Paco Rabanne

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.

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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.

1 Million vs Invictus by Paco Rabanne Comparison

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In my latest installment of cologne comparisons, I want to once again compare something against 1 Million by Paco Rabanne. This time I want to pit it against one from its own design house, Invictus.

In this post, I want to break down each scent and explain how I think each smells, performs, when they should be worn, and which scent is better overall between Invictus vs 1 Million.

This is a comparison between the original releases of each of these names. I’ve written about their flankers elsewhere on the site.

Note: I am updating this post 5 years or so, after the original, to add my latest experiences with more depth.

Tale of the Tape: Invictus vs. 1 Million

1 Million 

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

Read my review

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

Invictus 

Notes include: grapefruit, sea notes, mandarin orange, bay leaf, jasmine

Read my review

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

Opening

You’ll notice that these two fragrances have grapefruit and orange notes in common. In fact, the opening aromas of these scents have a very similar feel to one another.

They both tend to have that sort of grape candy/bubblegum smell at first before morphing into something else.

Invictus has a decidedly aquatic fragrance to it, while 1 Million has a more leathery smell, that comes through.

1 Million kicks off with its citrus notes, joining them together with leather, rose, and amber. Along with these, come a blend of fresh spice (mint/cinnamon), which will have some more influence later on.

Meanwhile, Invictus starts out with its citrus notes, as well. However, it pairs things up with aquatic notes, a strong bay leaf, and ambergris. It is sweet, somewhat salty aquatic, with a nice freshness.

I think 1 Million is the better starter, though. Invictus has grown on me as a fragrance, over the years. I just think that 1 Million is a bit more interesting, and I like its ingredients more so versus its competitor.

Edge: 1 Million

Projection

Both 1 Million and Invictus have very good projection. These are strong scents and it has always made me laugh that an ‘Intense’ version of 1 Million exists.

I think that, 1 Million has lost a step, in the newer bottles. Nonetheless, it has the stronger sillage.

Invictus starts out strong and then weakens quite a bit. 1 Million is an absolute beast throughout.

I’d say that, Invictus is on the upper end of moderate, for most of its time on the skin. Great start and it keeps it going for a few hours.

Update: Newer bottles of 1 Million aren’t as strong, so, they may be about equal now. With heavy sprays, I’d say that Invictus feels more overwhelming, but that just may be its sweetness.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Again, Paco Rabanne definitely knows how to make performers. I get all day wear from 1 Million, like 10+ hours.

Invictus is no slouch and delivers around 6-7 hours and sometimes more of wear before it’s gone.

Invictus is really consistent for me, delivering that 6-7 hour time frame, again and again. 1 Million and most of its flanker scents, have just had better staying power, than the offerings from the Invictus line.

Update: 1 Million has lost a step, but still has the edge here. My newer bottle can hit around 8 hours, on my skin. Not nearly what it once was.

Edge: 1 Million

Versatility

I like either one of these as a nighttime fragrance. I’m not really sold on them for office wear, it’d be acceptable if you only wore a spray. These both seem to be more youthful fragrances (20s and 30s) and Invictus feels like a ‘younger’ cologne than 1 Million does.

Invictus is a better summertime cologne than is 1 Million. However, I’ll still wear 1 Million at night during the summer (depending on the humidity, if it’s too muggy, nope) and I feel it’s better in the winter and fall as well.

Ehhh, Invictus might have the slight edge, but it’s not a huge margin.

Edge: Invictus (slightly)

Overall Scent

1 Million is a sweet scent. Invictus is even sweeter. While they do share similarities upon opening, these two colognes diverge after that.

Invictus becomes more aquatic and takes on a really fresh and clean smell with a slight woodsy base.

1 Million is sweet and warm with a leathery/cinnamon blend that I really like. I do enjoy that bold citrus blend opening, but when it dries down and the amber surrounds the leather/rose/spice core, I really enjoy wearing 1 Million.

Plus, it’s got a better performance. Even after not hitting the same levels as it used to, it is still better than Invictus EDT.

