Fragrant Friday - Paco Rabanne Fame Parfum & Phantom Parfum

Paco Rabanne Fame and Phantom up their fragrance game with female sensuality and sultry masculinity:

 

Fame Parfum Natural Spray - 50ml - $146, 80ml - $188, 200ml Refill - $256 -  an intense woody chypre blend with top notes of mango, pink pepper and bergamot; heart notes of sensual jasmine, patchouli and frankincense; and base notes of sandalwood, benzoin and addictive musk. The scent has a definite gourmand leaning on me - I smell more musk and sandalwood then I do jasmine - which suits me fine! The glossy black dress on the shiny gold bottle amplifies the sense of seduction and will keep you from getting this one mixed up with the original!

 

Phantom Parfum Natural Spray - 50ml - $122, 100ml - $158, 150ml - $188, 200ml Refill - $202 - an intense blend with top notes of cardamom, bergamot, lemon and rhubarb; heart notes of electrifying lavender, patchouli, geranium and cedarwood; and base notes of addictive vanilla, tolu balsam and enticing Haitian vetiver. I wasn't sure how I would feel about so much floral in a men's fragrance since I don't like it in a women's one - but these particular notes combined with everything else is actually really intriguing - I would even wear this myself! The iconic chest piece of the original bottle evolves from chromatic silver to matte black as a signifier of the danger within and reflects the assertive facets of masculinity.

 

Not only will you smell good, but can feel good about the sustainable ingredients - with 90% being of natural origin, not to mention they are refillable!

Available now at Hudson's Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart, Sephora and Jean Coutu stores across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

 

 

Fragrant Friday - Paco Rabanne Lady Million Royal & 1 Million Royal

Feeling regal? Then does Paco Rabanne ever have a new fragrance for you...

Paco Rabanne Lady Million Royal - 50ml EDP - $112, 80ml EDP - $138 - a fruity floral fragrance with a top note of pomegranate; a white flowers heart of jasmine, sambac, tuberose and orange blossom; and a woody, ambery and musky base of cashmeran.

I personally smell more of the fruitiness of the pomegranate in this and get less of a floral vibe, which is good for me as I'm all about the fruit - it dries down very warm on me with a hint of sweet so I'm a fan.

Paco Rabanne 1 Million Royal - 50ml - $112, 100ml - $142 - an amber woody fragrance for men with top notes of cardamom, tangerine and bergamot; heart notes of lavender, sage and violet leaf; and base notes of benzoin, cedar and patchouli. 

 

I tested this out on someone who is a fan of the original 1 Million but hasn't cared much for any of the follow up fragrances and he describes it as a more mature version of the original as well as having really impressive longevity!

Accents of regal red have been added to the iconic bottles which are bling-y enough for King Henry the Eighth himself but still sustainable enough for Alicia Silverstone - both formulas are totally vegan and comprised of 79% of ingredients of vegetal origin - cows happy, carrots sad!

Available at Hudson's Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart, Sephora, Jean Coutu and London Drugs stores across Canada.

There isn't really a new commercial for them - just a tacked on blurb at the end of the original 1 Million/Lady Million one - and honestly the whole time I have been doing this, I've had Lorde's Royals song running through my head so here you go, it can live in your head too!

 

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Paco Rabanne Fame Blooming Pink

What's pink and gold and as joyful of an armful of blooming flowers...

 

Paco Rabanne Fame Blooming Pink - 80ml EDP - $165 - a warm floral fragrance with top notes of succulent, 100% natural origin mango and fresh bergamot; heart notes of bright jasmine from Grasse and olibanum; and sensual and warm base notes of incense - sustainably sourced in Somaliland, vanilla and sandalwood.

 

I like the top and base of the fragrance but the jasmine really stands out making it a little too floral for my taste - it smells very pretty and feminine which isn't my jam but jasmine lovers will likely appreciate it. On the other hand, do I love the glittery pink pastille dress on this collector edition bottle? You know I do!

Available now at Hudson's Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart, Sephora and Jean Coutu stores across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Paco Rabanne Invictus Victory Elixir

Discover the newest addition to the Paco Rabanne collection, the pinnacle of intensity from Invictus, a rich, powerful, long-lasting, potent elixir blending spicy woods and biting freshness for the epic achiever:

 

Paco Rabanne Invictus Victory Elixir - 100ml Parfum Intense - $145, 200ml Parfum Intense - $193 - a precious ambery, woody, and spicy elixir with top notes of aromatic lavandin from Provence, green cardamom and black pepper; heart notes of dark, mysterious incense and woody Indonesian patchouli; and magnetic base notes of tonka bean liqueur and vanilla bean sourced from Madagascar. 

