Fragrance comparison

Mark Birley vs Obsidian

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

Updated 30 Oct 2026 145 ratings analysed

Mark Birley

4.19140 votes

Rank #8,993 CitrusPowdery

Full profile Similar & dupes

44%scent match

Some overlap

3 wins

Obsidian

Insider Parfums

4.405 votes

Rank #36,437 WoodyAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Obsidian takes 3 of 4 categories.

Mark Birley
Choose it for a citrus and powdery character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in summer, 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.

Mark Birley1/4

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: Mark Birley

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Mark BirleyMark Birley

ObsidianInsider Parfums

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.19/ 5 · 140 votes

Have 38%Had 15%Want 47%

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

44%Love

44%Like

1%Ok

12%Dislike

0%Hate

140 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

⏱ Longevity52

〰 Sillage54

♥ Love / hate80

⏱ Longevity90

〰 Sillage81

♥ Love / hate85

Category winners

LongevityObsidian

SillageObsidian

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value50

¤ Price value94

Category winnerObsidianBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

citrus100%

powdery92%

woody84%

aromatic77%

musky69%

violet61%

woody100%

aromatic92%

warm spicy84%

amber77%

fresh spicy69%

powdery61%

Scent match44%Some overlap · both woody, aromatic and powdery

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top15 to 30 minutes

BergamotMandarin OrangeLemon

Heart1 to 2 hours

VioletCarrot SeedsLeather

Base2 to 4 hours

IncenseVetiverSandalwoodMuskCedar

Top

GeraniumCardamomNutmegMandarin OrangePink PepperCorianderLavender

Heart

AgarwoodVetiverIncenseOudMagnoliaVioletAmber

Base

Virginia CedarSandalwoodBenzoinMusk

InformationalShared notesMandarin Orange, Violet, Incense and Vetiver. Durations are only published for Mark Birley, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring97

Summer100

Fall47

Winter18

Day100

Night39

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#8,993

PerfumerPierre Bourdon

Launched—

Reviews25

Overall rank#36,437

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews2

Category winnerMark BirleyHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Mark Birley is a crisp woody aromatic fragrance created by Pierre Bourdon in 1996. It opens with an immediate burst of lemon, bergamot, and mandarin orange, providing a clean and bright introduction. As the bright citrus fades, the fragrance introduces a dry heart built around violet, earthy carrot seeds, and subtle l…

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.

Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, Mark Birley or Obsidian?

Obsidian takes 3 of 4 categories. Mark Birley is rated 4.19/5 from 140 votes; Obsidian is rated 4.40/5 from 5 votes. Choose Mark Birley for a citrus and powdery character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in summer, 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, Mark Birley or Obsidian?

Obsidian lasts longest (Obsidian 90/100, Mark Birley 52/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Mark Birley or Obsidian?

Obsidian projects furthest (Obsidian 81/100, Mark Birley 54/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Mark Birley and Obsidian smell similar?

Some overlap: a 44% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share woody, aromatic and powdery accords. Common notes include Mandarin Orange, Violet, Incense and Vetiver.

Is Mark Birley or Obsidian better for summer or winter?

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

What are the notes in Mark Birley and Obsidian?

Mark Birley has top notes of Bergamot, Mandarin Orange and Lemon, heart notes of Violet, Carrot Seeds and Leather, a base of Incense, Vetiver, Sandalwood 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.