Honestly, I like both of these scents but 1 Million just fits better for me. It might be the case for you, that you would prefer the sweet, citrusy, and aquatic flavor of Invictus and if that sounds like you…probably go with that.

For me, my favorites from the Invictus line are Intense and Legend, with the original coming in third. Update: The newer releases have made me change my rankings, here they are now: Invictus colognes ranked.

Winner: 1 Million 

1 Million vs Le Male Fragrance Comparison

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In this installment of my cologne comparison series, I’m going to take a look at two mega selling fragrances with very distinct bottle shapes. The gold ingot of 1 Million by Paco Rabanne versus the Blue torso of Le Male by Jean Paul Gaultier. These are two extremely popular and great smelling colognes for men.

However, I want to break it down further and find out which is the better performer, the better smelling, and the most versatile of the pair. Which of these scents for guys is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: 1 Million vs. Le Male 

1 Million 

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

My original review

Buy here: Paco Rabanne 1 Million By Paco Rabanne For Men Edt Spray, 3.4 Ounce

Le Male by JPG Tale of the Tape

Notes include:  orange blossom, mint, lavender, woods, vanilla, tonka bean, cinnamon, and more

My JPG Review

Buy here: Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male By Jean Paul Gaultier For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 4.2 Oz.

Opening

Upfront, I have to say that both of these colognes are on the sweet side of things, so if that isn’t your type of fragrance you might want to look elsewhere. You’ll notice that they do share some common notes: mint and cinnamon.

Neither of which is the main draw but do support the overall structure of the colognes. Le Male is more of a vanilla/tonka blend with a warm spiciness. The mint and cinnamon, add a bit more of a kick up front.

Though, the impact will be lessened by lavender and orange blossom floral notes.

Meanwhile, 1 Million is like a candy grape at first with a smooth rose/leather undertone to it. The grape-like aroma, comes from those two notes meeting with orange and grapefruit.

It’s very sweet, with a warm amber ingredient enveloping things. With 1 Million, you will get more of the cinnamon note. With Le Male, mint.

It’s much less spicy, to my nose, but those notes will come along more during the dry down. Which scent is better?

I actually prefer 1 Million from the start, as it just has a more interesting profile in my opinion. I have always really enjoyed the bold start, the super sweet profile, and great use of leather/rose/amber.

I enjoy Le Male, but I really feel that it’s in top form, a bit later on in the wear. The sweet creamy/powdery heart, is really where it’s fantastic.

Edge: 1 Million

Projection

1 Million is a monster. It is loud and projects extremely well. Le Male is pretty good in this regard, but isn’t touching 1 Million.

Le Male starts out moderate, maybe towards the upper end of what you consider moderate. Then, it’ll get lighter as we move along.

Update: While Le Male, seems basically the same as it ever was in terms of its sillage. 1 Million doesn’t have the same level of sustained power that it once did. It still wins this category, but not by nearly as wide of a margin.

Edge: 1 Million

Longevity

Again, both last well. The Paco Rabanne lasts very well. Seriously, 1 Million will go on and on with very little use, it can become annoying.

Maybe newer bottles don’t have the same power, as it used to, but it still will do a great job on the performance end of things. Update: They don’t last as long. But, I still get 8 hours of wear, from my bottle.

Jean Paul Gaultier is pretty solid, I usually get about 6 hours from it, which isn’t great but it is certainly serviceable. Le Male is much more low key, but as a daily wear, it’ll handle most of a work day. Perhaps, a full one, at times.

Edge: 1 Million

Versatility

Le Male would be better for close quarter situations such as work or school. 1 Million would be better for nightlife, though, a small dab may not overpower the room and thus could be used elsewhere.

I think both are better suited for cool weather, and JPG, especially becomes a mess in the heat. For me, Le Male gets pretty darn cloying when it’s too warm.

Just as a daily wear, Le Male would be the better bet. It isn’t a formal fragrance, but really isn’t going to offend and take over a room. Coming back to this cologne after a few years, I’ve enjoyed how pleasant it can be on certain days.

Le Male has the edge here.

