Invictus

From the market point of view, there are several types of cologne’s users: those who little understand (or understand just the basics), seeking only a good scent, and the fragrance addicts, art scholars, who want to know the story behind each creation. Doing a comparison, in a more simplistic way, I would say it's the same thing that happens with consumers who buy a product by price or brand and those who give preference to environmentally friendly products, organic, etc. Within this context, before speaking about the fragrance itself, with its notes and impressions, it is important to speak of the concept and the marketing activity that exists behind this release. Because, since the launch of Ultraviolet for Men (1999) - with its bolder scent - and the sales success of Black XS (2005), the brand reached a completely different male audience than was usual until then, with the faithful users of the classic Paco Rabanne for Men (1973). As a result, the brand began to be envisioned by younger men, eager for more modern, nocturnal, and differentiated colognes. And the latest releases prove this: 1 Million, 1 Million Intense, Black XS L’exces, in addition to the full range of women's fragrances, which followed the same trend. Invictus hits the market to perform more than personal satisfaction. It comes with the responsibility of supporting personal projects of sportsmen from all over the world, involving internet users, in its Invictus Award. Basically, it is a competition in which were gathered seven athletes, from seven distinct nationalities, practitioners of different sports to experience challenges and persuade the internet users to vote for them, in pursuit of the prize of 50 thousand dollars, to be reversed in the realization of their social projects. The winner of the first season (Yes, there will be a second season!) was Ricardo Carpentieri, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor who lives in Milan for some years. Once you understand the story that exists behind this release, it becomes easier to understand the creation of the advertising campaign that brought, as a representative of this concept of "invincibility", the Australian sportsman Nick Youngquest, who helped guide the candidates during the whole competition, was their mentor, transmitted the values of sport, etc. Now, let's talk about the fragrance: forget any attempt to compare it with 1 Million! Invictus is a cologne of fresh and sensual aspects. I would put it into a fruity-woody classification, which is composed of notes of grapefruit peel, marine accord, and Bay leaves, balanced by notes of patchouli, ambergris, and guaiac wood. In time: some specialized websites list other notes, such as Mandarin orange (output), Jasmine (in the heart), and oakmoss (at the base). However, this information does not exist on the official website and therefore I think it is unfounded. The aroma of grapefruit peel and bay leaves is very rich in the first few minutes, while the marine accord gives a certain freshness that permeates throughout the evolution. After about 20 minutes, the fruity tone gives way to the sweet brilliance of ambergris, coupled with the creamy-smoky of the guaiac wood. It is worth mentioning that the sweet tone of ambergris is very synthetic, even because, it has been reproduced in the laboratory in recent years. Anyway, the fragrance can be quite versatile, thanks to its marine content. Finally, I couldn't let talking about the bottle. Although it seems to me that there is a movement to simplify the bottles of today, making them very straight, cylindrical and/or discolored, Paco Rabanne still believes in the legend (beyond true) that a large part of worldwide sales of perfumes is due to the beauty and creativity of their bottles, together with what the fragrance represents. And in this case, the bottle has everything to do with the topic, in addition to being much more beautiful closely than in the pictures in the media. Working with a median projection and lasting very well, Invictus is beautiful inside and out, which makes it a real trophy to your collection.

This one is a complete surprise to me. A pleasant one at that. I don't usually like a crowdpleaser, and tend to gravitate to something with a little more bite. Smokey, sharp, etc. Not necessarily challenging fragrances, but more interesting ones. I also know what I like and can usually judge based on notes how I'll feel about a fragrance, and based on these notes, this should be a hard no for me. I tend to really dislike patchouli. I view it as being like salt, as something that should be there in reasonable amounts to enhance and support other notes. I don't want to eat a big stinking bowl of salt. The issue there is that usually, even when other people can barely smell a patchouli note, it attacks me like a hobo's unwashed armpit. I'm not overly fond of Ambergris for the same reason, and find that oakmoss is also becoming one of these notes that is never used in moderation anymore, so I avoid all three usually, if I can. This one showed up as a free sample with some other samples I bought, and I couldn't believe it had any of those notes. It's clean, fresh, soapy without smelling like soap. It has this very 90s mens' product vibe to it, which I found pleasant but unimpressive when I sprayed it on. Cut to several hours later, and every time I move I get a little wave of the smell, and it's just addicting. It smells like you just showered, put on hair product or deodorant, and then threw on freshly laundered clothes, and yet there's this really appealing spice to it. It never gets powdery or cloying or heavy. It's just so bizarrely appealing. Performance is great for an EDT. Not sure how it would perform in cold weather, but on a very warm day down here by the border, it performed beautifully. It had gentle sillage but good lasting power, and as I moved I got whiffs throughout the day, even twelve hours later. It's definitely masculine but not obnoxiously so. I tend to like a masc-leaning unisex because men's fragrances can get a little cartoonishly "masculine" to the point of being stinky (nobody needs to smell like horse jizz, and I'll die on that hill), but I'd say this is solidly a mens' fragrance, and one that lives in that perfect sweet spot. Overall, super pleased with this one and ordered a decant of it. Will probably FB this one, if it proves versatile enough. Really loved this one. Highly recommend if you're after a reliable, inoffensive mens' freshy that remains interesting enough.

