Paragon

Looking at the reviews listed, I think it would be fair to say that many find this fragrance quite polarizing. Some people think it smells like heaven, and others find it repellant; I can understand both of these opinions. Firstly, let me say that I'm someone who thinks the bottle a fragrance comes in, should give the person smelling it a small preview of what they're about to experience. The saying goes "don't judge a book by its cover," but when fragrances come in white bottles, they automatically make me think of a fresh and clean scent i.e. spring/summer; Paragon is not this. Paragon is hard to definitively put into one category, but I wouldn't call it "fresh and clean." Upon the first spray, you get a strong, fruity smell, which is no doubt the plum note. Plum isn't an overly-popular fruity note (like cherry or strawberry), so it's quite possible that before Paragon, you may have never smelled it before. I find plum has an incredibly sweet, almost candy-like quality; it's very thick, and saturates throughout all the stages of Paragon. I think it's this aspect that may be polarizing to some. If you don't like the heavy sweetness that plum notes have, this won't be for you. It is somewhat reminiscent of Jean Paul Gaultier's Le Male, but nowhere near as adolescent and bubblegum-like. However, if you do like that scent, Paragon promises to take you on a beautiful journey through soft, pleasing, meadow-like smells. The plum is enveloped in a floral embrace by the lavender note, which is a pleasing contrast to the overt-sweetness. The woody-notes prove themselves to be an all-star lineup, here. The sandalwood adds a sophistication and maturity to Paragon that is appreciated, however, the oud note is very faint, almost undetectable. So, if you're put off by the very strong, pungent scent that is associated with oud, this doesn't have it. You really only get to smell it about 3 hours into the fragrance, once all the sweet/floral notes have faded, and Paragon becomes woody/peppery. The Palo Santo makes this smell very rich and luxurious; this is Initio after all. But for me, the key-player in this fragrance is the black pepper note; it's what makes Paragon unisex. It provides a distinct sharpness and warmth that only black pepper can. It stops Paragon from being this floral-fruity scent, to something more interesting and complex. I will admit that I wasn't a fan of Paragon at first; something about the initial smell reminded me of an old attic, with dusty boxes and mothballs. But something kept calling me back to it, like I was missing something special; I'm glad I listened to my instincts. When you let this fragrance sit on your skin and hit the outside air, you get to feel the heaven-like magic that is captured in this white bottle. It's calming, it's soothing, it's euphoric. The drawbacks of Paragon are that the sillage and projection aren't great for the price you're paying, however, it lasts from the start of your day, until you fall asleep at night. It also tends to transfer onto other people, like if you're hugging them. You will definitely get a compliment if people get close enough to you, to smell you. Some people have said this is great for spring weather, however I think it fits autumn perfectly. Plum is a late-summer/autumn fruit, and the woody/pepperiness of it is perfectly suited for colder weather. Would I call this scent a masterpiece? No. But it doesn't have to be; it simply is what it is.

I like Initio quite a lot, but I don't love them. I've spent a month with their sampler set, and can say that many are underwhelming to me. Rehab is nice, but I've never clicked with Side Effect. Atomic Rose is a wonderful crushed-petal rose which I value quite highly, and I think there's a definite magic to Addictive Vibration, the kind of herbal after-the-rain dust-and-soil floral with a bold sparkling honey. They range, across the board, from just alright to very good - but never great. Until Paragon, which blows past the great barrier into completely glorious. This is an all-time precious treasure to me, and it all rides on its heavenly use of black pepper. Without the black pepper - considering only the plum, palo, and palette - it would still be a delightful fragrance. Clean and creamy, fruity without being cloying, a truly delightful take on plum that begins with an in-your-face fruity splash but quickly fades to a security-blanket consistency. The strong sage and slight lavender make it feel fluffy, the touch of bergamot brings a clarity and confidence, and as a whole it would be a noble, meditative, sacred feeling - it definitely succeeds at that side of its theming. Without the black pepper, this would be great, a temple scent, a priestess scent, casual and sweet. The black pepper turns it into Joan of Arc. It brings this toughness - like ashes, like steel, this bold and confident and fighting greyness. Chainmail, crusader's sword. I definitely understand why people say the pepper ruins it for them - it could feel discordant if you're not a fan - but to me it's half the scent, and what pushes it into both thematic and olfactory excellence. It is a perfect counterpoint to everything soft and sweet in this scent, turning it into a battle hymn, and deepening its complexity by an order of magnitude if you ask me. This makes me feel ten feet tall and angelic - the kind of angel that carries a burning sword. If that polished grit appeals to you, especially as a woman, I can't recommend this more highly. However, if you are looking for something that is only delicate, the pepper specifically may disappoint you. Again, in my opinion, the pepper is the key to the entire appeal, and makes a well-considered base into a true masterpiece. [Edit] - A word of warning! After upgrading from a sample size to a full bottle, I almost thought I had gotten scammed and my bottle somehow replaced with a dupe fragrance. With time, I realized this was wrong and I was jumping to conclusions - but my misunderstanding was entirely my fault. Many perfumes behave differently between the smaller spritz of a sample vial and the more solid spray of a full bottle - Paragon is the most dramatic difference I've ever seen. I was overspraying this for a while after the upgrade and it was turning sickly, overly woody, sour, staying on clothes through several washes and turning to pure ambroxan. Use with caution! With the average perfume I'll usually go for three to five spritzes - but Paragon must be kept at just a single spray for me, and as long as I stick to that it remains heavenly and all the best that I remember of it. Essentially, if this fragrance if turning you off - try a lighter touch with it. You might have a drastically different experience. My previous review still completely stands, and if anything I have even more respect for it haha - a single spray really does suffice, and I can't say that for anything else I own.

