Ultraviolet

Ultraviolet by Paco Rabanne: One must Truely Love Violet in a perfume to really appreciate this gorgeous perfume & personally I love Violets!! This is very much in the same group as the original Lolita Limpicka,The only difference being that the latter as a strong Liquorice note which I find intriguing!! On The First spray of Ultraviolet I get a cozy almost fizzy Peach smell,followed by a warm Peppery aroma & then bam my favourite part the Violet makes herself present as she dances now all the way through the fragrance,like a beautiful Ballerina gracefull & free!! The dry Down is indeed very different to the fizzy sweet Peachy start,As by this stage the Peach note is all gone & It's a Woody warm note that now takes the centre stage pushing the Violet into the back ground,before they both magical dance together & form another truely marvellous aroma!! This Fragrance sure has many different facets & each stage of It's development absolutely intriguing!! Kind of like Guerlains Insolence which is another winner for me & I Absolutely Adore!! So if you like the other two Perfumes that I've mentioned in this review you really will also love Ultraviolet!! When this Perfume was first launched there really wasn't any other Violet Perfume that could match It's intensity or It's make-up!! Even yet I find this little beauty intriguing & the UFO bottle design certainly unique & it does take a little while to master it,but once you do It's rather well worth it!! I Also find the silage & lasting power extremely good at sixteen + hours!! & when I wear it the compliments always come rolling in!! So yes for me Ultraviolet is a true winner indeed!!

I doubt that violet would be the highest voted note on this site if it wasn't for the name of the fragrance. It's there, but this is quite different from the usual violet perfumes. If you expect a realistic violet, you might be disappointed. Ultraviolet isn't named after the flower after all, but after a part of the light spectrum that isn't visible to the human eye. This concept, together with the fact that Ultraviolet was created in 1999 and comes in a then-futuristic bright purple bottle, describes the scent well. It is abstract, intentionally synthetic, almost otherworldly and neon bright. It has a similar vibe to Gucci Rush and also shares some notes with it. They're not the same though, and while I love both, I think Ultraviolet is a little less in-your-face and therefore easier to wear. To my nose the main note in this is osmanthus. Smooth and cool, almost sterile, but also fruit-tinged, with a texture somewhere between suede and plastic. Dewy light violet and a very slightly soapy rose create a cold floral bouquet, while apricot amps up the fruitiness and adds a hint of lactonic notes. Red and black pepper notes add a fiery, spicy warmth. Vanilla, amber and patchouli constitute a substantial base and make Ultraviolet an intense, long-lasting scent. This is surely not for everyone, but if you have a soft spot for the late 90s and aren't afraid of some obviously artificial notes, I highly recommend this. I find it quite artistic and unique, but also flirty and sexy and still modern.

This is a deep, mysterious, enchanting fragrance that is romantic in a post-modern way. I say post-modern because all the notes scream equally strong which makes it hard to define. To begin with, coriander is very strong . As a matter of fact, so strong that it almost resembles carnation. Then, a creamy blend of apricot and almond comes and makes this scent sit on the skin well. In between this contradiction, you can feel rosewood, roses and vanilla. And then let's not forget the frontman: violet... The result is ethereal and outwordly and I love it on other people. It is a very beautiful scent but I regret to say it is not for me... I have very fair skin that goes well with powdery florals and warm spices to some extent is tolerable on my skin as in Ralph Lauren Romance. I really love to smell it but unfortunately it triggers my migraine and the mixture of coriander and strong violets gets clogging and makes me feel dizzy. It has a very long sillage and you can sense quality in this fragrance. If you like the fragrance at the initial spray and if you have migraine or allergies, just spray it at the tips of your hair and wear it for a day. Only buy it if you are still fine by the end of the day. update: I bought it and I'm loving it. Very durable on clothes. Perfect in cold weather. I smell the bitter lily of the valley flowers and lilac in the opening mixed with some deliciously soft, airy vanilla.. Maybe, that impression comes from corriander and jasmine.

