French Avenue Comparison Guide: Obsidian or Aromatix Magnetiq? (Formal Events in KL)

Got a formal event coming up in Kuala Lumpur — a wedding dinner, a gala night, an annual office function? Choosing a perfume for nights like that is tricky when it's hot and humid outside but the ballroom aircon is freezing. So here's a side-by-side look at two unisex EDPs from French Avenue, Obsidian and Aromatix Magnetiq, both in 100ml, so you can see which one fits your event better.

Obsidian

Obsidian is a unisex Oriental Woody Eau de Parfum in a 100ml bottle. It opens with aldehydes, grapefruit and bergamot, which the store describes as a bright, crisp and slightly sparkling start. From there the heart moves into myrrh, jasmine and labdanum, giving the scent a resinous floral warmth. The base is vanilla, amber and tonka bean, which creates a smooth, sweet and ambery dry down.

Who is it for? The occasion list is office, evening, special event and daily wear. That Special Event tag is the reason it earns a spot in a formal events guide — it's the one of the two that's actually aimed at big nights. And since it's unisex, anyone in your group can wear it, whether you're the groom's best man or the guest giving a speech.

Aromatix Magnetiq

Aromatix Magnetiq by French Avenue is also a unisex 100ml EDP, this time in the Woody Aromatic family, made for women and men. The opening is bergamot, pink pepper and lavender, which gives it a clean citrus-spicy start. The heart combines rosemary, orange blossom, neroli, iris and musk, adding an aromatic, floral and softly powdery character. It settles into a warm base of sandalwood, cedarwood, oakmoss, vanilla, myrrh and amber, leaving a smooth, woody and gently sweet trail.

Its occasion list is daily, office, evening and casual. So while the evening slot is there, the store positions it more as an everyday and work fragrance than a big-formal-night one.

So which one for your formal event in KL?

Here's the interesting part: the two actually share some DNA. Both open with bergamot, and both settle into vanilla, amber and myrrh at the base. The difference is the journey in between.

• Pick Obsidian if you want the Oriental Woody direction — the aldehydes opening, the jasmine and labdanum heart, and an occasion list that includes Special Event, which lines up with weddings, dinners and formal functions.
• Pick Aromatix Magnetiq if you prefer the Woody Aromatic style — lavender and pink pepper up top, rosemary, neroli and iris in the middle. It's listed for daily, office, evening and casual, so it makes sense if you want one bottle that also covers work days and casual weekends.

If the formal event is the main thing, Obsidian is the pick the data points to. If you want more versatility around it, Aromatix Magnetiq is the easy-going option of the two.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which French Avenue perfume is better for formal events in Kuala Lumpur?

Obsidian lists Special Event among its occasions, so it lines up best with formal nights like weddings and dinners. Aromatix Magnetiq is listed for daily, office, evening and casual wear.

Are Obsidian and Aromatix Magnetiq unisex?

Yes. Both are unisex Eau de Parfums in 100ml bottles, so anyone can wear either one.

Do the two perfumes share any notes?

Yes. Both open with bergamot and both have vanilla, amber and myrrh in the base, but the heart notes of each are completely different.