Fragrance comparison

Improved Silence vs Black Gold

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

Updated 14 Nov 2026 1,688 ratings analysed

Improved Silence

Roads

3.679 votes

Rank #54,319 AlmondViolet

Full profile Similar & dupes

41%scent match

Some overlap

4 wins

Black Gold

Mancera · 2017

4.101,679 votes

Rank #1,411 LavenderFresh Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Black Gold takes 4 of 4 categories.

Improved Silence
Choose it for a almond and violet character. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Black Gold
Choose it for a lavender and fresh spicy character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in fall, day or night wear.

Improved Silence0/4

Black Gold4/4

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Improved SilenceRoads

Black GoldMancera

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.67/ 5 · 9 votes

Have 17%Had 13%Want 70%

4.10/ 5 · 1,679 votes

Have 44%Had 13%Want 42%

Category winnerNot enough dataRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

22%Love

33%Like

33%Ok

11%Dislike

0%Hate

9 votes · too few to score

46%Love

31%Like

12%Ok

9%Dislike

2%Hate

1,679 votes

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity52

〰 Sillage61

♥ Love / hate67

⏱ Longevity76

〰 Sillage67

♥ Love / hate77

Category winners

LongevityBlack Gold

SillageBlack Gold

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value58

¤ Price value59

Category winnerBlack GoldBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

almond100%

violet92%

powdery84%

woody77%

nutty69%

floral61%

lavender100%

fresh spicy99%

woody97%

aromatic88%

powdery85%

violet79%

Scent match41%Some overlap · both woody, violet and powdery

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

LavenderCitruses

Heart

VioletAlmondRose

Base

Woody NotesVanilla

Top30 to 45 minutes

LavenderCinnamonNutmegCitrusesAgarwood (Oud)

Heart3 to 4 hours

VioletJasminePatchouli LeafSea NotesRose

Base6 to 8 hours

LeatherWoody NotesWhite MuskAmberVetiver

InformationalShared notesLavender, Citruses, Violet and Rose. Durations are only published for Black Gold, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer100

Fall67

Winter67

Day100

Night67

Spring88

Summer44

Fall100

Winter87

Day100

Night99

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men25

Unisex0

Women75

Men69

Unisex24

Women8

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#54,319

PerfumerJulie Pluchet

Launched—

Reviews1

Overall rank#1,411

PerfumerPierre Montale

Launched2017

Reviews203

Category winnerBlack GoldHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Improved Silence by Roads opens with a sharp, refreshing citrus zest paired with aromatic lavender. It quickly transitions into a gourmand heart where smooth almond milk meets violet and soft rose petals. This unisex fragrance rests on a base of warm, creamy vanilla and earthy woods, providing a calm, meditative aura …

Reviews →

Black Gold by Mancera is a leather fragrance for men that blends classic aromatic grooming with rich warmth. Released in 2017 and composed by Pierre Montale, it leads with sharp citruses, fresh lavender, nutmeg, and warm cinnamon over a hint of agarwood. As it develops, powdery violet, rose, and patchouli leaf add a c…

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, Improved Silence or Black Gold?

Black Gold takes 4 of 4 categories. Improved Silence is rated 3.67/5 from 9 votes; Black Gold is rated 4.10/5 from 1,679 votes. Choose Improved Silence for a almond and violet character. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose Black Gold for a lavender and fresh spicy character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in fall, day or night wear.

Which lasts longer, Improved Silence or Black Gold?

Black Gold lasts longest (Black Gold 76/100, Improved Silence 52/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Improved Silence or Black Gold?

Black Gold projects furthest (Black Gold 67/100, Improved Silence 61/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Improved Silence and Black Gold smell similar?

Some overlap: a 41% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share woody, violet and powdery accords. Common notes include Lavender, Citruses, Violet and Rose.

Is Improved Silence or Black Gold better for summer or winter?

Improved Silence suits daytime wear; Black Gold suits day or night wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Improved Silence and Black Gold?

Improved Silence has top notes of Lavender and Citruses, heart notes of Violet, Almond and Rose, a base of Woody Notes and Vanilla. Black Gold has top notes of Lavender, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Citruses, heart notes of Violet, Jasmine, Patchouli Leaf and Sea Notes, a base of Leather, Woody Notes, White Musk and Amber.