Pure XS by Rabanne

Super youthful fragrance, perfect up to age 30, screaming party and night vibes. It’s a vanilla bomb spiked with alcohol, cinnamon and sugar, reminiscent of a cola drink with a sorbet. Ten years ago I hesitated between this and Pure XS Night; I went for the latter as it’s more oriental, with myrrh and ginseng that give it a chocolatey twist, and suits those over 30 in fun, informal settings. Both are very similar. I’m not sure what damage the reformulations have done, but back in its day, the longevity and trail were brutal, typical PR night wear. Obviously, using it outside of cold weather or at night is madness. Easy to like and fair price.

A sweet, seductive fragrance, one that draws attention in a good way. I used it a while ago, back around 2017/18, and it gave excellent results. They say it’s ideal for dates… I’d say not for first dates, perhaps with your partner yes, as it’s quite strong. Very rich, but it is something potent and penetrating. It might be off-putting if you overapply on a first date if you want to keep them close; you’d go for a lighter fragrance for that. Returning to the scent, it’s fantastic, feeling vanilla and spiked, giving it that seductive touch. Cinnamon accompanies it very well. It has excellent longevity on my skin. Although I’m not sure if I’d buy it again (now my 16-year-old son uses it), I think it’s a very good option for cold climates and deserves a try. I recommend it widely.

Smells like black pepper and that’s all. The first time I tried it in 2019, it smelled very sweet and incredible. So much so that I gave one to my brother and when he wore it, he said: ‘oh, it smells very seductive’. But he stopped using it and kept it stored for 5 years without using it. And when I tried it again, it smelled very different and I thought: ‘how is it smelling so different? Did it concentrate or did the alcohol make the notes change’. I had the 2018 batch.

I bought it blind on a trip taking advantage of a duty free discount. There were no testers, only the bottle. It didn’t disappoint me at all; it has an exquisite myrrh note with a very particular sweetness. It’s quite versatile and its longevity and projection are quite good, though not outrageous. Would I buy it again? Definitely. It’s a fragrance that stands completely out from the ordinary.

It was my first fragrance. Knowing nothing about perfumes, this convinced me several years ago. Some women react ‘very positively’ to this fragrance, haha. Sweet but not cloying, well spiced with a notable myrrh, 100% masculine scent. FACT: Once you’re told it smells like Coca-Cola, you can’t stop smelling it.

I picked up a 5ml decant of Pure XS and can confirm it’s pure party night. It smells rich and enveloping, though it does get slightly sweet over time. From the start, it screams audacity and seduction; many say it smells like rum and Coca-Cola. You can definitely detect the spicy oriental touch with ginger, vanilla, myrrh, and cinnamon—a warm blend that’s addictive. It projects massively on skin and clothes, leaving a trail and class. So much so that it practically invites you to have a rum. A 10 for going out with friends. I’m already keen to try XS Night to have another nighttime option. Final score: 6.7/10.

I bought it and used it a few times. Every time, it overwhelms me; it’s quite intrusive. The myrrh is brutal and clings heavily with the vanilla and sugar, which I didn’t enjoy. However, I respect those who praise it. If you’re not a fan of sweet and potent scents, avoid keeping it in your wardrobe.

According to Curly Fragrance, it smells like Coca-Cola with incense. I can confirm that’s not the case at all. What stands out most is the vanilla, sugar, and some spices. It’s very sweet and quite unisex. It’s not my type; I prefer fresh and masculine scents. 4/10.

I just picked up the second bottle from the shop. Simply the best designer fragrance I’ve owned and one of the few I’ve repurchased (alongside Sauvage EDT, ADG Profondo, and JPG Scandal EDT). Coincidentally, it was one of the first I bought when I started exploring perfumes. My first love, super original. Suitable for night and day, with character. Intense and sweet but not cloying, just vanilla and rum. Very good lasting power, moderate projection with bursts of trail for the first hour and a half. Easily my signature scent, though only for very hot climates. In that case, I’d switch to Light Blue or Dior Homme Sport.

A delicious fragrance, spiced with cinnamon and vanilla, soft without being cloying. Lasts around 6-8 hours. Ideal for men over 35.

Paco Rabanne Pure XS is pure seduction and excess. For the bold man, perfect for standing out on special nights. Opens with ginger, thyme, and grapefruit; in the heart, vanilla, leather, and cinnamon warm things up sensually. The base of myrrh, cedar, and sugar adds a woody sweetness. Moderate to high price. Warning: it is intense, so use it with moderation in enclosed spaces or heat. Scent 9/10: spicy, fresh, warm, and sweet. Longevity 9/10: high for all-day wear. Projection 8.5/10: considerable without being overwhelming. Highly recommended, it meets expectations and is a standout choice.

I’m updating my review again: I confirm everything, it’s a charming, unique scent with personality, plus it performs phenomenally. From the 2022 batch, with 7-8 sprays it lasts 8 to 12 hours and projects strongly for almost the whole day. It has the best of both commercial and niche worlds: caramelised fruity vanilla, wrapped in whisky and a leather base, combined with strong exotic myrrh from the start. A masterpiece. It has a distinctive character and a common facet that everyone likes. It smells a bit like Coca-Cola with incense, which sounds odd but works. I wouldn’t recommend it blindly due to the resinous-incense myrrh, which isn’t for everyone. But if you like it, you’ll love it. It’s my favourite.

Acquired in March 2024, it lives up to the good reviews: a delicious scent. I don’t find it as nocturnal as expected; it works perfectly during the day. However, the projection and longevity are low; after a while, I can only smell it on the application points, and after a few hours, not even that. It’s true that this transition season brings colds that affect the nose. We’ll see if it works better with maceration and a clear nose, because the scent I love.

I could start by talking about its particular scent, which is outside the norm for what we expect from PR. Its citrus, sweet, and woody notes make it a compliment bomb and a seduction tool; when I wear it, I know someone will ask what I’m wearing, and for perfumers, that means a lot. On my skin, it lasts more than 6 hours, invades any space, and if it’s enclosed, even more so. Without a doubt, one of the best fragrances I’ve used.

It smells like chocolate deodorant, or straight-up Axe Chocolate, which isn’t bad. However, the cinnamon feels uncomfortable, heavy, and overheated to me, like a mix of sweat, cinnamon, roast meat, and sunscreen. After three hours, it becomes more vanilla-like and pleasant. It resembles Hugo Boss Bottled.