Fragrance comparison

VSOP Black vs Mastermind Noir

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 27 ratings analysed

VSOP Black

Sergio Nero

—0 votes

Rank #74,558 AmberViolet

Full profile Similar & dupes

47%scent match

Some overlap

3 wins

Mastermind Noir

Nabeel

4.2227 votes

Rank #27,398 WoodyLeather

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Mastermind Noir takes 3 of 4 categories.

VSOP Black
Choose it for a amber and violet character. Wins on value for money. Best in spring, day or night wear.
Mastermind Noir
Choose it for a woody and leather character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and fragranxe ranking. Best in winter, evening wear.

VSOP Black1/4

Mastermind Noir3/4

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

VSOP BlackSergio Nero

Mastermind NoirNabeel

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

—/ 5 · 0 votes

Have 50%Had 50%Want 0%

4.22/ 5 · 27 votes

Have 33%Had 10%Want 57%

Category winnerNot enough dataRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

Not enough votes yet

56%Love

26%Like

11%Ok

0%Dislike

7%Hate

27 votes

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity60

〰 Sillage25

♥ Love / hateN/A

⏱ Longevity71

〰 Sillage61

♥ Love / hate81

Category winners

LongevityMastermind Noir

SillageMastermind Noir

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value100

¤ Price value73

Category winnerVSOP BlackBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

amber100%

violet92%

powdery84%

leather77%

fruity69%

woody61%

woody100%

leather90%

amber80%

warm spicy70%

musky60%

powdery50%

Scent match47%Some overlap · both amber, leather and woody

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

Red AppleMandarin

Heart

VioletLeather

Base

LabdanumAmberVanillaOak

Top

Woody NotesCloveWallflowerGrassRosemarySweet Notes

Heart

Cypriol Oil or NagarmothaCedarPatchouliGuaiac WoodVioletLily-of-the-Valley

Base

Tobacco LeafLabdanumLeatherCastoreumMuskSandalwoodTonka BeanAmber

InformationalShared notesViolet, Leather, Labdanum and Amber. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer0

Fall100

Winter100

Day100

Night100

Spring62

Summer8

Fall69

Winter100

Day73

Night100

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men100

Unisex0

Women0

Men76

Unisex24

Women0

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#74,558

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#27,398

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews4

Category winnerMastermind NoirHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

VSOP Black by Sergio Nero is a woody fragrance that leans into a blend of crisp red apple and violet. Launched in 2018, it offers a distinct profile for the modern man who prefers subtle, skin-scent performance during daily wear. This composition relies on a classic structure of citrus and leather to provide a steady …

Reviews →

Mastermind Noir by Nabeel delivers a dry, earthy profile centered around smoked woods, tobacco, and castoreum. Launched in 2022, this unisex leather fragrance targets enthusiasts who prefer dense, dark compositions over mainstream sweetness. It performs best in cold weather, wrapping the wearer in a dense cloud of res…

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 lasts longer, VSOP Black or Mastermind Noir?

Mastermind Noir lasts longest (Mastermind Noir 71/100, VSOP Black 60/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, VSOP Black or Mastermind Noir?

Mastermind Noir projects furthest (Mastermind Noir 61/100, VSOP Black 25/100), based on community performance votes.

Do VSOP Black and Mastermind Noir smell similar?

Some overlap: a 47% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share amber, leather and woody accords. Common notes include Violet, Leather, Labdanum and Amber.

Is VSOP Black or Mastermind Noir better for summer or winter?

VSOP Black suits day or night wear; Mastermind Noir suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in VSOP Black and Mastermind Noir?

VSOP Black has top notes of Red Apple and Mandarin, heart notes of Violet and Leather, a base of Labdanum, Amber, Vanilla and Oak. Mastermind Noir has top notes of Woody Notes, Clove, Wallflower and Grass, heart notes of Cypriol Oil or Nagarmotha, Cedar, Patchouli and Guaiac Wood, a base of Tobacco Leaf, Labdanum, Leather and Castoreum.