This is my first full bottle niche fragrance in my collection. 7/4/2026 I’ve been so lucky to receive this as a gift for my birthday, from my beloved boyfriend. To me, this is a very fresh, clean, aromatic, calming, meditative scent. Kinda like a zen spa or a luxurious hotel lobby/products maybe. Very wellness-like. On Fragrantica it lists a plum note, which isn’t stated on the official website of Initio. However, I do feel like there is also kind of a darker, fruity, boozy layer to it that is indeed reminiscent of plum. It’s prominent, but not overpowering at all to me, it goes very well like hand in hand with the clean and aromatic spa vibe, and adds a little warmth to the scent. And that’s what also makes this such a well balanced scent. I just love smelling it and it’s almost kinda like an addiction where I wanna get my perfume fix I just spray it on me. The sillage and longevity are both really good. Sometimes, I don’t really smell it anymore, but my boyfriend said he could still smell it very well at the end of the day. So I think it could be possible that you can become noseblind, so don’t go overspraying this. This is also an Extrait, so with 1-2 sprays you can smell it verrry good. I also heard that if you don’t smell it after a while, but others can, it means the scent blends well with your skin chemistry, or something like that. Don’t know if that’s really true throughout. My parents also really like this one by the way, which is a really good thing haha! Especially with my dad who’s a little picky about scents. Lastly I wanna say that I think it can be worn anyday, I think it’s fitting in the spring season weather, but I don’t see why not in other seasons as well. I can’t really say, because I just got it. I don’t know how it performs in summer or high heat, I should see then but I don’t have a feeling right now that it would be very cloying. By the way, I know there’s also an oud note in it and black pepper, but I don’t really get those, or any heaviness or sharpness that you may expect from them. Unlike the plum-like note that’s not officially listed. It makes more sense to me that the plum is listed instead of the others I mentioned Anyways, I recommend you to try this one. I love it, I think it’s sooo addictive and it’s the perfect fresh, clean scent that’s not too light/watery/citrusy/laundry-like with amazing quality, longevity and sillage

Got a bottle of this masterpiece from initio at HBroma literally 3 days ago and this was an instant hit to my nose. something about is is sexy. Where do i begin, i dont want to glaze this too much because i know its not the best perfume in the world but to me this is a whole another level of fruitiness delightness. Immediately after spraying this on my skin, i just fell in lovvveee believe me when i say this but i am not a fruity guy when it comes to perfumery unless if you can pull it off well enough then you caught my nose.Thats what exactly happened when i had a beautiful whiff of this juicy fruity smooth and herbal freshness. The moment i smelt this i got a juicy fruitiness and its powerful but fresh because it literally smells like fully ripe sweet fat plumbs that you take a bite out of from a plumb tree. Its just so good. But thats not all because not long after i prayed this it eligentally blended with this beautiful woody smoothness with a hint of vanillic smell supported by the fresh spices of lavender and sage. I seriously cannot get my nose off of this sexy juice it so well blended its just a perfect fruity perfume. After around 3 hours you can still smell the plumb note infact its there for ages but after time goes on, the fruitiness is little bit more suttle and then the woodiness from the Palo Santo and Sandal wood kick in and omd its just so good. Then the final note is the suttle oud in the background with the Palo Santo and the Sandal wood thats just so well blended its like the smoothness of butter. For my personal opinion i highly recommend this perfume from initio its just perfection in a bottle haha no honestly its astonishing how incredibly well blended all the notes are. I give this a 10/10 for its freshness at the start, the flexibility to wear it in any occasions and how well its blended over all. I seriously cant get enough of this its just so amazing ( ive glazed this so hard but its my personal opinion) :)

