Paco Rabanne

Phantom vs Phantom Parfum Comparison

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Phantom is a release from Paco Rabanne that has become very popular with the public since its release. It’s one that I don’t completely understand personally, but enough folks seem to enjoy the scent. Anyway, the brand has followed up the original Phantom with a newer Parfum version in 2023.

Which of these robot bottled colognes smells better? Lasts longer? Is the better buy? I’ve tested each and the following are my results.

Quick Overview

🏆 My Verdict

Phantom Parfum wins on opening, projection, longevity, and overall scent, while versatility is basically a tie.

Buy Phantom Parfum if you want the fresher, stronger, and better-performing version with a smoother citrus opening and longer-lasting projection.

Buy the original Phantom if you specifically prefer the apple note and slightly juicier tropical sweetness, but overall Parfum is the better buy.

Category Phantom Phantom Parfum Winner
Opening Apple, lemon, lavender, vanilla, and a juicy semi-tropical sweetness Lemon, bergamot, rhubarb, cardamom, and a fresher colder citrus opening Phantom Parfum
Projection Strong start, then quickly falls to moderate and later lighter Stronger start and stays upper-moderate for much longer Phantom Parfum
Longevity Around 6–7 hours Around 8–9 hours Phantom Parfum
Versatility Autumn/winter, younger, casual, nightlife Autumn/winter, younger, casual, nightlife Push
Overall Scent Nice opening, but becomes a more average patchouli-heavy sweet scent later More of the best parts of Phantom with stronger performance and better citrus freshness Phantom Parfum
Best For Fans of the original apple-heavy Phantom opening Those who want the stronger, fresher, better-performing flanker —

Tale of the Tape: Phantom vs. Phantom Parfum

Phantom

Notes include: lemon, lemon zest, lavender, patchouli, vetiver, apple, smoke, and more

Click here to try: Phantom by Paco Rabanne

My Full Review: Phantom

Phantom Parfum

Notes include: bergamot, lemon, rhubarb, cardamom, lavender, patchouli, vanilla, geranium, balsam, cedar

Click here to try: Phantom Parfum

Read my review: Parfum

Opening

With Phantom, I actually kind of like the start. Phantom kicks things off with apple and lemon notes, creating a juiciness that is quite nice. The aroma is semi-tropical and sweet, with the way it ties together.

Under that, is lavender and vanilla, further pushing the aromatic creaminess.

That juicy citrus fruit opening will be pushed out by a drier and earthy aroma. The juiciness fades, and patchouli will have its time to shine, with an herbal sort of spice coming together. It dirties it up, and yes, there is a touch of smoke.

With Parfum, we get a stronger use of the citrus up top. That lemon, bergamot, and semi-tropical aroma is back, longer lasting, and better than the original.

With that, you get a rhubarb and cardamom in lieu of the apple note. Once the fruitiness has toned down, this one feels fresher and colder. Slightly greenish undertones, in the early stages.

Which is better? I think Parfum is preferable. I like the start of the original, but I think that Parfum is more appealing in comparison.

Edge: Parfum

Projection

The original Phantom starts off quite strong, but will pretty quickly decay into something moderate, and finally a lighter scent that I can catch whiffs of.

It wasn’t a sillage powerhouse, but could be decent.

With Parfum, I do get a bit of a stronger start. Not by much, though. However, the real value with it, is how long it lasts at a higher level.

Phantom Parfum doesn’t just quickly fall off and it will be in the upper moderate range of projection for a large portion of the wear.

Edge: Parfum

Longevity

With the original Phantom, I could get 6-7 hours of wear on my skin. It wasn’t great, but it was fairly solid, as a fragrance.

The Parfum version will go a bit further. During testing, it lasted 8-9 hours. Not a ton of extra time, but it is noticeably stronger and lasts longer.

Phantom Parfum easily takes this.

Edge: Parfum

Versatility

I don’t think there’s any real distinction here. Both are built better for the autumn and winter months. Neither is going to hold up well in the heat and humidity.

