Paco Rabanne

Phantom vs. Invictus Comparison

by

Paco Rabanne has come out with some pretty unique and memorable fragrances for men, over the years. It’s 2021 release was called Phantom, which is presented in a metallic robot bottle. Interesting, but how does it compete with one of the brand’s best sellers, Invictus EDT?

Tale of the Tape: Invictus vs Phantom

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

Phantom

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

Click here to try: Phantom by Paco Rabanne

phantom cologne review

Opening

Phantom opens up with lemon and apple giving it a juicy start.  The aroma is sweet and almost tropical, with how all of the notes come together. Under that, is lavender and vanilla, further pushing the aromatic creaminess.

That juicy citrus fruit opening will give way to a drier and earthy aroma. The juiciness fades, and patchouli will really start to come through along with an herbal sort of spice. It dirties it up, and yes, there is a touch of smoke.

Invictus opens with a citrusy candy-like aroma of a blend of orange and grapefruit notes. This is joined by an aquatic element, that gives it a summertime vibe.

Ambergris and bay leaf combine with the fruits and aquatic accord to give Invictus a sweet grape bubblegum sort of smell. Very blue-ish and watery, without giving off that oceanic sea water smell.

Which is better?

I’m going with Invictus. The initial fruity top of Phantom isn’t too bad, but that quickly goes away. That earthy, lavender, vanilla mix isn’t great. It feels thicker and heavier than Invictus, also. Meh.

Edge: Invictus

Projection

The projection for either can seem huge when first spraying, with those citrus notes and gourmand touches. But, it’s mostly an illusion.

Each of these is pretty moderate, from the start. I don’t think either is beast mode. Phantom quiets down sooner to something that sits closer, on my skin.

Ultimately, they hit about the same peak level of sillage. Neither is weak, but pretty decent on the whole.

Edge: Push

Longevity

With each of these colognes, I get about 6-7 hours. The Paco Rabanne line has had some long-lasting colognes over the years, but these are moderate.

Invictus was never a marathon runner for me. Phantom doesn’t seem to be either. It sticks around well enough, but doesn’t surpass its competitor.

Edge: Push

Versatility

I think that Invictus is better across all seasons than Phantom. Phantom works okay in warmer weather, but I think it smells better in the cold.

It’s been a mix of warm fronts and cold fronts this winter, as I’ve been testing Phantom, and it’s for sure more pleasing when it’s a bit chilly.

But, I don’t want to wear either in the very depths of winter. Invictus has more of a summer feel.

Both are more casual or daily wear or club scents for younger guys. Sure, some older men can wear these just fine, but that won’t be the target audience.

Other than that, they kind of fit the same bill. I’d give the edge to Invictus for the climate advantage.

Edge: Invictus

Overall Scent

Overall, I’m not a huge fan of either of these fragrances? Invictus, was one that I used to not really care for, but it did grow on me. Particularly, that opening act.

So, personally, I don’t want a full bottle of either.

Phantom is kind of a strange one. It’s familiar, but I can’t quite compare it to anything exactly. The opening that is citrusy and apple is pretty okay. I like the semi-tropical vibe that it puts out, when combining with the vanilla and lavender note.

The next phase, I enjoy much less. It becomes earthier with the lavender and a faint smokiness.

However, it then shifts to being lavender and vanilla dominate with a dry/grassy vetiver and the fruit notes seem to make a comeback. Just, at a much lower volume. Weird. If anything, it reminds me of the women’s YSL Libre series, stripped of the white floral notes.

I don’t hate Phantom, it just doesn’t really wow me in any way. Invictus can get boring after a while and I the dry down is probably its weakest point. Though, it will be my pick, because I like the citrus/aquatic start to it more than Phantom.

Phantom just isn’t very good, pretty forgettable, outside of the robot bottle.

Winner: Invictus

8 Best Smelling Paco Rabanne Colognes

by

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.

What are the Best Paco Rabanne Perfumes for Him?

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. 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.

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

Best New Invictus

Invictus Victory– For the current update to this page, I am replacing the original Invictus with Victory, as I think it is the better scent. It actually has much in common with the Pure XS line, also, but retains a bit of a different feel.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Homepage Link

1 Million Prive vs Invictus Cologne Comparison

by

Today, we have another cologne comparison post, and it’s a versus battle between two Paco Rabanne scents. The competitors are: 1 Million Prive vs. Invictus. Prive is of course, the flanker fragrance to the now classic 1 Million, while Invictus has enjoyed huge success since its release, in its own right. The question is however, which cologne is the better choice? Which smells best? Which gives greater performance? Is there a clear winner?

Tale of the Tape: Prive vs. Invictus

1 Million Prive

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

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

Read my original review: 1 Million Prive Cologne Review

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

Invictus opens with a citrusy candy-like aroma of a blend of orange and grapefruit notes. This is joined by an aquatic element, that gives it a summertime vibe. Invictus strikes me as something for college aged males and maintains that youthful aroma throughout.

Meanwhile, 1 Million Prive, is darker than both its original counterpart and Invictus. It’s sweet but warm and spicy. I’ve likened the smell of Prive’s opening few minutes to that of cinnamon applesauce. Now, it’s not an absolute lock stock comparison, but I think it fits.

