Black to Black
Mancera (2013)

Black to Black by Mancera (2013) didn't quite survive to reach its tenth birthday on the market, as it got scrapped alongside several other slower-moving fragrances from the earlier years of the company's history, before Mancera really tried to separate itself from Montale by being ostensibly "French" in design. Mancera and sloughed off perfumes before, and most of it's pre-2010 lines have ceased to exist long before most people ever got to even review them, like Mancera Silver Intensitive Aoud (2008), the enigmatic Maltese Falcon of the early range only seen these days in pictures pulled from the Wayback Machine online. In the case of Black to Black, things are a bit less mysterious, as most who sampled and purchased this confused it as a miss-packaged Montale release; I can clearly see why.Cut from much the same cloth as early rose/oud combo scents made by Montale, what really separates Black to Black from something like Montale Black Aoud (2006) or Montale Attar (2005) is the blending. As you might suspect, this is a very oily, tenacious, and loud perfume, further lending proof to the Montale recycle theory.

Perhaps not yet fully engaged with its current "French fragrance with Arabic themes and opulence" shtick, Mancera was still raiding the Montale archives of unused fragrances or even its own archive of unused mods, as displayed by the fraternal twins Manerca Aoud Violet (2014) and Mancera Wind Wood (2014). If you were looking for a smoother, slightly ambery, more refined take on Black Aoud by Montale, with a bit of a chypre-like mossy/powdery finish, then I have good news for you. That medicinal oud and Turkish rose blast most familiar to Montale lovers is quickly rolled into a slightly more-phenolic amber, albeit not the barnyard phenols of Montale Aoud Cuir d'Arabie (2006). The castoreum-based leather note is the real link between the Aoud Cuir d'Arabie and Black to Black, while jasmine, oakmoss, bergamot, and a touch patchouli make this feel "chypre" within the context. I suppose that is what makes Black to Black more "French" than Black Aoud, but it clearly wasn't enough to avoid comparisons, and sales never climbed that high compared to something like Mancera Cedrat Boise (2011). This is a good, solid, well-blended rose oud, lost in a sea of Mancera's own catalog bloat.

So, if you were lucky enough to get a bottle when it was fairly steeply discounted, or decide to bite the bullet on surviving stock sold at prices closer to (but not yet over) retail for the house, you'll be treated to a well-worn theme that smells better than 90% of what expensive designer exclusive ranges try to do with the concept. I'd handily wear Black to Black over anything By Killian, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Versace, Byredo, Juliette Has a Gun, or Parfums de Marly has done with the rose oud phenomenon since beating down the doors of every major department store or Sephora about 15 years ago. I also think this particular combo is finally dying in the west, as everyone instead becomes transfixed by sugary saffron verimoss bombs in the vein of MFK Baccarat Rouge 540 (2015). I also got my hands on this before the Scalper Nation attacked, so I don't have to stress as much about value proposition. The best Montale rose ouds are still out there, for much less than this, and even though they are not as refined or sophisticated in approach, they get the point across all the same. Thumbs up

My first fragrance of Mancera and a total blind buy, but worth every euro! Upon first spray I was sold. It immediately reminded of a sauna scent. Giving off a comforting, pleasant and sophisticated smell that lasts a very long time.

After reading and seeing other reviews I already knew this was going to be a beast of a fragrance and a very nice oud and rose combination that I didn't have in my collection, except for a couple of samples from Orens Parfum (Moire de Kahla) and Fragrance du Bois (Parisian Oud) until now.

To me the scent, unlike to some other reviews, is rather linear throughout the day. It doesn't change at all. The notes that I get are the oud, rose and saffron. I unfortunately don't smell the patchouli, leather and other notes. This might be because they are blended very well or because the dominant smell of the oud, rose and saffron. Nonetheless I really like this fragrance. You really just need one spray for the whole day. The scent will linger around you and can be noticed easily.

As previously mentioned, this smell a lot like Montale's Black Oud. Pretty much the same fragrance. Just more patchouli and saffron.

This one definitely opens VERY similar to Montale's Black Aoud (medicinal, astringent, band aid-like oud with some rose) and remains that way for about 2 hours. It then begins its beautiful transformation evolving into more of a dirty leather and patchouli scent with a hint of saffron and an ever-present oud note. As it continues to evolve I begin to detect the white musk and a woodiness reminiscent of pencil shavings done in a very pleasant manner. The white musk and "pencil shaving" notes are similar to notes in the drydown of Mancera's Kumkat Wood. Throughout the evolution the notes really dance and play nicely on the skin.

Longevity and projection are in line with other Mancera fragrances (very long & pretty loud), but the performance of Black to Black is anything but linear which is different from some of my other scents from this house.

In the end, I'd say that Black to Black reminds me of facets of Montale's Black Aoud & White Aoud as well as Mancera's The Aoud & Kumkat Wood. It is a well done fragrance that is a pleasure to wear from the moment I spray it on until it has fully dried down. I love its evolution from the sharp oud/rose opening, through the saffron, leather and patchouli - all the way to the white musk drydown. Again, truly a pleasure to wear.

A definite thumbs up and worth checking out.

Black to Black is very similar to Mancera's "The Aoud" and from what I can recall even Montale's Black Aoud. There is a hint of Mancera's Aoud S in there somewhere with the leather...
As the fragrance dries down, the similarities vary from B2B, Aoud S, The Aoud, and Black Aoud, however there is stark resemblance represented in them all.

A very nice fragrance that gives off this medicinal, leathery, even rosy sweet vibe. This is a very balanced fragrance from the rose/leather/sweet/oud...I mean just the right touch.

Upfront you get the rose oud combination, as it progresses the oud and leather begin to come to the forefront and the rose sits underneath (not out of sight out of mind) allowing the dark, amber-ish spices to develop alongside the rose.

Black to Black is Aoud S (if you've smelled Aoud S by Mancera) toned and tapered down; the leather is not so over-bearing or in your face in this as in Aoud S. I am a fan of Aoud S, just making observation in comparison to B2B.

The difference between The Aoud and Black to Black is The Aoud has more of a musk aroma perhaps from the Saffron, Oud, Sandalwood mix-less sweet more sharp; Black to Black has more of a rosy and leathery, even Patchouli vibe. B2B is darker with a rich amber that brings out a sweetness.

This fragrance is very good but POTENT-so be careful with the trigger. You have been WARNED!!

If you are not careful and spray too much, you are prone to do one of the following:
1. Clear a room!
2. Cause one's eyes to begin to water
3. Induce a headache for one or more people in close proximity;
4. Cause the fragrance to become very cloying....
5. CAUSE PEOPLE TO RUN FROM YOU!

Longevity: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Silage: 9/10
Overall: 9/10

IMO, if you have either 'The Aoud,' or Black Aoud you could pass on this and vice versa. If you are looking for a rose/oud fragrance, any one of these fragrances will do the trick. (Montale) Mancera does a great job with their rose combinations!!

Absolutely delicious! Mancera has done it again, luxurious and elegant. I get a lot of oud with rose/patchouli, rounded of by saffron and cloves. Perfect for fall and winter days and nights. It lasts a very long time on me.