1 Million by Paco Rabanne is a Woody Spicy fragrance for men launched in 2008 as an Eau de Toilette. 1 Million was created by Christophe Raynaud, Olivier Pescheux, Michel Girard, and Christian Dussoulier.
The fragrance is part of the Paco Rabanne Million collection. Ever since its release, the scent has been an absolute hit leading to the inspiration for a whole range of scents in this collection.
The keynotes of this Woody Spicy fragrance are Blood Mandarin, Grapefruit, Rose, Cinnamon, Amber, Leather, and Woodsy notes.
A note from the brand:
In all civilizations and religions, gold has always managed to seduce people. Gold is all around us: in architecture, design, jewelry, clothes, accessories, and fashion…It is noticeable and respected worldwide, and it possesses divine notes. The bottle of this edition for men is created in golden nuances. It represents power, wealth, luxury, and durability.
| Perfume Name | 1 Million |
| Brand | Paco Rabanne |
| Year Released | 2008 |
| Concentration | Eau de Toilette |
| Scent Family | Woody Spicy |
| Gender | men |
It’s been almost a decade since I wore this scent. I recently decided that it was time to give this classic another go. These are my thoughts on the fragrance,
What does 1 Million by Paco Rabanne smell like?
1 Million smells warm and sweet while also being loud and spicy. This gives it that seductive, bad-boy edge that makes people love and sometimes even hate this scent, in my opinion.
It reminds me of when I was younger and went clubbing almost every week. Since everyone was wearing it when it came out, it’s impossible to get this connotation out of my mind. That being said, it is the absolute perfect fragrance for clubbing. It’s masculine, sultry, and sexy – for sure, something that’s going to get the wearer a ton of compliments.
To my nose, the dry down smells similar to Joop Homme. However, it has more cinnamon and a discrete metallic note.
| Top Notes | Blood Mandarin, Grapefruit and Mint |
| Middle Notes | Cinnamon, Spicy Notes and Rose |
| Base Notes | Amber, Leather, Woody Notes and Indian Patchouli |
My Experience
When I first spray 1 Million, the opening is pretty sweet. I can see why people have compared it to fruity candy or bubble gum, although I don’t think that’s a completely fair assessment. To my nose, the opening is a mixture of rose, mandarin, and grapefruit with a bit of leather. I think it’s this combination that gives the opening that bubblegum quality for some.
Nonetheless, after this initial burst of sweetness, the fragrance really starts coming into its own after about 10-15 minutes. The initial sweetness in the opening is complemented by a thick and warm amber note. I love the boldness that the amber gives 1 Million, and I think this is one of the fragrance’s key characteristics that people either love or hate.
As it continues to dry down, the spices and cinnamon starts becoming more clear and really amp up the masculinity of this scent. The dry down has an even more pronounced leather note and, overall, is a lot spicier than the opening.
The woodsy notes at the base really round off this scent and take it from the hyper-sweet territory into this beautiful aromatic mixture of rich leather, cinnamon, wood, rose, and spices.
Sillage & Projection
The sillage of this fragrance is excellent. Every time I wear it, it leaves behind wafting aromas that will undoubtedly make you stand out when you enter any room. The projection of 1 Million is excellent too, even more so because it’s an Eau de Toilette.
Longevity & Versatility
This fragrance is one for the colder weather, as in the heat, it can get pretty messy and cloying. It’s perfect for going out at night and for wearing it in similar casual situations. It’s definitely not office-proof, in my opinion. So overall, in terms of versatility, it doesn’t score all that highly.
The longevity of 1 Million is really good. It only becomes a skin scent after over 8 hours on me, and it can last for days on my clothes.
Closing thoughts
After trying this fragrance again after so many years, I can absolutely see why this fragrance has stood the test of time. The scent profile of 1 Million makes it one of those fragrances that still won’t smell dated 20 years from now.
I’d even argue that the smell is pretty unique, given that, at the moment, not as many people are wearing it. When it first came out, you couldn’t go anywhere without smelling it, so it’s a great moment to start wearing it again. Overall, it’s also not that expensive, making it well worth the price.
It’s not something for everyone, of course, nor is it extremely versatile. So you could get away with a sample if you don’t go out that often and you want to wear it as a nighttime scent for clubbing, for example. It’s geared more towards young men in their twenties as it has a very youthful vibe to it.