Between the two, Prive, is just so much better and more interesting in my opinion. It’s both masculine and seductive. Plus, it could still be worn by younger guys.

Edge: Prive

Projection

Both of these scents are fairly strong. 1 Million Prive is the stronger of the two and the one that maintains its sillage throughout the wear. In my experience with Invictus, after a few hours, it becomes much quieter and doesn’t have the same impact that it once did.

Edge: Prive

Longevity

Neither of these scents is weak sauce in terms of performance. Yet, there is once again, a clear winner. 1 Million Prive consistently gives me 9-10 hours of wear. Meanwhile, I get 6-7 usually when wearing Invictus.

I think it is the citrus notes that cause it to under perform its Paco Rabanne mate. Prive doesn’t go to the extremes that the original 1 Million did, back in the day, but it’s still a great performer.

Edge: Prive

Versatility

I thought that this might be the category that Invictus takes one, based on the fact that it can be worn in any weather situation, while Prive isn’t great in the highest temperatures.

The problem is, I think that Prive has much more use in a wider variety of social situations. It is more mature and can be worn with a suit, while at the same time, being a damn good club scent.

Invictus can seem to immature for some older guys and would sometimes feel out of place as well. So, I’ll give a very slight edge to Prive in this category.

Edge: Prive

Overall Scent

It’s a clean sweep for 1 Million Prive. Understand that: I’m not even an Invictus ‘hater’. Heck, I’m wearing Invictus Intense right now. It’s just that I happen to think that 1 Million Prive is now the best Paco Rabanne cologne.

Yes, it’s better than both the original and Invictus…and the other flankers.

Update: 1 Million Prive has been discontinued. It’s pretty difficult to find bottles too, at least for a reasonable price.

None of this is to say that Invictus is bad. Again, it has its charms and use. For me, it’s not even a contest, as to which I would rather wear if I had absolutely had to choose. Especially, if your older than say around 25 or so, 1 Million Prive will just come across as the more refined cologne.

I enjoy both at times, but it is just far more often 1 Million Prive. Invictus could still be a good bet for younger guys, but Legend would probably be even better than it. The original Invictus has kind of been cut out of consideration, with at least two of its flankers being a better fragrance.

Winner: Prive

Invictus EDT by Paco Rabanne

by

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?

invictus

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.

1 Million Prive vs Armani Code Profumo Cologne Comparison

by

For this cologne comparison, I am going to take a closer look at two of the more recent popular releases: 1 Million Prive by Paco Rabanne vs. Armani Code Profumo. Both of these fragrances, are flanker scents to other extremely popular releases, and built upon what was great about their predecessors. Which one is better, though? Which gives the best performance? Is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Code Profumo vs. 1 Million Prive

1 Million Prive

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

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

Read my full review: 1 Million Prive

Armani Code Profumo

Notes include: leather, amber, tonka bean, cardamom, lavender, and nutmeg

Click here to try: Giorgio Armani Code Profumo EDP Spray for Men, 3.7 Ounce

Read my full review: Code Profumo Review

Opening

Armani Code Profumo opens up with a mix of warm amber and tonka bean. There is also a slight citrus aroma added by an orange note. However, it does take on more of a sweet cream soda type of aroma, when the cardamom and nutmeg emerge.

1 Million Prive actually shares elements with Code Profumo, as well as, the original 1 Million. The Paco Rabanne does add apple, cinnamon, and myrrh; which seems to give Prive a slightly more interesting dynamic than its competition.

Honestly, it’s tough to pick between them, since I love both of these fragrances. But for the start? I think that I’ll lean towards Prive.

Edge: Prive

Projection

Neither one of these fragrances is an absolute beast, in my opinion. This sillage on both is strong, but moderately so, not overboard. I do think that Code Profumo has slightly better projection than does Prive. It’s not a lot more, but it does have a little something extra.

Edge: Profumo

Longevity

With 1 Million Prive, I get about 9-10 hours of wear on my skin. Meanwhile, the Armani, will hit double digit hours on a regular basis with me. Both are great performers, but Code Profumo is again better.

Edge: Profumo

Versatility

Both of these scents are built for the cold weather. Also, both are nightlife colognes, that can pull double duty and still work in the daytime. Both are sexy and can be worn dressed up or casually. There is really no clear distinction in this regard.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Once again, this is a very tough match up to choose a winner from, as I really enjoy wearing both of these fragrances and the fill a similar niche.

Armani Code Profumo, is super warm and smooth with great leather, tonka bean, and amber notes leading the way. It’s got outstanding longevity and sillage, plus, it will draw complements.

The only real downside, is that, sometimes the sweet creaminess of the fragrance can be too much, and I won’t want to wear it for a little while.

Meanwhile, 1 Million Prive, has taken the crown as the best 1 Million flanker scent and probably the best Paco Rabanne to date. It’s sweet, it’s warm, and has more interesting notes than does Profumo.

I feel like it has greater depth and the tobacco, cinnamon, and apple exemplify this. Code Profumo can seem like a one tone fragrance, at times, while Prive has more phases.

Also, I think that Prive is going to be more enjoyable for the most people out there, more universal appeal so to speak. Overall, I really don’t think one could go wrong with either, but I will lean towards 1 Million Prive being better.

Winner: 1 Million Prive