Phantom Elixir by Rabanne

Seeing the other reviews I decided to buy it, I saw a deal where the 150 ml version was cheaper than the 100 ml one for some reason… Nothing could be further from the truth, what a letdown, to my taste it’s disgusting, it has a vanilla at the end that saves it, but I wouldn’t wear it even if it were the only one I owned.

My favorite from the line, I hate the others. It leans a bit toward niche salty vanillas, like Sel Vanille by Maison Tahité but mixed with the typical Rabanne DNA.

Since I tried it in a store, it smells like mineral vanilla with oud and marine notes, at first I didn’t like it thinking it was more synthetic, but now I do recognize the scent, it’s long-lasting, intense and summery, this perfume works for any type of weather. Nowadays I have the Invictus Elixir with the same scent as the Phantom Elixir.

Salty vanilla oud 🤢

When I read the notes that make up this new Phantom, I said “Oud wood? That’s going to smell very strange”… and I wasn’t wrong, but it has oud only in name! The opening is very salty, it feels like sea salt being thrown in your face, very synthetic smell, strong, heavy, not pleasant. Afterwards it’s just synthetic vanilla… like the smell of those instant vanilla puddings. For an “elixir,” I expected something better

On the opening the Phantom EDT is very present for about 5 minutes, you can even notice the earthy notes so characteristic of the aforementioned one, then it evolves into a “synthetic” aroma in the good sense of the word (the Phantom line itself stands out for taking the synthetic down a modern path, they play very well with that) metallic, with a nice creamy vanilla in the background and an oud very far in the back, present in a friendly way but adding a very distinctive, creamy and dark weight… Honestly it’s the most different thing I’ve smelled in the designer sector, or at least one of the most different (Boss Bottled Absolu leads in originality) and more than marine, the note or accord it has I associate a lot with the “blue” touch of Dylan Blue… But the marine side is very very faint, nowhere to be found. Once settled the fragrance stays somewhat linear (quite linear I’d say) with that metallic note and background vanilla (and the almost nonexistent oud) with that “blue” note… it’s not a perfume that evolves much honestly, but if you’re one of those who when wearing a perfume want it to stay unchanged, no doubt this is for you, since it smells the same from an hour after spraying. The folks at Rabanne honestly didn’t complicate their lives 🥱 I wouldn’t call it “elixir” so much for longevity, because on skin, despite lasting about 7h quite present (by the eighth it drops abruptly to skin level!) please don’t overdo the sprays! It’s too explosive, it projects consistently for 4-5 hours, and on clothes? Pfff, all holy day and more! If you don’t wash it doesn’t come out. Scent: 7/10 (different, boring, nice) Longevity: 7h (cloying, overwhelming, excellent sillage) Projection: 7/10 (strong the first 3 hours at 1M, 4-5 is a consistent bubble at 20cm) Occasions: daily use on cold days, semi-formal occasions (work, informal baptisms, casino, nothing club-style, bar or pub outings) Overall this perfume would be a 7/10. Anyway, all that said, personally I still loved it. The Phantom line, as much as some hate it for being somewhat repetitive or for pleasing the masses, got me into this world of perfumery and the affection I have for it is undeniable. But I made this review as objective as possible, since as it’s something I like you have to understand that tastes differ and someone looking for reviews needs to know about the perfume… I hope it helps 🫡

I think people don’t understand this fragrance, they say you won’t stand out, I consider that’s not its goal, it’s the most versatile of all because of those mineral and marine notes, I see it for daily use where you precisely don’t want to draw attention like you would with a nighttime one.

I see a lot of hate toward this perfume and I think it doesn’t deserve it. It’s sweet and it’s the least versatile of the line, it’s quite different from the other Phantoms. It’s very pleasant but I don’t sense that marine note at all and even less the oud one. People insist a lot on criticizing this type of perfumes (Paco Rabanne and especially this line) when most haven’t tried them and just follow what some reviewers say (ridiculously exaggerated).