Parfum isn’t different enough to change what the Phantom DNA is all about. Skews younger, casual, can be worn out at night, etc.

To me, this is a tie.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these Paco Rabanne fragrances do I prefer?

Phantom never did much for me. I didn’t completely hate it. I enjoyed the apple and lemon peel notes, after the initial spray. When those two blend with everything else it’s nice.

After that, Phantom was basically just an average scent. Nothing really stood out about it.

Phantom Parfum gives me more of the parts that I like, with more performance.

Parfum doesn’t completely win me over to the Phantom line, as I personally still don’t want a bottle of either. However, I do like it more than the original.

Note:  If you still can’t decide between these two, you could get a similar fragrance to the original Phantom for cheaper by the Dua Brand called: Error 414. Then, buy Phantom Parfum also. 

The dry down is a big dose of vanilla, some woods, and a now generic sweetness from the top notes. That initial ‘tropical’ scent isn’t there anymore and it has the same vibe as any number of Paco Rabanne scents after that.

In the end, if you liked the original Phantom, you should try Parfum. If you didn’t, I don’t think you need to put Parfum through its paces. Even if, it is the best between them.

Winner: Phantom Parfum

Who Should Buy Each?

Choose Phantom if:

You prefer the original Paco Rabanne Phantom DNA
You like apple, lemon, lavender, vanilla, and juicy sweet openings
You enjoy the more tropical fruity feel at the start
You do not mind average performance after the opening fades
You mainly care about the original opening rather than the full wear experience

Choose Phantom Parfum if:

You want the better overall fragrance
You prefer stronger citrus with bergamot, lemon, rhubarb, and cardamom
You want better projection and longer-lasting performance
You like fresher, colder openings with smoother development
You want the best version of the Phantom line based on this comparison

Paco Rabanne Phantom FAQ

Which Paco Rabanne Phantom should I buy first?

This is a line that I think that you should try before spending. Again, I’m not a big fan of any of these, but the answer is probably Phantom Parfum or maybe Phantom Intense. I haven’t tried every single release as of now, but those would be my picks if I had to purchase a Phantom cologne.

Is Phantom more fruity than Phantom Parfum?

Actually, Parfum has more of an initial fruitier kick and it also lasts longer. That’s part of its appeal for me in comparison to the original. But, Phantom comes across as sweeter, while Parfum is more citrusy.

Are Phantom and Phantom Parfum very similar?

They are quite similar. The differences are that Parfum is a smoother experience and the dry down periods are different with how they smell. Woods and vanilla, mostly.

1 Million vs 1 Million Royal

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1 Million has been a staple men’s fragrance from Paco Rabanne for a long time now. The original eau de toilette formulation has spun off many flankers under this banner, including the commercially successful 1 Million Royal.

But, the question is, how do these colognes compare? Which smells better? Lasts longer? Is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: 1 Million vs. Royal

1 Million

Notes include: Mint, Grapefruit, Rose, Patchouli, Amber, Cinnamon, White woods, Blond leather, Blood orange, Spice notes

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne 1 Million By Paco Rabanne For Men Edt Spray, 3.4 Ounce

Read my Full Review: 1 Million by Paco Rabanne

Royal

Notes include: mandarin orange, bergamot, cardamom, lavender, violet leaf, cedar, sage, benzoin, patchouli

Buy from Amazon: Royal

Read my full review: 1 Million Royal

Opening

1 Million EDT opens up with a blend of leather, rose, and its citrus notes (orange and grapefruit). This combination gives the fragrance a sort of  grape bubblegum like aroma.

It’s sweet and warm, with an ever increasing spice coming from mostly cinnamon, but also a cooling mint.

All of this is surrounded by the embraced of an amber note, helping to give 1 Million some of its boldness and thickness.

1 Million Royal opens up with a blend of notes vying for your attention. The mandarin orange and bergamot citrus are sitting on top of the mix, giving this an initial lightness and brightness.

Underneath, the warm spiciness of the cardamom and benzoin notes are already coming through. Royal will have more of a cardamom spice versus other notes here, but early I get a decent amount of sage and a touch of patchouli.

