How to Choose Between Obsidian and Ghost Spectre by French Avenue for Nights in Selangor

If you're in Selangor and hunting for a perfume that works after dark — dinner dates, special events, or just winding down after work — French Avenue has two unisex EDPs worth a look: Obsidian and Ghost Spectre. Both are eau de parfums, and both lean woody at the core, but they go in pretty different directions. Here's how they stack up so you can pick the right one for your evenings.

Obsidian: the sweet, ambery one

Obsidian is a 100ml Eau de Parfum, and it's the newer of the two, launched in 2025. Its fragrance family is Oriental Woody, which already tells you this is the warmer, richer option.

The opening is surprisingly bright, though — aldehydes, grapefruit and bergamot give it a crisp, slightly sparkling start. From there, the heart moves into myrrh, jasmine and labdanum, adding a resinous floral warmth. And the dry down? Vanilla, amber and tonka bean. Smooth, sweet and ambery — that's where this one really lives.

In terms of occasions, Obsidian is listed for office, evening, special events and daily wear. So while it's a great evening pick for dinner or an event, it won't feel out of place if you wear it to an air-conditioned office and let it carry on into the night.

Ghost Spectre: the fresh-spicy one

Ghost Spectre is an 80ml Eau de Parfum in the Woody Aromatic family. Where Obsidian goes warm and sweet, this one starts livelier. The opening is a fresh, spicy burst of ginger, bergamot, pink pepper and green notes.

The heart is where it gets interesting: cardamom, black currant and Turkish rose, which add depth and a touch of floral spice. Then the base settles into something warm and woody — vanilla, benzoin, sandalwood, cedar, ambergris, patchouli and musk. It's listed for daily, office and evening, so it handles the shift from day to night nicely.

If your evenings in Selangor often start earlier — mamak sessions, a casual hangout with friends — Ghost Spectre's fresher opening makes that transition easy.

So which one for your evenings?

Both are unisex EDPs, and they actually share a bit of DNA: bergamot in the opening, vanilla in the base. The difference is what happens in between.

• Pick Obsidian if you want something sweeter and ambery for the night. The Oriental Woody profile with myrrh, jasmine and that vanilla-amber-tonka base feels like a proper evening scent, especially for special events.
• Pick Ghost Spectre if you want more spice and freshness before the woods come through. Ginger, cardamom and Turkish rose give it a livelier character, and the smaller 80ml bottle is handy if you're always on the go.

One thing to think about with Malaysia weather: when it's hot and humid, a fresh spicy opening like Ghost Spectre's tends to feel lighter on the skin, while an ambery dry down like Obsidian's leans warmer — worth considering if you'll be walking between places at night. Size-wise, it's 100ml versus 80ml, so think about how often you'll actually reach for it.

Whichever way you lean, both are from French Avenue and both are built for evening wear as much as the office. Match the scent to your mood that night and you're sorted.