This Paco Rabanne perfume was the first one for men by Paco Rabane in 1973 (created by Jean Martel) and although it smells classic and old it still deserves a place in the market.

Straightforward since the very opening, it will smell of shaving foam without being a shaving foam. We’re talking about minty notes, rosemary and some lavender in the background. Clean, simple, unsophisticated.

In the heart notes, the shaving foam effect and the herbs will subside, leaving more lavender and a soft floral note of geranium to take the lead.

After almost 40 years, the ending of this Paco Rabanne fragrance is still interesting. It still retains the main aroma of the very beginning, but managing to smell the same yet different. Slowly and gradually, as the perfume evolves, the stinging freshness of the beginning becomes slightly sweet – there’s honey in the base notes, but to me it’s almost imperceptible – with also – of course – amber and musk.

Really cool perfume indeed, this Pacorabanne, just be aware that 1973 was a long time ago, and that the occasions where you can wear this comfortably are kind of restricted now.  If you are at least 30, don’t be afraid to go social, after all smelling blatantly clean is not illegal (yet), but try to limit this to very normal situations, like visiting your auntie, or going out with your best friends, or maybe in the office, especially if the average age is not too low.

By no means however use this to impress a lady, unless you’re 50 and she’s not far from there, or unless she likes you to smell like her daddy.

If this perfume was a color it would be this:  

Paco Rabanne parfum

This is the younger version of a classic by Paco Rabanne like XS, created by the same guy who made Angel and Nina, Oliver Cresp.

In case it’s not clear from the title, I will agree with the majority: this Black XS Paco Rabanne perfume is a super-masculine fragrance and that’s why we (and by “we” I mean us would-be half-metrosexual) like it when we want to smell a bit rough but still sophisticated.

Let’s skip the elusive opening with fresh-y notes, and fast forward 5-10 minutes to the sweet and spicy heart notes of cinnamon.

Cinnamon is a solid spice, with round angles, but the sweet praline layer and the note of amber blend perfectly and make it even more compact, giving this parfum Black XS for men an in-your-face I’m-here-to-seduce-everything-that-moves type of attitude.

After a while, sweetness subsides and stops being so blatant, amber is more present and woods come in. That’s when this guy who by no means – at least so far – you would let your sixteen-year-old daughter go out with, gets a more mature and reassuring aura. You would at least invite him for an afternoon tea, but you would still remain in the living room to supervise.

It will still be sweet, mind, but warmer, and I could swear I smell red orange somewhere…

If you think this Paco Black XS Homme is not that different from One Million perfume, you’re right but I find the central note of sweetened cinnamon more interesting. Just my opinion…

If this perfume was a color it would be this:

Paco Rabanne XS Black

Paco Black XS