Fragrance comparison

Pure Black vs Tsar

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 1,870 ratings analysed

Pure Black

Sergio Tacchini

3.9155 votes

Rank #10,089 AromaticLavender

Full profile Similar & dupes

57%scent match

Closely related

4 wins

Tsar

Van Cleef & Arpels

4.191,815 votes

Rank #750 AromaticWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Tsar takes 4 of 5 categories.

Pure Black
Choose it for a aromatic and lavender character. Wins on value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Tsar
Choose it for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in winter, daytime wear.

Pure Black1/5

Tsar4/5

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Pure BlackSergio Tacchini

TsarVan Cleef & Arpels

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.91/ 5 · 55 votes

Have 66%Had 11%Want 24%

4.19/ 5 · 1,815 votes

Have 63%Had 38%Want 0%

Category winnerTsarRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

41%Love

41%Like

12%Ok

0%Dislike

6%Hate

17 votes · too few to score

45%Love

41%Like

3%Ok

11%Dislike

1%Hate

1,815 votes

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity68

〰 Sillage58

♥ Love / hate79

⏱ Longevity72

〰 Sillage62

♥ Love / hate80

Category winners

LongevityTsar

SillageTsar

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value86

¤ Price value48

Category winnerPure BlackBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

aromatic100%

lavender88%

woody77%

fresh spicy65%

mossy53%

earthy42%

aromatic100%

woody90%

fresh spicy80%

green70%

earthy60%

mossy50%

Scent match57%Closely related · both aromatic, woody and fresh spicy

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

LavenderAbsintheRosemaryTarragonWormwood

Heart

SandalwoodWisteriaVetiver

Base

oak mossAmberTonka

Top20-30 mins

Green NotesLavenderArtemisiaRosemaryBergamotCorianderCinnamonNeroli

Heart2-4 hrs

Pine TreeJuniper BerriesCarnationTarragonGeraniumCarawayJasmineRose

Base6-8+ hrs

OakmossLeatherCedarPatchouliVetiverSandalwoodMuskAmber

InformationalShared notesLavender, Rosemary, Tarragon and Sandalwood. Durations are only published for Tsar, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer33

Fall78

Winter100

Day100

Night80

Spring91

Summer51

Fall0

Winter100

Day100

Night73

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men93

Unisex7

Women0

Men94

Unisex5

Women1

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#10,089

PerfumerSofia Bardelli

Launched—

Reviews24

Overall rank#750

PerfumerPhilippe Bousseton

Launched—

Reviews204

Category winnerTsarHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Pure Black by Sergio Tacchini is an aromatic fougere that lands with a fresh, spicy intensity. It relies on lavender and absinthe to set a bold tone before warming into a woody base of sandalwood and amber. This fragrance is a solid choice for men who prefer crisp, classic profiles that perform well in professional or…

Reviews →

Van Cleef & Arpels Tsar is a quintessential green aromatic cologne that captures the crisp air of a dense pine forest. It opens with an invigorating rush of cool lavender, bitter artemisia, and crushed rosemary, creating the sensation of walking through morning woodland dew. As the scent settles, aromatic juniper berr…

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, Pure Black or Tsar?

Tsar takes 4 of 5 categories. Pure Black is rated 3.91/5 from 55 votes; Tsar is rated 4.19/5 from 1,815 votes. Choose Pure Black for a aromatic and lavender character. Wins on value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose Tsar for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in winter, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Pure Black or Tsar?

Tsar lasts longest (Tsar 72/100, Pure Black 68/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Pure Black or Tsar?

Tsar projects furthest (Tsar 62/100, Pure Black 58/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Pure Black and Tsar smell similar?

Closely related: a 57% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic, woody and fresh spicy accords. Common notes include Lavender, Rosemary, Tarragon and Sandalwood.

Is Pure Black or Tsar better for summer or winter?

Pure Black suits daytime wear; Tsar suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Pure Black and Tsar?

Pure Black has top notes of Lavender, Absinthe, Rosemary and Tarragon, heart notes of Sandalwood, Wisteria and Vetiver, a base of oak moss, Amber and Tonka. Tsar has top notes of Green Notes, Lavender, Artemisia and Rosemary, heart notes of Pine Tree, Juniper Berries, Carnation and Tarragon, a base of Oakmoss, Leather, Cedar and Patchouli.