Paco Rabanne Pour Homme Eau de Toilette: A Fragrance Review Of The 1970s Classic

Paco Rabanne Pour Homme’s Composition

The fragrance’s complex character marries hygiene with elegance through a subtle blend of refined aromas. The composition is exemplary of the Aromatic Fougere fragrance family.

Head Notes

• Rosemary
• Clary Sage
• Brazilian Rosewood

The Aromatic compounds provide an emblematic intricacy to the fragrance’s opening notes with a rosemary and Clary sage head.

Dominant Fougere elements appear with Brazilian rosewood whilst featuring a green oak moss base.

Heart Notes

• Tonka Bean
• Lavender
• Geranium

The blend of Aromatic and Fougere ingredients marry with the warm lavender heart and floral notes reminiscent of geraniums. Furthermore, the presence of Tonka Bean releases characteristically fougere notes of coumarin.

Base Notes

• Oak Moss
• Labdanum
• Musk
• Honey

The base is accompanied by respectively dry and sweet notes of musk and honey, which harmonise the oak moss’ freshness. Latent notes of sweet lime and bay leaves add a sensation of citrus and spice for a rounded finish.

Meanwhile, musky labdanum adds a subtle animalistic and leather note, which interacts with the oak moss to create a distinctive tobacco accord.

Interestingly, the interplay between the head and heart creates an experience not dissimilar to soap – specifically those used for shaving.

The aromatic, woody head dissolving into a floral yet dry heart denotes a sense of dry cleanliness. The result contributes to its association with traditional barbershop aromas whilst crafting an altogether different scent.

The Lifecycle of Paco Rabanne Pour Homme

The composition’s Lifecycle is intuitive without being overly linear. Similar to an aftershave, the oily, alcohol-heavy head quickly cooks off the skin for a brisk transition to the heart.

The alcohol’s evaporation performs a practical role as a post-shave fragrance. However, it’s somewhat of a shame to lose the hints of rosemary and rosewood so soon after application.

Similarly, the heart’s lifespan is very brief. Wearers only experience of glimpse of interaction between the coumarin with the floral notes of lavender and geranium.

A brief sensation of pine dominates the fragrance as it edges to the base, which once established, leaves a very robust scent.

Wake & Strength

An undeniably strong fragrance, Paco Rabanne Pour Homme features an admirable longevity, which performs better on textiles than on skin.

The fragrance, therefore, tends to remain on a shirt collar longer than on the neck itself. This may be desirable but not necessarily to everyone’s taste.

Nevertheless, it’s performance is impressive to say the least. Paco Rabanne Pour Homme offers a longevity that can easily last for well over a typical working day and into the evening.

It also projects well by being discernible by the wearer’s entourage without overwhelming the room.

Throughout the day, the sillage is relatively faint. However, the scent lingers in the room where the fragrance was applied for quite a while, which can be overwhelming. Therefore, care must be taken not to over-apply.

The general consensus of the fragrance is mostly positive albeit occasionally polarising. Whilst some appreciate the masculine accords that denote a sophisticated barbershop cleanliness, others find the fragrance outdated.

Despite a subdued brashness and modest projection of minor synthetic notes, the fragrance is archetypal of the 1970s. However, the mastery of contrasting green freshness with a dry warmth ensures it remains relevant even among modern perfumes.

Consequently, its unquestionably a man’s fragrance and most appropriate for mature men generally over 40 years old.

For younger men, their style and demeanour should be consistent with the fragrance for a harmonious ensemble. Otherwise, as fragrances are a form of self-expression, the wearer risks creating an incoherent contrast with the personality he exudes.

When To Wear Paco Rabanne Pour Homme?

Paco Rabanne Pour Homme is a distinctively seasonal fragrance. The fragrance family’s properties are quintessentially springtime, which it projects with minute accuracy.

Particular ingredients such as the rosemary, lavender and moss are reminiscent of an earthy forest still damp from morning dew.

The tonka bean and musk provide a spicy accord with a dryness akin to newly mown hay. This contrast between cool and warm allows the experience to remain relevant throughout summer up until the harvest.

However, by autumn, the fragrance begins to feel out of place and the benefits of its character dwindle throughout winter.

With its conservative blend of traditional Fougere and Aromatics, the fragrance feels most appropriate for day time wear at the workplace.

Nevertheless, it can be fitting for other occasions both casual and formal. For example, Paco Rabanne Pour Homme would be an ideal candidate for a summer evening barbecue among friends or even a romantic night out.

In any scenario, it’s composition makes for an unmistakably masculine fragrance that can’t be interpreted as a women’s perfume. Although this renders it unwearable for women, it establishes itself as a strong and resolute statement of virility.

Presentation and Value For Money

The material usage experience of Paco Rabanne Pour Homme is relatively conservative yet stately. The cardboard packaging comes in a simple, iconic green colour with a discreet silver border and embossed lettering. The boldly placed original Paco Rabanne logo and font are grandiose statements to its era with compelling 1970s undertones.

The bottle itself is very simple and modest in the shape of a rounded rectangle made from glass. The same lettering and logo from the packaging are present here. However, instead of silver they’re a clean white to contrast with the bottle’s contents.

Splash vs. Atomiser

What is interesting is that Paco Rabanne seem to be making a transition towards atomisers from splash bottles.

Splash bottles used to be the norm for this fragrance and although are still available, seem to be being slowly phased out in favour of atomisers.

Therefore, you can currently choose either a splash bottle or an atomiser depending on personal preference. In both cases, the stopper or atomiser appear as a black box with grey edges on top of the bottle.

The biggest difference is that the splash bottle comes in a clear glass bottle whilst the atomised bottle is a dark, smoked green.

This is a new and intuitive option for younger users. Whilst a splash bottle is ideal for an aftershave, it’s frustrating when using the fragrance as a decorative scent.

Those opting for the latter will no longer need to literally get their hands dirty. Furthermore, although splashes are practical for aftershaves, they don’t let the fragrance breathe through oxidisation. Here you’ll get the most from your product.

Pricing

Depending on where you buy Paco Rabanne Pour Homme, it can present some phenomenal value for money. For instance, it’s just under $47 on Amazon. However, 100 ml can cost significantly less when buying it through FragranceX at $26!

Such an premium fragrance and an excellent price means that you’ll find Paco Rabanne Pour Homme among the best fragrances under $30!

Closing Thoughts

Paco Rabanne Pour Homme is a cornerstone is men’s fragrances, which offers a unique experience. Both mysterious yet unapologetically masculine, its aroma profile is defined by a particular era whilst being timelessly sophisticated.

Devout wearers praise its intriguing properties and consider it a highly masculine statement with a complex composition. The marriage of its ingredients create a simultaneously traditional and refreshing experience that contrasts with a warm finish.

No collection is complete with Paco Rabanne Pour Homme and the pricing makes it a very attractive addition. We’ve even featured it as one of the best men’s fragrances of all time.

Enjoyed reading our review? Why don’t you check out our video below?