Ugh, I take back what I said, the drydown of this perfume is horrible, seriously, they took a chunk from each Phantom and threw in the most artificial thing from each one. The oud, marine and mineral notes, I don’t know where they got them from, they’re not there. I feel this launch was just an attempt to squeeze the Phantom line to the very last drop, and I actually like the line, but this launch was disgusting.

Hi my name is Éric Sélène, I’ll give you my first impressions of this interesting fragrance, although it’s a bit controversial, but it’s an interesting option as the hours go by. Paco Rabanne Phantom Elixir is a flanker (new version) that goes into deeper and more sophisticated territory than its predecessor. The bottle keeps the characteristic futuristic robotic design, but with a darker and more elegant aesthetic, reflecting the shift toward a more nighttime and mature fragrance. The packaging is the characteristic one from previous versions, this packaging that speaks of technological boldness, ideal for those who appreciate innovative design. This version of “Phantom” now with “Elixir” version sits in the oriental-woody family with spicy touches. The opening is vibrant and sweet thanks to a caramelized lavender accord, combined with a spicy heart of geranium and a slight fruity nuance. The base, rich and dense, is dominated by vanilla, smoked woods, and a slightly earthy mineral background. The blend is well balanced, achieving a scent that is seductive and addictive. Now I’ll give you details on the good and the bad: The good: – Projection and longevity: Powerful fragrance with a prominent sillage that lasts more than 8 hours, ideal for leaving a memorable impression. – Nighttime versatility: Despite its depth, it maintains a certain freshness, which makes it perfect for nighttime outings or formal events. – Youthful and modern appeal: Ideal for those looking for a scent that combines sensuality and avant-garde. The bad: – Dominant sweetness: Although well integrated, the initial sweetness can feel excessive if you prefer drier or more sober scents. – Less versatile for daytime: Its dark and sweet profile can feel heavy in warm climates or for daytime activities. – Market competition: Too many perfumes with the same scent category. Recommendations: – User: Phantom Elixir is ideal for men between 20 and 35 who enjoy bold fragrances and are not afraid to stand out. Its modern and sensual character makes it perfect for charismatic and confident personalities. – Seasons: It performs exceptionally well in fall and winter, where its cozy warmth and depth complement the cold weather. – Occasion: Definitely a nighttime fragrance, ideal for dates, parties or formal events. My final verdict Phantom Elixir is a bold step for Paco Rabanne, betting on greater depth and sophistication within its line. It is a fragrance that does not go unnoticed, designed for lovers of sweet, intense and modern scents. While not for everyone, its proposal is clear: a perfume to conquer the night with elegance and boldness.

On opening, Phantom EDT is very present for about 5 minutes, you can even notice the earthy notes so characteristic of the aforementioned one, then it evolves into a synthetic aroma in the good sense of the word (the Phantom line itself stands out for taking the synthetic into a modern path, they play very well with that), metallic, with a very creamy vanilla in the background and an Oud far in the back, present in a friendly way but adding a very distinctive, creamy and dark weight… Honestly it is the most different I have smelled in the designer sector, or at least one of the most different (Boss Bottled Absolu leads in originality) and rather than marine, the note or accord it has reminds me a lot of the blue touch of Dylan Blue… Besides it is very very faint, the marine is nowhere to be found. Once settled the fragrance stays somewhat linear (quite a lot I would say) with that metallic note and background vanilla (and the Oud almost nonexistent) with that blue note… it is not a perfume that evolves much honestly, but if you are one of those who when wearing a perfume want it to stay unchanged, no doubt this is for you, as it smells the same from the moment you spray. Honestly Rabanne did not complicate their lives 🥱 The elixir I would not give it so much for longevity, because on skin, despite lasting about 7h quite present (by the eighth it drops abruptly to skin level!) please do not overdo sprays! It is too explosive, it projects 4-5 hours consistently, and on clothes? Pfff all holy day and more! If you do not wash it does not come out. Scent: 7/10 (different, boring, nice) Longevity: 7h (cloying, overwhelming, excellent sillage) Projection: 7/10 (strong the first 3 hours at 1M, 4-5 is a consistent bubble at 20cm) Occasions: daily use on cold days, semi-formal occasions (work, informal baptisms, casino, nothing club-style, bar or PUB outings) Overall this perfume would be a 7/10. Anyway, all that said, personally I still loved it. The Phantom line, as much as some hate it for being somewhat repetitive or liked by the masses, got me into this world of perfumery and the affection I have for it is undeniable. But I made this review as objective as possible, since as it is something I like you have to understand tastes differ and someone looking for reviews needs to know about the perfume… Hope it helps 🫡

