Paco Rabanne Ultraviolet Men Eau de Toilette

Introduction

I am always on the lookout for a bargain when it comes to the fragrances I wear. I find a lot are overpriced, and their pricetag doesn't have a great deal of relation to how pleasant the scent is - in my opinion. Paco Rabanne is one of very few brands of fragrances that I keep an eye out for, and although the very best scents always seem to cost a small fortune, they are always worth it and I am never left disappointed. Paco Rabanne is a brand I come back to time and time again, and the first box is ticked regarding brand strength.

'Paco Rabanne' began his career in fashion, creating jewellery for Dior and Givenchy, he moved on at the age of 32 to begin his own fashion house. Although Rabanne was born in Spain, he moved to France at an early age, a country that is renowned for its fashion. France is also well-known for creating some of the more popular fragrances, and is certainly a hotbed for talent in this sector. It is important to remember, whilst Paco Rabanne is very well-known for its fragrance range, it is a fashion brand first and foremost.

First impressions

First impressions are extremely important in the world of fragrances. I would also suggest that this is one of the main costs that the manufacturers must consider before putting it into production. The box that the bottle comes in is very stylish and eyecatching. With a stunning deep purple finish and a simple band of white just above the centre of the box it gives out a strong statement to the consumer. The words to the front are 'Ultraviolet Man' with 'paco rabanne' in lower case lettering towards the bottom of the box. There are size details just below this, but overall the front of the box is very clean and simple, though the stunning finish catches the eye. To the rear of the box is the same white band of colour, and there is an ingredients list and contact details for Paco Rabanne, so again quite simplistic.

Now onto the bottle. It would be an understatement to say that the bottle makes a statement. I have to say that I am a little uneasy to call the container a 'bottle', as it sounds too boring and 'normal'. I will start with the back of the bottle in describing it, as this is the easy part. The actual glass bottle is rectangular, having a wavey effect to the very back side of the glass, though this is internal and the glass feels very smooth and plain to touch. You can see the Eau de Toilette through the glass, and this is a deep purple colour to match the box.

The front of the 'dispenser(?)' stands out, and is the first thing I noticed as soon as I removed it from the box. With a mirror-effect finish, the surround of the 'Ultravoilet Man' trigge spray is quite simply flawless. The finish gives a very expensive feel to the overall look. The final area to mention is the trigger for dispensing the product. With the words 'Ultraviolet Man' on it in white, this deep purple 'pad' covers most of the front of the bottle.

Overall, brownie points are certainly awarded for looks, and the impression I get is that this product is something quite special. I have to admit that at this point I really do want to know what the scent smells like, though by looks alone I have to say I have never seen anyting quite like this design!

The scent

As I am no expert when it comes to reviewing scents, I have to say that the fragrance is quite difficult to describe. This is particularly difficult with Paco Rabanne Ultraviolet. The first thing worth noting is that this is not just another male fragrance that will go ignored when you meet your friends because they are all wearing a similar scent. Ultraviolet is certainly unique, and the burst of individuality is instantly recognisable when I smell it in the air.

As I am struggling to describe the scent I think it is worth mentioning the thoughts of so-called 'experts' in the field. The key scent is apparently black pepper, though I wouldn't let this put you off, as I certainly don't find it to make me sneeze! Top notes include Russian coriander and Italian mint, though I cannot uite understand how these 'experts' can sense where the herbs were grown - they must be good! Base notes of patchouli and oak moss complete the scent, with an overall opion on scent of 'woody'. I will again disagree on this final point, and I see it as a cop out in fairness. I don't think this word is flaterring at all to this product, and this is a word that is used to describe a large number of male scents.

Paco Rabanne Ultraviolet Man is a lasting scent, and though it doesn't hold its bursh of freshness fully through the day/evening, it is still noticable a number of hours after application. Personally, I like to reapply the scent through the evening by using the 'freshen-up' guys which are present in most good bars/clubs these days. One thing is for sure, if there is a 'freshen-up' guy he will definitely have Ultraviolet Man! My opinion on the scent has not wavered since I first began wearing this particular scent. I love how unique the scent is, and if you asked any Male to identify the scent from just the smell I wouldn't be surprised if the majority of them pointed a finger towards Paco Rabanne Ultraviolet - it is quite unique!

Price and availability

There are a number of forms of Paco Rabanne Ultraviolet, for both Male and Female persuasions. I own the Ultraviolet Man Eau de Toilette, so will only mention the pricing and availability for this particular product. Prices for the substantial 100ml size range from £30-£40, so it is certainly worth shopping around for the best deal. I will also add that as this is a popular Paco Rabanne scent then you will struggle NOT to find it in all good fragrance stockists.

Final thoughts

It goes without saying that I recommend Paco Rabanne Ultraviolet Man Eau de Toilette to any man looking for a new scent. I would certainly say that it is designed to be worn on an evening, though it could be worn through the day if you so wish. This is such a recognisable scent that it will be noticed wherever you go, and this is for all the right reasons. Paco Rabanne have a knack for producing superb quality fragrances that give the wearing somthing different from everyone else. Unfortunately this is no longer the case, as Ultraviolet Man is very popular!