Million Gold by Rabanne

It fits me spectacularly.

Lately, here in Mexico, Santal 33 has had too much hype because of a song and seems pretty overdone. I’ve heard it on the street all the time. Million Gold is a great alternative: very similar DNA but with something different that makes it stand out. It’s like a sweeter, creamier, spicier Santal 33. I loved that strong, dry tangerine note in the opening that gives it body and makes it feel a bit more wintery, though it works perfectly for mild days too.

In my opinion, this perfume breaks from the classic mold. The opening is strong and a bit aggressive, but it becomes pleasant once it dries down and gets softer. It’s somewhat floral, until my wife told me it smells feminine and would suit her better, and she’s right—I tried it on her and it looks great on her. Honestly, I’ll use it very little and only in fresh weather; I’ll probably just gift it to my wife.

I like this perfume; I got a sample with some others I bought and it pleasantly surprised me. I expected something similar to the rest of the One Millions, but to my surprise, not even close. There’s something like polished wood with wax, but in a good way. My girlfriend wasn’t crazy about it, she just said it was okay; I like it quite a bit. It could be used from the office to elegant situations. Not for a bar, it’s a 7.8.

Good perfume… First off, it has the full sweet DNA base of the 1 Million, then plenty of sandalwood that reminds you even of niche scents, but it’s the fixative accord QB uses in most of his creations. It performs well, projects aggressively for two hours, then lasts until you shower, even after exfoliating, it fades to skin scent… I like it, but if I look for the negative, it’s that although it’s very different from the line, it doesn’t break away from its roots, a typical designer aroma that anyone who knows it (and surely many do) will immediately ask if you’re wearing a PR. Ideal to be your signature scent for fall and winter.

It might be a different beast altogether; it smells like a fragrance for an empowered person or a boss. Its trail is potent, but not the kind that bothers you. It smells like a forest on a nice weekday. Honestly, I liked the direction Paco Rabanne took with this version. Longevity is excellent, over six hours. Not for young people.

Smells like a luxury hotel in the middle of the jungle, ideal if you like sandalwood. To me, it feels very fresh and relaxing; my wife only likes this one and the original. After weeks of use, I’d say it doesn’t last more than four hours.

1 Million Gold is an aromatic, woody, and spicy fragrance. Its opening is fresh and aromatic, with citrus and an ozonic note, as if it carries violet leaves, which adds appeal. Over time, the spice notes increase along with a very pleasant sandalwood accord, maintaining this until the end. This version of 1 Million is more aromatic and fresh than previous launches, so it’s more versatile; it could be used in all four seasons except extreme heat. Its aroma works for casual or formal situations, parties, work, or school. Longevity was eight hours for me, but I’ll use it again because I really liked the scent and will update the time if it improves. The trail is average. I can’t say it’s the best 1 Million version in recent years, since that’s subjective, but it’s definitely the one I’ve liked most since 1 Million Prive launched, to the point where I’m seriously considering buying a bottle.

Million Gold by Rabanne balances freshness and depth with great elegance. The mandarin opening is citrusy and refreshing, ideal for autumn, and then cedar and sandalwood take over with a warm, woody trail. Longevity is top-notch, lasting hours on skin and even longer on clothes, versatile for almost everything, though it can be intense in the heat. In short, a thoughtfully blended mix of citrus and wood that leaves a mark without being annoying.

I tried it by chance without knowing it existed, and upon smelling it, I thought: ‘Smells like a typical Quentin Bisch.’ Indeed, it has that unmistakable touch from the perfumer. It’s woody, leaving me with a faint memory of Lucky with a honeyed note that makes it very different from the original One Million line. Super pleasant, brutal performance, I couldn’t get it off me. It fell on my jacket, and the next day, without even remembering I was wearing it, it was still giving powerful bursts. I can’t comment on the similarity to Santal 33 because I’ve never tried it, but I recommend trying it because it’s novel in the line (within the commercial/young demographic) and reminds me of Lucky without being the same.

Sweaty shirt eau de toilette at a gold price

Rabanne’s Million Gold arrives as another flanker to the family of golden bars. If One Million was the gift for the teenager just discovering the world of fragrances, Million Gold seems aimed at someone who has grown a bit, without losing the commercial and easy-to-please spirit of the line. Here, the notes lose the explosive vibrant sweetness of the original and become warmer and more mature, but without risks. Instead of that sharp mint and grapefruit opening, it opts for a softer and more contained approach, with a woody and amber profile that leaves the youthful spices to make way for a more enveloping and earthy structure. Amber and woods predominate, and although there is still a touch of sweetness (it’s Rabanne, after all), the overall impression is more neutral, less playful. Who is it for? Perhaps for someone who has been with One Million for a while and wants something similar, but not so invasive or bright. Million Gold doesn’t have the same youthful energy, but it’s not especially refined either. It stays in that middle ground, perfect for gifting to someone who has passed 30, who still enjoys flashy fragrances but prefers something more discreet in their maturity. A hit? Well, at least the bottle will please the person you gift it to.

Awesome! It lasts forever on skin and clothes. Definitely a perfume for night and cold weather.

After trying it with all its flankers, it’s very similar to the discontinued 1 Million Intense, with the only difference being that Intense has a rose while this one doesn’t, but it has more wood. The scent is good, although in performance Intense takes the crown; this Million Gold barely reaches 6 hours. On the other hand, it has nothing to do with Paradise Garden, I don’t know how they compare it to that scent, and with Santal 33 it might have something, but quite distant.

Reminds me a lot of a classic like Burberry Touch, good longevity and projection on par with the One Million. As for the scent, it’s a sweet and rich part, but another part gives a sweaty sensation; I don’t recommend buying it blind.