XS by Rabanne

I absolutely loved this at school back in 2010 and now I want to wear it again at the office. I’ve read it’s been reformulated; I hope it stays the same.

Delightfully charming and within my top 5; fresh, herbal, woody and elegant, a sublime fragrance for the gentleman. I’m sure the English Gentleman would approve. Ideal for the office in temperate climates, with a discrete and soft trail. On my skin, I need to reapply after lunch. It’s been a life companion since I was born; I picked it up in 1995. Best regards.

Another timeless classic, on par with Zino or Cool Water. Those perfumes of the 90s that nailed it and remain alive, proving that the golden age of designers is no longer today. Fresh, herbal and very aromatic, ideal for sunny days; in intense cold it loses a bit of its brilliance. The dry-down is delicious, with that slightly sweet oakmoss and patchouli. It brings a good vibe and cleanliness. Without fear, it’s a must-have, especially the old version which is already running out. Recommended to buy blind, with no regrets.

What a world… As a child I remember my grandfather with Brummel, my father with Puig Lavender and occasionally Eau de Sauvage. They were the scents of an era. My friend at 16 wore Adolfo Domínguez on Fridays to go out with his mates; I’ve always linked this fragrance to him and his youth. I never thought it was a mature scent, as the mature ones were those in my family. Years passed and I searched for something ‘expensive’ for weekends to stop wearing Massimo Dutti. Smelling this XS by Paco Rabanne transported me back to my friend’s house. It was incredible how similar it was to Adolfo’s; I searched until I got one. They are very similar, not identical, but Paco clearly took inspiration. It’s a pity both have such a sad ending. I don’t know if the current version is the same, but this one is wonderful. You won’t stand out or be the centre of attention; it’s for your own enjoyment, to feel in harmony. It conveys serenity and peace; in fact, I use Adolfo’s Agua Fresca to sleep when I’m stressed. To the young: NEVER stop smelling fragrances, neither by age nor by gender. Scents don’t have birthdays or genitals to be sexualised. Don’t listen to nonsense about ‘smelling old’. Smell and enjoy; you’ll discover authentic marvels like this.

I have a bottle my father bought in 1997 when I was born and gifted it to me. It’s truly very fresh and I find it very usable for everyday wear. Personally, I love masculine fragrances with mint and citrus. <3

It’s a ruder, harder Carolina Herrera for Him, yet very well balanced. I adore it, though I haven’t decided to buy it again (if I can find it) because it brings back lovely memories from 2001. Smelling it transports me back to that time; in fact, it makes me feel cold, as I lived in Wisconsin that year. I believe it’s discontinued; when you ask about it, everyone thinks of XS Pure or Black. It was the epitome of a serious gentleman’s elegance over 35. Suitable for all seasons except extreme heat. A perfect signature scent.

The XS, launched in 1994, is a timeless olfactory masterpiece. I used it until only the miniature from the collection remained. For me, the XS is a super fresh fragrance, with a central skeleton of coriander and rosewood, accented by juniper berry and tarragon notes, leading to a warm heart of vanilla and woods.

I have the genuine original, pre-reformulation. It even came with a colour change that stains shirt collars if it drips. The original was excellent; the reformulation has lost some power but retains the spirit.

Memories flood my mind just by recalling the XS bottle. When I first bought it upon its launch in 1994, it had excellent longevity and a wonderful smell. Unlike what we were accustomed to at the time, it featured a citrus-mint explosion that characterised it, with a heart of vibrant, almost sparkling woods and an animalic touch that made it undeniably passionate. If XS could speak! Over time, that strength degraded due to reformulations, until I stopped using it in 1998 because its essence was lost. I can’t even imagine how it would have been further distorted in subsequent reformulations. Unfortunately, that has happened to the vast majority of perfumes. Nevertheless, a beautiful memory.

It was my first designer fragrance back in 1996. My sister used to steal it to go to school. Very citrusy at first application and woody in the dry-down. Truly exquisite, elegant and seductive. Over the years, I believe it has lost some quality. However, I’m not sure I’m being objective given that it was my first love.

The Paco Rabanne ones last over 12 hours; vanilla is the key. I like this one from morning until mid-afternoon; it’s perfect for daytime, not really for evening. It feels mature but not grown-up, a well-balanced act. Highly recommended, I’d give it a 7.

A singular, unique, and incomparable fragrance. Those are the only words I need to summarise it. The only thing that disappoints me is its performance after the reformulations; in the 90s, it was a beast in terms of longevity.

The combination of notes gives a fresh, spiced fragrance, fundamentally musky, floral, and fern-like. It’s pleasant, easy to wear, and has a mature yet youthful sensuality, with class and elegance. The bottle was a find in its day, with those golden initials between sex and excess. An interesting, clean, and slightly old-school option.

To face spring and summer in my country, I made an effort and equipped my wardrobe with three fragrances: Sauvage by Dior, Eau Fraîche by Versace, and this XS by Paco Rabanne. The latter is an icon alongside Pour Homme. Its bottle represents a Zippo lighter and plays with the name XS, understanding excess through its English letters read backwards as Sex. It’s a decent fragrance that provides freshness all the time, even at the end thanks to the mint. Very masculine without feeling classic; in my opinion, it’s timeless, with better performance in summer and perfect for a young man today. It works well in the office because it’s not intrusive, very versatile. I would wear it on summer evenings with a shirt and jeans, and thanks to its aromatic green notes, I wouldn’t rule it out for a date. Trail and longevity are moderate on my skin: the first three hours it fades until it’s skin-scent by around 6 or 8 hours.

It was a great perfume, because the current one lasts less than a breath from a teenage lover. The opening is herbal, aromatic, exquisite, with just the right touch of sweetness, but after 20 minutes it starts a free fall into a rough, synthetic residual scent that has nothing to do with the magnificent opening. I bought it because I read the rosemary note was very prominent. Lies! The rosemary is barely perceptible, and I love that mentholated aroma and that very green pine note the rosemary has. The good thing is it didn’t cost me much, around $35, and I’ll use it as an aftershave (I have to start doing something with my numerous EDTs converted into aftershaves).