1 Million Elixir by Rabanne

This profile isn’t my style. I detect vanilla, rose, and apple in the opening, followed by a generic sweet base that doesn’t work for me. It timidly reminded me of Layton, another one that doesn’t blow me away. This one, even less so. It feels youthful, and even if I were young, it’s not my profile. Too sweet.

This version, along with Royal and Parfum, are my favorites in the line. It’s sweet but not cloying. I was afraid it would be tropical and loud, which is common nowadays and highlights the synthetic side. Here, everything is more balanced. The Gold versions give me headaches with that woody-fruit mix; this Elixir is more pleasant and wearable. It truly deserves the name ‘elixir.’ Royal is an addiction; it could have been named that. Projection and longevity are excellent; three sprays are more than enough. Ideal for cold weather or nights; in heat, it’s a disaster. My top 3: 1) 1Million Royal, 2) 1Million Elixir, 3) 1Million Parfum. The others aren’t bad, but the Golds give me headaches despite not being my style.

A blind buy I made after seeing a tester on sale. Extremely sweet, and well, I’m a fan of this type of perfume even though I live in a warm country. Maybe I have olfactory fatigue, but I don’t notice much of a sillage; however, at 12 hours, I can still smell it right on the skin. It’s become a staple for me: I buy sweet vanilla perfumes blind and know they won’t disappoint. I’d recommend it with the warning that it’s VERY sweet. I remembered my first 1M from my teenage years and never was a fan, but this flanker doesn’t remind me of that memory at all; it’s further from the DNA than even Lucky.

It’s the standout in the One Million line. I think that’s why it’s so popular; I’m part of the group that loves it even though the other flankers don’t catch my eye. The opening with juicy apple and davana is almost characteristic of this edition, the dry down is solid, and the floral notes are perceptible within minutes. Longevity is spectacular, projects well without being overwhelming, and feels quite unisex. Definitely one of the best flankers Rabanne has ever made.

I smelled it on a girl at the gym and fell in love. I don’t like the regular One, but this has such a sweet, vanilla-rich aroma that it fascinates me; even though it’s sold as a men’s fragrance, it feels incredibly feminine. When I asked the girl, she was shocked because she wore it in the morning for work, and it was already 8 PM. Highly recommended, 8/10.

I use this for going out and it performs like luxury, but be careful: a single drop made me feel unwell the next day and I had to shower. It smells beastly vanilla and lasts forever with a wide trail.

I tried all available One Million versions until I settled on the Elixir. This one stood out as more exquisite and delicious. Initially, the performance was good, but after macerating for several months, it improved even further; it lasts until the next morning clinging to the skin. It sticks to the pillowcase, and the first thing you smell upon waking is its scent; my mom even noticed it when she walked into the room. Powerful projection, but it shines in longevity. It’s extremely sweet, ideal for cold weather and nights, though I use it year-round if I control the amount so as not to overwhelm. Ignore the bad reputation of the line; it’s a gem. February 2024 batch.

Basically, it’s Apple + Rose + Tonka Bean + Vanilla. The rose stands out as it dries, while the apple shines at the start. A rich sweetness without being cloying, with incredible longevity and projection (+12 hours and a 2-meter trail in the first 2 hours). Totally unisex, though it leans slightly feminine on me. Definitely my favorite in the line.

The first time I smelled it, I fell in love, just like every time I smell it since. But there’s a flaw: after drying (around 5 hours later), it smells like incense, a weird scent to me. Maybe it’s because my nose is already used to the strong scent. If you have doubts about the projection, I tell you with certainty: yes; walking around for 2 or 3 hours, I notice the trail perfectly. My rating is 8/10: a marvel at first (10/10) but drops to 6/10 in the dry-down.

Ideal for temperate or cold seasons. It’s a crowd-pleaser and people like it, though it’s not groundbreaking. Good initial projection, then it lasts 6-7 hours close to the skin. Perfect for dates. It’s a safe option that anyone who smells it will like, but it’s nothing extraordinary. 8/10.

I tested it at a Duty Free in February 2024 and got so hooked that I kept the receipt in my phone case until I could finally buy it. A year later, the scent is still there, and I’ve already purchased it. It lingers on the skin for days. Highly recommended!

It’s a very good fragrance, youthful, with great longevity and projection. I would buy it again, although I think there are better and cheaper options on the market. I give it a 9/10.

This perfume, being a Parfum Intense concentration, lasts and projects quite well. Today I went to class, and when I came out, two classmates asked who had sprayed perfume. I told them it was me, wondering who they had sprayed, until one approached to smell my sweatshirt (I suppose she loved it). I recommend it 100%.

This One Million… yes, it’s more balanced and wearable than the Parfum version. It’s soft and sophisticated. Less fruity than its siblings, with soft roses and delicate vanilla; it’s rich and elegant. I smell it well as unisex. In terms of performance, moderate projection. It’s not a beast mode like its brothers; it lasts up to 8 hours… As I said, well balanced. It’s hard for anyone to be bothered by it. Buy blind.

I got a decant of this fragrance and have already used it twice; the decant has a good atomizer and it’s on my list to buy the full bottle, although only the 50ml size. From the start, you can perceive that sweet explosion that borders on diabetic. In my opinion, it doesn’t evolve much in scent, only when it dries down does the sweetness accentuate and the damask rose take the spotlight; I won’t talk about the davana because I don’t know exactly what it smells like or if it’s perceptible. The woods like patchouli and cedar are hard to feel, only managing to detect them with a thorough sniff. The vanilla is soft due to the potency of that sweet fruity floral scent. I would place the longevity as long-lasting, about 10 hours on skin and several days on clothes. The projection is heavy; its ideal occasion is going to a club or an informal night event. I don’t recommend using it in the heat because it’s particularly cloying; although one can stop smelling it due to olfactory fatigue, a friend recognized that it’s quite loud and be careful not to over-spray. I don’t find it suitable for daytime; if it’s cold, it won’t look bad, but daytime isn’t its occasion. It’s not a bad option for a romantic date; it’s not gourmand but edible and addictive. If you don’t enjoy sweet scents, you’ll have a valid excuse to stay away. Scent 7.5/10. Longevity 8/10. Projection 8/10. Versatility 4/10. Gender: Unisex with a slight masculine tendency, although it would suit a young girl well. Recommended ages: teenagers and young people up to 20. If you like it and see yourself wearing it, your gender or age doesn’t matter. Go for it!