The latter, is only noticeably if I really focus and basically press my nose up against where I sprayed.

As we move along, the spiciness will tone down. I start to get a greater ratio of the lavender versus the cardamom and the benzoin will also begin to claim the top spot.

Which do I like more? While Royal has a very good opening act, that I enjoy greatly. I still prefer what the original Paco Rabanne 1 Million brings to the table.

Edge: 1 Million

Projection

1 Million EDT used to be quite a strong fragrance. If we were talking about older bottles, it’d take this category for sure. Now, it’s still got a strong start, but moderates much more quickly than in the past.

Royal isn’t a heavy fragrance. Though, it has a lot more power than you think that it does. It’s kind of diffuse and the cloud that it creates around you is much more like a mist for most of the wear.

I’d say at its peak, Royal is probably a 5-8 foot radius cologne, in terms of its projection. After that, it’s going to spend a ton of time in that 3-4 foot range. Not bearing down on you, but I’ve noticed it hanging around without having to press my nose to my skin.

Which packs more punch? Nowadays, these two are about even with what they provide. 1 Million EDT feels a bit heavier, but it doesn’t project itself any further in my experience with each.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Older bottles of 1 Million would last well past 10 hours on my skin. With my latest bottle, that number sits closer to 8. It’s taken a step back for sure with its performance.

Royal, on the other hand, gets me about 8-8.5 hours of wear. Has never been a super long lasting cologne, but it matches what I get with the EDT.

In this category, I’ll call it an even match.

Edge: Push

Versatility

So, neither of these fragrances are going to be an office wear scent or something for formal occasions. Pretty much casual scenarios, nightlife, etc.

Each feels more appropriate in autumn and winter. However, they can also been worn at night in the spring, if it’s not too hot or humid out.

Both of them trends younger, but neither is completely juvenile. Both have more of a fun and mass appealing style versus being anything too refined or serious.

I don’t really see a distinction in this category either.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these two colognes do I prefer?

It’s a very even match in terms of how each fragrance performs. But, which one of them smells better?

With Royal, I do like the change of pace. I like the warmth and spiciness that it provides, while still having some of the citrus notes and the benzoin in the dry down period.

I go back and forth between preferring 1 Million Elixir and Royal. Those are my 2nd and third favorites from the line, based on what’s available right now.

However, I still like the EDT a bit more than those two. Prive was my favorite, but now, 1 Million EDT is still the one that I’d go with.

I enjoy the opening act with the leather and citrus a bit more than the start of Royal. With the newer cologne, the opening is my favorite part of it, but it’s still not as good as 1 Million. Plus, the original is better in the dry down.

It doesn’t have the same power that it once did, but it is the more interesting fragrance for the entirety of the wear. Royal has a great start, but the rest of it isn’t nearly as good.

So, I’m picking the original 1 Million here.

Edge: 1 Million

9 Fragrances that Smell Similar to 1 Million

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1 Million by Paco Rabanne has been a best-seller and dominant nightlife fragrance, for over a decade now. It’s success has bred plenty of imitators  to try and capture the lower end of the market.

With so many options out there, one could effectively recreate much of what 1 Million gives you, for a lower price. In this post, I want to provide eight options for guys looking for a cologne that smells similar to this famous scent.

Scents that are Close to 1 Million by Paco Rabanne

Apple Inspiration

Woody Green Apple by Dossier– Woody Green Apple is Dossier’s take on this type of aroma. Perhaps not the same level of spice as the Paco fragrance, but it matches most of what we want, for a cheaper price and with solid performance.

The apple, mint, and grapefruit come on nicely, early in the wear. Then, things will warm up with the cinnamon, tobacco, and floral notes.

This currently runs for $29 per bottle, as of this update. Super value proposition for what you get with Woody Green Apple.

Elixir Alternative

Error 419 by The Dua Brand– 1 Million Elixir is the popular flanker right now, of the original 1 Million. Error 419 is the ‘inspired by’ alternative to Elixir from The Dua Brand.

