Paco Rabanne Invictus (2013): The Scent of a Triumphant Man, After the Fact {New Perfume} {Men's Cologne}
Paco Rabanne are launching a new men's fragrance called Invictus following up on the blockbuster success of 1 Million. The new scent looks not at the means of winning thanks to a great perfume, but at the transformation that takes place in our perception of an athlete after the moment of triumph. For Rabanne, there is not only an alchemical quality at play but an aphrodisiac one,
"Invictus was born out of a desire to speak about sports in an innovative manner, by sublimating the social fantasy it represents,"...
Australian rugby man Nick Youngquest was chosen to personify this idea that a champion nowadays is a quasi god.
The fragrance development process was also interestingly elaborate. The project was initially entrusted to perfumer Véronique Nyberg of IFF who then turned to three other perfumer colleagues Anne Flipo, Olivier Polge and Dominique Ropion to help her come up with the right formulation. The noses agreed that they needed to surprise and create a tension in the composition that would reflect the muscular tension of the body and the values inherent to sports. This is why there is a dual structure rather than a pyramidal contruction.
It is neither a transparent summer eau, not a classical eau de Cologne but a fresh perfume offering an extremely textured sensation with a prominent character and a base which is very present. It is a perfume poised between "a slashing freshness and an animalistic sensuality," says Nyberg.
Another facet the perfumers worked on was the sensation of salty skin, one that one would want to "taste, lick," not the classic salty skin you derive from being at the sea side.
The "shiver of extasis" facet includes notes of grapefruit peel, marine accord, laurel leaves. The "Sensual Addiction" side features notes of labdanum resin, ambergris accord, patchouli, gaiac wood.
The eau de toilette is housed in a flacon styled after a winner's cup designed by Cédric Ragot.
Prices: 54,50€ for 50 ml and 72,50€ for 100 ml.
Stay tuned for more pics and info about the upcoming Invictus Awards.
Added: Fragrance Review of Invictus by Paco Rabanne
Via press release
