Fruity notes
Rhubarb
Vanilla absolute
Italian lemon zest
Provençal lavender absolute
Clary sage
Haitian vetiver
Indonesian patchouli
06/28/2022
Elysium
888 Reviews
Elysium
Top Review
11
A Titans’ Clash
Those who have followed me for a long time will know that I never write negative reviews because the fact that a perfume does not meet my tastes or expectations does not mean that the scent is unpleasant or that it cannot please the rest of the world. In the same way, I don't let the rating and other opinions influence me. I always prefer to try the fragrance on my skin and study it with my nose. Instead, I like to write positive reviews when a perfume is beautiful and gives me pleasant sensations, which I love to share by forcing no one's hand. I'm not an influencer, and I don't care to be. That's why I took my time and wrote something about this apparently ugly duckling who hides a magnificent swan in his heart.
And then who said it is a contradiction to have an idea and then change it? Maybe I made the same mistake that others did, too, and just ignored this fragrance because of the weird, tacky, ugly bottle. But, most of the time, the image inside the frame reveals more of the structure itself. And inside Phantom, it is like a Titans' clash: the juice is nothing but sour lemon, creamy lavender, and powdery vanilla. However, the result is pleasant and intrigues me so much that I want to know more and more. It is a beautiful fragrance, and perhaps in another bottle people would appreciate it more.
TL; DR Phantom is a scent that combines a motivating green touch of unripe lemon paired with fresh vetiver root with an irresistible creamy lavender and a handful of vanilla powder. The lavender is really present in all the stages. An overdose of beneficial and lasting sensations, something that helps me feel good, that puts me at ease. It appeals to me; it's a scent that evokes comfort and calmness. Paco Rabanne's signature is very recognizable, as it has that sweetness that almost all its fragrances have, but less sweet than the previous ones.
The opening is semi-tart with accents of sugar and mint. Between the juice and the zest of the lemon brightness, I feel a sweet note and a mentholated note. Perhaps the sweet-minty combo is because of the vanilla rising from the bottom and the aromatic lavender. The lemon appears like a sorbet, green and fruity at the same time. And a semi-bitter facet underneath reminds me of the medicinal-like flair of the mango fruit. I had to test it a few times, and now I appreciate the opening more and more. The sweetness and creaminess really shine. Phantom is sweet, but only slightly sweet, not in the usual Paco Rabanne formula, like "1 Million (Eau de Toilette) | Paco Rabanne" or "Invictus (Eau de Toilette) | Paco Rabanne". It's a different kind of sweetness, and the rhubarb may be responsible for that.
In the heart, I feel an apple-like nuance that extends the lemon fruitiness. At this point, the velvety sage jumps in and shares the core with cleaned patchouli. If you pay more attention, you will get the woodiness and rootiness of the deep and earthy vetiver. Amid those fruity, aromatic, and green facets, lavender plays a significant role. It will grow in strength as it moves on and becomes an earthier, drier, and more lavender-based fragrance. The scent takes a blue twist, with a grassy edge, nothing like #Bleu or #Sauvage.
In the dry-down, it's way less of a sweet fragrance. Some smoky vanilla adds depth and warmth to the smooth lavender accord. Now the creamy lavender gets a baby powder slant; the spicy vanilla is dusty and not a gourmand. The exotic buds are what I get most in the final trail.
Contemporary, I love the smell. It stays on the clothes for a long time. It's as powdery and soapy as bittersweet, so it's not just the next sweet fragrance as some want to make it look. Not overly sweet; I don't understand why everyone thinks that. Manly, but in that gentle way, something I imagine I wear in the day, every day. Polite and not too indulgent. It's a unique fragrance that is safe for most situations and warm seasons. Although it does not project like a beast, the longevity is average. It smells young, but I wouldn't say an adult couldn't wear it.
I base the review on a bottle I have owned since June 2022.
-Elysium
And then who said it is a contradiction to have an idea and then change it? Maybe I made the same mistake that others did, too, and just ignored this fragrance because of the weird, tacky, ugly bottle. But, most of the time, the image inside the frame reveals more of the structure itself. And inside Phantom, it is like a Titans' clash: the juice is nothing but sour lemon, creamy lavender, and powdery vanilla. However, the result is pleasant and intrigues me so much that I want to know more and more. It is a beautiful fragrance, and perhaps in another bottle people would appreciate it more.
TL; DR Phantom is a scent that combines a motivating green touch of unripe lemon paired with fresh vetiver root with an irresistible creamy lavender and a handful of vanilla powder. The lavender is really present in all the stages. An overdose of beneficial and lasting sensations, something that helps me feel good, that puts me at ease. It appeals to me; it's a scent that evokes comfort and calmness. Paco Rabanne's signature is very recognizable, as it has that sweetness that almost all its fragrances have, but less sweet than the previous ones.
The opening is semi-tart with accents of sugar and mint. Between the juice and the zest of the lemon brightness, I feel a sweet note and a mentholated note. Perhaps the sweet-minty combo is because of the vanilla rising from the bottom and the aromatic lavender. The lemon appears like a sorbet, green and fruity at the same time. And a semi-bitter facet underneath reminds me of the medicinal-like flair of the mango fruit. I had to test it a few times, and now I appreciate the opening more and more. The sweetness and creaminess really shine. Phantom is sweet, but only slightly sweet, not in the usual Paco Rabanne formula, like "1 Million (Eau de Toilette) | Paco Rabanne" or "Invictus (Eau de Toilette) | Paco Rabanne". It's a different kind of sweetness, and the rhubarb may be responsible for that.
In the heart, I feel an apple-like nuance that extends the lemon fruitiness. At this point, the velvety sage jumps in and shares the core with cleaned patchouli. If you pay more attention, you will get the woodiness and rootiness of the deep and earthy vetiver. Amid those fruity, aromatic, and green facets, lavender plays a significant role. It will grow in strength as it moves on and becomes an earthier, drier, and more lavender-based fragrance. The scent takes a blue twist, with a grassy edge, nothing like #Bleu or #Sauvage.
In the dry-down, it's way less of a sweet fragrance. Some smoky vanilla adds depth and warmth to the smooth lavender accord. Now the creamy lavender gets a baby powder slant; the spicy vanilla is dusty and not a gourmand. The exotic buds are what I get most in the final trail.
Contemporary, I love the smell. It stays on the clothes for a long time. It's as powdery and soapy as bittersweet, so it's not just the next sweet fragrance as some want to make it look. Not overly sweet; I don't understand why everyone thinks that. Manly, but in that gentle way, something I imagine I wear in the day, every day. Polite and not too indulgent. It's a unique fragrance that is safe for most situations and warm seasons. Although it does not project like a beast, the longevity is average. It smells young, but I wouldn't say an adult couldn't wear it.
I base the review on a bottle I have owned since June 2022.
-Elysium
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