This is the fragrance that started it all for me. Paragon was given to me by someone who, at one point in my life, meant a lot to me. Because of that, I think this scent will always carry something personal with it. But even without the memory attached, this is still one of the most beautiful and wearable fragrances I have ever smelled. The opening is smooth, clean and quietly aromatic. I get a soft herbal freshness from the lavender and sage, but it never feels medicinal or too green. There is a gentle sweetness underneath it all, not fruity to my nose, but enough to make the fragrance feel rounded and calm. When it dries down on my skin, Paragon becomes warmer and more woody. It has this calm, almost meditative quality to it, while still being incredibly easy to wear. The pepper gives it just enough edge so it does not become too boring. One of the things I appreciate most about Paragon is how flexible it is. It has become one of those fragrances I reach for when I do not want to overthink it. It works in most situations without feeling boring or generic, and it has enough character to still feel special. For me, it is a reliable easy grab that always makes me feel a little more put together. It is not loud in an obnoxious way, but it has a presence. On my skin it stays balanced throughout the wear, fresh and aromatic in the beginning, then softer, woodier and more comforting as the hours pass. That can also be its drawback, because at times it almost feels like multiple scents in one. Paragon is calming, elegant, sensual and addictive. It feels like a signature scent without being boring. For me, it is not just a perfume I like, it is the perfume that made me fall properly into this hobby, from a sample that was given to me with a lot of love. A true favourite, and probably one I will always want in my collection.

Opening: The first blast hits with this spicy, woody plum that's just so smooth. the floral qualities come in a bit after the initial spray mainly lavender, which adds a bit of freshness but there's also this dark, almost "misty" sweetness to it that feels both nostalgic and warm. It actually reminds me of the sunsets on Long Beach Island and those car rides there with Green Eyes by Coldplay playing, so much warmth and memory in this scent. The complexity is insane. You get the smooth plum with the lavender cutting through the dark woods, but there's this balance of freshness that keeps it from feeling too heavy or overbearing. It's peaceful, but also powerful in a way that just pulls you in. Drydown: As it dries, the plum and wood smooth out, leaving this mysterious, calming vibe. It’s not too in-your-face, but it’s definitely there. The fragrance stays smooth, and it almost feels like it’s whispering to you, not shouting. It's still peaceful but with a touch of intrigue, like there’s something deeper about it you can’t quite figure out. It's like a more reserved version of Addictive Vibration. The longevity on this is pretty solid—lasts 6+ hours easily, and it smells amazing on warm skin. After 9 hours at the gym, I could still smell it strong on my wrists, even though it had faded a little at school earlier (which honestly, I think was mostly because I used a bad sample atomizer—it really didn’t do the fragrance justice). After 10 hours, when I was back at the gym and my skin was warm, that same scent from the opening came back, though not as strong, which was still incredible.

Purchased a decanted 2ml sample from aromadeus.com and immediately bought a full size bottle from the same website as they happened to have it in full size too and the price was appealing. I’ll start off by saying WRONG NOTES are listed on fragrantica again. I contacted Initio and they confirmed there is no plum in Paragon’s olfactory profile whatsoever. Nevertheless, this fragrance is gorgeous. In fact, I think it’s one of Initio’s most underrated fragrances. I went to Harrods when vacationing the UK and their ambassador happened to be there. He sprayed me with their Lift me Up and Musk Therapy and asked me what I thought being sure I was going to start praying those two as many people do. And I said quietly: “honestly, I know I’m in the minority here but I still prefer Paragon over anything else.” He leaned over the perfume stand and almost whispered it back: “me too!” Palo Santo is really the star here. If you like Palo Santo this scent might be a safe-blind buy for you. What people perceive as “plum” accord might actually come from the lavender note. It’s woody, comforting, subtle on sweetens and perfectly unisex. I find it to be suitable for any season and time of the day. My only complaint is that I wish the projection was stronger. I love this fragrance so much I want everyone around me to be able to smell it too. Projection is moderate, if I get close enough to someone, they will smell it.