 

It smells spicy and a bit sweet which is exactly how I like my men to smell and I also like the trophy shaped lacquered gradient of black to dark blue bottle, very snazzy looking on the dresser!

 

Available now at Shoppers Drug Mart, Sephora, Hudson's Bay, Jean Coutu and London Drugs stores across Canada.

 

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Paco Rabanne Fame

Paco Rabanne introduces a new fragrance for the woman that is  playful, sensual and empowered:

 

Paco Rabanne Fame - 50ml EDP - $122, 80ml EDP - $158, 200ml EDP - $212, 200ml Body Lotion - $54 - an irresistible floral, woody musk fragrance with top notes of mango and bergamot; heart notes of jasmine and incense; and base notes of sandalwood and vanilla that  combined radiate joy and audacious sensuality. Made in France of 90% natural origin and 100% crafted in Grasse from sustainable ingredients.

The scent is fresh and spicy from the combination of the mango and incense which is what I smell the most on me to start with and then it dries down to really get the sandalwood and vanilla creaminess - a lovely fragrance for fall!

 

The avant-garde bottle is of course all kinds of adorable - from the dress of silver pastilles to the cat's-eye sunglasses to the edgy piercings - like jewelry for your dressing table!

 

Available now at Hudson's Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart, Sephora, Jean Coutu and Nordstrom stores across Canada.

There's also a commercial to love starring Elle Fanning - and of course you'll never guess what the song it uses is...

 

  

 

 - Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Paco Rabanne Invictus Platinum

Paco Rabanne has added a new winning fragrance to their Invictus line for those always ready to take on a challenge that is an expressive interpretation of the original: 

 

Paco Rabanne Invictus Platinum - 50ml EDP - $95, 100ml EDP - $125 - a woody and aromatic scent with pure power and elegance featuring top notes of absinth and invigorating grapefruit; heart notes of elegant lavender and fresh mint; and base notes of woody cypress and patchouli - and the trophy-shaped bottle now sports silver wings so you can fly away knowing you smell better then everyone else! I'm actually a big fan of men's fragrances that include lavender (depending on what it is paired with of course) - I just like that unexpected hint of something unexpected and it works really nicely here!

 

Available now at Hudson's Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart, Sephora, Nordstrom, Jean Coutu and London Drugs stores across Canada and online at beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca and sephora.ca.

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Paco Rabanne 1 Million Elixir Parfum Intense

Paco Rabanne introduces the newest addition to their masculine line - deeper, stronger, richer and more intense and sensual than ever before:

 

Paco Rabanne 1 Million Elixir Parfum Intense - 50ml - $108, 100ml - $138, 200ml - $188 - with top notes of natural sweet apple oil and the first hints of the Davana leaves; heart notes of hand picked Turkish rose and osmanthus, a floral with leathery, apricot notes and wild grown tonka beans; and base notes of patchouli and cedar wood oil distillations and black vanilla seed pods.

Described as an amber woody fruity elixir it almost sounded like something that I would be wearing not the boy but as it turns out, it smells great on him - there is a little bit of sweetness to it but nothing I would call overly girly - does it make him smell confident and successful like it's supposed to? He smells great so sure, why not?! You will also appreciate that the formula is vegan with 91% natural origin ingredients and 100% cruelty free!

Available now at Hudson's Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart, Sephora, Nordstrom, Jean Coutu and London Drugs.

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Paco Rabanne Phantom

Introducing a feel-good perfume that boosts your sexiness, confidence, and energy: 

 

Paco Rabanne Phantom 150ml EDT - $148, 100ml EDT - $125, 80ml EDT - $92, 200ml EDT Refill - $154, 150ml Shower Gel - $42, 75ml Deodorant Stick - $32 - a futuristic aromatic fragrance born from the clash between luxury craftsmanship and new-tech with top notes of zesty lemon peel oil from Italy, "vintage" molecule styrallyl acetate and lavander oil; heart notes of lavandin heart, patchouli heart, smokey earthy accord and apple; and base notes of vetiver heart, lavandin absolute and vanilla absolute.

And while this might technically be for men, I would (and do) totally wear this - it has a smoothness to it that doesn't feel masculine or feminine - it just is... not to mention the adorable robot bottle and a commercial that is like the best acid trip you have ever been on!

 

 

Available now at Hudson's Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart and Jean Coutu stores across Canada. 