Elixir is a scent that starts out with a strong apple note, flanked by floral notes that have a fruity tinge to them. The opening is sweet, warm, rather unique versus the original while paying homage.

The dry down will be more about the vanilla note, rose, cedar, and tonka bean. Freshness and smokiness sit underneath.

This is a Dua that I have yet to try, but I have owned over ten from this brand and they do a great job. If you want something that smells like 1 Million Elixir, this is probably your best bet.

Another Inspiration

Santorini Sails by Oakcha– Here’s another option that is inspired by 1 Million. I don’t really get the name in relation to the Paco Rabanne, but the notes line up with what you’d expect.

I haven’t tried this or any scents from Oakcha yet. But, with all of the positive reviews and the inexpensive price point, I figured that I’d add it to the list for those that want to try it out. As of this update, it’s priced at $30 per bottle.

If they can get the weighting of the notes even somewhat correct, Santorini Sails should be a great deal.

Royal Flight

Le Male Airlines by JPG- This is a flanker from the Le Male series by Gaultier, that I picked up shortly before I purchased my bottle of 1 Million Royal. I was also probably $40-50 cheaper, at the time.

Though, limited supplies of this one may have changed, depending on when you’re reading this.

Note: this is different from the travel edition of the original Le Male EDT, I’ve also seen that labeled as airlines, but that’s just a different box. Check my picture below, Airlines is a different cologne in a darker blue bottle.

This is an alternative, that has a lot of close overlap with the newer Royal. Citrus, cedar, lavender, and cardamom (especially) are the notes that are shared between these two colognes.

Airlines is both sweeter and has a spicier cardamom note than the one found in Royal. The citrus note is less of an influence than what you get with the Paco Rabanne. Granted, the cardamom is also heavier.

The dry down isn’t the same, but as a 1 Million Royal alternative, this is really quite nice. I prefer Royal, but would take this if it were priced at a heavy discount versus Royal. Le Male Airlines Review

Sweet and Inexpensive

Lomani Ab Spirit Millionaire Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce– If you want a low cost close impression of 1 Million, Ab Spirit Millionaire, can fit the bill. I mean, it even takes the gold color scheme of the Paco Rabanne, and utilizes it.

This one is much more vanilla, than what you get with 1 Million, but you do get a warm, sweet, and somewhat spicy fragrance. As it dries down, the amber and spices become more pronounced.

You won’t get the beastly projection, Millionaire is more moderate, but the longevity is good. For the price, it’s worth a try.

The Super Cheapie

Cuba Royal By Cuba, 3.30-Ounce– Royal is a fragrance, which often gets compared to 1 Million by Paco Rabanne, and it is easy to smell why. Royal is warm, starts off quite sweet, and has plenty of tobacco/spice during the dry down.

Is it an exact match? No, but when talking about a $10-12 option, it is close enough. For instance, this doesn’t have the same leathery scent nor the distinct mint.

While this is fairly strong, it doesn’t have the same sillage or staying power as 1 Million. Nonetheless, Royal is a fantastic option, particularly as a nighttime wear for guys who want to save money.

A Subtle Secret

Antonio Banderas The Golden Secret for Men Eau de Toilette Spray, 6.75 Ounce– There is a distinct similarity between The Golden Secret and 1 Million by Paco Rabanne, beyond the bottles looking closely related, they also share many of the same notes.

The Golden Secret is like a more subdued version of 1 Million, with slight differences that become noticeable, once you have worn both colognes. Out of the options, this might be my favorite smelling one, just not the strongest of the bunch.

The Golden Secret has a nice leather note and some spices from ingredients like mint and nutmeg. Smooth and masculine.

Similar but Different

Armaf Club de Nuit Man Eau de Toilette Spray 3.6 Ounce– Club de Nuit is a really good value play. Compared to 1 Million, it isn’t as sweet, but has an amber-laden profile.

That being said, it isn’t a super heavy spiced cologne, but it is there. It has a soft powdery quality at times, during the dry down, with a nice touch of leather.

Armaf is probably the least like 1 Million, out of the bunch, but it is related and has its own lovely quality. Plus, the performance is really good.