The Hedonist Collection is easily my favorite offering from Paragon by Initio Parfums Privés. There’s something about this line that feels calming and balanced, and Paragon fits that character perfectly. The scent opens very aromatic with a gentle touch of pepper. As it develops, the plum note introduces a faint fruity sweetness during the mid and drydown. It’s soft and well controlled, never overpowering. The woody base underneath adds a subtle layer of depth that keeps the fragrance grounded. In the first few minutes I also pick up a very clean musky quality, even though musk isn’t officially listed in the notes. It adds a soft freshness before the fragrance settles into its smoother aromatic character. My only complaint is the performance. After about three hours I no longer notice it projecting around me, although it’s still detectable if someone is standing close. That said, not everything needs to be beast mode. This actually makes Paragon perfect for date nights, especially when you’re just getting to know someone. It stays intimate and inviting rather than loud. Overall it’s a beautiful fragrance that works comfortably year-round, and in my opinion it’s absolutely worthy of a full bottle. Scent: 8.5/10 | Longevity: 7/10 | Projection: 6.5/10 | Overall: 8.5/10

#1181 in my "Tour de Fragrance" Got this as a sample spray. Initio makes good, high quality juice, not doubt about it. I've tried "Oud for Greatness", "Side Effect", both good scents, but this "Paragon" is better. (The only one I haven't liked so far is "Rehab.") This scent has so much perfume oil in it you'll stain clothing if you spray it on anything but skin and your skin will shine. The opening is smooth, woody and calm. Palo Santo is just cuddly stuff and I get it in everything I can. Fragrance, shower gel, shampoo. The stuff is amazing and it's the star of the show here, made more so by the subtle fruitiness of the plum note which keeps the synthetic bergamot from being sharp and annoying as it can often be. The pepper takes a few minutes to come through, but then it really adds some nice spiciness to the mix. The sillage is moderate but it's very long lasting on the skin. My only complaint is the price. As others have noted Lattafa "Vintage Radio" is close enough to this in scent for about a tenth the price. I already have it, so I won't be getting a bottle of this Initio. A friend also swears by Lattafa "Al Nashama" which I haven't tried yet, but so far he hasn't steered me wrong.

I bought a bottle back in 2023, loved the smell but ended up selling it. But now.... 2026 I managed to find a bottle online for £140.. full presentation and sprayed a few times, seems like the other guy I bought from wasn’t a fan of his blind buy, but I’d always love this. I remember smelling it at Selfridges and fell in love. It’s a 2025 batch I’m sure, seems a little weaker.. but I think because it’s a new bottle.. overtime it will develop the more I use it ofc. But I sprayed this on around 4-5 pm. And I was coming back from work, around 6 am, I was getting slight wafts of paragon. I was shocked it was faint but it was there, the dna was there. It lasted over 12 hours!! Very impressive. The scent isn’t beast mode, in terms of projection wise but longevity is excellent. Initial spray sits close to the skin. I’m hoping just like my old bottle the ‘oud’ will start to become more prominent, but just needs time to age in a sense. And it will smell beautiful just like the one I had in the past. This fragrance to me is something I’d wear for special occasions/weddings. Very gorgeous scent profile.

I bought Paragon on New Year's Eve to ring in 2023 with good vibes and ✨spiritual protection✨. how better than with white sage and palo santo? the plum's powerful fruity sweetness starts strong, but it provides aromatic freshness to the entire composition, and transitions beautifully to creamy sandalwood and sweet oud. however it's the palo santo that won me over. Within minutes the blonde wood comes forward as the plum takes several seats. the 6-8 hour good-vibes-only dry down gives aromatic creaminess, unique woodiness, and a touch of sweetness to round out the scent. Paragon is 100% unisex, sillage is moderate and steady. So far I love it, but had it not been NYE and a birthday gift to myself, I would not have spent the dough. 9.5/10. strong marks for casual uniqueness, positive vibes, and niche performance. deductions: for that price you can obviously get several more affordable, even "better" fragrances that best fit your needs. this frag was a splurge for me. regardless, Happy New Year to everyone! Let's smell fine and love each other in 2023 🥳🎉

I'm smitten by this fragrance. It's perfectly unisex to me, it smells..fresh, clean, with a slight hint of fruitiness that gives it a gentle sweetness. It smells, to me, like what heaven would smell like. Quite literally, what heaven would smell like. It's divine, and I can't help but glaze it, because that's how good it smells to me. It smells like someone wearing a beautiful white linen button up shirt, with the first two or three buttons opened up from the top, and some sandy khaki's that fit gently on his body, or if it were a women, a beautiful white linen sundress. It's care free, it's gentle, it's angelic, and ethereal and provides an aura around you that you can't help but want to keep sniffing. This is a perfect signature, all year, all day, and it has great longevity. Projection is moderate and provides a sort of "aura" around you. I like to layer it with Musk Therapy to make it smell even better, and they compliment each other so well, but it's not absolutely necessary. 10/10, I will always have a bottle of this on deck.

