Okay so last Tuesday I decided I needed to know for real about this Paco Rabanne 1 Million Gold. Heard a few buddies say it’s sweet, others said nah. Saw the bottle everywhere online and even at Macy’s, but is it just hype? Time to find out myself, no filter.
First Step: Actually Getting a Bottle
Headed down to my local mall last Thursday afternoon. Found the Paco Rabanne section easy enough. That gold bottle is shiny as hell, stands out like crazy next to the others. Grabbed the tester sprayer and gave a good spritz right onto my wrist – didn’t wanna waste it smelling the cap like some folks do.
The Initial Sniff Test
Right away? Sweet. Like, seriously sweet. Reminded me of opening a fresh bag of grape candy. But underneath that, I caught something else – kinda warm and fuzzy? Maybe the amber stuff people talk about. Definitely noticed the vanilla kicking in after maybe 10 minutes. It wasn’t subtle. Felt kinda loud, like trying to get everyone’s attention.
Here’s my immediate notes:
- Top Hit: Strong grape bubblegum blast.
- Heats Up: Vanilla and warm spices creep in.
- Overall First Impression: Very sweet, warm, kinda flashy smelling.
Wearing it All Day – The Real Test
Figured smelling it on a card or wrist ain’t enough. Next day, Friday, sprayed one pump on my chest and one on my neck before work. Wanted to see how it lasted and changed.
Morning commute was sweet overload in my own car! That initial grape note is wild strong. But by the time I got to my desk, maybe 45 minutes later, it had chilled out a little. More spice and vanilla came forward. It settled into this warm, sugary sweet cloud around me. Not everyone’s cup of tea for sure.
Checked back at lunch: still there. It wasn’t screaming anymore, but definitely noticeable if someone got within arm’s reach. Definitely has staying power. By the time I left work, 8+ hours later, it was down to a faint vanilla spice skin scent. Lasts alright, but not champion level.
Reactions & My Final Thoughts
Didn’t tell anyone I was wearing something new. Colleague Sarah mentioned “Someone smells sweet!” in the breakroom – no idea if it was a compliment. My buddy Mike later just said, “Smells strong, dude.” My girlfriend later that night sniffed and said “It’s alright… kinda like candy.” She didn’t hate it, didn’t love it.
Here’s the honest breakdown:
- Pros: It lasts a decent while, project like crazy at first (too much?), unique sweet scent (love it or hate it).
- Cons: So sweet it might give you a headache, smells cheap to some noses, very common smell around.
- Who Should Try: If you love super sweet, candy-like, warm scents and want people to smell you coming.
So, is 1 Million Gold good? Depends. It ain’t no Dior Sauvage, that’s for damn sure. It’s bold, loud, sugary sweet, and very much its own thing. You gotta dig that kind of vibe. Personally? It’s interesting, but honestly, too much candy for me day-to-day. Might wear it occasionally if I feel like being flashy, but wouldn’t spend my own money on a full bottle unless it was dirt cheap. Just being real.
