Fragrance comparison

Impulse Oud vs Obsidian

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

Updated 15 Nov 2026 94 ratings analysed

Impulse Oud

Zimaya

4.2489 votes

Rank #4,624 AmberRose

Full profile Similar & dupes

39%scent match

Some overlap

3 wins

Obsidian

Insider Parfums

4.405 votes

Rank #38,716 WoodyAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Obsidian takes 3 of 4 categories.

Impulse Oud
Choose it for a amber and rose character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in winter.
Obsidian
Choose it for a woody and aromatic character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in fall, evening wear.

Impulse Oud1/4

Obsidian3/4

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: Impulse Oud

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Impulse OudZimaya

ObsidianInsider Parfums

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.24/ 5 · 89 votes

Have 49%Had 6%Want 45%

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

53%Love

28%Like

11%Ok

6%Dislike

2%Hate

89 votes

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

⏱ Longevity82

〰 Sillage76

♥ Love / hate81

⏱ Longevity90

〰 Sillage81

♥ Love / hate85

Category winners

LongevityObsidian

SillageObsidian

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value93

¤ Price value94

Category winnerObsidianBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

amber100%

rose92%

powdery84%

vanilla77%

woody69%

oud61%

woody100%

aromatic92%

warm spicy84%

amber77%

fresh spicy69%

powdery61%

Scent match39%Some overlap · both amber, woody and powdery

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

Bulgarian RoseVioletVanilla

Heart

RoseBenzoinAgarwood

Base

AmberWoody NotesMusk

Top

GeraniumCardamomNutmegMandarin OrangePink PepperCorianderLavender

Heart

AgarwoodVetiverIncenseOudMagnoliaVioletAmber

Base

Virginia CedarSandalwoodBenzoinMusk

InformationalShared notesViolet, Benzoin, Agarwood and Amber. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring52

Summer18

Fall0

Winter100

Day–

Night–

Spring33

Summer33

Fall100

Winter100

Day67

Night100

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men12

Unisex55

Women33

Men50

Unisex50

Women0

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#4,624

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews21

Overall rank#38,716

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews2

Category winnerImpulse OudHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Impulse Oud by Zimaya opens with a dense burst of Bulgarian rose, candied violet, and sweet vanilla. Warm amber, benzoin resin, and dark agarwood build a heavy, powdery base that projects aggressively. Built for freezing winter nights and formal cold-weather evening events, it offers rich, dark floral warmth for anyon…

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, Impulse Oud or Obsidian?

Obsidian takes 3 of 4 categories. Impulse Oud is rated 4.24/5 from 89 votes; Obsidian is rated 4.40/5 from 5 votes. Choose Impulse Oud for a amber and rose character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in winter. 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, Impulse Oud or Obsidian?

Obsidian lasts longest (Obsidian 90/100, Impulse Oud 82/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Impulse Oud or Obsidian?

Obsidian projects furthest (Obsidian 81/100, Impulse Oud 76/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Impulse Oud and Obsidian smell similar?

Some overlap: a 39% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share amber, woody and powdery accords. Common notes include Violet, Benzoin, Agarwood and Amber.

Is Impulse Oud or Obsidian better for summer or winter?

Obsidian suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Impulse Oud and Obsidian?

Impulse Oud has top notes of Bulgarian Rose, Violet and Vanilla, heart notes of Rose, Benzoin and Agarwood, a base of Amber, Woody Notes and Musk. 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.