SUMMARY: 8/10 Sweet watery fragrance with a subtle woody/floral base that develops as it dries down. Basic but enjoyable beginner friendly everyday fragrance. Solid performance. RAMBLING THOUGHTS: The opening to Invictus is a fresh aquatic profile with a touch of citrus/fruitiness and a sweetness that some people can barely detect and others find to be very prominent. The sweetness does quickly start to take over as Invictus starts to settle, but it is a subtle and pleasant sweetness that is well mixed with the other notes and never becomes too cloying (though for some people who are sensitive to sweet fragrances, it can come close). As the fragrance continues to dry down, it starts to take on more of a subtle woody/floral profile that is very pleasant, in no small part because it mixes well with the sweetness that sticks around for the duration. The performance of this fragrance is great. It isn't really a loud room filler (unless you go really heavy on the sprays), but it creates a nice little bubble that stays around for ages, and sticks around on skin/clothes all day. Though it is a fragrance you can go "nose blind" to very easily. So while you may only capture occasion wafts of the fragrance, trust that anyone entering that bubble will be smelling it clearly for hours. This isn't the best fragrance, or the most creative fragrance, but it is a very safe and pleasant fragrance that deserves a spot in anyone's collection. Great everyday fragrance for beginners as well.

It's been out for 3 years and it's popularity is slowing down. All the more reason for people to revisit it. I liked it when I tested a while back and purchased a small bottle 2 weeks ago. The bottle is cheesy and Invictus is slightly over priced. It's funny reading all the negative reviews. These are the same people that wished One million didn't have a bubble gum smell, had a fresher summer citrus vibe for added versatility, and a mature woody aquatic note. Guess what? that's exactly what Invictus is and they still complain. Imo this fragrance ticks a lot of boxes and avoids pitfalls that would make girls dislike it. Musky smokey old man vibe? Nope. Thick cologny after shave stench? Nope. Pine smell like a cheap car freshner? Nope. Bad leather odor like old shoes? Nope. Toilette bowl mint smell like Versace Eros? Nope. Like many Paco Rabanne fragrances this is sweet, lasts a long time and girls love it. Score = 7/10 Invictus Aqua = 8 out of 10

Poor old Invictus catching so much hate now days. What so many newer and inexperienced people in this hobby don’t realize is you wouldn’t have a lot of the fragrances you know and love if it wasn’t for this pioneer of a fragrance. Yes Invictus paved a big part for the men’s fragrance industry and so many other designers have drawn tons of inspiration from this legendary fragrance. When this came out in 2013 there wasn’t anything else quite like it in men’s fragrance. It took the men’s olfactory by storm with that powerful rich, sweet masculine freshness. This stuff use to be one of a kind and a true original with its powerful intoxicating smell and sleek modern looking trophy bottle on top of its strong name. In todays standards Invictus gets trashed on like it’s trying to be something else or it’s played out when in fact Invictus is the reason a lot of the fragrances in the world exist now days.. A true pioneer fragrance indeed.

