Fragrance comparison

Man vs MDM Black

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

Updated 8 Nov 2026 1,372 ratings analysed

Man

Calvin Klein

3.641,365 votes

Rank #36,056 Fresh SpicyWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

59%scent match

Closely related

4 wins

MDM Black

Marc de la Morandiere

4.297 votes

Rank #40,444 AromaticCitrus

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

MDM Black takes 4 of 5 categories.

Man
Choose it for a fresh spicy and woody character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, daytime wear.
MDM Black
Choose it for a aromatic and citrus character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in spring, day or night wear.

Man1/5

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: Man

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

ManCalvin Klein

MDM BlackMarc de la Morandiere

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.64/ 5 · 1,365 votes

Have 51%Had 39%Want 10%

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

17%Love

52%Like

10%Ok

19%Dislike

2%Hate

1,365 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

⏱ Longevity56

〰 Sillage48

♥ Love / hate66

⏱ Longevity83

〰 Sillage83

♥ Love / hate82

Category winners

LongevityMDM Black

SillageMDM Black

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value70

¤ Price value75

Category winnerMDM BlackBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

fresh spicy100%

woody92%

aromatic84%

ozonic77%

citrus69%

amber61%

aromatic100%

citrus92%

woody84%

fresh spicy77%

warm spicy69%

earthy61%

Scent match59%Closely related · both aromatic, fresh spicy and woody

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top15 to 30 minutes

Violet LeafRosemaryMandarin OrangeBergamot

Heart1 to 2 hours

Bay LeafNutmegIncenseMint

Base3 to 5 hours

CypressSandalwoodGuaiac WoodMuskAmber

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

Spring98

Summer64

Fall100

Winter64

Day100

Night77

Spring100

Summer67

Fall100

Winter100

Day100

Night100

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men95

Unisex5

Women0

Men50

Unisex50

Women0

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#36,056

PerfumerAnn Gottlieb

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#40,444

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews1

Category winnerManHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Man by Calvin Klein is an aromatic woody eau de toilette built around brisk herbal tones and a crisp, ozonic violet leaf. Launched in 2007 and composed by perfumer Ann Gottlieb, it opens with a bright burst of bergamot, mandarin orange, and fresh rosemary. The heart introduces a cool bite of mint alongside bay leaf, d…

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

Michalsky Berlin Fame For MenMichael MichalskyWINNER vs

Sport RacingJacques BattiniRUNNER-UP

1 person compared this today

Versailles ShotgunVersaillesRUNNER-UP vs

Black AvaritiaMemoize LondonWINNER

1 person compared this today

Dans Ma Bulle Eau de ToiletteCarvenWINNER vs

NefertariAtelier Segall & BaruttiRUNNER-UP

1 person compared this today

Cassilia BlackPacomaRUNNER-UP vs

Celestial FlowerThe Dua BrandWINNER

1 person compared this today

Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, Man or MDM Black?

MDM Black takes 4 of 5 categories. Man is rated 3.64/5 from 1,365 votes; MDM Black is rated 4.29/5 from 7 votes. Choose Man for a fresh spicy and woody character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, daytime 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, Man or MDM Black?

MDM Black lasts longest (MDM Black 83/100, Man 56/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Man or MDM Black?

MDM Black projects furthest (MDM Black 83/100, Man 48/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Man and MDM Black smell similar?

Closely related: a 59% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic, fresh spicy and woody accords. Common notes include Rosemary, Mandarin Orange, Bergamot and Nutmeg.

Is Man or MDM Black better for summer or winter?

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

What are the notes in Man and MDM Black?

Man has top notes of Violet Leaf, Rosemary, Mandarin Orange and Bergamot, heart notes of Bay Leaf, Nutmeg, Incense and Mint, a base of Cypress, Sandalwood, Guaiac Wood and Musk. 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.