Fragrance comparison

Percival vs Obsidian

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

Updated 22 Oct 2026 5,147 ratings analysed

Percival

Parfums de Marly

4.245,142 votes

Rank #1,814 AmberWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

56%scent match

Closely related

3 wins

Obsidian

Insider Parfums

4.405 votes

Rank #35,211 WoodyAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Obsidian takes 3 of 4 categories.

Percival
Choose it for a amber and woody character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, 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.

Percival1/4

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: Percival

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

PercivalParfums de Marly

ObsidianInsider Parfums

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.24/ 5 · 5,142 votes

Have 82%Had 18%Want 0%

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

12%Ok

6%Dislike

2%Hate

5,142 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

⏱ Longevity72

〰 Sillage58

♥ Love / hate81

⏱ Longevity90

〰 Sillage81

♥ Love / hate85

Category winners

LongevityObsidian

SillageObsidian

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value30

¤ Price value94

Category winnerObsidianBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

amber100%

woody92%

aromatic84%

citrus77%

fresh spicy69%

musky61%

woody100%

aromatic92%

warm spicy84%

amber77%

fresh spicy69%

powdery61%

Scent match56%Closely related · both woody, amber and aromatic

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top15-30 mins

LavenderMandarin OrangeBergamotGeraniumPink Pepper

Heart2-4 hrs

HedioneVioletJasmineCorianderCinnamonCardamom

Base6-10 hrs

AmbroxanAmberwoodMuskBalsam FirClearwoodTonka

Top

GeraniumCardamomNutmegMandarin OrangePink PepperCorianderLavender

Heart

AgarwoodVetiverIncenseOudMagnoliaVioletAmber

Base

Virginia CedarSandalwoodBenzoinMusk

InformationalShared notesLavender, Mandarin Orange, Geranium and Pink Pepper. Durations are only published for Percival, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer0

Fall0

Winter33

Day100

Night41

Spring33

Summer33

Fall100

Winter100

Day67

Night100

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men92

Unisex7

Women1

Casual 35%Work 32%Date 18%Party 15%

Men50

Unisex50

Women0

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#1,814

PerfumerHamid Merati-Kashani

Launched—

Reviews210

Overall rank#35,211

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews2

Category winnerPercivalHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Parfums de Marly Percival upgrades the classic fresh fragrance formula with serious concentration and muscle. It cuts deep. Tart Italian bergamot and mandarin orange burst open alongside spicy pink pepper, slicing through heavy morning air with crisp barbershop energy. Fresh lavender and geranium steady that citrus pu…

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, Percival or Obsidian?

Obsidian takes 3 of 4 categories. Percival is rated 4.24/5 from 5,142 votes; Obsidian is rated 4.40/5 from 5 votes. Choose Percival for a amber and woody character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, 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, Percival or Obsidian?

Obsidian lasts longest (Obsidian 90/100, Percival 72/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Percival or Obsidian?

Obsidian projects furthest (Obsidian 81/100, Percival 58/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Percival and Obsidian smell similar?

Closely related: a 56% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share woody, amber and aromatic accords. Common notes include Lavender, Mandarin Orange, Geranium and Pink Pepper.

Is Percival or Obsidian better for summer or winter?

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

What are the notes in Percival and Obsidian?

Percival has top notes of Lavender, Mandarin Orange, Bergamot and Geranium, heart notes of Hedione, Violet, Jasmine and Coriander, a base of Ambroxan, Amberwood, Musk and Balsam Fir. 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.