Fragrance comparison

Elite vs MDM Black

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 33 ratings analysed

Elite

Van Gils

4.0826 votes

Rank #22,913 CitrusCinnamon

Full profile Similar & dupes

40%scent match

Some overlap

3 wins

MDM Black

Marc de la Morandiere

4.297 votes

Rank #41,874 AromaticCitrus

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

MDM Black takes 3 of 5 categories.

Elite
Choose it for a citrus and cinnamon character. Wins on value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear.
MDM Black
Choose it for a aromatic and citrus character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and note pyramid duration. Best in spring, day or night wear.

Elite2/5

MDM Black3/5

Ratings & consensus: Not scored
Community sentiment: Not scored
Longevity: MDM Black
Sillage & projection: MDM Black
Value for money: Elite
Versatility: Not scored
Note pyramid (duration): MDM Black
Fragranxe ranking: Elite

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

EliteVan Gils

MDM BlackMarc de la Morandiere

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.08/ 5 · 26 votes

Have 56%Had 16%Want 28%

4.29/ 5 · 7 votes

Have 27%Had 16%Want 57%

Category winnerNot enough dataRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

35%Love

46%Like

12%Ok

8%Dislike

0%Hate

26 votes

71%Love

14%Like

0%Ok

0%Dislike

14%Hate

7 votes · too few to score

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity73

〰 Sillage66

♥ Love / hate77

⏱ Longevity83

〰 Sillage83

♥ Love / hate82

Category winners

LongevityMDM Black

SillageMDM Black

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value95

¤ Price value75

Category winnerEliteBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

citrus100%

cinnamon92%

warm spicy84%

vanilla77%

aromatic69%

sweet61%

aromatic100%

citrus92%

woody84%

fresh spicy77%

warm spicy69%

earthy61%

Scent match40%Some overlap · both citrus, aromatic and warm spicy

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top15-30 mins

GrapefruitAppleLemonOrange Blossom

Heart2-4 hrs

CinnamonSage

Base6-8+ hrs

Tonka BeanVanilaWoody Notes

Top15-30 mins

BergamotOrange BlossomRosemaryMandarin OrangeMintGrapefruitLemonGreen Orange

Heart2-4 hrs

LavenderCinnamonCarnationRoseGuaiac WoodNutmegGreen Apple

Base6-8+ hrs

PatchouliMossVetiverVanillaSandalwoodIncenseTonka BeanMusk

Category winnerMDM BlackLongest dry-down: 6-8+ hrs

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer40

Fall100

Winter53

Day100

Night47

Spring100

Summer67

Fall100

Winter100

Day100

Night100

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men100

Unisex0

Women0

Men50

Unisex50

Women0

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#22,913

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews7

Overall rank#41,874

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews1

Category winnerEliteHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Van Gils Elite opens with an energetic splash of tart lemon, juicy crisp apple, and bright pink grapefruit, smoothed out by a soft touch of orange blossom. As the initial citrus burst settles, warm cinnamon and herbal clary sage take over the heart, creating an inviting balance between clean outdoor air and cozy autum…

Reviews →

Marc de la Morandiere MDM Black hits the skin with a brisk surge of bergamot, sharp lemon, and cool mint before quickly revealing a deeper, darker core. It bridges sunny Mediterranean brightness and shadowy woods. The opening citrus spark softens within twenty minutes as aromatic lavender, warm cinnamon, and green app…

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

NabroAZYARUNNER-UP vs

Mila Schön (Original)Mila SchönWINNER

1 person compared this today

Saffron AmberIlluminumRUNNER-UP vs

Septieme Sens (7e Sens)Sonia RykielWINNER

1 person compared this today

Fancy NightsJessica SimpsonRUNNER-UP vs

Nino Cerruti Pour FemmeCerrutiWINNER

3 people compared this today

Sweet DreamsHouse Of SillageWINNER vs

Safari ElixirAthoor Al AlamRUNNER-UP

1 person compared this today

Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, Elite or MDM Black?

MDM Black takes 3 of 5 categories. Elite is rated 4.08/5 from 26 votes; MDM Black is rated 4.29/5 from 7 votes. Choose Elite for a citrus and cinnamon character. Wins on value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose MDM Black for a aromatic and citrus character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and note pyramid duration. Best in spring, day or night wear.

Which lasts longer, Elite or MDM Black?

MDM Black lasts longest (MDM Black 83/100, Elite 73/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Elite or MDM Black?

MDM Black projects furthest (MDM Black 83/100, Elite 66/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Elite and MDM Black smell similar?

Some overlap: a 40% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share citrus, aromatic and warm spicy accords. Common notes include Grapefruit, Lemon, Orange Blossom and Cinnamon.

Is Elite or MDM Black better for summer or winter?

Elite suits daytime wear; MDM Black suits day or night wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Elite and MDM Black?

Elite has top notes of Grapefruit, Apple, Lemon and Orange Blossom, heart notes of Cinnamon and Sage, a base of Tonka Bean, Vanila and Woody Notes. MDM Black has top notes of Bergamot, Orange Blossom, Rosemary and Mandarin Orange, heart notes of Lavender, Cinnamon, Carnation and Rose, a base of Patchouli, Moss, Vetiver and Vanilla.