Ultraviolet by Rabanne

Smells different and I love it, but the last bottle I bought had less potency. It’s been reformulated, what a shame.

Very good. It’s rare for Paco to miss on a daily perfume for the gym or work… The only time I used it at night, it didn’t last as long.

I used it back in 2003 and couldn’t really appreciate it much; it was a super hot area and it barely lasted. I almost can’t remember the smell.

I find this fragrance sweet and rich, but there’s a hint of a note I dislike that keeps it from being perfect. It’s an uncommon scent and could easily be unisex.

Pleasant scent, incredible longevity. The mint stands out, especially the MINT, leading into a subtle vanilla. Completely recommended for daily use.

The only Rabanne I absolutely love, yet almost no one buys. I work in a perfumery and it’s a ghost: nobody asks for it or tries it. So, forget smelling like thousands of other guys. That’s the beauty of established products that advertising has already abandoned.

Ultraviolet Man is the perfume that taught me second chances exist. I was gifted it for Christmas, and being young, I thought it was weird and hated it. I left it forgotten in my case until I was cleaning the bedroom, found it again, and tried it. It still didn’t convince me, so I used it as a ‘horse of a different color’ to get rid of it quickly, blaming my immaturity. Gradually, I started to appreciate it. Those warm woods with an amber and vanilla base… finally won me over. It works well in non-abusive heat, but it suffocates in extremes. In autumn, it shines in all its glory. It’s more of a daytime fragrance, not too nocturnal. Now, in 2024, those last 15 ml are a marvel; I didn’t like it before, but now I love that combination. This month, my friends and colleagues have complimented it. You always have to give second chances and not let a bad first impression rule.

I tried it today and loved it. It’s very easy to understand yet surprising: a modernization of the classic lavender water that attempts to synthesize the aroma with other harmonizing notes, highlighting a sweet base that transforms the character into a more futuristic formulation. Once you get that, everything makes sense: the name Ultraviolet, taking the violet of the lavender color beyond into invisible waves, fits perfectly with the Paco Rabanne brand, which always thought this way. Note that it launched in 2001, so it makes total sense: the ‘Year 2000’ effect of modernizing everything is encapsulated here. Undoubtedly an icon of its era. It has so much personality and is so easy to wear that any niche brand like Serge Lutens could launch it today and it would be a hit. It has everything; it’s a great perfume. Edit: I just stumbled upon a niche brand called M.Int that copies this mint-lavender-amber composition, substituting the lavender with banana; it becomes a sweet and linear perfume, lacking the fresh-aromatic-sweet nuances that make Ultraviolet so interesting. I mention this to emphasize how good a perfume it is, because it hurts to see such a jewel so undervalued commercially.

I love it; it smells super original, and I haven’t caught a single inspiration or variant. The downside is that the projection is extremely low; you have to spray a good amount for it to do anything.

Futurism is key in Paco Rabanne, from their tin dresses to Ultraviolet. I adore it for being sweet, warm, and mentholated; its UV lamp bottle was very innovative. It remains current today and fits male trends perfectly. It was the idea that preceded the success of One Million, as they are very similar. For me, it’s the best of the brand.

Truth be told, this scent is a total unknown, probably because it came out over 22 years ago and influencers haven’t even discovered it. It’s a classic that flew under the radar: synthetic but well-executed, with a name and color that worked against it. It starts with a potent, artificially sweetened mint, which, combined with amber and a spicy touch, creates a body that smolders thanks to the oakmoss. It finishes with that earthy, vanilla blend that reminds me more of Le Male than other Paco Rabanne fragrances, all wrapped in a very own smoky aura. Comparing is like stepping into puddles—I haven’t tried Bond No. 9, but its green and smoky base brings to mind the original Cedrat Boise or even Creed’s Aventus. It also recalls the earthy side of Le Male or the green vanilla in Lolita Lempicka’s Green Lover. They’re not the same; these are just my olfactory delusions. It has everything to be a daily signature scent, especially since it’s rare to see anyone wearing it nowadays; it stands apart from the overwhelming tonka bean sweetness flooding the market. The longevity is decent, and while it doesn’t project much, you notice it when someone gets close. Its fresh, green, and slightly sweet opening makes it versatile for several seasons, and of course, it’s not for formal situations. For all these reasons, I defend Ultraviolet: a brand with many years behind it that doesn’t deserve the recognition it gets, and in my opinion, it gives millions of turns to its flanker Ultrared, which unintentionally included those tons of tonka bean that young people love now that companies are chasing that trend.

Mint predominates, constantly accompanied by amber. It came out in 2001, so it’s a bit outdated. At first, during my first two days, I didn’t feel anything masculine wearing it. But I’ve used it six times now, and now I see it’s definitely for men, even though I don’t feel “macho” with this fragrance. I think it’s an interesting alternative for spring days or non-hottest summers, as an escape from the citrus overload common in those seasons. It doesn’t last long; on me, it projects for 40-60 minutes and then stays for less than 4 hours.

It’s a good perfume, ahead of its time. I thought it was gone, but recently I was able to get a new bottle (it no longer has the plastic on the spray), and the aroma is just like I remember; in my case, with very good longevity, though little projection. I remember the old one as stronger, but hey, this one doesn’t disappoint. Now that I used it, I realized it reminds me a bit of Mancera’s Cedrat Boise, does anyone else feel the same?… It could be a signature perfume… very pleasant, and for the price, I think it’s worth it.

Although I’ve already reviewed this, comments on a perfume you use until you’re sick of it always sharpen; you always find new facets. This is the least valued line from Paco Rabanne, abandoned by the house to the point that sometimes there aren’t even testers in the perfumery. These are the ones we overlook until we notice them, and Ultraviolet smells very different from the usual. Twenty-one years have passed, and it holds up with its ups and downs, managing to have several generations use it as a signature scent, something rare that few fragrances achieve. For me, it has more notes than the description says: an uncommon mint and lavender predominate, and the amber gives it a soft sweetness. Oakmoss and vetiver provide that characteristic dry, smoky touch, creating several layers. The mint is powerful at the start, and the lavender stays high, but soon the light smoky sweetness wraps around them. It’s fresh and green, but neither cloying nor extremely fresh; it’s in an intermediate point leaning toward amber. Over time, that green freshness gives way to a vanilla that adds creaminess to the soft smoky amber, though with less power. The original potency has faded with the years, but it still has decent longevity and projection. Its aroma is versatile for any age: the sweet notes bring it closer to the young, while the moss/vetiver appeals to the more mature. It’s perfect for everyday wear or dressing up in any season, except extreme heat. Paco Rabanne used to be imaginative, not just in packaging but in proposals that contributed to perfumery. Ultraviolet still has life thanks to its adaptive aroma, its price, and its loyal users. Wait for it to get the opportunity it deserves. Remember, Ultraviolet.

This has been a good fragrance, unfortunately discontinued. It wasn’t a love at first sniff; it’s one of the ones that took me time to understand. I met with a brash amber, but then came the softness of a light vanilla that gives skeleton to the chords. It will never be gourmand or sweet, for sure; it’s truly fresh, ozonic, with a notable amber accent. I’d dare to say it’s one of the best ambers I’ve ever smelled. In total, it’s a light fragrance, with good projection and longevity, not invasive at all but with personality. It has generated compliments here and there but was never a mega-hit. I like it for the rest.