Lovely...the peppers blend so exquisitely with the powdery violet thanks to just the right amount of vanilla. I get a little bit of Violet Blonde and My Queen in this. It is actually what I was hoping Generous Violet to smell like, but that turned out to be a screechy ozonic mess. I really love this because it is a lovely blend of old style with a bit of new. It is a soft spicy powdery cloud with medium longevity and sillage a bit on the light side. Later on in the drydown, there is a little more patchouli than I care for, but the violet holds it own. A very lovely little violet perfume, and a little bit vintage Ultra sexy! -UPDATE- I feel that I have more to say about this gorgeous perfume since the last time I wore it... Simply put, this is as equivalent to a fluffy, ultra soft cashmere sweater as anything can get. I am REALLY falling in love with this scent. It's soft but sultry, super sexy violet concoction...powdery, peppery, spicy gorgeousness. I really am looking forward to wearing this in the Fall and Winter months, it is just so cosy, like an enormous furry super-sized fluffy blanket enveloping you with a spicy ultraviolet cloud.Very vintage and purple smelling...I feel like I am wrapped up in a luxurious extra large mink coat. I am sitting here on a Friday night drinking my lime-a-rita in a martini glass wearing this and one of my vintage chiffon peignoirs, feeling like a true femme fatale!;)

This scent has taken me completely by surprise! It's really lovely! The initial spritz was rather unpleasant and aldehydic, it smelt a little sour to me and I thought it would be a scrubber, but after about 15 minutes it started to settle down and I got a beautiful peppery violet smell which kept wafting up at me for hours to come. This is so utterly unusual that I don't know how to describe the notes. To my nose, it gets better with time, I can't stop inhaling my wrist. Ok for what it's worth I can smell violet predominately but there are woody undertones and a powder note which is mature and lovely and doesn't dominate the fragrance, nor does it overwhelm you with girlyness. There are floral notes in here and I get a waft of osmanthus. The fragrance has an addictive and very warm attractiveness to it. The flacon lets this lovely fragrance down, as it looks like a big ugly egg. Surely PR could've had a little more imagination instead of creating a bottle which reminds me of something out of the Flintstones. That apart, this is beautiful, classy and elegant. Longevity is quite amazing and silage stays very close. Value for money is amazing as this costs very little and smells like a million dollars!

The purple liquid in a UFO! Ultraviolet certainly smells like its name, as silly as that sounds, its a smell but its just so abstract and unusual that it doesn't really smell like a perfume, it smells sort of "digital" My current bottle is from 2006 and is made in France, however, the bottle i got bought for a birthday present was made in Spain. The scent on me opens up similarly to how PR Pour Elle does; strong peppery and green, this initial blast had my hooked from the off, it then dries down into a rosey/spicy, green and vegetal scent and I am yet to find anything that even remotely replicates this scent. I mainly smell the pepper, some violets in the background which gives a powderiness and coriander, theres also some rose mixed with osmanthus, it all layers up nicely to create this "digital" abstract scent, it lasts for hours, days even, but it does stay close to the skin which I like, its quite "come hither" so to speak. Ultraviolet gives me goosebumps every time I smell it, and thats after 10+ years of wearing it, I adore it, this scent is what the 2000's smell like, it will always be my favourite <3

15-16 years ago I was working at the airport. Day and night, summer and winter. I was wearing Ultra Violet. Because it was enigmatic, aetherial, feminine, different, unique. I was very young but I didn't want to smell like everybody, lovely flowers and caramels and raspberries like. Ultra violet was the perfect scent to accompany my very precious memories of that period of my life, these very hard and strong and at the same time beautiful days, with all these travellers and sunsets and colleagues (some of them still friends) at that busy and sometimes preciously quiet airport. Yesterday, at the perfume store I saw Ultra Violet... What?! It still exists? I smelled it, again, after all these years. And it provoced an emotional storm. Thank you Paco Rabanne. As a fellow fragrantican commented, this is an "aquarius" perfume, if that makes any sense. Well...that's not exactly a perfume review, I know. And I can't say that this is a "safe" perfume. But it has personality. A unique one. Try it. I 'm not sure you will like it. But you will never forget it!...

I love this violet! I love it so much I almost overdosed on it the first time I wore it. I forgot how HUGE 1990's fragrances were. I sprayed two sprays on each arm and one on my chest on my shirt. BIG mistake! I almost suffocated lol! Two sprays are plenty. This scent is hard to describe. It's sweet violet but spicy, very modern, cheerful, even slightly ozonic and I usually hate ozonic perfumes, but love this one. I don't understand how Ultraviolet is both cold and welcoming at the same time? You could never call this one a shrinking violet. You need to love powerful floral scents and pepper. There's a fruitiness to it and a soft, fluffy sensation in the base. Cold, wet, strong violet with hot, spicy pepper and a fluffy amber, almond and vanilla base. Don't expect a gourmand or a traditional oriental and you won't be disappointed. Use a light hand so you don't overwhelm yourself. The bottle is a fun one too!

