Empire Absolut vs MDM Black
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
63%scent match
Closely related
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
MDM Black takes 4 of 5 categories.
Empire AbsolutChoose it for a fresh spicy and aromatic character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in winter, evening wear.
MDM BlackChoose it for a aromatic and citrus character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in spring, day or night wear.
Empire Absolut1/5
MDM Black4/5
- Ratings & consensus
- Not scored
- Community sentiment
- Not scored
- Longevity
- MDM Black
- Sillage & projection
- MDM Black
- Value for money
- MDM Black
- Versatility
- Not scored
- Note pyramid (duration)
- MDM Black
- Fragranxe ranking
- Empire Absolut
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
Empire AbsolutHinodeMDM BlackMarc de la MorandiereWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split4.21/ 5 · 24 votes
Have 60%Had 16%Want 24%
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 hate42%Love
46%Like
4%Ok
8%Dislike
0%Hate
24 votes · too few to score
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
Category winners
LongevityMDM Black
SillageMDM Black
Value for money
How fairly priced voters find itCategory winnerMDM BlackBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothfresh spicy100%
aromatic90%
woody80%
citrus70%
balsamic60%
warm spicy50%
aromatic100%
citrus92%
woody84%
fresh spicy77%
warm spicy69%
earthy61%
Scent match63%Closely related · both aromatic, fresh spicy and woody
Note pyramid (duration)
Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = sharedTop15-30 mins
elemiOrangeMandarin OrangeNutmegGingerBergamot
Heart2-4 hrs
Black PepperSolar NotesLavenderMarigoldCypriol Oil or NagarmothaRosemaryGeranium
Base6-8+ hrs
CedarTonka BeanMossPatchouliViolet
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 seasonSpring44
Summer6
Fall72
Winter100
Day19
Night100
Spring100
Summer67
Fall100
Winter100
Day100
Night100
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#39,876
PerfumerNot listed
Launched—
Reviews0
Overall rank#41,874
PerfumerNot listed
Launched—
Reviews1
Category winnerEmpire AbsolutHigher overall rank
In a nutshell
Description & review snapshotEmpire Absolut by Hinode kicks off with a sharp splash of mandarin orange and zesty bergamot, quickly spiced up by fresh grated ginger and warm nutmeg. As the citrus settles, herbal rosemary, clean lavender, and a punch of black pepper create an energetic aromatic heart. Deep underneath, earthy patchouli, dry cedar wo…
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.
Guided comparison
Ask about this matchup
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Head-to-head activity from live history
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Common questions
Straight answers from the data above.
Which is better, Empire Absolut or MDM Black?
MDM Black takes 4 of 5 categories. Empire Absolut is rated 4.21/5 from 24 votes; MDM Black is rated 4.29/5 from 7 votes. Choose Empire Absolut for a fresh spicy and aromatic character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in winter, evening wear. Choose MDM Black for a aromatic and citrus character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in spring, day or night wear.
Which lasts longer, Empire Absolut or MDM Black?
MDM Black lasts longest (MDM Black 83/100, Empire Absolut 68/100), based on community performance votes.
Which projects more, Empire Absolut or MDM Black?
MDM Black projects furthest (MDM Black 83/100, Empire Absolut 60/100), based on community performance votes.
Do Empire Absolut and MDM Black smell similar?
Closely related: a 63% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic, fresh spicy and woody accords. Common notes include Mandarin Orange, Nutmeg, Bergamot and Lavender.
Is Empire Absolut or MDM Black better for summer or winter?
Empire Absolut suits evening wear; MDM Black suits day or night wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in Empire Absolut and MDM Black?
Empire Absolut has top notes of elemi, Orange, Mandarin Orange and Nutmeg, heart notes of Black Pepper, Solar Notes, Lavender and Marigold, a base of Cedar, Tonka Bean, Moss and Patchouli. 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.
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