Bought a sample of this because I wanted to get Rehab and saw this fragrance, liked the notes so I decided to buy it For the scent, it opens up with a very nostalgic fruity plum with a bit of woods from the palo santo, then dries down to a calming scent keeping that fruity note and also following up with a calming lavender scent and black pepper This fragrance is also very long lasting for over 8+ hours and has a very nice projection There's this mexican tradition called "Dia de la Candelaria" Where you honor the baby Jesus, I have a baby Jesus table that reminds me of this fragrance from the woods, the fruit note, and the calm softening scent of lavender, very nostalgic scent. In conclusion, I thought I wasn't going to like this fragrance but I've been obsessed with this fragrance, you can definitely wear this all year long but i perfer during the spring and autumn time for my personal taste, I barely got this fragrance less than 2 days ago and im obsessed with this fragrance and forever will be. I give this fragrance a 9.8/10

Absolute perfection. I was completely stunned the first time I sprayed Paragon. This isn’t just a fragrance; it’s an experience. The opening bursts with this gorgeous, slightly sweet plum, but it’s the white sage and Palo Santo that steal the show. It smells meditative, spiritual, and deeply calming, yet incredibly sexy and luxurious at the same time. The woods are perfectly blended a bit creamy, smooth, and never harsh. It surrounds you in this beautiful, uplifting scent bubble all day. A true 10/10 masterpiece from Initio that definitely make you wanna wear again and again just to experience it. Regarding longevity is a beast to my skin , I get 10 hours easily with a moderate projection as I like on a perfume. I wear it 3 days now and I have got a tone of compliments too. Note: As I always say please smell a perfume before you buy it , I don’t recommend anything to anyone I’m just stating my personal opinion.

Paragon is one of the most amazing perfumes ever made, period. Looks simple from the notes, but don't let that fool you. The complexity this fragrance has is one of a kind and there are a lot of other notes that my nose can catch which are not listed here. It is very long lasting. It does not have a beast mode silage but it doesn't have to, it would ruin it if it did. If you want to make people faint, you can easily look into some synthetic crap. The Hedonist releases are quite underrated imo. Paragon, Rehab, Musk Therapy and even Power Self are simply incredible. Paragon, however, is something else. It amazes you from the very first sniff until the very end. Maybe, the only con is that it is a bit expensive considering it's not even 100ml. But, if you ask me, it's totally worth the price. It's perfect for every season. I especially love to wear it during spring/summer nights.

After months of Vintage Radio, I finally found a great deal on the official! I do admit, I really didn't like the scent profile when I first opened VR, so I gave it to my mother. A few weeks later, I revisited that bottle and found it macerated into something so addictive and appealing that I took back the bottle 🤭🤭 Paragon is THE masterpiece plum scent IMO, and completely unisex. Now that I have the real deal, there are definitely quality differences from VR as well, but VR can hold you down if you don't find this worth the price. Scent 10/10 Performance: 4-6 hrs for me (on 3-4 sprays, not wasting this stuff!!) 4ft scent bubble first 1-2hrs, 1ft-intimate by 6th hour. Lingers on clothes. Suggested price: If you find this under $200 and like the scent profile (def try b4 buy of course, at least try VR for reference), or if youre ballin enough to pay retail, then grab it!

I really like this and think it’s completely versatile and unique. The opening is sweet and slightly medicinal the lavender is very similar to that in Naxos but as Naxos is sweetened by the Honey, Paragon is sweetened by a juicy plum note. Palo Santo is one of my favourite wood profiles and this in the mid with the black pepper makes it clean and uplifting. Despite the sweetness I don’t feel this ever becomes dense meaning it in my opinion can be worn in any season. Whist I feel this is completely unique I will compare it to Refection Man.. it’s more woody than reflection man and I don’t get any white florals in Paragon but I put it down the how I feel when I wear it and what situations it’s suitable to wear in.. pretty much anywhere. Easy it like but complex enough to intrigue..good longevity but just an average projector. 9/10

My God this is incredible! Tbh the first wear from my decant I was a little "meh" on it, but it really grew on me. Just got my 90ml the other day! It smells like spicy and slightly woody plum. It's just sweet enough to be a date scent, but still dry enough to maintain solid versatility. Not the best choice for hot summer days, but other than that I'd wear it just about anywhere. Longevity is excellent (eternal on clothes), the plum sticks around for wayyy longer than I'd expect. There is this soothing and almost intoxicating nature to this scent. I attribute it to the Palo Santo and hedione. Dry down is very pleasant, oud isn't really detectable to me. Certainly NOT animalic. Overall 9/10, would be higher if not for insane price and 90ml instead of 100ml bottles. Got mine for $200. Please don't pay retail!

