Our take
What does Invictus Intense smell like?
Three years after Invictus, Paco Rabanne released Invictus Intense in 2016. The brand said little about its perfumers. You might expect a louder take on the original’s marine grapefruit. It goes elsewhere. The opening pairs a fairly sweet orange blossom with sharp black pepper. The heart holds the real idea: a whisky accord, woody and slightly smoky, wrapped around aromatic bay leaf. The base mixes amber and ambergris with a pinch of salt that recalls skin after sport, a theme the line keeps returning to. Nothing complicated, but it holds together. Next to the 2013 Invictus, which is fresher and more watery, the Intense is warmer and sweeter. It also shares some ground with the house’s 1 Million, minus the metallic edge. A predictable evening masculine.
When to wear it
Save it for cold nights, two sprays at most, since the amber gets crowding fast. In summer the original makes more sense.
It belongs to the Woody, Spicy family. Invictus Intense is one of 35 creations by Paco Rabanne in our encyclopedia.
