Paco Rabanne
Paco Rabanne
163 votes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
The cardamom strikes first with a sharp, almost peppery intensity that catches in the back of the throat pleasantly, whilst black pepper crackles across the skin like a low flame. Red mandarin orange and saffron emerge in quick succession, creating a honeyed warmth that feels distinctly Middle Eastern—more spiced merchant than bright citrus garden.
Cinnamon blooms with genuine spice teeth, supported by neroli that's noticeably less zesty than expected, softened into something almost honeyed by the rose absolute's presence. The composition settles into a coherent amber-spiced phase where the sweetness genuinely registers without tipping into gourmand cloying.
Sandalwood anchors everything with its creamy, wooden spine, whilst patchouli deepens and darkens it further; the orris adds a faint powdery-woody texture and that white leather note manifests as a subtle, almond-tinged dryness that lingers for hours, gradually fading into skin scent.
Million Intense arrives as a decidedly spiced interpretation of its predecessor, trading approachability for a more provocative warmth. The cardamom-saffron pairing in the top notes creates an almost medicinal brightness—think of those strands of saffron blooming in hot cream—whilst the red mandarin orange refuses to compete for attention, instead settling into a supporting role as a subtle fruity undercurrent rather than the usual citric anchor.
Where this fragrance distinguishes itself is in the heart's interplay between cinnamon and neroli. Rather than the typically clean, fresh neroli we've grown accustomed to in mainstream fragrances, here it reads almost candied—softened and made vulnerable by the surrounding spice and the rose absolute, which contributes a slightly animalic, skin-like quality rather than the typical floral sweetness. This is not a fragrance trading in delicacy.
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3.7/5 (146)