Invictus Legend

Having reviewed some of the Phantom line, it's now time to move over to the Invictus line. Now the Invictus fragrances are something I do have some experience with. I've reviewed Aqua 2018, Aqua 2024, Platinum, and Victory Elixir. With all of them having been positive reviews, I'm hoping that Legend will continue the trend. I know it's discontinued, but if it's as good as I'm hoping, then I wouldn't mind hunting for it. Let's get into it. Scent: The opening is fresh, aquatic, and citrusy. The primary notes I get are sea notes, sea salt, grapefruit, and bay leaf. The strongest of the notes are the sea notes and sea salt. The sea notes open up the fragrance with a big blast of oceanic freshness. It is similar to what I got yesterday from the opening of Phantom Elixir, or another one of my summertime favorites, Invictus Aqua. The sea salt note follows closely behind and marries the sea notes accord to emulate the aroma of salty ocean spray. Not too heavy on the salt, just enough to give that impression of ocean water. Up next is the grapefruit and bay leaf. The grapefruit adds a supporting citrusy note, again very reminiscent of Invictus Aqua since it shares that grapefruit note. It's not overbearing and doesn't overshadow the aquatic notes, but it is noticeable and persistent in a good way. Lastly, the bay leaf is detectable in the background as a subtly green and spicy accord to help add a bit more depth. It's worth mentioning that the dry down has a very distinct and clean "fresh laundry" accord. So much so that I would bet there are some unlisted ozonic or aldehyde notes in this fragrance, it's that strong. The dry down is sweet, woody, and aquatic. The primary notes I get are red amber, guaiac wood, sea notes, and grapefruit. The strongest of the notes are the red amber and guaiac wood. The guaiac wood takes point in the dry down with a woody and sweet accord. This note is shared by the original Invictus, and helps it to retain that "bubblegum" sweetness that Invictus is known for. Behind the guaiac wood is the red amber note, adding more sweetness in a rich and balsamic way. This is followed by the sea notes and grapefruit. The sea notes are still present in the dry down, but act more as a supporting note, keeping that aquatic freshness from the opening going albeit decidedly less salty due to the sea salt note having burned off. Lastly, the grapefruit, like the sea notes, is still present in the background as a supporting note to help retain some of the citrusy zing from the opening. That "fresh laundry" accord is still present in the dry down as well, just to a lesser extent than the opening, meaning that hidden aldehyde or ozonic note is still there. I saw someone compare this dry down to the opening of YSL's Y EDP, and that's not entirely inaccurate, to be honest. Performance: Projection within the first hour is strong at around 4-6 feet. Sillage is strong as well, with an easily noticeable scent trail. After 3-4 hours the projection and sillage were still the same. At the 7-8 hour mark the projection was light, about arms length, and the scent trail was just barely hanging on. The fragrance became a skin scent shortly thereafter. When to wear: Invictus Legend is a spring/summer fragrance that can be worn during the day or evening. This is definitely a casual-wear fragrance, and wouldn't be my pick for anything intimate or formal. It would, however, be a great pair with a t-shirt and shorts, or even to the office, provided you don't overload on the sprays. Blind buy: If you like the Invictus line, particularly the original or Invictus Aqua, this is a safe blind buy for you. It's essentially Invictus Aqua but with more of the sweetness from the original Invictus and some added aldehydic notes. Final verdict: If I'm being honest, aquatic/oceanic fragrances have been growing on me recently. Good aquatic fragrances, I should say; and Invictus Legend is one of them. The opening had a super fresh and clean aquatic feeling paired with that "fresh laundry" accord to help boost the freshness even more, making it exceedingly invigorating and refreshing. It then underwent a transformation in the dry down, bringing it back in line with the hallmark sweetness that Invictus is known for, while keeping enough of the aquatic and aldehydic vibes from the opening to set it apart. Altogether, a very enjoyable experience. Performance is about on par with what I've experienced with the rest of the Invictus line; 3-4 hours of solid projection and sillage, and lasting around 8 before fading away into a skin scent. Versatility is above-average with Invictus Legend; it'll work well as a casual or office fragrance in the warmer months, but it's not something I'd pick in colder weather or for intimate/formal settings. When it comes to mass appeal, Invictus Legend, much like everything else in the Invictus line, is a knockout. This is one of those fragrances that will undoubtedly get compliments when sprayed correctly. In conclusion, although I already own several Invictus fragrances, this is going to be another I add to the collection. It's going to be hard to get my hands on since it's been discontinued for at least a few years at this point, but it's good enough that I'm going to make an effort to find it. Scent: 9/10 Longevity: 7/10 Sillage: 8/10