Edge: Le Male

Overall Scent

I like both of these colognes. Like I said, they are both sweet and they do get on my nerves at times because of that. However, I like wearing 1 Million better than Le Male.

It is just more interesting to me. Le Male is nice but it can feel pretty synthetic and I don’t find myself wanting to wear it as often. There are stretches of time, where that isn’t true, but then I grow tired of the JPG once again.

Plus, I think there are plenty of other options that accomplish the same sort of vibe as Le Male. In the winter, I might also go with Kouros Body or Eros or even Burberry. Update: That’s changed, since this was originally posted almost 10 years ago.

1 Million is limited sometimes in its uses ,and I cannot bear to wear it , everyday. However, when I’m in the mood, it fits the bill. The leather and amber notes, really make it something special to me.

Yes, it can be brash at times, and that ‘bubble gum’ smell can be hit or miss depending on the mood.

Overall though, it still has better performance, a deeper profile, and captures attention in ways that the Jean Paul Gaultier perfume doesn’t. I’d wear either, but I prefer 1 Million.

I will say, for most people, Le Male would be the better option due to its versatility and low key style. But, I don’t think that makes it a better fragrance.

Winner: 1 Million

Phantom Parfum by Paco Rabanne

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Phantom Parfum is the follow up flanker to the popular, robot-bottled scent, Phantom by Paco Rabanne. This cologne was released by the brand in 2023. I bought a sample of it to test out a while back for the site. How does Phantom Parfum smell? Does it last long? Is it actually worth a try?

What does Phantom Parfum Smell Like?

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

Click here to try: Phantom Parfum

My Full Review

To open things up, we get a stronger use of the citrus notes up top. That lemon, bergamot, and semi-tropical aroma is back from the original, longer lasting, and better than before.

With that, you get a rhubarb and cardamom in lieu of the apple note. It’s got a spicy aspect from that cardamom. Once the fruitiness has toned down, this one feels fresher and colder than Phantom.

Slightly greenish undertones, in the early stages. Rhubarb and geranium really add that cold streak to things.

Another part that will be noticed, is the early emergence of the lavender, which will play more of a role later on.

At some point, the fruitiness and much of the sweetness will fade from the top spot. For me, I get a lavender and woodsy mix in the middle act with stronger vanilla as we push further into the wear.

To me, the dry down is a vanilla and woods blend with some latent citrus that is still hanging around. Just like a spritz of lemon juice or something to that effect.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Between this and Phantom EDP, Parfum does indeed have a more powerful reach and heavier sillage. Yet, it’s not that much stronger.

I will say though, Parfum doesn’t lose what power it has quite as quickly and this one will stay in that upper moderate range of projection for longer than the original. Definitely doesn’t decay at the same speed as EDP.

On my skin, I have gotten 8-9 hours of wear out of this Parfum version. It is better than the original, and gives you good, yet not elite levels of staying power. But, it’s still worthy of some praise on the performance front.

Seasonally, this one is still the same as EDP. It’s an autumn and winter wear, that doesn’t hold up all that well in heat and humidity.

Within that context, this still skews younger and feels more like a nightlife wear, even if its fine to have on in the daytime. It’s sweeter side, should have some mass appeal and be able to pull a few complements, even if Phantom Parfum isn’t the best cologne around.

Overall Impressions of Phantom Parfum

Overall, do I like Phantom Parfum? It’s okay. I never was that into the original Phantom EDP, and while this one is the better of the two, it’s not a massively improved fragrance.

The opening is what I liked in the original and Parfum gives me more of that, in a longer and more citrusy style.

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

If you didn’t care for the first one, this probably won’t do much to sway you to getting on board with the series. If you liked the EDP, I’d say to give this one a try, as it does everything better with some differences along the way.

The performance delivers what you’ll need for almost any situation, so, you do get your money’s worth from that end of things.

If you’ve never come across a Phantom fragrance before. I wouldn’t suggest blind buying this scent unless you get a steep discount. Even Phantom Parfum, seems to be mostly a love/hate release, depending on the person.