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Paco Rabanne Invictus Victory

Whether you are looking for something new and interesting for a Father's Day gift (yes, it's coming up soon!) or wanting to make the man in your life smell better - you can't go wrong with this new winning fragrance from Paco Rabanne:

Paco Rabanne Invictus Victory - 100ml EDP Extreme - $125 - a warm and spicy scent with intense duality - a fresh boost of sharp lemon and powerful incense followed by full-bodied tonka bean and potent vanilla for perfectly matched freshness and intensity - and the trophy-shaped bottle with a "V" for victory will show him what a winner you think he is (and smells)!

Available now at Hudson's Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart, Sephora, Jean Coutu and London Drugs stores across Canada and online at beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca and sephora.ca.

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Paco Rabanne Lady Million Eau My Gold!

Paco Rabanne presents a festive and fresh version of the Lady Million Eau de Parfum with:

Paco Rabanne Lady Million Eau My Gold! - 50ml EDT - $75, 80ml EDT - $95 - conveys fantasy and femininity with an unprecedented delicate and effervescent touch in a floral, fruity fragrance with top notes of mango, neroli, bergamot, mandarin and grapefruit; heart notes of violet leaf and orange blossom; and warm base notes of musk, amber, sandalwood and cedar.

The original Lady Million is a little heavy for my taste so I really appreciate this fresher version of it. The fruity notes make it a happier fragrance and something I would wear everyday!

Available now at department and drug stores across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

Smarten the boy up with cufflinks and fragrance from Paco Rabanne, !XAM, Enrique Iglesias and Birks!

Paco Rabanne Invictus - 50ml EDT - $68, 100ml EDT - $88 100ml After Shave Balm - $58, 150ml Shower Gel - $38, 75ml Deodorant Stick - $28 - an aquatic, woody fragrance inspired by sporting and the thrill of competition - so of course the bottle looks like a trophy - with top notes of fresh grapefruit and a marine accord;  heart notes of aromatic bay leaf and Hedione jasmine; and a woody base of guaiac wood, patchouli, oak moss and ambergris.

Available at department and drug stores across Canada.

!XAM Skull 18K black gold, pave diamonds and rubies Cufflinks - $4,800 (yes, I know that's a lot,  but they are really cool!)

Available by special order at the !Xam Diamonds store in Toronto at 366 Bay Street, Suite 800 and Vaughan at 9302 Bathurst Street, Suite 2B - go to www.xamdiamonds.com for more info.

Enrique Iglesias Adrenaline - 50ml EDT - $49 - inspired by the singer’s steady quest for sensations, and his hunt for the rush that makes his heart beat stronger. The woody aromatic scent is a dynamic expression of true modern masculinity, with notes of Italian mandarin, violet leaves, saffron, roasted tonka and suede. 

Really, if Enrique is looking for sensations, I am more then happy to help him out - Enrique call me 'kay?!

Available now at Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada.

Birks Devil and Angel Monkey sterling silver enamel Cufflinks - $450

Available at Birks stores and online at www.maisonbirks.com.

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Paco Rabanne 1 Million Intense

Paco Rabanne 1 Million Intense - 100ml EDT - $94 - A spicy-woody-oriental fragrance touted as the embodiment of extravagance and an intensified and deeper version of the original with top notes of  fresh and spicy notes of blood mandarin, cardamom, black pepper and saffron; heart notes of rose absolute, neroli and cinnamon; and base notes of white leather, orris root, patchouli and sandalwood.

It smells similar to the original but I find this one a little more spicy and sexy - which is a big plus for me!

Available now at department and drug stores across Canada.

I loved the commercial from the first one and this one is just as fun - you'll recognize Matt Gordon and Dree Hemingway - even in her gold paint!

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Lady Million EDT by Paco Rabanne

Paco Rabanne Lady Million - 50ml EDT - $68 - a lighter, fresher and more relaxed version of the original Lady Million EDP from 2010.

The new fragrance is a fresh floral - woody bouquet with top notes of neroli and lily of the valley; heart notes of hyacinth and gardenia; and base notes of honey and patchouli.

Of course how can you not love the big diamond shaped bottle - giant diamonds are the best kind!

Available now at Shoppers Drug Mart, Sephora and other fine stores across Canada.

And it's not a new fragrance without a fun ad and this one really tickles me...

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Black XS L'EXCÈS by Paco Rabanne

Be a rock star (or at least feel like one) with two new fragrances from Paco Rabanne:

Black XS L’EXCÈS - 50ml EDT - $65, 100ml EDT - $78 - An incredibly powerful woody aromatic with top notes of Calabrian lemon and lavender; heart notes of ozonic, cypriol and citrus accord; and base notes of amber wood and patcholi.

