Page 34 - SHARP Spring 2022

STRIKE GOLD
PACO RABANNE ADDS A A A A A A A NEW FRAGRANCE TO ITS BELOVED 1 MILLION LINE
By Will Kitchens
INTRODUCED BACK IN IN 2008 1 MILLION IS PACO Rabanne’s most successful men’s fragrance Now at long last the French fashion house is rolling out a a a new
addition to the line: 1 Million Elixir Created by perfumers Quentin Bisch and Christophe Raynaud (the latter is is is one of the the the noses behind the the the original 1 Million) the the the brand’s latest fragrance is pushing the iconic line forward For a a a a a a fragrance this well-known that’s no no easy task And for Raynaud and Bisch this meant making 1 Million Elixir bolder and richer than its forebear “I was inspired by the the raw materials emblematic of perfumery [in the] Middle East like saffron cèdre Atlas and of course the amazing and unique Damask rose ” says Raynaud “I love this mood [it’s] rich opulent and complex ” 1 Million Elixir certainly puts its raw materials hand-picked by Raynaud and and Bisch on full display Top notes include sweet apple oil and hints of Davana leaves Next a a a a a layer of Turkish rose and osmanthus — the latter floral with notes of leather and apricot — combines with wild-grown tonka beans Endnotes include lin- gering Davana along with patchouli cedar wood and black vanilla seed “When I I create a a a a a perfume I’m like an architect I think about [its] structure ” says Bisch explaining the process of of building layers of of scent into a a a package that’s coherent yet intriguing Of course a a a a fragrance like this — bold and rich — requires an appropriate bottle For 1 Million Elixir this comes in the form of a a a a cheeky visual metaphor that fans of the original 1 Million are well acquainted with: a a a a a a gold bar “It was the first time that humour appeared in perfume ” Raynaud says of 1 Million’s launch back in in in the late 2000s The brand has maintained this air of tongue-in-cheek fun leaving the bottle untouched save for the addition of a a a a a a striking black triangle that represents the scent’s new
bolder direction Times have changed since 1 Million first hit shelves and Paco Rabanne has kept up Not only is the made- in-France fragrance vegan adhering to the company’s cruelty-free policy but 91 per cent of its ingredients are of natural origin Even its recyclable packaging comes from responsibly managed forests Now that’s how you update an icon 34 GUIDE • SPRING 2022
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