This has to be my second best blind-buy discovery, right after Ani Nishane! I’ve tried for so long to find an elevated, refined plum that doesn’t scream mid 2000s frosted lipstick and ratty hair extensions. It’s been quite the journey. One that happily ends with Paragon and no tramp stamp. Perfectly balanced. Perfectly unisex. Completely unique. Airy fresh plum dances effortlessly amongst mood boosting sage and lavender. Palo Santo joins the chorus, but in a subdued way; never overpowering or sharp. Creamy woods with hints of smokiness add mystique and charm. Very rarely am I immediately in love with a fragrance. To say this was love at first sniff might be an understatement. More like an instant obsession. I love it. I might just marry it. True story.

The opening is juicy and bright not overly sweet. The dry down has me hooked. It is resinous, woody, and comforting. Perfectly balanced in its unisex character, a true unisex scent. Dry down evokes imagery that is specific, sitting in the pews of an old gothic church surrounded by the scent of aged wood and quiet incense. There is a nostalgic quirky woodiness that is oddly comforting and lingering. On my skin, it lasts well over 10 hours. One or two sprays fills my 900 square foot condo. My sister has commented that even an hour later, the whole space still smelled like it. Edit: I enjoy spraying before bed at times and it feels like I’m being hugged by a beloved Victorian ghost, nestled in her bosom and lulled to bed sternly.

oh man.... ohhhhhhh maaaaan.... i took one whiff of this and i had to get a bottle INSTANTLY. just one of those parfumes you smell and fall in love with. the creamy woods with the plum is a match made in heaven. i will get 1 bottle of Vintage Radio to compare and to make sure i have enough of this sent profile for a good while, with a little more sweet twist. out of my smal 46 bottles this is easy top 3. Edit: My crush at work gave me a compliment with this, gave her a hug as always. this time she stayed in my arms a liiiiitle longer than usual.... yep i will prob get a back up bottle of this and vintage radio.

I fell in love with Paragon early fall 2025 and today, I revisited her randomly before the gym. It was around 8am when I sprayed and here I am, writing a review at 11pm and I can still smell it. It is very heavy on the plum and Palo Santo. That’s basically all you will get. I did receive a compliment around 11am, unironically after having worked out in it and before I made it home to shower and change. Long story short, this is a beautiful dark sweet and aromatic fragrance that carries with you all day. It’s deep, it’s sensual. It’s amazing! Idc what Initio says, the plum is there!!

just a very well rounded scent with the sweetness of the plum, freshness of the bergamot and black pepper in the opening and the woody notes in the dry down.....imo can be worn any time of the year...very good longevity but relatively weak projection....overall just beautiful, calm and collected scent edit: after having tried it for more....i can say without a doubt that it has beyond than excellent longevity and sillage....it is projecting strongly 2 days after applying it to the tester strip and is just an alluring scent....absolutely fell in love with this scent

Great everyday cool weather frag, the plum on this is plump and juicy and the palo santo brings out a green element to it, really versatile for cold weather, I just wouldn't use it during summer days really. Lasts 10hrs give or take, my only complaint with this one is the projection, I don't know if it's because I have a 2024 batch with 80% alcohol but I feel I have to spray my neck 4/5 to get minimal projection with it (I generally just do 3 neck sprays with any fragrance and I always get good projection). 8.5/10, I'll be using this a lot during this winter.

i have plenty of niche fragrances, and what i can say about paragon, is that it is my absolute favorite. i had it before and traded it away for pdm carlisle, which i then sold and bought this back right away. absolute stunner that is one of the most versatile and unisex scents i own. cant see my collection without this bottle, initio just makes incredible stuff overall. i am never unimpressed or dissatisfied with any of their fragrances. for reference, my top 3 would be 1. paragon 2. side effect and 3. blessed baraka. GO GET U A BOTTLE RIGHT NOW!

