Original Black and Original White: How the Pair Compares

One's black. One's white. Simple enough, right? The scents inside are anything but.

Original Black is the men's eau de parfum. Original White is the women's. They share a family name and a simple black-and-white idea, and they're two of the easiest Carrera fragrances to understand at a glance. Here's how they compare.

Original Black: fresh, then bold

It opens with the juicy freshness of bergamot and aquatic notes. Lavender, patchouli and vetiver form the heart. Then the base settles into amber, leather and oakmoss. Carrera calls it a confident fragrance with a fresh and bold balance, and that's a fair summary.

Fresh enough for daytime, with enough leather and amber to feel deliberate.

Original White: fruity, floral, sweet

Original White is a floriental with a sweet, tasty side. Blackcurrant and pear open it. Iris, jasmine, orange flowers and tonka bean make up the heart. The base finishes with patchouli, vanilla and caramelised sugar. Carrera describes it as alluring, spirited, bold and seductive.

Fruit first, flowers next, then a sweet finish. If you like a fragrance that smells a little like dessert, start here.

Side by side

• Family: Original Black is amber citrus. Original White is floriental with a sweet edge.
• Opening: Original Black is bergamot and aquatic notes. Original White is blackcurrant and pear.
• Heart: Original Black is lavender, patchouli and vetiver. Original White is iris, jasmine, orange flowers and tonka bean.
• Base: Original Black is amber, leather and oakmoss. Original White is patchouli, vanilla and caramelised sugar.
• Mood: Original Black is fresh with an edge. Original White is sweet and bold.

Which one is for you?

Think about what you reach for. Clean, fresh scents with a bit of leather behind them? Original Black. Sweet, fruity florals with some warmth? Original White.

Shopping for a couple? Picking one of each is an easy gift idea, and the two don't smell anything alike, so nobody ends up wearing the same thing.

Shop Original Black or Original White, browse the Original Black and Original White collections, or see our guide to which Original suits you.