Fragrance comparison

Absolute vs Obsidian

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

Updated 14 Nov 2026 8 ratings analysed

Absolute

Asghar Adam Ali

4.673 votes

Rank #47,154 WoodySmoky

Full profile Similar & dupes

49%scent match

Some overlap

4 wins

Obsidian

Insider Parfums

4.405 votes

Rank #38,350 WoodyAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Obsidian takes 4 of 4 categories.

Absolute
Choose it for a woody and smoky character. Best in winter, daytime wear.
Obsidian
Choose it for a woody and aromatic character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in fall, evening wear.

Absolute0/4

Obsidian4/4

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

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

AbsoluteAsghar Adam Ali

ObsidianInsider Parfums

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.67/ 5 · 3 votes

Have 57%Had 0%Want 43%

4.40/ 5 · 5 votes

Have 25%Had 0%Want 75%

Category winnerNot enough dataRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

67%Love

33%Like

0%Ok

0%Dislike

0%Hate

3 votes · too few to score

60%Love

20%Like

20%Ok

0%Dislike

0%Hate

5 votes · too few to score

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity87

〰 Sillage75

♥ Love / hate92

⏱ Longevity90

〰 Sillage81

♥ Love / hate85

Category winners

LongevityObsidian

SillageObsidian

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value58

¤ Price value94

Category winnerObsidianBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

woody100%

smoky92%

warm spicy84%

leather77%

aromatic69%

soft spicy61%

woody100%

aromatic92%

warm spicy84%

amber77%

fresh spicy69%

powdery61%

Scent match49%Some overlap · both woody, warm spicy and aromatic

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

Pink PepperLavenderCorianderCardamomSaffronBergamotMandarinOrange

Heart

LeatherIncenseVioletOrange BlossomBrown sugarPineappleCashmeranJasmine

Base

Guaiac WoodOudPatchouliSandalwoodLabdanumBenzoinAmberMusk

Top

GeraniumCardamomNutmegMandarin OrangePink PepperCorianderLavender

Heart

AgarwoodVetiverIncenseOudMagnoliaVioletAmber

Base

Virginia CedarSandalwoodBenzoinMusk

InformationalShared notesPink Pepper, Lavender, Coriander and Cardamom. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring33

Summer0

Fall67

Winter100

Day100

Night50

Spring33

Summer33

Fall100

Winter100

Day67

Night100

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men100

Unisex0

Women0

Men50

Unisex50

Women0

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#47,154

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#38,350

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews2

Category winnerObsidianHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Absolute is a smoky, woody leather fragrance with a bright citrus and spice opening, then a darker heart of incense, violet, cashmeran and sweetened leather. It starts lively, but the overall character leans warm, resinous and textured. The wear looks best suited to people who enjoy bold woody scents with some sweetne…

Reviews →

Obsidian by Insider Parfums offers a bold, woody composition designed for those who appreciate intensity. This unisex scent centers on oud and vetiver, creating a dry and spicy profile that cuts through cold air. It remains firm on the skin for hours, making it a reliable choice for autumn evenings when you need a fra…

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 is better, Absolute or Obsidian?

Obsidian takes 4 of 4 categories. Absolute is rated 4.67/5 from 3 votes; Obsidian is rated 4.40/5 from 5 votes. Choose Absolute for a woody and smoky character. Best in winter, daytime wear. Choose Obsidian for a woody and aromatic character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in fall, evening wear.

Which lasts longer, Absolute or Obsidian?

Obsidian lasts longest (Obsidian 90/100, Absolute 87/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Absolute or Obsidian?

Obsidian projects furthest (Obsidian 81/100, Absolute 75/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Absolute and Obsidian smell similar?

Some overlap: a 49% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share woody, warm spicy and aromatic accords. Common notes include Pink Pepper, Lavender, Coriander and Cardamom.

Is Absolute or Obsidian better for summer or winter?

Absolute suits daytime wear; Obsidian suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Absolute and Obsidian?

Absolute has top notes of Pink Pepper, Lavender, Coriander and Cardamom, heart notes of Leather, Incense, Violet and Orange Blossom, a base of Guaiac Wood, Oud, Patchouli and Sandalwood. Obsidian has top notes of Geranium, Cardamom, Nutmeg and Mandarin Orange, heart notes of Agarwood, Vetiver, Incense and Oud, a base of Virginia Cedar, Sandalwood, Benzoin and Musk.