Paco Rabanne pour Homme Paco Rabanne 1973 Eau de Toilette

This review is based on the vintage formulation. I'm saddened to hear the reformulation is noticeably different. PR is a unappreciated gem in the history of men's fragrance. American men were introduced to perfumery with Brut in the 1960's. Paco Rabbane has always been, in my nose, an evolutionary step ahead of Brut for fougeres. If you can get a vintage bottle, please try it but I recommend starting with the aftershave. For me the aftershave can be worn on men of any age. PR was my signature scent through my early 20's. I would always steal my dad's PR and the aftershave. This has been one of my most complimented fragrances. No girl ever told me that I smelled like her dad. The opening burst of sage and rosemary is refreshing. The heart is masculine floral with creamy tonka bean that is balanced by the oakmoss and musk in the base. It's a little sweet but oh so refreshing. This is why I recommend the aftershave. There's no better feeling than splashing on this fragrance after a shave. It wakes you up and invigorates your olfactory senses just like a morning coffee gets your heart beating. The drydown is smooth, a touch masculine, and sexy. Performance is 6-8 hours. I'm sad that oakmoss is so significant to PR's formula. Reading the reviews, it seems Paco can't or won't invest in a proper replacement for oakmoss since it's been banned. Maybe the new formulation uses more synthetics throughout but I reserve my judgements until I get a new bottle. This perfume also brings back some sweet childhood memories of my dad picking me up as a toddler and how I always hated how is face stubble scratched my face. Ah, PR is my feel good perfume. Fingers crossed that I like the new formulation and it can invoke those memories. I have to add that I think PR is the evolution of Brut but YSL's Rive Gauche was the next evolutionary step. Instead of using a synthetic, YSL discontinued Rive Gauche. For the entry ethusiast, I recommend seeking out a decent Brut formulation, a 90's bottle of Paco, and finally an overpriced bottle of Rive Gauche. You'll have, in my opinion, the three most significant men's barbershop fragrances of all time.