Paco Rabanne ‘s most famous fragrance is 1 Million, which comes displayed in a gold ingot bottle. However, 1 Million is not this design house’s, only great scent. Invictus is another great fragrance choice for guys who like something that is fresh and sporty.
Since its release, Invictus has been a best seller and a permanent staple for many younger guys. It is one that has become exceedingly popular in bars and night clubs around the word.
This one also comes in a great, and interesting bottle, but I want to focus this review on what’s inside of that container…since that’s what counts, isn’t it?
What does Invictus by Paco Rabanne Smell Like?
Notes include: grapefruit, sea notes, mandarin orange, bay leaf, jasmine, ambergris, oak moss, and more.
Click here to try: Invictus by Paco Rabanne for Men 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette Spray
My Full Review
There are many scents on the market, which are just all together boring or flat. Sometimes, as men, we need to switch it up and add something with a bit of flair and energy to it. Invictus is a scent, which I feel, does just that.
What I like about the opening, note is how the citrusy/fruity notes captivate the senses, and locks people’s attention solely on you. That isn’t to say that this is a loud or obnoxious fragrance, but it does emanate a certain confidence.
The fruit notes, ambergris, bay leaf, and aquatic elements in Invictus, combine to give the scent a sort of bubblegum like aroma, at the top. It is quite sweet and has that light powdered sugar scent, for a little bit early on.
I didn’t like it all that much, upon my initial tests years ago, but I’ll admit it did grown on me thereafter.
The bubble gum aroma in Invictus, isn’t the same warm spicy kind found in, Ultra Male. It’s got a bit of the same vibe that the edition of 1 Million called, 1 Million Cologne, has.
It’s a an aquatic fruity sweetness, but leans more toward the blue watery end than the candied end of the spectrum.
As it dries down, this Paco Rabanne cologne, moves away from the fruitiness of the opening. The ambergris, really starts to peak through, and adds a saltier touch to the aquatic notes. It feels more oceanic, as it move forward, and less of that clean aqua smell.
Beyond that, the bay leaf comes in a bit more, but especially the jasmine. It’s got a solid floral soapiness, a few hours into it, with a dry woody base. It’s nice, still has a smooth vibe, but I think that I prefer the start over this period of the wear.
In the end, I get a very fresh scent, with lots of citrus (fairly synthetic citrus) and a nice salty marine aroma. It’s clean with a masculine base of wood to tie things all together. It isn’t overly complex, but not all fragrances need to be.
Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility
I do think that this cologne would appeal more to the younger man. (let’s say high school/college age to early 30s), and it is for sure one that captures the attention of girls.
I like it, but females seem to respond to this one more positively, than I do. Why? Who knows? It just works.
If you’re older, you’d almost certainly want to go with something else as your daily wear. If you really love the smell of Invictus, just keep a bottle for yourself when you want to wear it.
Invictus is another great option for summertime wear and even into the fall months. Honestly, though, it’s one that can easily work in all climates. It’s versatility is probably Invictus’ greatest strength.
I don’t think I’d wear this stuff formally, but it can fit in just about anywhere else, that you’d want to wear it. Mostly for casual situations or a night out.
It projects well without being overbearing (unless you put on too much, but what cologne doesn’t?) and it is a scent which will last for a good amount of time. In fact, I could smell remnants of it on my shirt for a few days after I wore it.
Update: I have smelled this cologne on other guys, a few times in public, in the past year. It is absolutely grating, as they probably doused themselves with it. Avoid that, for the sake of others.
On the skin, it gets about 6-7 hours, and sometimes a bit more. The sillage is quite large for the first few hours, but becomes pretty moderate for me, thereafter. It goes from beast to simply a pretty strong fragrance. The performance is very solid, however.
For an eau de toilette, the strength is good in comparison to others at this price point.
Overall Impression of Invictus EDT
The downside to this cologne? Well, if you’re one who is really into having the most complex and unique scents ever, then you might one to skip this one.
However, if you are a young guy and just want to smell good and have a scent that can work well for any occasion then Invictus is a very good choice.
It is a moderately priced cologne that will leave the wearer feeling clean and fresh, all day long. It delivers a good performance, already has plenty of fans, and has a fine aroma.
It still isn’t a fragrance, that I’m personally crazy about, but I respect it. For me, it is wearable, but for many others Invictus is lovable.
Since this has been released, Invictus has spawned many flankers, including Invictus Intense and Legend. I think both of those are better than the original, not leagues above it, but still quite a bit more well put together than Invictus EDT.
The good news is that you can usually find cheaper bottles of this stuff nowadays, at the discount sellers and the like.
This is still a pretty nice cologne, that can have its place. Though, I feel that it has been surpassed, by members of its own line and by other scents under the Paco Rabanne name.
Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with the different fragrances that I’ve owned, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, that new hobby grew into a consistent passion, helping millions of readers along the way. I have personally written reviews for well over 800 perfumes and colognes for both men and women. This is along with writing hundreds of other in-depth fragrance guides.
