Phantom Parfum by Rabanne

I’ve received a thousand compliments: rich, exquisite, elegant, and versatile. I recommend it 100%.

The best part is the opening: it makes you feel dark and mature, but after 30 minutes it turns youthful. It’s fine for its target audience, but at 30 years old, I can’t see myself wearing it because it feels too party-oriented.

I love it. It doesn’t tire me out thanks to the vanilla and citrus notes. A very citrusy opening that fades quickly, then it settles into a vanilla and subtle scent. It doesn’t project much or last too long, but it’s good for night outs or less sunny days. It’s not overwhelming; I use it in the office without issues. It’s sweet but not cloying. I give it 7/10. Update: when I said it didn’t project much, I was wrong. It does project well, but it lasts only 1 or 2 hours. And yes, it lasts well, about 7-8 hours on skin.

Casual consumer review: Projects a lot of a soft, vanilla, placid, and warm scent, with lemon and bergamot that prevent it from being totally sweet. Then it moves to an aromatic profile with cedar, lavender, and geranium, noting a subtle vanilla in the background. If I concentrate, I can distinguish the balsam of tolu, which gives it a dark tone that I don’t like. Definitely I wouldn’t wear it to school again because the projection overwhelmed me. It lasted 8 hours on clothes and a bit more. A rich perfume for special night outs.

Stop complaining about the bottle. Try to maintain the vibe of Paco Rabanne in their early runway presentations; nothing more than seeing a bit of their history. It’s like complaining that Nike makes something sporty.

What a terrible disappointment, a disastrous blind buy…!!! The longevity is ridiculous for a ‘parfum’; my worst purchase of the year. Honest reviewers, of whom there are fewer and fewer, warned me about it.

It smells strong, spicy and acidic; in my opinion, it’s not ideal for all situations as it can be off-putting to others, even the wearer. Its use is better suited to fresh climates and evenings. The longevity is what you’d expect from a good parfum, with excellent projection. Although a bit pricey, it remains accessible.

Unjustified hate; I’ve used it a lot. Vanilla scent with light, pleasant lavender. It’s no miracle, but it delivers. Very long-lasting, it reached 14 hours and the first three hours were total beast mode. A very good fragrance 💯

Another victim of the hate following its predecessor. The best: the opening and the first hour. Then it’s pleasant but generic, the typical aromatic-lavender-sweet. Sweet without being cloying. The worst: not very novel, same formula as the previous one. A more personal bubble. Perhaps the longevity doesn’t convince for a ‘Parfum’ (less projection, more longevity); it lasts a bit longer than the EDT. Is it good? Yes, it never fails. Is it redundant? Yes, but I stick with this one. 8/10, recommended if you don’t have the EDT.

It works well for me. It’s a more discreet version than the EDT, slightly more mature but still sweet. The lavender, geranium, and woods embrace the vanilla sweetness, giving it an intimate, warm, and nocturnal character. It performs well and lasts, though the trail is more contained. I think that’s the idea behind the Parfum: if you want a strong hit noticeable from a distance, go for the EDT or the Intense. PS: It’s in the dry-down where it most resembles the three ‘little robots’ launched so far.

A soft, slightly spicy citrus opening that, over time, transforms into a soft sweetness that isn’t cloying. It’s well-balanced for cold days or heat, ideal for autumn/spring transitions. I see it as very versatile, suitable for day or night depending on how many sprays you use.

I have it to wear out with Afnan 9PM. In my experience, it lasts a long time but doesn’t have as much projection; it has a rich scent and I find it more intriguing than other fragrances in the style. It doesn’t differ much from other night perfumes, so it doesn’t draw too much attention, which I like. My girlfriend loves it. If you’re looking for something to wear out but not as flashy as a Le Beau Parfum or a Scandal, this will suit you. I plan to wear it all year round, but only at night, adjusting the number of sprays depending on the situation.

It has a very particular, sugary scent that reminds me of perfumes I’ve smelled before. The vanilla is a bit sticky and I don’t particularly like it. It’s a good fragrance overall, but the scent isn’t heading in my preferred direction. A 6 out of 10.

I bought it after a week of testing it in-store because it seemed like an addictive aroma, to the point where I couldn’t stop smelling my arm. You can sense the original DNA, but over time that original aspect fades a bit and it becomes more chocolatey and intense, more in the style of Invictus Victory Elixir. I’d define it as: a chocolatey Phantom. I wore it twice out, once to a bar and once on a date; both times I received compliments. All of that within the first week. As for performance, I have no idea because I applied quite a lot both times and also had a decant to reapply and ensure people could smell me. Still, I think it’s moderate performance. I’ll be providing more updates as I use it further.

To be honest, I’m falling for this fragrance more every day. The scent and longevity are top-notch. I wore it at 7 am before heading to work, and by around 3 pm, someone approached me asking what I was wearing because it smelled incredible.