Indigo Smoke vs MDM Black
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
42%scent match
Some overlap
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
MDM Black takes 3 of 4 categories.
Indigo SmokeChoose it for a woody and aromatic character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in winter.
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.
Indigo Smoke1/4
MDM Black3/4
- 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)
- Not scored
- Fragranxe ranking
- Indigo Smoke
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
Indigo SmokeArquisteMDM BlackMarc de la MorandiereWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split4.11/ 5 · 499 votes
Have 26%Had 6%Want 69%
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 hate46%Love
30%Like
15%Ok
8%Dislike
2%Hate
499 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
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 bothwoody100%
aromatic92%
warm spicy84%
smoky77%
amber69%
powdery61%
aromatic100%
citrus92%
woody84%
fresh spicy77%
warm spicy69%
earthy61%
Scent match42%Some overlap · both aromatic, woody and warm spicy
Note pyramid (duration)
Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = sharedTop
Lapsang Souchong TeaVetiverBergamotMandarin Orange
Heart
ApricotGuaiac WoodCassia BourbonCarrot Seeds
Base
IncenseMatePine tarCedar Leaves
Top15-30 mins
BergamotOrange BlossomRosemaryMandarin OrangeMintGrapefruitLemonGreen Orange
Heart2-4 hrs
LavenderCinnamonCarnationRoseGuaiac WoodNutmegGreen Apple
Base6-8+ hrs
PatchouliMossVetiverVanillaSandalwoodIncenseTonka BeanMusk
InformationalShared notesVetiver, Bergamot, Mandarin Orange and Guaiac Wood. Durations are only published for MDM Black, so this is not scored.
Seasons & time of day
Relative to each fragrance's best seasonSpring48
Summer0
Fall0
Winter100
Day–
Night–
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#28,181
PerfumerCalice Becker
Launched—
Reviews0
Overall rank#41,874
PerfumerNot listed
Launched—
Reviews1
Category winnerIndigo SmokeHigher overall rank
In a nutshell
Description & review snapshotIndigo Smoke by Arquiste opens with intense pine tar and dark Lapsang Souchong tea leaves, immediately creating a fireside atmosphere. Mandarin orange and bergamot add a brief streak of citrus brightness before guaiac wood and sweet apricot take over the middle phase. As the scent settles on skin, incense and mate res…
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
Get a practical answer grounded in the fragrances currently selected.
Recent comparisons
Head-to-head activity from live history
NabroAZYARUNNER-UP
vs
♛
Mila Schön (Original)Mila SchönWINNER
Saffron AmberIlluminumRUNNER-UP
vs
♛
Septieme Sens (7e Sens)Sonia RykielWINNER
Fancy NightsJessica SimpsonRUNNER-UP
vs
♛
Nino Cerruti Pour FemmeCerrutiWINNER
♛
Sweet DreamsHouse Of SillageWINNER
vs
Safari ElixirAthoor Al AlamRUNNER-UP
1 person compared this today
Sweet DreamsHouse Of SillageWINNER
vs
Safari ElixirAthoor Al AlamRUNNER-UP
Common questions
Straight answers from the data above.
Which is better, Indigo Smoke or MDM Black?
MDM Black takes 3 of 4 categories. Indigo Smoke is rated 4.11/5 from 499 votes; MDM Black is rated 4.29/5 from 7 votes. Choose Indigo Smoke for a woody and aromatic character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in winter. 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, Indigo Smoke or MDM Black?
MDM Black lasts longest (MDM Black 83/100, Indigo Smoke 66/100), based on community performance votes.
Which projects more, Indigo Smoke or MDM Black?
MDM Black projects furthest (MDM Black 83/100, Indigo Smoke 51/100), based on community performance votes.
Do Indigo Smoke and MDM Black smell similar?
Some overlap: a 42% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic, woody and warm spicy accords. Common notes include Vetiver, Bergamot, Mandarin Orange and Guaiac Wood.
Is Indigo Smoke or MDM Black better for summer or winter?
MDM Black suits day or night wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in Indigo Smoke and MDM Black?
Indigo Smoke has top notes of Lapsang Souchong Tea, Vetiver, Bergamot and Mandarin Orange, heart notes of Apricot, Guaiac Wood, Cassia Bourbon and Carrot Seeds, a base of Incense, Mate, Pine tar and Cedar Leaves. 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.
Popular fragrance comparisons
The matchups people have compared most on Fragranxe.
vs
Sauvage vs Bleu de Chanel
Dior · Chanel · 36 comparisons
vs
Paco Rabanne Pour Homme Rabanne for men vs Shiyaaka Shadow
Rabanne · Khadlaj Perfumes · 30 comparisons
vs
Baccarat Rouge 540 vs Khamrah
Maison Francis Kurkdjian · Lattafa Perfumes · 21 comparisons
vs
Birth of Venus vs Brioni Eau de Parfum Intense
Argos · Brioni · 17 comparisons
vs
Supremacy Not Only Intense vs Arabians Tonka
Afnan · Montale · 14 comparisons
vs
Secret De Venus Eau de Parfum vs # What Matters is Inside - Italy
Weil · Jovoy Paris · 14 comparisons