Halloween Time

J. Del Pozo Halloween Man Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 4.2 Ounce– This one is kind of different from the rest, with its sweet fruity/boozy apple martini start, before it settles into something closer to 1 Million.

At that stage, it has the usual leather, amber, and cinnamon notes. It’s got that same sort of spice, with a similar sweet aroma to our subject. It actually sort of reminds me (at times), a bit of a 1 Million flanker called, ‘1 Million Cologne’. Interesting stuff.

There is a cumin note in here, that some people don’t really like, but it does get better further in the wear. Which, it’s understandable when it mixes with that apple martini. Still, this one can be a decent pick up for really cheap.  Halloween Man Review

10 Great Paco Rabanne Colognes

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Paco Rabanne has long been a big name in the fragrance world. However, the designer brand, has really come to prominence commercially this century, thanks to the success of the initial 1 Million. Just about everyone knows that cologne or has come across it, but what are some other top men’s fragrance options by Paco Rabanne.

In this post, I want to take a closer look, and give my take on what are the top scents from their line and link to my own full reviews of them.

Favorite Paco Rabanne Perfumes for Him

Note: I am again updating this post, to add new releases and indicate those fragrances which have been discontinued. Some of the fragrances are difficult to find, while others are still pretty available online.

Nonetheless, I still want to keep a record of those harder find colognes, for those who are interested. Plus, I didn’t want to have to populate this list with the Phantom line, which frankly isn’t all that good.

Best Overall Scent

Paco Rabanne 1 Million Prive Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce– There’s no doubt in my mind, that 1 Million Prive, is currently the best release by Paco Rabanne. The rest of the list isn’t in order, but I’m putting this as number 1, regardless.

Update: This one got discontinued. Which is sad, it really was a great cologne from Paco Rabanne.

It took what the original did and improved upon it. Prive is darker, more mature, and just smells better.

The fragrance is super warm and features an opening of apple and cinnamon. Yes, it has that 1 Million signature of sweet and spicy, but it also includes myrrh and tobacco to keep it from being overly sweet.

It doesn’t have the same insane sillage of 1 Million, but it is still strong, and lasts 9-10 hours on my skin. 1 Million Prive is awesome, full stop. This one is fairly underappreciated, it seems, but it is a fantastic scent.  Read my Review

Most Popular

1 Million by Paco Rabanne for Men – 6.8 Ounce EDT Spray– Always among the most popular and best selling colognes on the market. 1 Million has truly become a classic men’s fragrance and it is hard to go wrong with a bottle of this stuff.

While initially, it was weird to have an opening act that smelled similar to grape bubblegum, 1 Million endeared itself to so many people with its awesome sillage and performance. Update: It has lost some of this power, over the years. Still pretty good, however.

I love the blood orange and leather notes, here. I feel like this one has much more depth, than people seem to give it credit for.

This is an all nighter. A cold weather scent, that can absolutely shine on the bar/club scene. Warm, masculine, with spice. Notes include: Mint, Grapefruit, Rose, Patchouli, Amber, Cinnamon, White woods, Blond leather, Blood orange, Spice notes.  My Review

Best Invictus Fragrance

Invictus Intense by Paco Rabanne for Men 3.4 oz Eau de Parfum Spray– This is my personal favorite from the Invictus line, it is darker, and indeed more intense than the original.

It might not be for everyone because it is a very boozy scent. You might also go with Invictus Legend, for a mid-point between Intense and the original Invictus.

Invictus Intense doesn’t have that same initial fruity burst, as the original. It is less sweet and the fruit notes are more subdued.

Invictus Intense instead opts for a warm amber with the marine accords. Then, you get a great malted aroma (whiskey), with orange blossom and woody undertones. This one seems smoother and more refined.

It’s warm with a slight spice, still enough sweetness, and good performance. It’s similar, yet different enough from the original, but just more pleasant for me to wear. Invictus Intense Review

Another Invictus Option

Invictus Victory– Update: For the last update that I did to this page, this replaced the original Invictus. Since then, Invictus Victory Elixir (see below) was released and is slightly better. But, this still deserves a spot on the list.

