Fragrance comparison

Version Black vs Obsidian

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

Updated 24 Oct 2026 42 ratings analysed

Version Black

Ulric de Varens

3.9537 votes

Rank #18,062 CitrusWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

45%scent match

Some overlap

3 wins

Obsidian

Insider Parfums

4.405 votes

Rank #35,439 WoodyAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Obsidian takes 3 of 4 categories.

Version Black
Choose it for a citrus 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.

Version Black1/4

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: Version Black

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Version BlackUlric de Varens

ObsidianInsider Parfums

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.95/ 5 · 37 votes

Have 59%Had 15%Want 26%

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

19%Love

65%Like

8%Ok

8%Dislike

0%Hate

37 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

⏱ Longevity55

〰 Sillage52

♥ Love / hate74

⏱ 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

citrus100%

woody92%

warm spicy84%

aromatic77%

lavender69%

floral61%

woody100%

aromatic92%

warm spicy84%

amber77%

fresh spicy69%

powdery61%

Scent match45%Some overlap · both woody, aromatic and warm spicy

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top15-30 mins

CitrusesCardamomMandarin OrangePineappleNutmeg

Heart2-3 hrs

LavenderFreesiaViolet

Base4-6 hrs

MuskWoody NotesTonka BeanPalisander Rosewood

Top

GeraniumCardamomNutmegMandarin OrangePink PepperCorianderLavender

Heart

AgarwoodVetiverIncenseOudMagnoliaVioletAmber

Base

Virginia CedarSandalwoodBenzoinMusk

InformationalShared notesCardamom, Mandarin Orange, Nutmeg and Lavender. Durations are only published for Version Black, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer100

Fall42

Winter17

Day100

Night32

Spring33

Summer33

Fall100

Winter100

Day67

Night100

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men81

Unisex15

Women4

Casual 47%Work 32%Date 12%Party 9%

Men50

Unisex50

Women0

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#18,062

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews9

Overall rank#35,439

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews2

Category winnerVersion BlackHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Do not let the dark name fool you. Version Black by Ulric de Varens is not a heavy, brooding night scent. Instead, it bursts open with a bright blast of mandarin orange, tart pineapple, and fresh cardamom. The initial alcohol lift settles quickly on skin, revealing a clean heart of French lavender, delicate violet, an…

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, Version Black or Obsidian?

Obsidian takes 3 of 4 categories. Version Black is rated 3.95/5 from 37 votes; Obsidian is rated 4.40/5 from 5 votes. Choose Version Black for a citrus 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, Version Black or Obsidian?

Obsidian lasts longest (Obsidian 90/100, Version Black 55/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Version Black or Obsidian?

Obsidian projects furthest (Obsidian 81/100, Version Black 52/100), based on community performance votes.

Do Version Black and Obsidian smell similar?

Some overlap: a 45% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share woody, aromatic and warm spicy accords. Common notes include Cardamom, Mandarin Orange, Nutmeg and Lavender.

Is Version Black or Obsidian better for summer or winter?

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

What are the notes in Version Black and Obsidian?

Version Black has top notes of Citruses, Cardamom, Mandarin Orange and Pineapple, heart notes of Lavender, Freesia and Violet, a base of Musk, Woody Notes, Tonka Bean and Palisander Rosewood. 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.