Fragrances

1 Million by Paco Rabanne

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Of course I was going to get around to eventually doing a review of 1 Million by Paco Rabanne and so I woke up this morning and said to myself, “Why not now?” After all, this scent is so very popular, especially among younger guys, that I think that’d I’d have to address it at some point.

What is there to be said about a best-selling cologne that comes in a bottle shaped like a gold ingot? Well, plenty is to be said because it is an interesting scent, in my opinion. Now, let us take a closer look at 1 Million and see what makes it such a draw.

What does 1 Million by Paco Rabanne Smell Like?

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

My Full Take on 1 Million 

Here is how Paco Rabanne describes it: Fall in love with danger and grand gestures. Obey no one. Except your fantasies. The 1 million fragrance eau de toilette for men is a beautiful spicy leather scent for insolent gentlemen.

Let me start off by saying that, I enjoy this fragrance. I know that there are plenty of people who don’t because of various reasons, either perceived rightly or wrongly, but I find that it is a very good scent.

I think that many people’s problem with this fragrance stems from its sweet, candy-like opening and its sheer popularity.

Sometimes, things get hated on simply because it is popular, whatever. Anyways, the more valid criticism is it’s really sweet opening notes, which gets compared to bubble gum or fruity candy.

It is important to understand that this initial burst fades after 10-20 minutes before the fragrance starts to reveal itself fully. On my skin, I get more spice and warmth than some other folks, it seems. This is especially true with newer batches of 1 Million

The opening takes on the bubble gum sort of aroma because of a mix of leather, rose, and citrus (orange and grapefruit). This together with the other underlying notes, create a bold and very sweet scent from the start.

It’s just the way things all come together, at first, which produces that smell. However, once you get into the wear the notes become more distinct and identifiable.

That initial sweetness is surrounded by a warm and thick amber note. This is a major part of 1 Million’s boldness, in my view, because it creates a sort of enveloping cloud around the wearer.

The amber note actually reminds me a lot of later (though weaker) releases, such as Dylan Blue. There is also a hint of mint in there which adds a refreshing spice and tinge of coolness, to a very warm composition.

As time moves on, the cinnamon, spices, and amber notes start to come out fully to add some pep and masculinity to the blend and this is where 1 Million really starts to shine. The dry down is spicier and full of leather bouncing off of the cinnamon dominant part of this cologne’s life cycle.

Woody notes also sit at the base and help to solidify the fragrance as something other than the hyper sweet start it’s famous for. In the end, I get: cinnamon, rich leather, amber, rose, wood, and other assorted spices.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, 1 Million has always been an absolute sillage king. It can fill a room and command attention for itself. I can’t speak for the most recently released bottles, as to if they have been reformulated or not, but it’s power has always been a major selling point.

Beyond that, is the longevity that has always garnered me 10+ of wear, and usually much further along than that 10 hour baseline. It’s an all nighter and into the next morning kind of fragrance (again, not sure if newer ones have been weakened).

Update: I’ve grabbed a newer batch in 2020 (and again in 2023) and it seems like 1 Million has lost a step. It hasn’t been terribly weakened, but it doesn’t have that same monstrous sillage and longevity. Probably 85% of what it was, which is still great.

million rabanne review

I still get a very strong opening sillage, but that will quiet down much more quickly than it used to. Nowadays, it will last somewhere in the 8 hour range. Still not bad, but it doesn’t seem to touch those vintage bottle highs.

Seasonally, this Paco Rabanne is best for the colder parts of the year. In the heat, it can get really messy, really fast. Particularly, when it is humid out. This isn’t one for office wear, though, it’s not too heavy with one spray.

This is a nightlife cologne and one that is geared for young men from their teen years through their twenties. It has a playful and youthful vibe, not at all serious or demure.

So, it’s versatility in practice, isn’t all that great. It’s limited to colder or moderate temperatures, more casual situations, and a younger audience in general.

Overall Impressions of 1 Million

All in all, if you are looking for a fragrance that can be used when you go out partying and whatnot, then 1 Million is definitely worth a try.

However, understand that it is not necessarily the most versatile fragrance around lots of people used to wear it, but I really don’t smell it as much anymore. I cannot remember the last time that I came across it, when out on the town.

