Fragrance comparison

Platinum vs Black

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

Updated 8 Nov 2026 14 ratings analysed

2 wins

Platinum

Phytoderm

4.5012 votes

Rank #41,526 FruitySweet

Full profile Similar & dupes

32%scent match

Clearly different

Black

John Player Special

4.002 votes

Rank #61,283 LavenderWarm Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Platinum takes 2 of 3 categories.

Platinum
Choose it for a fruity and sweet character. Wins on longevity and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, evening wear.
Black
Choose it for a lavender and warm spicy character. Wins on sillage & projection. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Platinum2/3

Black1/3

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

PlatinumPhytoderm

BlackJohn Player Special

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.50/ 5 · 12 votes

Have 34%Had 9%Want 57%

4.00/ 5 · 2 votes

Have 27%Had 27%Want 45%

Category winnerNot enough dataRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

50%Love

50%Like

0%Ok

0%Dislike

0%Hate

12 votes · too few to score

0%Love

100%Like

0%Ok

0%Dislike

0%Hate

2 votes · too few to score

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity60

〰 Sillage44

♥ Love / hate88

⏱ Longevity40

〰 Sillage50

♥ Love / hate75

Category winners

LongevityPlatinum

SillageBlack

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value82

¤ Price valueN/A

Category winnerNot enough dataBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

fruity100%

sweet92%

aromatic84%

green77%

fresh spicy69%

leather61%

lavender100%

warm spicy92%

fresh spicy84%

aromatic77%

cinnamon69%

woody61%

Scent match32%Clearly different · both aromatic and fresh spicy

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

MintAppleLemonSage

Heart

PineapplePlumCinnamonLavenderBlack Pepper

Base

LeatherVanillaCedarPatchouliTobaccoIso E Super

Top15-30 mins

AppleGingerBergamotYuzu

Heart2-3 hrs

LavenderCinnamonBlack PepperSage

Base4-6 hrs

TobaccoSandalwoodPatchouliWhite MuskOlibanum

InformationalShared notesApple, Sage, Cinnamon and Lavender. Durations are only published for Black, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring67

Summer11

Fall100

Winter67

Day63

Night100

Spring100

Summer100

Fall0

Winter100

Day100

Night–

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men88

Unisex13

Women0

Not enough votes yet

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#41,526

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#61,283

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

Category winnerPlatinumHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Platinum by Phytoderm opens with a sharp, crisp mint and apple combination that immediately commands attention. As it moves into the heart, pineapple and plum introduce a fruity sweetness, while the leather and tobacco base gives it a grounded, masculine finish. It works well for casual daily wear, especially during t…

Reviews →

John Player Special Black delivers an easygoing splash of crisp green apple, sharp ginger, and bitter yuzu right from the opening mist. It feels immediate and sporty. Within twenty minutes, the brisk citrus punch settles into an aromatic heart of herbal lavender, warm cinnamon bark, and cracked black pepper. A subtle …

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, Platinum or Black?

Platinum takes 2 of 3 categories. Platinum is rated 4.50/5 from 12 votes; Black is rated 4.00/5 from 2 votes. Choose Platinum for a fruity and sweet character. Wins on longevity and fragranxe ranking. Best in fall, evening wear. Choose Black for a lavender and warm spicy character. Wins on sillage & projection. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Platinum or Black?

Platinum lasts longest (Platinum 60/100, Black 40/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Platinum or Black?

Black projects furthest (Black 50/100, Platinum 44/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Platinum and Black smell similar?

Clearly different: a 32% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic and fresh spicy accords. Common notes include Apple, Sage, Cinnamon and Lavender.

Is Platinum or Black better for summer or winter?

Platinum suits evening wear; Black suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Platinum and Black?

Platinum has top notes of Mint, Apple, Lemon and Sage, heart notes of Pineapple, Plum, Cinnamon and Lavender, a base of Leather, Vanilla, Cedar and Patchouli. Black has top notes of Apple, Ginger, Bergamot and Yuzu, heart notes of Lavender, Cinnamon, Black Pepper and Sage, a base of Tobacco, Sandalwood, Patchouli and White Musk.