Black XS L’EXCÈS For Her - 50ml EDP - $75, 80ml EDP - $86 - An excessively sensual oriental floral with top notes of neroli and black pepper; heart notes of Queen of the Night jasmine and rose absolute; and base notes of cashmere wood and black vanilla.

And I have to say, I really love the bottles, the little skulls are adorable (can skulls be adorable?) and give them an edgy, rock and roll look!

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart, Sephora and other fine drug stores across Canada.

And what's a Paco Rabanne fragrance without a cool commercial, this one with a guest spot by Iggy Pop!

 - Lisamarie -

New and Notable at Shoppers Drug Mart - Paco Rabanne, Quo, Lacoste and Olay!

If you like your fragrances to go, you will be "charmed" by the new Paco Rabanne offerings within the popular 1 Million and Lady Million lines -
The 1 Million Travel Spray for men - 20ml - $40
The Lady Million Solid Perfume - 2g - $48

A couple of new additions to the Quo regular line have appeared: Quo Baked Bronzer - $20 - in three shades: Beach Babe - gold tones, Bronzed Goddess - bronze tones and Sun Princess - pink tones - in a baked formula that blends easily to create a soft glow.

Quo Body Glow - $25 - smooth over the face and body to enhance skin's natural radiance.  Use to highlight specific features or smooth everywhere to create all-over luminosity.  It has a lightweight formula for comfortable all-day wear and hydrating properties to help keep skin looking and feeling fresh.

Lacoste Joy of Pink - 50ml EDT - $72 - 90ml EDT $90 - with top notes of sparkling grapefruit aromas; a heart of Blue Curaçao enhanced with floral notes of peony and base notes of  cedar and musk.  This is a total Lisamarie kind of scent so you will be pleased and/or horrified to know that the optimum points burning a hole in my pocket got me this baby for free - because what I really need in life is another fragrance!

Olay Body Rituals collection - Luscious Embrace - a whole new line of Olay bath products enriched with jojoba butter and crushed orchid extract.  The fragrance has top notes of exotic papaya, blackberry juice and black current; middle notes of calla lily, vanilla orchid and pink rose; and base notes of creamy sandalwood, vanilla bean and powdery musk.  Available in the collection is: Moisturizing Body Wash - 295ml - $8.99, Cleansing Body Wash - 354ml - $9.99, Body Bar - $5.99 (keep an eye out for Erin the Soap Guy's review of this coming soon) and Body Lotion - 250ml - $6.99 - 350ml - $8.99

- Lisamarie -

paco rabanne Lady Million - feel like a million bucks for a lot less!

paco rabanne Lady Million is multi faceted just like a girl's best friend - diamonds!  This is also the inspiration behind the bottle which would look really striking on your dressing table.

The fragrance is described as a fresh woody floral:
top notes - neroli, bitter orange and raspberry, heart notes - orange flower absolute and Arabian jasmine absolute, base notes - honey and patchouli, overall I find it very feminine smelling with a floral dry down that lost all the fruit.

And of course Dree Hemingway's dress is a marvel of dressmaking - I can only assume there are straps hiding under all that hair...?

This is one of those fragrances I would buy for the bottle, even if I didn't like the smell...which is too floral for my taste.  If you are more of a floral girl, give this one a smell!

EDP 80ml - $110
EDP 50ml - $80
Body Lotion 150ml - $48
Shower Gel 150ml - $42

Available at all fine department and drug strores as well as Sephora.

- Lisamarie -

Paco Rabanne - 1 Million - great commercial, strange fragrance

I had to watch this commercial a bunch of times and then google it when I still couldn't figure out if the guy in it is Nate from Gossip Girl.  It's not, it's Canadian model Mat Gordon.  Love the commercial, great song (Do It Again by the Chemical Brothers) and great looking guy in a suit so I thought the fragrance might be a nice gift for the husband for Christmas and I went to check it out.  It would be a nice gift, if he were say a drug dealer, or a pimp....  The bottle is shaped like a giant gold bar - and it is gold, really really gold, this picture does not do it justice.  Then you have to do a weird slidey thing to spray it.  I don't even have a comment to make about the smell, I was just too taken aback by the packaging.  I realize that it is every young boy's fantasy to be a gangsta so I'm sorry to be so judgmental, I'm not trying to be a dream crusher here!  I decided that I'm too old for this crap so I bought him some Obsession instead.  At least I understand that bottle!

- Lisamarie -