I'm super late to the party on this one but want to give it some love because people hate on it like crazy. First, I've owned Rasasi Hawas and Montblanc Legend Spirt for a while, and personally, I think Invictus smells better than both. Hawas is comparatively sweeter to my nose and feels more like a date night scent, while Legend Spirit comes off as more of a deodorant spray. I think I like the original Born in Roma just a little better than this, but I'm not sure. Need to think about it.. but I rank them both as "loves" as of now. And while I'm comparing this to other scents, I don't understand the comparison with Azzaro's Wanted. All that being said, this smells great, isn't overly sweet, doesn't cost much, and would smell appropriate for most of the year. It's clean, soapy, mildly sweet, versatile.... all the things. If you like fresh, clean, versatile fragrances, I don't see how you can go wrong with this.

I love the smell of bay leaves. When I smell this cologne, my nose tells me that I am smelling a bay leaf by the sea. Then I feel a citrusy sweetness. I can only perceive the synthetic bubble gum smell in the scent when I think of it as smelling like that. Conditioning has a great effect on the sense of smell and the associations of smells. The bay leaf scent in Invictus may be causing this perfume to be perceived as synthetic. The smell of bay leaves is really interesting. I have heard from a few people who smelled bay leaves that bay leaves have a smell similar to plastic. According to this comment, when I smell bay leaves, I can smell plastic as well. My advice to friends who will try this perfume for the first time is to smell the perfume without paying attention to synthetic and bubble gum conditioning. I think it is very easy to like Invictus. A perfume created for general appreciation is exactly that.

Guess what? It's 2020 and I've never smelled Invictus because of hatred and negative reviews like it's a kid's scent, ultra generic, pure synthetic, etc.. So today I ordered it blind-buy. I am very flexible, I'm a big fan of Fahrenheit, Kouros, Azzaro pour Homme, Versace the Dreamer, Paco Rabanne Pour Homme, but I also prefer Versace Dylan Blue, Eros, Prada LR Carbon or Versace pour Homme. It should arrive tomorrow. Will see! 😂 _____ Later Edit: I've been wearing invictus for five days in a row now. This is addictive! Works in every situation: office, jogging, cycling, drinking a beer with the lads, going shopping, running errands or simply staying at home, this is perfect! Plus my wife loving it. Very good havy projection 3h+ and 12h+ longevity. If I stick my nose to the skin I can smell this even after 24h. Now I'm sorry that I lost 7 years not wearing Invictus! Absolutely love this! 😍

Looks like we struck a nerve! It's now clear where the sensitivity truly lies when you can be so easily baited. But is this game really serving you? You are, after all, pitting yourself against people with more time on their hands than you. What is going on in your personal life that causes you to continuously engage in such needlessly aggressive behavior towards strangers on the internet? Nothing, I'm sure, right? Certainly nothing you would be so forthcoming as to reveal, as doing so would weaken your facade :) By all means, continue your toothless barking at the world. Keep telling everyone else they're wrong, stupid, beneath you. Your nose is superior! Entrench yourself further and further in this weird energy you carry with you. I endeavor to see what further you have to say, and where this long game leads you.

**Woman's POV*** My favourite ever men’s scent, my taste in men’s scents may be basic (my favourite before this one was the original one million) idc it smells GOOD. This smells almost just like the original One Million before the reformulations, it’s now just a watered down with honey and sweet water mess of what it was. Fresh, sexy, aquatic with some creamy qualities.. soo snuggly. I’m sensitive to very aromatic scents and this one is just so lovely. Basically the original One Million sexy sweet musky base with Marine Notes, no sharp edges. Fiancé gets so many compliments when he wears this he complains he needs to stop wearing it so take that how you will. If you want her to hold on a bit longer during that hug goodbye at the end of a date wear this.

I am super late to the party here, but WOW—this is an outstanding fragrance. Opens soapy, sweet, floral, and musky without overdoing any accord. More balanced than its "bubblegummy" relatives like Hawas Ice and Prada Paradigme. Invictus leans more soapy-floral, making it less candied than the other two. Hawas Ice is too sweet-bubblegummy, while Paradigme has that sharp guaiac bitterness in the drydown that smells like burnt rubber—whereas the same note works better in Invictus due to its composition. Invictus' drydown is musky, salty, woody, while staying fresh, floral, and soapy—very addictive. It has enough thickness to be worn up or down. Definetely in my current top 5 freshies. ✅Excellent

To iblame, this smells absolutely nothing like honey. That is a ludicrous comment. Smells nothing like bubblegum either, but people just love to parrot what they've heard others say. This is an incredible scent for pragmatic people who just want to smell good. A great scent for sunny days with blue sky. Fresh, clean, and crisp. Forget all of the fragrance snobs who can't seem to handle that their overpriced Creed or Roger Bird can't match up to a £50 for 200ml bottle of this legendary scent. If someone had bottled this up fifteen years ago and put a Creed label on it, people would be buying this for £340 for 100ml today. People are easily fooled. Don't fall for the nonsense.