When I was much younger,I think it was 1998/99 I was visiting a friend. On her bedroom drawer she had a 'Ultraviolet' bottle festival or some sort of a huge Ultraviolet family gathering. That girl had them in ALL ml's. Each one more than one bottle. From the big one to the tiniest one. She took the 80 ml bottle sprayed it under her turtleneck and then we left the house. Now,10 years later I was with my best friend and i had nothing to spray. So she pulled out of her purse the 'purple ball'. I sprayed some on my chest,it was April,spring,and warm. The whole day she kept on saying: Man,this perfume is loving you. The whiffs I get are non stop. Couple of month later I got a bottle as a gift from my mother in law. I salute Paco RABANNE for this masterpiece! Genius of a nose whoever thought of these spices and that combination. I just wanna wrap my arms around myself...such a peaceful scent.

My ex offer me to choose birthday gift for myself around year 2000-2001. After smelled many perfume at counter, I return to this one. Never heard Paco Rabanne before. Very new at my country that time. When people ask me, 'what is wonderful smell? or what are you wearing?' their reaction when gets answer,'What, Paco what?' Seriously, nobody familiar with Paco Rabanne that time. In my country, Paco well known after knock of One Million. But i'm still Ultraviolet girl. Its unique, spicy, difference, sexy, strong, dark etc. I also think why I choose male fragrance designer? I'm not quite familiar with perfume note that time, only I know, I love it very much! After that I always bumping into dark kind of bottle. Ultraviolet make me find myself. Spicy, fresh, standing and bold, bit masculine, just me. Very long lasting for my skin. Drew compliment... All time big love.

Ultraviolet, a perfume that I got as soon as it came out and which I surprisingly really liked. It smells like powdery violets, chili peppers and far more, but I find it so well done that I can't really find all the notes. An astonishing perfume, whether by its smell or by its totally futuristic bottle (looks a bit like a spaceship), and then the purple tint; very attractive to me who loves this color. It's a sparkling but ageless fragrance, I wore it very very young but I wouldn't mind wearing it now. A perfume created by Jacques Cavallier who is also the author of other little wonders (like Hot Couture which is one of my favorite perfumes, Alchimie, Poême and many others) and which became rare to smell in the crowd. In short, it has everything to please. If it was a monument, it would be Casa Batlló in Barcelona ; ultra original, surprising and pleasant.

One of the very few perfumes I have tested in store and made the decision to turn around and buy it when I had only walked the length of two shops away. I turned on my heels, went straight back and bought it. I'm now on my third 80ml bottle which is a lot for me as I have a collection of over 400 fragrances and rarely get through any bottles. It really is that good. What I love most about it is how unusual it is, and how it has stood its ground every bit as much as Mugler Angel or Alien. It could be a Mugler as it is still so unique. It should be a Mugler because it feels futuristic and otherworldly. The purple hue of the juice really suits the ultraviolet aesthetic. I will always love it. Performance is exceptional. I easily get over 10 hours wear. Silage is moderate to strong. A very worthy addition for anyone who enjoys Violets.

Just received a small sample bottle of this today and, with the warm spring temps outside, I think it's lovely! This is my first violet perfume and while sitting next to the open window I smile as I inhale it on the breeze. Lightly sweet & with moderate lasting power this is not so powdery on me as the chart states. Like others have stated it might not be much of a "signature scent" and it doesn't stand up and shout "HELLO, EVERYONE, I'M HERE!" but it's a wonderful spring scent and I'm trying to collect more of those as a new perfumista who mostly has only fall/winter bottles. This fragrance is perfect when you just want to smell nice. It would work lovely in an office setting or just about anywhere I can think of. If you want a pretty violet musk frag, then get this. I might save up for a larger bottle in the near future. ;)

How did I miss this one?? I collect violet fragrances, the scent of violets is a delightful childhood memory...My grandmother (whose name was Violet) always wore Devon Violets. She would have loved Ultraviolet.. This wasn't available in the stores in Australia so it was a blind buy and I'm blown away with it. Soft and ethereal, violet is dominant but the osmanthus "apricot" makes this creamy and addictive. Very well blended and not a blast in your face like current Paco Rabanne offerings. Reminds me of Narciso Rouge but the violet is much more present in this one. Very feminine and sophisticated, understated enough for any occasion. I'll be hunting for backups of this, it's soooo much better than I expected, no wonder it has lasted in a crowded market for a couple of decades.... just heavenly....