I also like the original and Invictus Legend, if you don’t want a warmer gourmand version, like Victory is.

The opening act gives me a nice dose of lemon, a general warmth, and a peppery kick to round things off. As it dries down, that’s when it becomes more of a vanilla and amber based cologne.

Quite gourmand and delicious, much more of a crowd pleaser scent, and outdoes the original EDT.

Sweet, with some tonka bean to offset the vanilla, but the latter note is really dominant between them. The projection isn’t too huge, but solid, and it will last for a long time on skin.

The Elixir Follow Up

Invictus Victory Elixir– For many, this will probably be your best bet from the Invictus line nowadays. Intense isn’t around as much (and not for everyone). Invictus victory Elixir is a crowd pleaser and great performer.

This is more focused and concentrated than the version listed above. It starts off being resinous, warm, with a good deal of vanilla from the jump. A bit of pink pepper and cardamom spice, with some light citrus touches.

Neither of which lasts too long. From there it’s a smooth and creamy blend of amber, vanilla, and tonka bean mostly. It has its fresh highlights and a period where the lavender really shines.

This is a well done mix from Paco Rabanne and absolutely deserves a spot on the list. Invictus Victory Elixir review

Cold Weather Fresh & Sweet

Pure XS– Pure XS is one that still kind of flies under the radar. The performance isn’t as good as the others on the list, though it isn’t terrible either. However, the aroma is very nice and can be an absolute joy to wear.

It starts off with a boozy liquor aroma, paired with fresh and spicy ginger/cinnamon, and the sweetness of vanilla and sugar. It turns warm and a bit resinous with the myrrh note and an underlying leather.

The dry down is mainly the vanilla and myrrh, which is quite cozy after the initial bold and confident start. Good stuff.

Update: Seems like the Pure XS line also got the axe. I’d go with Pure XS Night between these two or just go with Invictus Victory, if you cannot find a bottle anymore. As of now, it’s still widely available online.

Top Aquatic

Paco Rabanne Invictus Aqua Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce– One of the latest flankers to the original Invictus. Invictus Aqua adds yuzu to the grapefruit note found in the original and than amps up the marine notes, in the beginning.

I really like it at this stage and the inclusion of the pink pepper distinguishes it from the other fragrances in the line.

It is fresh, sporty, with a slight soapy quality. Aqua dries down into a much woodier cologne. The end of the wear, is almost a pure sea water aroma, on my skin.

I’m not too much into that aspect, but the rest of the fragrance is good. The projection is decent and it went for over 8 hours when I wore it. Invictus Aqua Review.

Note: This was discontinued. However, they brought it back in limited quantities. If you want it, grab a bottle now, in case it goes away once again.

Another Elixir

1 Million Elixir–  1 Million Elixir doesn’t reach Prive levels of enjoyment for me, but it’s about as good as modern bottles of 1 Million EDT. Maybe even better, depending on your style.

For some, this will be the one to go with, if you don’t like the original EDT.

Vanilla and tonka bean will come to be the major players in this one. But, the opening is fruity and floral. Actually, the floral notes, outside of the rose come across as fruity. There is a nice apple note, a sweet osmanthus, and a rarely used davana.

It’s fresh and warm, without being too overbearing and heavy. There is a bit of the usual 1 Million spice in the blend, thanks to some unlisted cinnamon. But, this mostly comes across as a sweet fruity mix that transitions into a vanilla/tonka dominant one.

The longevity is great and Elixir won’t disappoint with its power to project. Elixir Full Review

million elixir review

Another for the Younger Crowd

1 Million Lucky by Paco Rabanne Eau de Toilette Spray 100ml– Probably the most youthful and different fragrance released under the 1 Million name. It is sweet and woody with a nutty aroma provided by hazelnut. It opens up with a tart plum note, citrus, and honey.

Update: This one is discontinued. Go with Royal instead, if you can’t find this. Actually, Royal is better, just find that one if you want this same sort of sweetish style.