Fred, what if you spent less time telling other people what they’re “incorrectly” smelling, and more time actually contributing your own unique perspective on how you perceive the things you’re smelling? You can moan all you want about how Fahrenheit doesn’t smell at all of petrol, how Invictus doesn’t smell anything like bubblegum, how the Kenzo is certifiably NOT SWEET, but when you’re the dissenting voice amongst a vocal many, what battle do you think you’re winning? All you get is a page full of reviews that largely consists of militantly asserting that anyone who disagrees with you isn’t right in the head. Is that really your fashion? It doesn’t wear well on you.

Paco Rabane gets has this negative connotation of childish and uninspired. They make fun fragrances that perform well, appeal to the masses, and do not break the bank. They do what designers are designed to do. Invictus is no different. This one genuinely reminds me of that sweet and salty beach smell. Super fresh and succulent. Many compared it to cotton candy by the ocean and I'd have to agree. Its fantastic and one of my most complimented. Performance is good, nothing mind blowing but you won't have to worry about it fadding. Sillage is pretty solid, but it really shines in the heat. 9/10, damn near perfect, lets be honest.

I think it is just one of those fragrances that just will forever fit in that timeless tier of fragrances i could name a few such as le male, blue jeans<3, sauvage( popular for a reason)etc... my point being that its just one of thoses fragrances you just can't go wrong with its like the civic of fragrances, reliable, nice looking, gets a ton of compliments, is well priced imo, you just can't go wrong with, it might just be because i love the sea notes, ambergris and mandarin but there is free will for a reason so i put my opinion out there, beautiful fragrance 8.5/10.

It's very surprising that this fragrance only has a 3.77 out of 5 rating when I feel it deserves at bare minimum a 4 This frag is a very good sweet freshie that does it's job in pulling compliments. Projects above avg and last a little over avg but for the price you can get better but if you can get it for a good price, go get it. I perfer this over Hawas even if hawas is cheaper and projects more. I'm not sure what else to say but it's just a good fragrance and if I was able to find it for a better price I'd buy it again, one of my favourites.

I have a soft spot for this. It smells very good. This fragrance was mimicked by a lot of companies when it came out. This was the first fragrance I bought with my own money when I was 23. I bought this first week it was out in 2013 at Macys. It was my signature scent for a whole year. I bought this when I moved to Vegas. Every time I smell it I go right back to there. I just started dating my future wife at the time. I had D&G Light Blue and this. This is one of my favorite fragrances. Projection: 8/10 Performance: 8/10 Smell: 10/10

Nice daily fragrance. The projection and longevity are pretty decent but nothing crazy either. Smells similar to the scent profile given by Fragrantica - a citrusy, ocean-like, sort of woody fragrance. I wear this all the time, as it's very versatile and works in most cases and places. The price can be sort of shocking at times, so try and get it on sale if you can. As Rabanne says, it does make you feel powerful and like a hero. My girlfriend likes this smell and has complimented me on it plenty of times. :)

THE most influential male fragrance of the 2010's. The amount of times other brands have tried to replicate this is isnane. That mix of sweet, masculine, smooth, rugged, aquatic, all wrapped up into one. INVICTUS has longevity and an alluring scent, hence why it is such a hot seller. Sexy, going out scent. This is the most complimented fragrance in my collection, and I have been buying it since it came out. Others copy it, but none come close. INVICTUS you will ALWAYS be famous!

I like Invictus, and would recommend it as a spring and summer fragrance. Although the 'perfume pyramid' shows sea notes as the most notable smell, to me, the aquatic notes, mainly reside in the opening, with the dry down being a bit more leafy and citrusy. Definitely not as sweet as some people say. Overall, I do think it smells like a pledge duster, but its a classy fragrance that I love to wear in warmer months and worth a purchase. Also the bottle looks cool.