It’s loud, warm, sweet, and spicy. It’s still a very good scent and I can put it on from time to time and really enjoy wearing it. I do think that 1 Million Prive, has taken the crown, as the best from the Paco Rabanne line. However, this one is still a great grab.

I’ve been wearing this around in 2020, with a travel sprayer, and have really enjoyed coming back to this cologne. Is it my favorite? No, but it does have an appeal, that I’ve always appreciated.

It doesn’t have the same level of performance that it used to. That’s one drawback of the modern 1 Million experience. Though, I still like coming back to this scent every few years to relive the memories.

If you’re in the appropriate age range, check it out, as you might get to enjoy it as well.

Wanted EDT by Azzaro

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I recently sampled a fairly new fragrance release from 2016, Wanted by Azzaro. The bottle struck me as unique but also kind of lame, with it’s gun barrel shape and motif. Anyways, I don’t particularly care about the bottle, as long as the juice inside is attractive. With that in mind, I want to do my latest review of a cologne on this one from the house of Azzaro.

As usual, I am going to cover what’s in it, how it smells, how it performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not I think that Wanted is worth a purchase. Note: I am revisiting this post a few years later, to update my thoughts, after trying this again recently.

Azzaro Wanted EDT Overview

Notes include: tonka bean, lemon, cardamom, vetiver, juniper, ginger, geranium, mint, amber wood

Click here to try: Azzaro Wanted Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

Before getting into my own thoughts, let’s see what Azzaro has to say about Wanted: Lauding a new free and vibrant masculinity. A woody, fresh and spicy EDT with an addictive trail.

The opening of Wanted, provides a burst of the lemon note, which is actually quite pleasant and not too overwhelming. Almost immediately, one is struck by how it resembles Paco Rabanne’s, Invictus. 

It mimics that bubble gum sort of smell, that you get with Invictus. However, Wanted gives you some ginger, mint, and more woodiness. In some ways, it is very similar, and then I can completely detect differences.

It is fresh and the citrus note is kept in place, by the cooling spices, and smooth tonka bean. A few minutes in, I start to get a lot of cardamom. The warmth of that note is an interesting play, off of the rest of the aromatically fresh ingredients, in this cologne.

I mean, you have: mint, ginger, juniper, and vetiver (which does become more prominent). The further you get away from the opening, the less it smells like Invictus, and Wanted really becomes its own thing.

One thing that does sort of bother me with this scent, is how some notes smell particularly chemically synthetic, like in the way a candy flavoring doesn’t resemble the actual underlying scent that it is trying to replicate. It’s not bad or anything, just something I noticed.

My love of tonka bean, is satisfied more as the scent progresses, in it’s life cycle. It is joined by, a dash or apple and juniper berry, that gives Wanted a lovely and smooth fruitiness. It all strikes me as fresh and only slightly spicy, as the ginger note only complements and never takes center stage for itself.

While it does have the fruit notes as the main draw, Wanted remains completely masculine, and doesn’t stray into the unisex or women’s category. Sure, it has its sweetness, but nothing crazy. I think that it is bolstered by the woody and plant notes that play the background and keep the overall composition in check.

The last part of the wear, does get quite dry, and woodsy. Vetiver, amber wood, ginger, and mainly tonka bean; is what I get, when it’s on its last legs.

How Long Does it Last? What’s the Sillage Like?

Projection wise, I didn’t find Wanted to be all that loud or heavy. It’s towards the strong side of things, at the start. But, not much more than moderate, thereafter. People close by will be able to smell you but not across the room, unless you’re just pouring it on.

Wanted surprisingly has good to great longevity. For something that isn’t overpowering, it sticks around. Not to the upper echelon levels of 12+ hours but 7-9 hours seems to be within range. It’s been very consistently in this range, each time, that I wear it.

When Should it Be Worn

Wanted feels like a non-descript cologne, in that, I could see wearing it in almost any season (except maybe extreme heat) and it would still be appropriate for nearly any occasion. It’s quite fresh, clean, and attractive enough for a night out but not too crazy for the office.

It has a nice balance in terms of its use. It should be pretty popular and be an easy grab for guys.

Is it Good Overall?

Overall, do I like Wanted? I actually do, but only somewhat. It’s not my favorite thing ever, but I think that it does what it sets out to do well. It’s affordable, has a nice smell, and good performance.