Unlike most “aquatic” or “marine” scents. I’ve smelt like ADG Produndo EDP ADG Parfum and Jimmy Choo Man Aqua. This is very much more prominent on the Salt note. And I don’t hate it, it’s different. But it still retains the “Invictus” sweet quality without being overly (Invictus platinum) and with amber and wood it smells layered well. It’s salty, sweet and a touch dark at the base in a good balanced way and through the dry down it’s actually a wonderful scent that lingers. Performance was surprising. It’s actually very long lasting. Unsure of sillage but it’s a unique and very nice warm weather scent. I’ll keep this with my ADG Profundo EDP and ADG Parfum. Def try before you buy. I got Invictus testers of the whole line in samples off eBay, Invictus, Intense, Legend, Platinum, Victory. I bought Platinum, then I bought Victory Elixir without smelling it bc I didn’t really mess with the chocolate vibe from victory, smelled very chocolate Axe body spray from the middle school days. And I was right to get Victory Elixir, and bought this discontinued Legend on eBay for $125. I sold Platinum, the boozy sweetness was too much for me in the warmer days.

This fragrance was personally bought, because I was looking to add to my collection. Upon first sniff I was instantly captivated. Yeah I can pick up the synthetic notes all around,but it’s really well done and blended that it’s not bothersome. I get a big whiff of grapefruit/citrus, for about 3 minutes followed by a rush of saltiness, then comes a oceanic esc smell that refreshes that saltiness. The fragrance stays blue for the first 30 minutes to an hour. Then you get that bay leaf that adds a green, sort of floral vibe. As the mid keeps going on the projection all around is great. Nice compliments, can be overpowering so I recommend 5 sprays. I get a warm amber, sort of not really spicy, woody notes. All around the “bubble gum” sweetness is there but to me it’s more of the fruity grapefruit note and not a bubble gum like smell. Lasts on me for 9 hours, by the 7th hour it is a skin scent, if sprayed on clothes this can last days there. Overall love this scent. I’m an aquatic lover so this is right in my boat. Mind you this review I’m barely posting was before COVID-19. Sillage-9 Longevity-10 Projection-9 Overall- 9.5

Invictus Legend by Paco Rabanne: Maybe my favourite from the Invictus line, rivaled only by Invictus Victory Elixir, although both can be worn depending on the season. Unfortunately this has been discontinued but apparently Maison Alhambra's Victorioso Legend/Myth is a good alternative though I'm yet to try it. This starts off with the grapefruit and salty sea notes, maybe the best take on this note I've ever come across and I've tried a lot of marine scents. It's loud and somewhat sweet, keeping that Invictus DNA but it isn't overbearing and the marine side balances the sweetness well. The bay leaf and geranium come through before falling to an amber base but that marine style of Invictus stays all the way through. Incredible performance and one of my all-time favourites. Update: I have now tried Victorioso Legend (now Myth) from Maison Alhambra and it's by far the best clone/alternative to IL both on skin and in the air its about 90% accurate with decent performance. Top notes: Marine, salt, grapefruit Middle notes: Bay leaf, geranium Base notes: Guaiac wood, amber 4.5/5

I paid a full price for 100ml bottle and while it's an easy 'love' from me, aside from the fact it performs and gets you compliments there's not much else I can say about it and I don't mean that as a negative. it is what it is and that's why you're getting it in the first place (at least I did). now, how can I put it... one of my friends always pick Real Madrid in FM games and he couldn't care less for youth system or scouting in lower leagues because he simply does couple of 70 mill. transfers every season and that's it. there's no risk or depth in the way he plays the game because he isn't looking for that. he isn't looking for challenge or unique experience, he's looking for the easiest way to win. well, if he was interested in fragrances, he would certainly love this one because to me, Invictus Legend is Real Madrid among fragrances. both are safe bets, you know exactly why you're getting it and what you're getting from it. everyone will love this on you which means Invictus Legend's job is done.