Ultrared Men by Rabanne

I tried it on a decant and it smells like an updated Le Male: less 90s vintage, more avo-vanilla and fresh, but keeping the vibe. I loved it, but with so many similar options, I’m not sure I’d take it home.

ULTRARED MEN is a true beast that goes unnoticed among all the flankers. It smells of almost caramelized orange, with well-contained praline and vanilla balanced by the citrus. The trail is rich, especially on clothes. Ideal for mild weather or winter; it sets you apart from the current sweet trends. Good performance, not a beast. Great perfume.

A powerhouse for cold autumn and harsh winter. It’s excellent in every way; I already have my third bottle. It opens with a juicy candied orange that explodes with sweetness, but fades quickly to make way for praline with moderate tonka bean—the best phase that projects and attracts compliments thanks to the acidity of the blood orange base. As it dries down, vanilla and patchouli soften the scent, making it cozy and close. It’s a gourmand with everything, with just the right acidity, ideal as a winter signature. Lasts several days on clothes and is very masculine. No doubt I’ll keep using it.

Look, I’m sad because I can’t use it; I live in a warm climate. In the cold, it’s a shot: you notice all the notes, sometimes the blood orange, other times the chocolate, other times the vanilla. The trail is unique. The vanilla hit is similar to Eros but finer and more enjoyable. It smells like a decent poker player, elegant and well-mannered. It’s a mix of elegance and party that isn’t defined by one or the other; if you use it in a context without connecting it, it loses its essence. It’s perfect for elegant parties. Too bad that in the heat, performance drops and delicate notes like the blood orange and vanilla trail are lost. In the cold, it’s a 10/10.

It smells like a vanilla ice cream melting over an orange one, with caramel everywhere. It has faint creamy vanilla and creamy aromas. It’s a delight if you love sweets, or your partner will love it. In the sun or tropical heat, even if you apply a lot, the sun eventually dries it out and doesn’t let it smell right; it doesn’t damage the sweetness, but it doesn’t project the same way. On clothes, it lasts until the next day or until washing. In the cold, it’s a shotgun: it projects and floods the room. It’s a crazy sweet ideal for dates. I wouldn’t use it for meetings because it’s too strong; it’s perfect for special outings or parties if you want to smell different.

Rich and super smooth! But I feel like it doesn’t last at all. Did they discontinue it or what? I have a bottle from 2020. It’s strange that the box says ‘Made in France’ but the bottle says ‘Made in Spain’, that’s weird.

A hidden gem. Perfect for hitting the party scene 🤙.

Ultrared by Paco!! I bought it and returned it the next day. It gave me a headache from being so strong. It’s too sweet and heavy, reminding me of the tobacco air freshener in taxis. It doesn’t fit in my collection, of course, respecting everyone else’s tastes.

I met Ultrared Man by Paco Rabanne thanks to a friend; I think he was the only one in my country who knew it and raved about it. When he tested it one day walking down the street, he went straight to the store to buy it back in 2008/2009. They were asking fortunes for years after its discontinuation, and I was always intrigued. Until 2021 when it appeared at a ridiculous and accessible price. He was so right; the day I tested it, I ran to buy a bottle, and months later I bought a spare one. It’s a gourmand à la A*Men without the nuclear and overwhelming aspect. It opens with almost candied orange and dries down to praliné (chocolate with hazelnuts) plus a patchouli that gives it a sweet bakery base. It lasts wonderfully, 12 hours on clothes and 3 hours on skin, I feel like it radiates a sweet apralinated balm. For mid-seasons and harsh winters; in summer it’s unviable. Informal and youthful, perfect for black Converse, semi-distressed jeans, and a plaid shirt, that late 2000s vibe. It’s in my top 3 of Paco Rabanne, a gem for those with good taste. If they bottled it in a Creed bottle, they’d sell it without raising any suspicions.

Fresh, sweet, and slightly acidic blood orange. Praliné and vanilla do the rest. Like a Mugler made with Puig’s nocturnal sweets. It gets compliments; if you’re into current non-alcoholic nocturnal gourmands, give it a try, you might find what you’re looking for; it’s cheap and not mass-produced.

Top fragrance, I grabbed it at a steal of a price and it was a total blind buy success. Starts with a sweet, citrusy blood orange that brings freshness and brightness. Then the orange fades and the almond praline and tonka bean kick in with force. It projects well for a few hours before becoming more intimate and sweet with the vanilla. Lasts 5-6 hours on my skin. Smells distinct and delivers. I see it for fresh spring or autumn days. As it evolves, it smells very similar to Lolita Lempicka (it smells like my girlfriend), so I see it as unisex. Definitely deserves a spot in your collection.

I got it recently and I really like it. Starts with a handful of orange candies (with liquor) that are sweet but smell fresh, accompanied by tonka bean. An hour later, the praline takes the spotlight with a very good balsamic, chocolatey aroma. At 4 hours, there’s a vanilla base with patchouli and a slight kick (like pepper or ginger; I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s that in Ultra Zest). It met my expectations: 4 hours of trail and then skin scent, totaling 8 hours on my skin. The bottle is pretty but the atomizer is disappointing when you press it (common in Paco Rabanne, like with One Million). Recommended if you like wearable gourmands. I see it as youthful but unisex leaning masculine due to the dry down.

The human behavior is striking. When it was discontinued, everyone said: ‘perfume jewel,’ ‘beast bomb,’ ‘hope they bring it back.’ Now that it’s back, people say: ‘generic scent,’ ‘doesn’t project,’ ‘there are better options.’ I think with all discontinued fragrances, that standard is used. Will the same happen with other things?

I think it’s an eau de cologne and I suppose this batch comes discounted since it’s a re-release. I notice the sweetness of the blood orange, but the fresh opening feels like strawberry gum. It’s linear in that gummy perception with wearable sweetness, nothing like Joop. It wins at the end when it’s settled. Moderate trail, 3-4 hours duration because it’s surely been reformulated (we over-apply and then what). On paper it lasts all day sticking your nose to it and on clothes 5-6 hours. Versatility and season: closet staple and for heat, although I tested it at 10-20 degrees. Would I buy it again? It’s okay but it doesn’t surprise me. Would I recommend it? No. You have to buy it blind on sites like Brasty or Notino.

By god, what a beautiful perfume, you grab the One Million and add lots of well-ripe fruits and you get this exquisite scent. Projects for about 4 hours on my skin and lasts 9 hours on the skin, it’s gorgeous.