French Avenue · Reviewed by Gents Scents · Published 2026-02-23
Based on a review by Gents Scents (accessed 2026-02-23).
Based on this review alone: buy it if you care about nails the by kilian angels' share on the rocks vibe really well — just accept not for those who prefer the original's icier, fizzier, rind-ier, more aggressive citrus.
The reviewer concludes that French Avenue Obsidian is "awesome" for its $35 price, offering good quality and performance, and serving as probably the best alternative to Angels' Share On The Rocks. However, he advises not to expect a "one-to-one" clone, as it's more of a "slight twist" on the original.
The review compares French Avenue Obsidian to By Kilian Angels’ Share On The Rocks, examining its packaging, atomizer quality, and detailed scent profile through different stages (opening, mid, and dry down). It also assesses Obsidian's performance, versatility, and overall value proposition as a "clone" fragrance.
French Avenue Obsidian is a highly recommended budget alternative to By Kilian Angels' Share On The Rocks, offering a similar scent profile at a significantly lower price point. The fragrance excels with its smoother, warmer, and slightly creamier amber-forward profile, diverging from the original's fizzy, rind-y citrus. While the presentation looks slick for the price, the heavy cap does not stay put, which is a noticeable inconvenience. If you seek a warmer, less aggressive take on the "On the Rocks" scent with excellent longevity and versatility, this is a strong contender. However, if you specifically desire the original's intense icy fizziness or beastly projection, you may find Obsidian falls short.
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specification_claimneutralt=00:23–00:27
The reviewer states the price of French Avenue Obsidian is approximately $35 at the time of the video.
visual_inspectionmixedt=00:54–01:21
The reviewer demonstrates opening the box and describes the bottle as "tacky" in typical clone fragrance fashion, despite appearing "slick".
hands_on_demonegativet=01:21–01:54
The reviewer demonstrates that the bottle's heavy cap does not stay on securely, easily coming off despite clicking into place.
reviewer_claimpositivet=01:56–01:58
The reviewer states that the atomizer of the Obsidian bottle is good.
hands_on_demopositivet=02:59–03:22
The reviewer describes the opening of Obsidian as having a bright, sparkling citrus and aldehydic lift, feeling icy, chilled, and airy with a clean soapiness.
comparisonneutralt=03:22–03:59
The reviewer compares the citrus opening, noting On the Rocks is fizzier and more icy with a rind aspect, while Obsidian's citrus has a vanilla and soft floral undercurrent, making it warmer.
hands_on_demopositivet=04:31–05:22
The reviewer describes Obsidian's mid as subtle, clean, warming up, with a sweet grapefruit note and an ambery backbone of labdanum, myrrh, and tonka, contributing to a smooth, resinous warmth.
comparisonneutralt=05:22–06:06
The reviewer contrasts the mid, stating On the Rocks maintains fizziness, icy aspects, and a more pronounced chewy, woody, boozy character, whereas Obsidian is more amber-forward, warmer, and smoother.
hands_on_demopositivet=06:40–07:37
In the dry down, Obsidian remains dry and ambery, developing a subtle woody aspect and a balanced warm sweetness from vanilla, amber, and tonka.
reviewer_claimpositivet=07:39–08:15
The reviewer states Obsidian's performance is similar to On the Rocks, with potentially better longevity due to its extrait de parfum concentration, lasting a long time. Projection is moderate after the opening.
reviewer_claimpositivet=08:15–08:52
The reviewer finds Obsidian surprisingly versatile for year-round wear due to its balance of fresh and warm amber notes, though he recommends skipping it in peak summer.
expert_opinionpositivet=09:12–09:47
The reviewer states that despite differences, Obsidian "nails" the On the Rocks vibe well, making it instantly recognizable to those familiar with the original.
comparisonpositivet=09:47–10:05
The reviewer highlights Obsidian's pros, stating it is smoother, warmer, slightly creamier, and lacks the rind-y bite of the original's citrus opening.
reviewer_claimpositivet=10:29–10:53
The reviewer emphasizes the huge value proposition of Obsidian at $35, noting the great scent quality for its price point.
comparisonnegativet=10:57–11:19
The reviewer states that Obsidian is not for those who prefer the original's icier, fizzier, rind-ier, more aggressive citrus, as Obsidian is warmer and smoother.
The reviewer states that Obsidian "nails" the On the Rocks vibe, making it instantly recognizable. However, side-by-side comparisons reveal differences, particularly in the opening citrus (Obsidian is warmer and smoother, lacking the original's fizziness and rind-y bite) and in the mid (Obsidian is amber-forward and smoother, while On the Rocks maintains fizziness and has more pronounced woodiness).
The reviewer notes that Obsidian, being an extrait de parfum, lasts for a really long time, possibly outperforming Angels' Share On The Rocks in longevity. Its projection is moderate once it settles, which is not beastly but contributes to its wearability.
The reviewer states that Obsidian balances fresh and warmer amber notes, making it suitable for most seasons and occasions, day or evening. The main exception is peak summer, especially in high heat and humidity, where a fresher scent might be preferred.
The reviewer describes the box as okay and the overall presentation as looking "slick" and "really nice" for its price, not appearing overly cheap. However, he specifically points out a flaw with the heavy, weighted cap, which clicks into place but not snugly, causing it to detach easily. The atomizer is noted as good.
The reviewer praises the "huge value proposition" of Obsidian at its $35 price point. He highlights the good quality of the scent and its performance as key factors contributing to its excellent value, stating it's "awesome" for the price.
75/100 source quality
Gents Scents reviews French Avenue Obsidian, a $35 alternative to By Kilian Angels’ Share On The Rocks. The reviewer critiques the tacky bottle and loose cap but praises the overall presentation for the price. He performs a detailed side-by-side scent comparison, noting Obsidian is smoother, warmer, and amber-forward, lacking the original's fizzier, rind-y citrus and pronounced woodiness. Obsidian offers good longevity with moderate projection and surprising year-round versatility, except for peak summer.
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