It’s not earth shattering but it gets the job done. For me, I really have to be in the mood to wear something like this, and that mood doesn’t come around too often.

I’d say if you’ve tried Invictus and hated it, stay away from Wanted. On the flip side, if you’re an Invictus fan, you might actually like this one more. For many guys, this will be a very solid option, as a daily wear/nighttime cologne.

Update: Honestly, I now think that this is the weakest fragrance of the Wanted lineup. Wanted by Night surpassed this. Which was then in turn surpassed by The Most Wanted colognes. I would buy any of those before this original release.

None of those existed back when I originally wrote this review, so I felt that I should add this part as an addendum.

It’s kind of crazy how the flankers got better over time, from this original formula which was pretty much only decent. Wanted EDT has its strengths, but there are just better options, based on this concept.

Just Me for Men by Paris Hilton

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Paris Hilton has enjoyed lots of success lending her name to a line of fragrances. Originally, the line was for women’s perfumes before she expanded into male fragrances. One of the colognes is pretty nice, while another one is pretty terrible, so going into trying out Just Me, I was rather unsure as to what I would get exactly.

As a pretty inexpensive cologne, it could go either way as to the quality of the product. Is it worth the price? Let us take a closer look. Note: I have updated this review, years after the original, to edit and add more depth. This is after spending more time, with this fragrance. 

Just Me for Men Overview 

Notes include: Amber, Lime,  Tangerine, Grass, Clary Sage, Blueberry, Musk, Incense, Lotus, Woods, Moss, Patchouli, Sea Breeze, Clove

Click here to try: Just Me by Paris Hilton for Men – 3.4 Ounce EDT Spray

My Full Wear Review

Just Me opens up with a mix of sharp citrus notes and blueberry. Almost immediately, one is going to recognize the similarities between this Paris Hilton cologne, and Acqua di Gio. Yep, the do smell quite a bit like one another, except some slight differences (and the huge price difference).

Updated note: The original AdG can often be found on sale a lot of times now. This scent is still much cheaper, usually. However, the price difference isn’t so extreme anymore.

Mainly, it is that blueberry note, at the top. Just Me has a sweeter overall profile, and there is the inclusion, of a grassy note mainly in the beginning. It’s slight but noticeable, when paired with the sea breeze accord, found in both this and the Armani cologne.

So, you get a citrus/blueberry opening, with fresh grassy notes, and an oceanic vibe. Very nice and these will still be the dominant notes throughout, but Just Me will develop more.

The second layer of this scent, brings in the spice and smokiness, and pairs it with underlying floral notes. Lotus is the main floral and reminds me a bit of Nautica Voyage, which shares that not.

However, this comes with incense, clove, and sage; which brings some much needed depth and sexy spice.

The base is full of wood, amber, and patchouli. It solidifies and adds to the depth and what you could call, ‘darkness’, of this cologne, without becoming overbearing. These base notes really do enhance the sharp citrus top, and don’t distract any from those ingredients.

Ultimately, what you get from Just Me for Men is: a sharp citrus aquatic with hints of blueberry, smoky incense, spice, and a woody/outdoorsy base with lotus being a stronger note. It’s actually very well put together for such an inexpensive fragrance.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage on this one is pretty strong for an hour or so, it then moves into moderate territory. Again, for the price it is really good, just not a complete monster performer.

You’ll notice it’s there and others around you, will pick up on it too. It just isn’t going to overwhelm a room. Ultimately, it’s one that you catch whiffs of sort of unexpectedly deeper into the wear, instead of a consistent cloud of scent at that stage.

The longevity seems to be in the 5-7 hour range, depending on the climate that day. The price dictates that you can always spray more and not worry about having to find money to buy another bottle.

Seasonally, it works year round, but I like it the best in the spring and summer months. Citrus and sea breeze, tend to bring those months to mind, but it’s fine to wear otherwise also.

It works casually, is office/school safe, and can be worn on nights out. Oh, and this stuff gets complements. It’s a real crowd pleaser. Pretty much the same use case as the more famous Armani. Probably not quite as well put together, but it can do many of the same things.

Overall Impressions of Just Me

Overall, is Just Me for Men, worth a try? Yes, it is one of the better buys for under $30, that you can get. If you’re someone who like Acqua di Gio, this is a great substitute for that.

