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For the last three days, I have been wearing Seduction in Black. Seduction in Black was released in 2009 by perfumer Oliver Cresp and is considered an amber spicy fragrance for men. I had never heard of this fragrance before, but it came recommended as an easy-to-wear cheapie, so I decided to try it. Why not?

So what’s this all about then?

“A seductive man in a dark suit follows daringly after Blue Seduction, last year’s seducer, while raising the strength of the composition to a new level.”

I should also mention that the fragrance has changed its name from ‘Seduction in Black’ to ‘Black Seduction’. I don’t know why, not that it matters. A man in a dark suit seducing people, we all get the idea. 

I have yet to put my nose to Blue Seduction or any others from this house, but you can gather what kind of fragrance this is going to be (or at least trying to be) from the quote above. I have seen it compared to Armani Code and even Aventus on Fragrantica, and I’ll give you my thoughts on that as well.

So is it any good and should you buy it? 

Let’s have a look.

Appearance and Presentation

It’s a large square glass bottle with a black plastic cap. It’s straightforward and to the point but generic and cheap-looking. The sprayer is excellent, though. 

Price and where to buy

For the price, you can safely place it in the blind buy category, but be sure to read the rest of this article before you pull the trigger. 

When it comes to getting the best deal, your best bet is almost always the discounters — especially when they’re running coupon codes. And the one that’s never let me down is FragranceX.

They ship worldwide, they only deal in authentic stock, and they’ve got a solid 30-day return policy, which keeps things risk-free.

Prices do move around (sometimes daily, especially during holiday sales), so it’s always worth checking the current deal. 👇

Who is Antonio Banderas anyway?

He’s a Spanish actor and director. He’s been in plenty of movies, but more recently, he has provided the voice for Puss in Boots in the Shrek franchise.

He also makes men’s fragrances, a bit random, but there you go. 

The Notes 

Top Notes – Blackcurrant, Bergamot

Middle Notes – Nutmeg, Cardamom, Coriander

Base Notes – Tonka Bean, Amber, Musk, Virginia Cedar

My thoughts about the scent

It starts well and has a prominent, sweet, blackcurrant and bergamot vibe that treads lightly in Aventus territory.

As it progresses into the middle, the cardamom gives it a masculine, spicy sexiness, which is what this fragrance is all about. The woody notes emerge more in the dry down, with the tonka bean bringing a touch of richness and warmth. It all blends quite beautifully, which has taken me by surprise.

Now, I wasn’t expecting much from this, but it has far exceeded my expectations regarding the composition. I have no doubt many people will look down on it as it is a cheapie, but the scent is still pretty decent. I advise an open-minded approach to this fragrance. 

It’s not too heavy and reminds me of having dinner outside on a pleasant summer’s evening. Very nice indeed, gentleman. 

Is it like Aventus? 

It is in the opening, and the reason for this is because the notes are similar in terms of the blackcurrant and bergamot. Now, not for one minute am I saying the quality is on par with Aventus, as it is not, so please don’t get too excited. 

There is a faint reminiscence of Aventus DNA that can be detected at the start, is all I am saying.

If it is an Aventus clone you’re looking for, my personal favourite would be Club De Nuit, Intense Man. The opening is a little harsh, but the performance is fantastic and worth checking out.

Is it like Armani Code?

Again, there are similarities in some of the notes, although Code is more lavender-based. Code also has more depth and complexity, and like Aventus, the quality is far superior.

You can check out my full review of Armani Code here

Compliments?

This is a beautiful-smelling fragrance, and I guarantee you will get compliments. There are no issues there at all.

Performance

So far, we have a great-smelling fragrance at a meagre price, and you’re probably thinking, ‘What’s the catch?’

Well, the performance is not very good at all. I got around 2 hours of longevity before it faded completely. It projects for about an hour but can only be picked up by others if they are within very close proximity. I had to constantly re-apply this stuff throughout the day, even to smell it myself, let alone anyone else.

🔥NEW FRAGRANCE!

When to wear

It is an all-rounder and can be worn any time of year, but just because you can doesn’t mean you should. In my opinion, it doesn’t have enough weight behind it for winter and autumn months. I would stick to the warmer weather for the best results with this one. 

Where to wear 

If not for the bad performance, this could be a signature scent suitable for any occasion. The scent is a crowd-pleaser, and you can’t go wrong with it. 

It’s what I call a standby fragrance, something you keep in your locker or bag to freshen up when needed. It would be a great gym scent or something pleasant to wear around the house. Unfortunately, I can’t take it seriously as an everyday wearer, as it’s too weak. 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Easy to wear, versatile scent
• Very affordable 
• It has similarities to Aventus & Amani Code
• Great compliment puller
• It would work well as a summer evening scent 
• Good for the gym
• Good for casual wear

Cons

• Poor longevity and projection 
• Regular re-application is required
• Lacks depth and complexity
• Bottle looks cheap and tacky 

Conclusion and final thoughts 

There you have it, guys, a scent that attempts to be seductive, masculine and sexy, but does it succeed? I think it does, and I recommend it for light casual wear. 

For the price, it’s a steal; just bear in mind the performance issue and keep expectations reasonable.

I am always interested in hearing your thoughts, so comment below on your experiences with this one. 

READY TO GRAB THIS FRAGRANCE?

If you’re ready to add this to your collection, here are two reliable places to check:

• FragranceX – usually the best prices, discount codes, and a wide selection. They also ship worldwide.
• Amazon – great if you prefer Prime delivery speed, just make sure to buy from a trusted seller.

👉 Pick the option that works best for you.

No matter where you’re reading from, smell good, spend smart.

WANT TO FAST-TRACK ALL OF THIS STUFF?

I put together The Ultimate Fragrance Cheat Sheet—a no-fluff guide that covers everything from notes and families to shopping smart and applying like a pro.

It’s built for guys who want to smell sharp without overthinking it.