This is paired with cedar and amber to create a warm, creamy cloud of almost edible sweetness.

This isn’t one that I can personally wear everyday, but, once in a while I really like putting it on. Mainly, for the plum and hazelnut combo, that aren’t present in all that many men’s colognes.

This one isn’t as strong or long lasting as its predecessors, but it still has a pretty strong sillage, and 6-7 hours of wear. Very nice with good versatility. 1 Million Lucky Review

Best Nightlife Fragrance

PURE XS NIGHT by PACO RABBANNE for men 3.4 Fl oz – I wanted to add another newer fragrance to this list and thought about including 1 Million Parfum. That one has a very enjoyable opening, but I think Pure Xs Night is better overall.

This one takes aspects of the original Pure Xs, lowers the booziness, and amps up the warmth and gives it more of a spice. Caramel, vanilla, and a bit of cacao. What’s noticeable is the ginseng note, that puts a different twist on things.

Delightful mix of spicy opening and a sweet gourmand type of dry down. Night has a thickness about it, like a nice enveloping cloud of scent.

Pure XS Night has a stronger sillage than the original, on my skin. Yet, it is still limited to the colder weather or late autumn or winter. Not one to wear in heat, it will melt. Pure XS Night review

Update: Discontinued, as noted earlier.

Homepage Link

Best Smelling 1 Million Cologne Flankers

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The 1 Million line of colognes from Paco Rabanne have been super popular for over 10 years now. Since the dominance of the original, the brand has released a bunch of more flanker scents, under this same banner.

The question then is, which is the best smelling scent overall? In this post, I am going to name what I think is the best of the 1 Million line up, and what are the next top fragrances thereafter. I will link to my reviews on each, where relevant.

Favorite 1 Million Fragrances

The Best 1 Million Cologne

1 Million Prive by Paco Rabanne for Men 3.4 oz Eau de Parfum Spray– To me, Prive is the only 1 Million release from Paco Rabanne to fully surpass the original. Others, I might feel like going with depending on the day and my mood.

It is a fantastic scent and had to be, in order to grab this number 1 spot. It starts off with apple and cinnamon, with a darker and richer quality to it, than the original.

Then, you add tobacco, tonka bean, and mandarin orange and you have a spicy/sweet blend with a great warmth. Plus, an intoxicating smell. The longevity and sillage are really good, not to the same level as the original, but the overall smell is better.

It has been discontinued, so, the bottles are a lot tougher to come by nowadays. Which is sad, this was great. 1 Million Prive Review

The Original

1 Million by Paco Rabanne for Men – 6.8 Ounce EDT Spray– The original fragrance. It’s still a best-seller, after more than a decade. It’s loved and it’s hated. Honestly, I still think it’s a great cologne.

Not something that I want to wear all of the time, but something that I highly enjoy when the time comes. The opening is a combined leather, rose, and citrus. Which, when taken together can have quite a candy-like aroma.

Then, you get cinnamon spice and warm amber. It’s fresh, bold, enveloping and quite an attention grabber at all times. 1 Million is no longer the best of the line, but it’s still a classic. 1 Million Review

The Elixir

1 Million Elixir– A newer release, since I first published this post. 1 Million Elixir doesn’t reach Prive levels of enjoyment for me, but it’s about as good as modern bottles of 1 Million EDT.

For some, this will be the one to go with, if you don’t like the original EDT.

Vanilla and tonka bean will come to be the major players in this one. But, the opening is fruity and floral. Actually, the floral notes, outside of the rose come across as fruity. There is a nice apple note, a sweet osmanthus, and a rarely used davana.

It’s fresh and warm, without being too overbearing and heavy. There is a bit of the usual 1 Million spice in the blend, thanks to some unlisted cinnamon. But, this mostly comes across as a sweet fruity mix that transitions into a vanilla/tonka dominant one.

The longevity is great and Elixir won’t disappoint with its power to project. Elixir Full Review

million elixir review

Royal

1 Million Royal–  This is the 2023 release from this line, 1 Million Royal, which I picked up a full bottle of when it came out. So, I had to update this list. For me, I have it rated roughly the same as Elixir, it sort of depends what kind of mood I was in as to which I’d choose.

