French Avenue Obsidian
Brand: French Avenue
Unisex · EDP · £29.99
Inspired by Kilian Angels' Share On The Rocks.
Description
Obsidian is a 2025 unisex Eau de Parfum built around grapefruit, aldehydes and bergamot, with myrrh, labdanum and jasmine over tonka bean, amber and vanilla. It is a boozy gourmand style fragrance that takes the Angels' Share idea in a fresher citrus direction. Product Overview Released in 2025, Obsidian quickly became one of the most discussed French Avenue launches because it targets Kilian Angels' Share On The Rocks rather than the original Angels' Share. The chilled citrus opening and warmer amber drydown make it more versatile than many fragrances in this DNA. Scent Profile Grapefruit and bergamot dominate the opening with aldehydes creating a bright, icy and slightly soapy effect. Myrrh and labdanum add balsamic warmth through the middle, while jasmine keeps the composition from becoming too dense. Tonka bean, amber and vanilla gradually pull the drydown toward the familiar sweet, boozy warmth associated with the Angels' Share family. Technical Structure and Development Obsidian is defined by contrast. It opens fresh, citrus and aldehydic, then slowly warms into amber, tonka and vanilla. The fresh phase can feel almost separate from the drydown, but when it works the transition gives the fragrance a chilled drink effect before the sweeter base takes over. Performance Community reports support good projection and good longevity, although experiences vary. Several owners report around 6 to 9 hours of longevity, with the first 2 hours providing the strongest projection before the fragrance moves closer to skin. This is strong performance for a fresh leaning sweet fragrance without needing a beast mode claim. Wear Scenarios • Daily and evening wear • Autumn, spring and cooler summer nights • Office safe use with controlled spraying • Date night and social settings Scent Family Positioning Obsidian sits in the boozy gourmand style lane. Its strongest accords are citrus, aldehydic, amber, vanilla, balsamic, sweet and warm spicy. The overall feel is fresh, warm, sophisticated, cosy and modern. Inspired By and Style Comparisons Kilian Angels' Share On The Rocks is the clear reference. Side by side reviewers regularly describe Obsidian as very close, but not identical. The French Avenue version is often reported as sweeter, less airy and slightly more synthetic in the opening, while still reproducing the chilled citrus and warm boozy drydown convincingly. Flankers and Variations Obsidian is a standalone French Avenue release, though its scent DNA places it naturally beside Royal Blend and other French Avenue fragrances built around the wider Angels' Share family. Market and Community Reception Obsidian has generated heavy community attention since launch. Fragrantica carries a substantial stream of reviews, and Reddit discussion is strongly positive overall. Fans praise the value, citrus opening and convincing On The Rocks character. Critics point to a sharper synthetic grapefruit opening or a sweeter drydown than the original. The common thread is that it succeeds best as a fresh interpretation rather than a perfect one to one replacement.
Notes
Top Notes
Heart Notes
Base Notes
Main Accords
Tags
Vibes
Occasions
Performance
- Good projection
- Versatile
- Beast mode
- Beast
- Good longevity
- Office safe
- Strong performance
- Hours of longevity
Style Lane
Community Reviews
1 review with an average rating of 7.8 out of 10.
