Paco Rabanne
Paco Rabanne
146 votes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
The peppermint strikes first with a cooling, almost menthol-tinged sensation, immediately challenged by bright red mandarin that feels more tart than sweet. Within two minutes, the spice framework becomes apparent—cinnamon leans forward, lending a decidedly warming character that transforms the opening from fresh into something far more complex and slightly disorienting.
The rose absolute emerges between the first and second hour, softening the peppermint's sharp edges whilst deepening the spice accord into something more rounded and gourmand. A creamy, almost honeyed sweetness develops as the cinnamon and rose interact, pushing the fragrance towards amber-tinged warmth that feels distinctly luxurious rather than delicate.
The iris and oud gradually assert themselves, bringing structure and woody depth that prevents the gourmand sweetness from becoming saccharine. What remains is a soft, spiced woody scent with whispers of amber and rose—intimate and skin-scent close, though still retaining enough cinnamon warmth to remain perceptible through the final hours.
Million Absolutely Gold arrives as a peculiar alchemy—one part festive spice market, one part precious metal. The peppermint and red mandarin opening announces itself with a sharp, almost aldehydic brightness, but this is no fresh citrus fragrance. Instead, the citrus functions as a counterpoint to the cinnamon and rose absolute that form the fragrance's true backbone, creating an unusual tension between cool mint and warm spice that never quite resolves into harmony.
What emerges is something genuinely strange: a gourmand interpretation of opulence that feels simultaneously cloying and compelling. The iris-oud base prevents this from becoming a simple candy scent, though the 52% gourmand accord does lend a subtle sweetness reminiscent of candied orange peel and cinnamon sticks. The oud is restrained rather than animalic, functioning more as a woody anchor than as a dominant force—it tethers the sweetness to earth rather than pushing it towards animalic territories.
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4.1/5 (105)