A light citrus top opens things up, but Royal is really highlighted by its cardamom spice and the benzoin note lurking around that.

This will change as lavender comes in to split duties with the cardamom. Then, finally each is taken over by the benzoin note during the dry down.

Royal has an above average sillage, while not being an absolute bomb. The performance is just over 8 hours, on my skin. I have been enjoying this release, alongside my new bottle of the original. It’s well worth checking out. 1 Million Royal Review

Parfum

Paco Rabanne One 1 Million Pure Parfum Natural Spray For Men 100ml / 3.4oz– 1 Million Parfum is an interesting take on the formula from this lineup. It might be little better than Lucky, but it’s pretty neck and neck.

It’s sweet and semi-tropical up top. But, that’s combined with a leather note, white florals, and a solar accord that does make this Parfum seem like it is shining. It’s kind of a beachy version of 1 Million, at least early on.

The end? It’s kind of disappointing. The tuberose note plays a big role with leather. You get some fresh pine and ambergris. That opening though, is sort of terrific to wear. 1 Million Parfum Review

A Past Intensity

1 Million Intense– Intense was one of the early flanker fragrances from the series. It has been discontinued for a long time now. So, it’s pretty much on the list just for further depth, as finding a full bottle won’t be cheap.

But, I grabbed a sample online that was for sale, to revisit this one. This is where it lands on the list for me.

It comes out spicier and rougher than the original. Though, there is still a sweet mandarin orange note up top. Cardamom, cinnamon, saffron, and pepper all come out in the initial stages of wear.

Then, it’ll become smoother with rose and neroli, finishing up close to the original 1 Million EDT.

This one is a nice fragrance. The opening act is great. The performance is beast mode. Again, it’s just not around much anymore. Intense Review

A Golden Oud

1 Million Golden Oud– This is a special edition flanker, that isn’t going to appeal to everyone. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of oud, but this is a really approachable example in the designer colognes space.

The leather and oud are apparent from the jump. Though, this one has some really nice spicy facets early on from black pepper and nutmeg. I get some saffron and this has a balsamic note in the heart, which comes through well about 15 minutes into the wear.

It’s sweet, slightly smoky, woody, and leathery. For some people this might be their favorite of the series, it just probably doesn’t have the mass appeal as the rest of the best sellers.

Performance is great. Well-blended mix of spice, leather, woods, and more.

Lucky Fragrance

1 Million Lucky by Paco Rabanne Eau de Toilette Spray 100ml– 1 Million Lucky is probably the most unique and distinct from this line of scents. Yes, I have it ranked down here, but I actually really enjoyed wearing this sweet cologne at times.

It opens up with plum, honey, and citrus. Lucky is quite sweet and tart, but really comes into its own with the nutty hazelnut note. It shares amber, patchouli, and cedar with the others on this list. So, mostly the base notes of 1 Million.

However, this goes for a more youthful blend with honey and hazelnut, being the main driving force. The performance and sillage is good, but doesn’t hit the same levels as the others.

Overall, though, 1 Million Lucky is well worth wearing and a fun cologne. 1 Million Lucky Review

One More Past Release

1 Million Cologne by Paco Rabanne Eau De Toilette Spray 4.2 oz for Men – 100% Authentic– This one is less known and I don’t even think they make it anymore. So, you’ll have to get it online.

It’s actually called ‘1 Million Cologne’, which is really confusing, and an utterly stupid name when people refer to men’s fragrances as ‘cologne’ quite often. As such, you’d think they were selling the same original 1 Million.

However, this version is pretty damn good. It has sort of an original 1 Million scent mixed with elements of Invictus. It’s got huge sillage and longevity, with an aquatic note throughout. That marine aroma and the grape bubblegum smell at the opening, does give of an Invictus vibe.

Though, it dries down with a stronger rose note; also with leather, tonka bean, patchouli, and orange. This gets overlooked, but I still like it a lot, and will throw on some from my mini bottle every so often.