The more times that I wear this, the more I enjoy it. I completely dig that fruity opening, especially the blueberry note.

I would get this and another AdG fragrance, like Profumo or Profondo, if I were in the market for a fragrance along these lines. Rather, than getting the original AdG for a higher price.

You will need to like the sharp citrus and aquatic sort of scents, to enjoy this one, but that’s a large swath of the population. It performs well, smells good, and is super inexpensive. Give it a try.

Fan di Fendi Acqua Pour Homme by Fendi

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The summer is quickly winding down. However, since I received a whole lot of new samples, some of these scents are going to be made for the warmer months of the year. One of these colognes is Fan di Fendi Acqua by Fendi.

It is a fragrance that sets out to capture the spirit of the Mediterranean Sea, much like Acqua di Gio Profumo, while being quite different.

The Fendi scent is a different type of fragrance from that Armani entry, even if they share the citrus aroma provided by bergamot.  In this post, I want to give my impression on how this cologne smells, how it performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is worth a purchase.

What does Fan di Fendi Acqua Smell Like?

fan di fendi acqua homme

Notes include: bergamot, peppercorn, cedar, lavender, sea notes, pink pepper, musk, leather

Click here to try: FENDI Fan Di Fendi Acqua Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

Update: I originally wrote this review in 2016, after trying the sample. Later, I found a full bottle for around $20 and purchased it. I am updating this page, to reflect the fact that I have spent more time wearing it and have a deeper understanding of its performance, etc. 

The opening of Acqua is a blend of cedar and the marine notes that give the cologne its aquatic vibe. It’s a departure from other citrus laced colognes that open with an initial blast of lemon. While you can definitely smell that bergamot and Italian lemon here, they aren’t overwhelming.

The opening act gives me more of the bergamot than lemon, peppercorn, pink pepper, lavender, and the blend of marine notes. Up top, the spiciness is most prominent and really sets this one apart when compared to other aquatic colognes on the market.

I’d say that Fan di Fendi Acqua is very clean and fresh, especially once it settles in. There is a leather note that reminds me a lot of the one found in 1 Million. Now, they aren’t even remotely the same kind of scent but that smoothness is present.

There is also the faint spiciness  and warmth provided later on by the peppercorn, pink pepper, and musk notes. I think that this gives the scent a bit more depth and really anchors the cologne.

So, what you’re going to get with this fragrance is a very fresh, smooth, and warm woodsy/aquatic with supporting citrus notes.

Sillage, Longevity, and When to Wear

Projection wise, Fan di Fendi Acqua is moderate. It is a softer type of cologne that won’t choke you out or envelope the room, it’s quite a safe bet. Up front, that spice can be powerful and makes it seem like this scent is going to be loud. Once settled, it is typically moderate.

I do, however, get very good longevity out of this fragrance. A few sprays and it comes through for the rest of the day, this is one of the bigger selling points. I can get anywhere from 7 to 10 hours of wear with this scent, on my skin.

This is a fragrance built for warmer weather, so, spring and summertime. It is mostly for casual to semi-formal wear. More of an outdoorsy daytime scent, that can venture into the night. It’s clean enough, but not really a dressed up sort of cologne.

Overall Impressions of Fan di Fendi Acqua

Overall, is this a buy? Yes, if you get it at a good price. It isn’t an unbelievable scent by any means but it is a very good one that performs well. It at times smells familiar, but overall, I cannot think of another one that has this same sort of profile.

It is a unique blend within this aquatic space…but doesn’t always feel like an aquatic.

The aquatic blend, that opening citrus, and the leather notes are some of the highlights. That aquatic and pink pepper aspect feels similar to Light Blue Living Stromboli, which came out around the same time as this Fendi.

The pink pepper is fine. Not usually my favorite spice note, but it works within the overall composition. Though, I’d consider it a less enjoyable feature of Acqua.

You get a very clean and good smelling fragrance that lasts for a long time and works in the heat. I like it a lot as a casual summer scent. Plus, the price can be great. If you’re not paying full retail, the Fan di Fendi lineup can be a steal.

Update: This has been discontinued for a long while now, as it came out back in 2013. I enjoyed my full bottle for a few summers, but no longer have Fan di Fend Acqua. You can still track down bottles, but it probably won’t be nearly as cheap as I got it for.