Hi my name is Éric Sélène, I will give you my first impressions of this interesting fragrance, although it is a bit controversial, but it is an interesting option as the hours go by. Paco Rabanne Phantom Elixir is a flanker (new version) that moves into deeper and more sophisticated territory than its predecessor. The bottle keeps the characteristic futuristic robotic design, but with a darker and more elegant aesthetic, reflecting the shift toward a more nocturnal and mature fragrance. The packaging is the characteristic one of previous versions, this packaging that speaks of technological boldness, ideal for those who appreciate innovative design. This version of Phantom now as Elixir version sits in the oriental-woody family with spicy touches. The opening is vibrant and sweet thanks to a caramelized lavender accord, combined with a spicy heart of geranium and a slight fruity nuance. The rich and dense base is dominated by vanilla, smoky woods, and a slightly earthy mineral background. The blend is well balanced, achieving a seductive and addictive scent. Now I will give you details of the good and the bad: The good: – Projection and longevity: Powerful fragrance with a prominent sillage that lasts more than 8 hours, ideal for leaving a memorable impression. – Nighttime versatility: Despite its depth, it keeps a certain freshness, which makes it perfect for night outs or formal events. – Youthful and modern appeal: Ideal for those looking for a scent that combines sensuality and avant-garde. The bad: – Dominant sweetness: Although well integrated, the initial sweetness can be excessive if you prefer drier or more sober scents. – Less versatile for daytime: Its dark and sweet profile can feel heavy in warm climates or for daytime activities. – Market competition: Excess of perfumes with the same scent category. Recommendations: – User: Phantom Elixir is ideal for men between 20 and 35 years old who enjoy bold fragrances and are not afraid to stand out. Its modern and sensual character makes it perfect for charismatic and confident personalities. – Seasons: It performs exceptionally well in autumn and winter, where its warmth and depth complement the cold weather. – Occasion: Definitely a nighttime fragrance, ideal for dates, parties or formal events. My final verdict Phantom Elixir is a bold step for Paco Rabanne, betting on greater depth and sophistication within its line. It is a fragrance that does not go unnoticed, designed for lovers of sweet, intense and modern scents. While not for everyone, its proposal is clear: a perfume to conquer the night with elegance and boldness.

Honestly I don’t know why it gets so much hate, I don’t consider myself an expert, the opening of “marine notes” they describe I perceive as a “Play-Doh” smell but it’s not annoying at all, throughout the day that scent transitions with the vanilla, until at night only the vanilla scent remains, but it’s absolutely not a cloying vanilla… The longevity of this amazes me, also its versatility, about projection I’d say it’s not much though, it feels like a very intimate scent to me, close to the skin…

Ugh, I take back what I said, the dry-down of this perfume is horrible, seriously, they’ve taken a chunk from each Phantom and thrown in the most artificial thing from each one. The oud, marine and mineral notes I don’t know where they got them from, they’re not there. I feel that this launch has only been an attempt to squeeze the Phantom line to the last drop, and I do like the line, but this launch has been crap.

Seeing the other reviews I decided to buy it, I saw a deal where the 150 ml version was cheaper than the 100 ml version for some reason… Far from reality, what a letdown, in my opinion it’s disgusting, it has a vanilla at the end that saves it, but I wouldn’t wear it even if it were the only one I had