Phantom vs. Invictus Comparison

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?

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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

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Phantom

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

Click here to try: Phantom by Paco Rabanne

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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