I’ve not smelled vintage radio - but I’m sure it’s nice. That said - paragon is a masterpiece in my book. Sweetly spiced sandalwood - very moody and relaxing. It’s a scent for your mind, as much as it is for your olfactory pleasure. It’s one of those scents that you could wear to bed to help achieve sleep a little quicker - but you could also use it for a night out with friends. It doesn’t remind me of anything else - which is a big win. The last scent that made me feel this was was plum japonais (this doesn’t smell like that). A stunner

I bought a sample, wore it twice, and bought it instantly... that should tell you how good this is. The wood and plum in this is superb as in every time I wear this I can’t stop smelling myself and I just want to put more of it on. My girlfriend absolutely loves this fragrance and says she can smell it on me for 8+ hours and says she loves the smell of the wood and pepper. Favorite Initio fragrance, this is heaven in a bottle. (You can get it off a discounter, OLFactory factory LLC has it on sale for $180 right now on their site)

I can see why people get Naxos from the opening. Its a powerful delicious start. The sweetness comes from the Plum instead of honey. Mixed with creamy Sandlewood and Lavender its a similar song at first, but very different overall. In the mid, the Palo Santo is a calming "almost" menthol like light citrus with herbal sage. The Plum stays all way and it ends with fruit, wood and palo santo. Performs well Sillige isn't spectacular but far from poor. Very Unisex the dry down is where it leans a little masculine. 8.2 overall

Where have you been all my life! This is exactly what I have been looking for. A spiritual experience in a fragrance. First of all I have yet to smell anything like it. So when you spray it for the first time, it is almost a new sensory explosion. If you are already in the mindset of spirituality... Energy cleansing, nature, alternative medicine etc. This fragrance Will bring you back to center. It's incredibly aromatic, slightly sweet, definitely blonde wood and expertly blended. Jesus I need $400.

My third Initio and by far the best fit for Texas weather so far! Musky, powdery, and plummy, even tho its not officially listed as an ingredient. Idk what Palo santo smells like solo, but if its the "unknown" xfactor here, i welcome it! This smells like money. not in a loud obnoxious, fills the room as soon as you enter kind of way. Its more of a "your precence will be felt" via the scent trail it leaves behind. Lasts a solid work day on skin and can clearly smell on clothes until you wash them.

Undoubtedly one of the top five best-smelling fragrances I've ever come across, Paragon has almost every quality I love in a fragrance—it's smooth, addictive, creamy, and unique. While it is versatile, Paragon has changed my perception of when fragrances should be worn. I now believe that if you like a fragrance enough, it truly doesn't matter when you wear it. Instead of waiting for specific seasons or occasions, I can now look forward to wearing it whenever and wherever I want.

This is what the progenitor virus should have been. After years of experimenting i have never managed to reach perfection, but initio did. If i was wearing this when Ada was on the bed, things would have gone diffrent. She wouldnt have been dissapointed. This would have made me immune to lava and rpgs. If i was wearing this Chris Redfield would have stayed in his cage. I cannot express how good of a fragrance this is, all i can say is not milions, not bilions, trillions.

I have had Lattafa AL Nashama a long time (and I love it!) but had never actually smelled Paragon until today. They definitely have similarities - the sweet plum, especially - but while the loud, sweet, juicy, plum liquor of Al Nashama is how I want to smell on a night out in a dark cocktail bar, the more balanced and slightly quieter Paragon, with it's woody aromatic base, is more of a cold season everyday wear for me. Both will have a top spot in my winter wardrobe :)

I have a friend who gags at every fragrance I have him sniff, including costly niche fragrances to various designers. I let him sniff Paragon on my skin today, and he said, "MMMHHHHH, that's so good." And to my shock, he even wanted to buy this, but as soon as he heard the price, he changed his mind :D This is a very unique smell and not a safe blind buy, for sure. Signature scent worthy in my opinion. You can wear this almost all season, except very hot summer days.

Hot take: I'm actually not a fan of the plum note. There is too much going on in the opening. The dry down after the plum note dissipates is just gorgeous. I get a lot of Palo Santo, with a hint of Sandalwood and Sage in the drydown. It feels like you've just spiritually cleansed your body lol. I will say though that buying Palo Santo, sage or just incense sticks is waay cheaper than this perfume but nonetheless a good offering in this Hedonist line up.

Wow! This stuff honestly smells like heaven. It’s woody, fruity, and almost spiritual — like you’ve just stepped out of a healing ritual in the middle of a peaceful forest. There’s this creamy, woody softness that wraps around you, and it doesn’t shout, but somehow everyone notices. It feels like calm confidence in a bottle. Seriously, I can't stop smelling myself, bc it's addictive in the most grounding way. And it does smell indeed like the heavens.

