#SOTM: Invictus

#SOTM: Invictus

In Scent of the Month, we feature the best of the best in men’s perfumes.

Our very first #SOTM is the impeccable Invictus by Paco Rabanne. Acting as one of the most recognizable sexy summer scents in the market, Invictus is the go-to fragrance for young outgoing gentlemen.

BOTTLE: Invictus has an iconic silhouette: it takes the form of a trophy... and rightfully so, as Invictus imagines itself as the perfume of winners. The pump for the atomizer is cleverly constructed on the top of the bottle, and a single press releases a generous spritz. It is an absolutely gorgeous bottle, and the thick glass body shows off the beautiful purplish-blue juice.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: At first spray, Invictus can get too overwhelming with its somehow synthetic blend of grapefruit and coumarin (from cinnamon). I can also smell some aquatic notes, some deep wood, and a subtle spice which is possibly from eugenol (maybe sourced from bay leaf). It is one of the sweeter macho scents that people associate with a man smooth around the ladies, so I believe it is only appropriate for men under 30. However, I believe this lends it some flexibility so women could wear it as well. The spiciness and aquatic notes allow it to fare well with ladies who are exhausted with the usual fruity-floral sweetness of women’s fragrances.

It is not aquatic enough to immediately warrant the usual clean or fresh attribution of men’s perfume. Actually, some trained noses may find it too synthetic and dizzying, and they may dismiss it as a scent for the club. In my opinion, it’s a generally good smell although it truly is quite flirty. As such, this isn’t the scent for every man.

DRY-DOWN: I am very happy that the perfume base utilizes synthetic ambergris to reinforce a clean aquatic note. When the top notes fade away, the dry-down takes the smeller to a crisp image of roaring waves against a pristine shoreline. This is one of my most favorite dry-downs, and I am delighted that it did not follow the predictable route of vanilla like many other “sexy” fragrances. I’m looking at you, Versace Eros!

PERFORMANCE: On my skin, a single spray is enough to last me at least six hours. Also, lending to its dizzying opening, it performs powerfully in closed rooms. Invictus can significantly cover some space around the wearer. With these in mind, I recommend wearing Invictus during intimate outdoor activities like on dates or on beach days. As the day wanes, the scent transitions into the crisp aquatic note mentioned before, so it is appropriate to wear it if you want to impress a lover.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Invictus ticks many important checklists of a good bachelor’s perfume. It lasts long. People can smell it from afar. Young women generally like it. It evolves over time. Because of these, Invictus is a good entry point for men looking to venture into designer fragrances. And with only one spray a day, it gives severe bang for your buck.

Invictus retails for approximately P5000 per 100 mL bottle in department stores.

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