Phantom Parfum by Rabanne

Not a single spark, zero.

The best part is the opening: it makes you feel dark and mature, but after 30 minutes it turns youthful. It’s fine for its target audience, but at 30, I can’t see myself wearing it because it feels too party-oriented.

What attracts me is the bitter, acidic, and citrusy opening of cardamom with intense citrus, reminding me of the discontinued Burberry Brit Intense. I sense a sharp herbal note, probably rhubarb supported by patchouli, and at times vanilla and tolu come through, which I confuse with coffee. I like the acidity. The dry-down is intense, oriental, and spicy. Maybe within the trail it tries to be more serious and less youthful than the others, but it goes with any look and age. I liked it.

Casual consumer review: Projects a lot of a soft, vanilla, calm, and warm scent, with lemon and bergamot that keep it from being totally sweet. Then it shifts to an aromatic profile with cedar, lavender, and geranium, noting subtle vanilla in the background. If I focus, I can distinguish balsam of tolu, which gives it a dark tone I don’t like. Definitely wouldn’t wear it to school again because the projection overwhelmed me. Lasted 8 hours on clothes and a bit more. Rich perfume for special night outs.

I didn’t like the original, but this one is definitely an improvement. The price is insane, almost Bond No. 9 levels here, and the bottle is still ridiculous. It feels like a designer trick to slap the ‘Parfum’ label on a flanker just to differentiate it from the original without any real concentration change. Still, it admits to smelling better than the mother, though I wouldn’t buy it myself.

It’s strong, spicy, and acidic; in my opinion, it’s not ideal for every situation because it can be annoying to others, even the wearer. It’s better suited for cool climates and nighttime. The longevity is what you’d expect from a good parfum with great projection. A bit pricey, but still accessible.

The opening is strong; I smell fruity, even a bit herbal, super rich, then it shifts to that powdery theme while keeping that fruity and herbal touch. It’s a super masculine and attractive scent, potent (not too sweet). Lasts 7 hours, projection is very good at first, then normal, but it delivers. Great for going out or a date. 8/10.

Unjustified hate; I’ve worn it a lot. Powdery scent with light, pleasant lavender. It’s not a miracle, but it delivers. Very long-lasting, reached 14 hours, and the first three hours are total beast mode. Very good fragrance 💯

Another victim of the hate after its predecessor. The best: the opening and the first hour. Then it’s pleasant but generic, the typical aromatic-lavender-sweet vibe. Sweet without being cloying. The worst: not novel at all, same formula as the previous one. A more personal bubble. Maybe the longevity doesn’t convince for a ‘Parfum’ (less projection, more duration), it lasts a bit longer than the EDT. Likable? Yes, it never fails. Redundant? Yes, but I’ll stick with this one. 8/10, recommended if you don’t have the EDT.

Phantom Parfum is the adult version of Scandal Le Parfum, a perfume for kids. EDIT: I don’t know what’s wrong with people who say it doesn’t last. I applied 8 sprays at 9 AM and passed someone by at 7 who said ‘you left a really rich scent’. 10 hours later, I was still leaving a trail.

I want it. After trying it, it has one of the best vanilla notes I’ve ever smelled; combined with the lavender, they make a perfect pair. It lasted quite a while on my skin, though it doesn’t project much, and for me, that’s just fine.

A soft citrus opening with a slight spicy touch that, over time, transforms into a soft sweetness that isn’t cloying. It’s well-balanced for cold days or heat, ideal for autumn/spring transitions. I see it as very versatile, suitable for day or night depending on how many sprays you use.

I bought it after testing it in the store for a week because it seemed like an addictive aroma; I couldn’t stop smelling my arm. You can detect the original DNA, but over time, that original aspect fades a bit and it becomes more chocolatey and intense, more in the style of Invictus Victory Elixir. I’d define it as: a chocolatey Phantom. I wore it twice out, once at a bar and once on a date; both times I received compliments. All of that in the first week. As for performance, I have no idea because I applied a lot both times and also had a decant to reapply and ensure people could smell me. Still, I think the performance is moderate. I’ll be providing more updates as I use it.

Similar to its EDT predecessor, but the citrus usage is more subtle here, allowing its sweet and creamy side to take center stage. It feels more refined, balanced, and seductive than the EDT, although the dry-down (which is very rich) is a bit weaker. As a Phantom user since its launch, I’m glad to have finally secured this Parfum version.

It doesn’t smell ‘bad’; however, it offers nothing new. From the start, and even more so in the dry-down, I perceive the vanilla as very synthetic, to the point of reminding me of an air freshener with the same scent. (I was testing it with a sample they gave me when I bought another fragrance).