Is The Essence Vault Black XS - 22 a dupe of Rabanne Black XS?
Black XS EDT
| EDT | Concentration | EDP |
| M | Gender | M |
| 2005 | Year | - |
| ££ | Price Tier | £ |
Black XS - 22 EDP
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Where they differ
Biggest gaps first. The bolder side leads.
ScentArt
How it unfolds
Notes
- Black XS
- Black XS - 22
- in both
Tap a note to light it in both. A+B means both have it
Which Should You Buy?
A legendary noughties fragrance, Black XS is a sweet, dark, and playful scent that's loved by many for its unique 'strawberry milkshake' vibe. Ignore the whiners, this one's a classic - but be warned, performance issues with newer batches mean you should hunt down a vintage if you can.
No. 22 leans into Paco Rabanne Black XS's signature praline-cinnamon sweetness and captures the addictive gourmand heart reasonably well, but the sharp lemon-sage opening and rock 'n' roll edge that made Black XS distinctive fade fast, leaving a simpler sweet-spice trail with noticeably shorter legs.
Scent Profile
How They Wear
Mood
Notes
Heart Notes
Heart Notes
Base Notes
Base Notes
Lemon
65%
vs
55%
Praline
36%
vs
60%
Patchouli
35%
vs
47%
Sage
34%
vs
44%
Cinnamon
25%
vs
39%
Amber
53%
Note weights are our estimate from each note's place in the pyramid, not the share of the formula. Brands do not publish formulations.
Performance
Season and Occasion Fit
Seasons
Versatile across every season - no clear seasonal preference from wearers.
Occasions
Black XS is a sweet, bold fragrance that's best suited for casual wear, dates, and nights out. Its moderate to strong sillage and sweet accords might be a bit much for a formal office setting, but it's a solid choice for social occasions.
Seasons
The sweet praline-cinnamon gourmand profile suits cool-weather evenings, feeling cloying in summer heat.
Occasions
A sweet, rebellious gourmand works well for casual nights out and dates, too sugary and loud for the office or formal settings.
Similarity Breakdown
Our estimate of how alike these two fragrances smell, calculated from their published notes. It is a position on our scale, not a measured percentage of shared smell.
Shares 5 of its 6 notes, including Sage, Patchouli, Lemon
Adds amber, drops ambergris and cardamom
Where to buy
Pick a size. The two cheapest offers, then the rest.
Prices before sales tax, which the shop adds at checkout.
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