Fragrance comparison

Obsidian vs Why Not a Fougère

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

Updated 30 Oct 2026 36 ratings analysed

4 wins

Obsidian

Insider Parfums

4.405 votes

Rank #36,437 WoodyAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

42%scent match

Some overlap

Why Not a Fougère

Mark Buxton

3.7431 votes

Rank #38,828 AromaticHerbal

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Obsidian takes 4 of 4 categories.

Obsidian
Choose it for a woody and aromatic character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in fall, evening wear.
Why Not a Fougère
Choose it for a aromatic and herbal character. Best in fall, daytime wear.

Obsidian4/4

Why Not a Fougère0/4

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

ObsidianInsider Parfums

Why Not a FougèreMark Buxton

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.40/ 5 · 5 votes

Have 25%Had 0%Want 75%

3.74/ 5 · 31 votes

Have 28%Had 3%Want 69%

Category winnerNot enough dataRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

60%Love

20%Like

20%Ok

0%Dislike

0%Hate

5 votes · too few to score

19%Love

52%Like

16%Ok

10%Dislike

3%Hate

31 votes

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity90

〰 Sillage81

♥ Love / hate85

⏱ Longevity65

〰 Sillage50

♥ Love / hate69

Category winners

LongevityObsidian

SillageObsidian

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value94

¤ Price value39

Category winnerObsidianBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

woody100%

aromatic92%

warm spicy84%

amber77%

fresh spicy69%

powdery61%

aromatic100%

herbal92%

fresh spicy84%

floral77%

citrus69%

woody61%

Scent match42%Some overlap · both aromatic, woody and fresh spicy

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

GeraniumCardamomNutmegMandarin OrangePink PepperCorianderLavender

Heart

AgarwoodVetiverIncenseOudMagnoliaVioletAmber

Base

Virginia CedarSandalwoodBenzoinMusk

Top15 to 30 minutes

Cedar NeedlesPink PepperBergamotAngelicaPearMandarin Orange

Heart2 to 3 hours

ChamomileGeraniumLavenderVioletSageMagnolia

Base3 to 4 hours

PatchouliNarcissusOsmanthusTonka BeanMusk

InformationalShared notesGeranium, Mandarin Orange, Pink Pepper and Lavender. Durations are only published for Why Not a Fougère, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring33

Summer33

Fall100

Winter100

Day67

Night100

Spring73

Summer73

Fall100

Winter45

Day100

Night57

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men50

Unisex50

Women0

Men67

Unisex33

Women0

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#36,437

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews2

Overall rank#38,828

PerfumerDavid Chieze

Launched—

Reviews3

Category winnerObsidianHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

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 →

Why Not a Fougère by Mark Buxton presents an unconventional, modern twist on traditional barbershop perfumery. The fragrance opens with an invigorating burst of bergamot, mandarin orange, and crisp cedar needles, brightened by spicy pink pepper, angelica, and juicy pear. As the scent settles, a soothing heart emerges …

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, Obsidian or Why Not a Fougère?

Obsidian takes 4 of 4 categories. Obsidian is rated 4.40/5 from 5 votes; Why Not a Fougère is rated 3.74/5 from 31 votes. Choose Obsidian for a woody and aromatic character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in fall, evening wear. Choose Why Not a Fougère for a aromatic and herbal character. Best in fall, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Obsidian or Why Not a Fougère?

Obsidian lasts longest (Obsidian 90/100, Why Not a Fougère 65/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Obsidian or Why Not a Fougère?

Obsidian projects furthest (Obsidian 81/100, Why Not a Fougère 50/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Obsidian and Why Not a Fougère smell similar?

Some overlap: a 42% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic, woody and fresh spicy accords. Common notes include Geranium, Mandarin Orange, Pink Pepper and Lavender.

Is Obsidian or Why Not a Fougère better for summer or winter?

Obsidian suits evening wear; Why Not a Fougère suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Obsidian and Why Not a Fougère?

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. Why Not a Fougère has top notes of Cedar Needles, Pink Pepper, Bergamot and Angelica, heart notes of Chamomile, Geranium, Lavender and Violet, a base of Patchouli, Narcissus, Osmanthus and Tonka Bean.