1 Million Intense Rabanne 2013

There is a vast legion of men (and women) who LOVE "1 Million" - and the Intense-version of it will certainly also appeal to many of them. I know at least two young guys who wear no other fragrance than "1 Million" to establish their self-confidence. The "Intense"-Million will certainly be an option for them, too. Yet the top notes of mandarin, saffron, pepper and cardamon are - in my humble opinion - not treated with due understanding with regard to their characteristics. They are the opposite of what I'd call "refined", but at least they are strong and outgoing. In the heart I can smell a neroli-spicy kind of cinnamon (too much of it) - and in the long-lasting base, there are extremely crass notes of artificial sandalwood and patchouli, all of which are fixed with a weird, soapy accord of cedar. Can't smell any "white leather" as mentioned in the pyramide, but this might be due to the different ideas I have in my mind about leather in general. I am not in the least drawn to this fragrance, on the contrary. "1 Million Intense" does carry the leader-of-the-pack theme through with a terribly assertive strong, stealthy fragrance, even when sprayed lightly, it seems to be overdosed. Uninhibited and up-front, this is a fragrance I'd put down on my list for "fragrance harassment".