer or winter?
For summer, Higher Black is the stronger pick. For winter, Higher Black is the stronger pick. Higher Black suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in Eau Maximum and Higher Black?
Eau Maximum has top notes of Mint, Grapefruit and Orange, heart notes of Tea, Thyme, Amalfi Lemon and Sage, a base of Musk, Patchouli, Nutmeg and Cinnamon. Higher Black has top notes of Peach, Mint, Pear and Amalfi Lemon, heart notes of Cypress, Spices and Rosemary, a base of Pear Wood and Musk.
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