Community Ratings
- Overall: 7.8/10
- Scent Accuracy: 8.0/10
- Longevity: 7.5/10
- Projection: 7.0/10
- Value: 8.5/10
What Reviewers Say
Atlas AI Analysis — 7.8/10
Obsidian occupies an engaging mid-point between mass-market gourmand appeal and niche conceptual execution. Rather than cloning the dense, cinnamon-heavy warmth of standard cognac-profile releases, it captures the aerated, crystalline citrus opening characteristic of the 'On The Rocks' variation. The contrast between bright aldehydes, tart grapefruit, and a balsamic heart of labdanum and myrrh yields a distinctive sensory progression. While the synthetic citrus in the immediate top can register slightly sharper than the high-end benchmark, the composition quickly stabilizes into a refined, tonka-and-amber base that delivers substantial depth without becoming cloying. Technical performance aligns squarely with modern middle-tier Middle Eastern Eau de Parfum standards. Wearers can reliably anticipate an effective lifespan of 7 to 8 hours, backed by moderate projection across the initial two-hour window before contracting into a warm scent bubble. It avoids the harsh chemical overload often employed to simulate heavy sillage, making its longevity realistic for a hybrid composition that relies heavily on volatile top notes anchored by sweet resinous fixatives. Within the broader dupe ecosystem, Obsidian differentiates itself by targeting a specific, less common flanker rather than saturating the conventional gourmand clone segment. For consumers seeking the refined architecture of Kilian's boozy line paired with extended seasonal versatility, French Avenue provides an accessible and competent alternative. It operates effectively as a bridge fragrance across spring, autumn, and temperate evenings, fitting seamlessly into both casual office routines and structured social engagements.
Where to Buy
Check current price and availability on Amazon.co.uk
Atlas Insight
Why It Stands Out
Obsidian makes the Angels' Share idea fresher by opening with icy grapefruit and aldehydes before warming into amber, tonka and vanilla.
Who Should Buy It
Buy this if you like boozy sweet fragrances but want more citrus lift and versatility than the usual heavy winter gourmand.
Who Should Skip It
Skip it if you dislike sharp grapefruit, aldehydes or sweeter amber drydowns. The opening can feel synthetic and the transition is pronounced.
Compared With The Original
Kilian Angels' Share On The Rocks is the clear reference. Obsidian is usually sweeter, less airy and slightly sharper in the opening.
Best Alternative If This Isn’t For You
Try Royal Blend Vintage if you want a darker, richer boozy profile with more whisky character and less citrus freshness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between French Avenue and Fragrance World?
French Avenue is the premium, "Private Blend" division of Fragrance World. While the parent brand focuses on accessibility, French Avenue targets the ultra-luxury niche market. These releases feature higher oil concentrations, more intricate blending, and superior heavy-glass packaging designed to rival $300+ boutique fragrances.
Are French Avenue fragrances better than high-end niche perfumes?
French Avenue is often cited as the "bridge" between clones and niche perfumery. Many collectors prefer their versions—such as the "Aftermath" or "Liquid Brun" series—because they offer a more refined, less synthetic experience than standard budget alternatives, often fixing the longevity issues found in the expensive originals.
Why is the French Avenue collection trending in the UK?
French Avenue has gained traction in the UK for its focus on "trending niche" DNAs that other brands haven't mastered yet. Their commitment to the "Extrait de Parfum" concentration and their aesthetic presentation makes them highly "Instagrammable" and popular among serious collectors who value both the bottle and the "beast mode" performance.
What is French Avenue Obsidian a dupe of?
French Avenue Obsidian is a dupe of Kilian Angels' Share On The Rocks. It interprets the original scent profile using high quality alternative ingredients at a fraction of the price.
What does French Avenue Obsidian smell like?
French Avenue Obsidian opens with Grapefruit, Aldehydes, Bergamot, moves into Myrrh, Labdanum, Jasmine, and settles on a base of Tonka Bean, Amber, Vanilla. It is built to capture the character of Kilian Angels' Share On The Rocks.
Is French Avenue Obsidian long lasting?
French Avenue Obsidian is EDP with a community longevity score of 7.5 out of 10 and a scent accuracy score of 8 out of 10. It offers a budget friendly alternative to the original.
Why It Stands Out
Obsidian makes the Angels' Share idea fresher by opening with icy grapefruit and aldehydes before warming into amber, tonka and vanilla.
Who Should Buy It
Buy this if you like boozy sweet fragrances but want more citrus lift and versatility than the usual heavy winter gourmand.
Who Should Skip It
Skip it if you dislike sharp grapefruit, aldehydes or sweeter amber drydowns. The opening can feel synthetic and the transition is pronounced.
Compared With The Original
Kilian Angels' Share On The Rocks is the clear reference. Obsidian is usually sweeter, less airy and slightly sharper in the opening.