Fragrance comparison

Open Black vs Agua Brava

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 1,420 ratings analysed

6 wins

Open Black

Roger & Gallet

4.25166 votes

Rank #1,459 AromaticCitrus

Full profile Similar & dupes

61%scent match

Closely related

Agua Brava

Antonio Puig · 2025

3.951,254 votes

Rank #872 AromaticWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Open Black takes 6 of 7 categories.

Open Black
Choose it for a aromatic and citrus character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter.
Agua Brava
Choose it for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Open Black6/7

Agua Brava1/7

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Open BlackRoger & Gallet

Agua BravaAntonio Puig

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.25/ 5 · 166 votes

Have 54%Had 12%Want 34%

3.95/ 5 · 1,254 votes

Have 66%Had 34%Want 0%

Category winnerOpen BlackRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

55%Love

37%Like

5%Ok

3%Dislike

0%Hate

111 votes

32%Love

49%Like

8%Ok

10%Dislike

2%Hate

992 votes

Category winnerOpen BlackMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity75

〰 Sillage67

♥ Love / hate85

⏱ Longevity60

〰 Sillage54

♥ Love / hate76

Category winners

LongevityOpen Black

SillageOpen Black

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value89

¤ Price value87

Category winnerOpen BlackBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

aromatic100%

citrus91%

woody83%

herbal74%

tobacco65%

fresh spicy56%

aromatic100%

woody86%

fresh spicy72%

citrus58%

warm spicy44%

earthy30%

Scent match61%Closely related · both aromatic, woody and citrus

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

LemonBergamotLavender

Heart

SageThyme

Base

TobaccoPatchouliVetiver

Top

LavenderAmalfi LemonBergamotJuniperSage

Heart

PineBay LeafThymeCloveCarnation

Base

oak mossVetiverLeatherSandalwoodPatchouliMusk

InformationalShared notesBergamot, Lavender, Sage and Thyme. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring86

Summer0

Fall0

Winter100

Day–

Night–

Spring100

Summer0

Fall0

Winter61

Day100

Night33

Category winnerOpen BlackMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men98

Unisex2

Women0

Men95

Unisex4

Women2

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#1,459

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews56

Overall rank#872

PerfumerMarcel Carles, Rosendo Mateu

Launched2025

Reviews212

Category winnerAgua BravaHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Open Black is a firmly old-school aromatic, green citrus up top, then lavender, sage and thyme over a dry tobacco, patchouli and vetiver base. It usually reads masculine, brisk and slightly stern. Reviews suggest a rough opening for some wearers, but a smoother barbershop character once it settles. Best for someone wh…

Reviews →

Agua Brava is a dry, green classic with lavender, citrus, pine and herbs over oakmoss, leather and woods. It opens brisk and outdoorsy, then settles into a mossy masculine style that feels more rugged than polished. It still makes sense for buyers who enjoy old-school aromatic scents and low-cost daily wear. Sample fi…

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, Open Black or Agua Brava?

Open Black takes 6 of 7 categories. Open Black is rated 4.25/5 from 166 votes; Agua Brava is rated 3.95/5 from 1,254 votes. Choose Open Black for a aromatic and citrus character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter. Choose Agua Brava for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Open Black or Agua Brava?

Open Black lasts longest (Open Black 75/100, Agua Brava 60/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Open Black or Agua Brava?

Open Black projects furthest (Open Black 67/100, Agua Brava 54/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Open Black and Agua Brava smell similar?

Closely related: a 61% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic, woody and citrus accords. Common notes include Bergamot, Lavender, Sage and Thyme.

Is Open Black or Agua Brava better for summer or winter?

For summer, Open Black is the stronger pick. For winter, Open Black is the stronger pick. Agua Brava suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Open Black and Agua Brava?

Open Black has top notes of Lemon, Bergamot and Lavender, heart notes of Sage and Thyme, a base of Tobacco, Patchouli and Vetiver. Agua Brava has top notes of Lavender, Amalfi Lemon, Bergamot and Juniper, heart notes of Pine, Bay Leaf, Thyme and Clove, a base of oak moss, Vetiver, Leather and Sandalwood.