Polo Blue EDT by Ralph Lauren

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I have sort of a soft spot for the line of Polo fragrances, Polo Sport was one of the first colognes that I tried when I was younger, and honestly still enjoy to this day. I also really enjoy the fashion line Ralph Lauren has created, as even if I don’t want to have my whole wardrobe look like the preppy or sailing type, I still like to mix and match some of the brand’s iconic menswear into my own personal style.

So, after trying a fragrance like Polo Red, I decided that I should try out Polo Blue as well and give my opinion on it. Also check out: The Top Fragrances by Polo Ralph Lauren

Polo Blue EDT Overview

Notes include: amber, melon, patchouli, geranium, cucumber, tangerine, moss, musk

Click here to try: Polo Blue for Men By Ralph Lauren Eau-de-toilette Spray, 6.7-Ounce

My Full Review

My initial impression of this scent was immediately how fresh it was. I could really detect, the cool aquatic notes, and it did conjure up ideas of the color blue in my mind. It was really great to wear on a warm summer day.

However, I also think that it would work very well during the colder months because of the second wave of warm and slightly spicy notes.

Blue opens up with a cucumber, melon, and some tangerine/orange blend. It immediately strikes my nose, as being very similar to Eternity Aqua by Calvin Klein, which I have been wearing some as of late.

It is a water crisp aroma, with a bit of herbal basil in the background, adding some spice. At first, the cucumber is more dominant and later, the melon becomes more noticeable. Though, they can be difficult to distinguish between, in the same blend.

As it dries down some, the herbal quality sticks around, but there is an additional musk note which becomes more powerful. It never takes over the scent, but it is much more noticeable in the following hours. I like the dry down period, as you get a bit more character, in a fairly linear fragrance.

The notes do sort of transform from very clean and crisp into something that is warmer and more sensual. While it does have plenty of fruit notes, this never becomes anything girly, and I would say it’s wholly masculine. The woodsy notes anchor Polo Blue and don’t allow it to become a light and airy fragrance.

It is smoother and less spicy than Blue EDP or even some of the other options on the market, which have a close approximation to its aroma. It does indeed give you an uplifting freshness, that can be pleasing to wear.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

I would say that its projection is moderate. It’s not the type of cologne which will overwhelm with just a few sprays but it is by no means a weak one either.

Polo Blue EDT sticks around quite well for an eau de toilette and the sillage is noticeable for most of the wear. Towards the latter stages, it does become more of a skin scent.

It has good to very good longevity, as I get through an entire work day and can still detect it before I shower at night (unless I went to the gym beforehand).

That’s my experience with older bottles of Polo Blue, I’m not sure if the longevity has suffered from reformulations, but I always found it to last quite well.

Update: Coming back to Polo Blue, a few years after this initial review, I would put its longevity in the 6-9 hour range. Actually, much of the time it does last closer to the higher end of that range. It’s actually quite good, not elite, but you definitely get good value from this cologne.

Seasonally, its a spring/summer wear that can venture year round, as I said. It is a fresh and casual scent, that is inoffensive enough to venture into work. Is it sexy? Ehh, it’s attractive and pleasant. People appreciate it, but it’s never made women go crazy or anything like that.

This is a fragrance that you can technically wear almost anywhere. It’s not really a formal scent, but for many office type of environments, it would be perfectly fine.

I still would prefer to wear this on a summer’s day, while just going about my life, but it can serve as a the main cologne for someone.

Overall Impressions of Polo Blue

Overall, I do recommend Polo Blue. It’s by no means my favorite but I recognize that it is a really good daily wear choice for guys. It’s fresh, performs well, is versatile, and draws complements.

Is it some super amazing scent, that is completely unique and could become a signature wear?

Probably not, but it does what it does well, and I think that is more than enough for the general population of fragrance shoppers. I prefer Polo Blue EDP to this original release. Also, if you can find Eternity Aqua for cheaper, it’s a great alternative.

I like the top notes a lot, along with the overall aquatic aroma of the fragrance, without venturing into the oceanic zone.

Polo Blue does however, remain a very popular option. It’s really not difficult to understand why, as it does provide an attractive and versatile wear, that can be pulled off by anyone.