Fragrance comparison

Optimistic for Him vs Obsidian

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

Updated 14 Nov 2026 74 ratings analysed

Optimistic for Him

Paul Smith

3.8069 votes

Rank #16,045 AromaticFresh Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

51%scent match

Some overlap

3 wins

Obsidian

Insider Parfums

4.405 votes

Rank #38,350 WoodyAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Obsidian takes 3 of 4 categories.

Optimistic for Him
Choose it for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in summer.
Obsidian
Choose it for a woody and aromatic character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in fall, evening wear.

Optimistic for Him1/4

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: Optimistic for Him

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Optimistic for HimPaul Smith

ObsidianInsider Parfums

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.80/ 5 · 69 votes

Have 50%Had 25%Want 25%

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

25%Love

51%Like

4%Ok

20%Dislike

0%Hate

69 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

⏱ Longevity67

〰 Sillage55

♥ Love / hate70

⏱ Longevity90

〰 Sillage81

♥ Love / hate85

Category winners

LongevityObsidian

SillageObsidian

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value60

¤ Price value94

Category winnerObsidianBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

aromatic100%

fresh spicy90%

citrus80%

herbal70%

warm spicy60%

woody50%

woody100%

aromatic92%

warm spicy84%

amber77%

fresh spicy69%

powdery61%

Scent match51%Some overlap · both aromatic, fresh spicy and woody

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

CitrusesPepperMandarin OrangeCardamom

Heart

SageGeraniumSea Notes

Base

VetiverVirginia CedarAmber

Top

GeraniumCardamomNutmegMandarin OrangePink PepperCorianderLavender

Heart

AgarwoodVetiverIncenseOudMagnoliaVioletAmber

Base

Virginia CedarSandalwoodBenzoinMusk

InformationalShared notesMandarin Orange, Cardamom, Geranium and Vetiver. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring93

Summer100

Fall35

Winter16

Day–

Night–

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#16,045

PerfumerNathalie Feisthauer

Launched—

Reviews16

Overall rank#38,350

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews2

Category winnerOptimistic for HimHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Optimistic for Him opens with bright citrus, light pepper, and a clean blue freshness that reads easy, airy, and office-friendly. As it settles, sage, a slightly salty marine touch, soft vetiver, cedar, and amber keep it dry and discreet. It suits spring and summer best. Sample first if you dislike synthetic citrus or…

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, Optimistic for Him or Obsidian?

Obsidian takes 3 of 4 categories. Optimistic for Him is rated 3.80/5 from 69 votes; Obsidian is rated 4.40/5 from 5 votes. Choose Optimistic for Him for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in summer. 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, Optimistic for Him or Obsidian?

Obsidian lasts longest (Obsidian 90/100, Optimistic for Him 67/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Optimistic for Him or Obsidian?

Obsidian projects furthest (Obsidian 81/100, Optimistic for Him 55/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Optimistic for Him and Obsidian smell similar?

Some overlap: a 51% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aromatic, fresh spicy and woody accords. Common notes include Mandarin Orange, Cardamom, Geranium and Vetiver.

Is Optimistic for Him or Obsidian better for summer or winter?

Obsidian suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Optimistic for Him and Obsidian?

Optimistic for Him has top notes of Citruses, Pepper, Mandarin Orange and Cardamom, heart notes of Sage, Geranium and Sea Notes, a base of Vetiver, Virginia Cedar and Amber. 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.