Ultraviolet is a unique and abstract fragrance that lives up to its name. It's hard to describe, but it has a "digital" quality that's captivating. I've been wearing it since 20010, and it still gives me goosebumps. The initial blast is peppery and green, with a powdery violet and coriander note. As it dries down, it becomes a spicy, green, and vegetal scent with rose and osmanthus. The layers blend together to create a scent that lasts for days, but stays close to the skin. Ultraviolet is my favourite fragrance, and it always will be. I remember admiring it as a kid and feeling luxurious whenever I sprayed it on. It's sweet, but not the usual sugary scent. It's a sci-fi heroine kind of scent that stands the test of time. I agree that it's not a safe blind buy, but it's truly wonderful.

My mom wore this fragrance for the majority of my developing life. Just today, she repurchased it after years and years of not wearing it; such a cozy and nostalgic scent. Now, this isn’t vintage by any means but it still carries the essence of perfumes from the 00’s when everything was notably more potent (more concentrated possibly?) and longer-lasting. Upon the initial spray, it's remarkably peppery, but it swiftly settles into a comforting blend reminiscent of violets and jasmine-infused baby powder. The warmth it exudes is quite literal; it leaves your wrists feeling heated after application (I have no idea why that is). When I think of "femininity", I think of Ultraviolet. Moreover, the bottle is absolutely adorable. It’s like a fidget toy.

I sprayed Ultraviolet by Paco Rabanne and immediately felt like I’d been whisked into a futuristic velvet garden. The opening hits with a whisper of peppery spice and apricot sweetness that feels edgy and soft all at once. It gently drifts into a heart of violet, osmanthus, and rose—powdery, unearthly, exacting, and oddly comforting. By the time it settles, warm amber, vanilla, and sandalwood wrap me like a cozy yet mysterious hug. This one lasts. I’ve caught glimpses of it wafting off my skin hours later, not blaring, but unmistakably present—paging past the cliché, lingering in memory. Wearing Ultraviolet makes me feel quietly confident and otherworldly—as if I’m glowing in violet light, comfortable in my own strange, magnetic orbit.

I remember when I first discovered this as a kid, it was one of my very first scent crushes and I would spray some on every time I would swing by the perfume shop. It felt like a real luxury as I couldn't afford it (or any other fragrance for that matter). I finally bought myself a bottle a couple of months ago and it still smells exactly like in my memories. Makes me feel like a sci-fi heroine whenever I wear it. Ultraviolet is sweet, but not your typical run-of-the-mill sweet sugary crowdpleaser and really stood the test of time. It is truly wonderful, although I agree with people saying it is not really a safe blind buy.

Beautiful violet. Violet is a gorgeous flower, and this perfume really makes it extra lovely, for me. I love it. Spicy and ethereal. Sweet and yet a tad bitter. Soft and powdery, but also strong, has a gorgeous oriental aroma, with a woodsy/violet/almond dry-down. It's quite wonderful and unique I think, a beautiful powdery floral, with a lot of creamy sweetness. On me it lasts very well - about 10 hours, and the sillage is nice - about an arm's length. My husband and children really like it, and even ASK me to wear it! 'Mommy, can you wear that yummy perfume today?' I love it.

I tested this perfume back in 1999, and it was love at first sniff! It looks like an alien spaceship, and, the smell of it makes me happy, I'm so seduced, I went to the perfumery a lot of times just to sniff this beautiful perfume, but, I was a single, poor mother than, and I couldn't afford to buy it, but finally, after all these years, I got my hands on it in a lucky swap some 5 y ago, I love the silky smooth pepper in it, it's soapy, powdery, flowdery, and jummi, and I think it's perfect to wear for everybody in the whole world, and milky way and the rest of the Universe!!!