1 Million vs 1 Million Prive Cologne Comparison

Paco Rabanne’s 1 Million has been a hyper-popular cologne ever since its release however many years ago. It is known as a bold and absolute monster performer, which has been a go to for younger men, at bars and night clubs across the globe. With the release of 2016’s flanker scent, 1 Million Prive, the fragrance may have some competition from one which was birthed from it’s own success.

In this post, I am going to give my thoughts and performance review, in order to create a comparison between 1 Million vs 1 Million Prive by Paco Rabanne for men.

 

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Tale of the Tape: Prive vs. 1 Million

 

1 Million

Notes include: grapefruit, blood orange, rose, mint, cinnamon, amber, leather, patchouli, and more

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne 1 Million Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

Read my original review: 1 Million Cologne Review

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1 Million Prive

Notes include: tonka bean, apple, cinnamon, myrrh, mandarin orange, tobacco

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne 1 Million Prive Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

Read my original review: 1 Million Prive Cologne Review

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Opening

The original 1 Million has this grape bubblegum-like opening that has become pretty infamous. This candy scented start is one reason I think this fragrance has pushed some people away from wearing it. Personally, I think that it works just fine and actually enjoy it.

1 Million opens up with leather, citrus, and rose. Together, they create that bubblegum sort of smell. It’s actually a really smooth leather, juicy orange and grapefruit. This is surrounded by a warm and bold amber, with hints of cooling mint. 

All in all, it’s a nice and powerful start, to this now classic best-seller.

Prive, on the other hand, takes on something a bit darker and less sweet. It still retains the cinnamon note of the original but adds a scent of apple (though, it’s not an actual ingredient, it’s just the effect that the blend gives off), which reminds me of cinnamon applesauce but not as sweet.

There is a light citrus note, provided by the same mandarin orange, as the original.  Tonka bean, myrrh, and tobacco come in later, to give it a rich and thick aroma. 

Honestly, I think I was digging the opening of Prive while wearing it the other day, more so than when I wear the original. The more time that I’ve spent with both, the more that I prefer Prive as a flanker cologne.

Edge: Prive

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Projection

Update: The latest batch of 1 Million that I tried, isn’t nearly as strong as it used to be. As such, I’m downgrading it, and calling this category a tie. Below is my original take.

1 Million is a straight beast in terms of performance and in order to take this category, Prive would have had to match or somehow even exceed the bar that was set. It doesn’t.

Prive actually has really good projection and is by no means weak, but, 1 Million is legendary in this regard. Maybe newer formulations of 1 Million are toned down, somewhat, but I haven’t experienced that myself.

Prive is a very strong fragrance, so, you won’t actually be disappointed by the performance, it just doesn’t hold a candle to the original. 

Edge: Push

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Longevity

Update: The newer batches of 1 Million don’t go as long. Usually, it still hits 8-9 hours, but now Prive has the upper hand.

Again, performance wise, 1 Million takes the cake. It goes on forever seemingly. Prive is no joke and will last 9-10 hours after spraying.

1 Million, always seemed to go for 12 hours, on my skin. Then, I’d lose track of it. I mean, you have to go to sleep at some point. Nonetheless, Prive is again, a great performer too. 

Edge: Prive

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Versatility

Both of these colognes are useful for casual to romantic wear. Though, go lightly when wearing to work or school. Both are well suited to the colder weather. I would say, that Prive, is better suited for more formal events. Even though, it’s not really a formal scent, by any means. 

However, 1 Million can probably hold up better during warmer whether than can Prive, which gives it the edge here. For me, these both were always colder weather, nightlife wears. 

Edge: 1 Million

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Overall Scent

Right now, I am enjoying Prive more than I do 1 Million. The original is a better performer but Prive is also great in that manner. Prive is smooth, warm, and I really like the cinnamon/tobacco note dry down period.

Update: After a few years of having tried Prive, after its release, I can say it is my favorite 1 Million fragrance. Better than the original and 1 Million Lucky.  Plus, it now has a better performance than the original, also.

Update 2: Prive has been discontinued, as of now. I tried to find a bottle a few months back and it wasn’t possible at a reasonable price. So, the original 1 Million EDT is the one I’d go with out of the series, if I couldn’t get my hands on a bottle of Prive…which looks like is going to be the case moving forward.

It’s just the most well rounded fragrance of them all. It has enough elements of the original to be familiar, then, adds to that foundation with something uniquely its own. 

Prive seems darker and a bit more mature than the original and I love the tonka bean note. That’s not to say that the orginal 1 Million is bad. It isn’t and I still like to wear it but as of writing I’m more into Prive. Maybe, it is recency bias but I’m going with the new flanker as the winner.

Winner: Prive