I adore this. I love catching the scent throughout the day. Wifey loves it on me. Therefore, this is a win for me! A pleasant, uplifting scent that lasts all day. Yes it’s office-safe if you go easy on the sprays. Pretty safe for three seasons, i can see how this would definitely be too much in the heat of summer. Is it expensive? Yes. Is it worth it? As always that’s up to you. Cheers to your scent journey, wherever it may take you! :)

It’s incredible. In the opening, you can smell a faint Oud note but with a blast of sweet and juicy plums. After a minute, the oud disappears and you are left with a beautiful creamy and fruity fragrance. There’s almost a green quality to it, not like grass but more like an unripe fruit that tastes sweet. So unique and unlike anything i’ve ever smelt before. It’s still super mass appealing, which is mind blowing to me.

BAYILDIM BAYILDIM BAYILDIM Böyle bir kokunun icat edilmiş olması inanılmaz, ilk kokladığım anda beni alıp götürdü. Mükemmel yumuşaklıkta bir odunsuluk ve aromatiklik var. Erik yerken, yeni cilalanmış ve monte edilmiş bir ahşap parkeye bir ilkbahar günü ılık bir odada adım atıyorsunuz gibi kokuyor. Özellikle o erik kokusunun yavaş yavaş belirginleşmesi.... İnanılmaz bir koku... Ama nedense koklayanlar pek beğenmiyor??

The opening is so damn good wow Incredible blend of plum and lavender this is so smooth. Everyone saying there's no plum but there's definitely something purple smelling added in with the lavender. Have had plenty of lavender scents and really feel there's something else added into into that seems like plum. Dry down is just as good as the opening. This scent is so insanely good! Great projection and lasts awhile

This is a challenging yet sophisticated scent. Absolutely beautiful. Weird but it’s kinda a play dough fruity smell with a bit of woods. After wearing it a lot it def has a sweet woody plum vibe that you just can’t get anywhere else. It’s really good. I find myself wanting to wear it on rainy days and when I’m feeling I want a bit of a unique touch. 9.1/10 good frag, unique , good performance

My love and affinity for this fragrance is unmatched by anything. It smells so clean, but more than clean, it smells pure even. It invokes a sense of calmness and unusual nostalgia despite the fact that I've never smelled anything similar to this. This fragrance is perfect, so perfect that I will buy this fragrance for full retail, and I wholeheartedly believe that it is worth retail price.

Love it! I didn't detect any plum but that is not a problem at all. Everything done just right and balance. The scent is so calm, soothing, and so uplifting. It last 8-10 hours on my skin and leave very nice scent trail all the way. I never liked this house but Paragon is my first (It is that good). EDIT: This performs better over time, so let it sit!

Lovely powdery lavender, warm, relaxing and creamy. Sweet but definitly not gourmand. Not as masculine and aromatic as most lavender scents. Paragon feels way more woody then aromatic. It stays forever on my wool knits but not beast mode on skin, 6 hours tops. With moderate sillage. For me it's an absolute love. I will be getting a full bottle asap.

This is in my top 5 perfume right now. It does everything. Its so calming. There is nothing about it I don't like. I love everything about it. Such a calming and relaxing scent but very nice at the same time. I would give it 8. It lasts all day on my skin. I still don't know how people can judge their own projects and sillage but this is very nice.

Super plum forward, in a perfect combo with palo santo. Fantastic fragrance that gives you peace of mind and relax. Amazing longevity, good sillage. When I tested it on skin I could not stopped smelling it and I was basically forced to buy a full bottle, 0 regrets. And no, Paragon has nothing to do with Naxos.

Initio Paragon is one of a kind perfume. It creates delightful scent bubble that lasts all day if used on clothes. When you think its gone, you will smell it whenever you move. It's not loud, its subtle and long lasting. Appropriate for office, special 0event, casual, church, dates, gym, etc.

Never thought I'd be such a big fan of plum. It feels so juicy to the point where I can taste it. So delectable. Normally, I react badly to sandalwood (I gagged when I wore Santal 33), however, this is blended to the point where I can barely smell it. Very similar vibe to Comme Des Garcons 2.

This fragrance really does it for me. I think what makes it special is the combo of the sweetness of plum (and Im usually not a fan of sweet fragrances) mixed with the more meditative and fresh palo santo, sage, bergamot and lavender, with the oud and sandalwood rounding it off perfectly.

Paragon surprised me in the best way — clean, luminous, and deeply comforting. It’s fresh without being boring, spiritual without being distant. The soft woods and lavender make it feel like calm confidence bottled. I didn’t expect to love it this much.