Sweet, Sexy and Suave (Paco Rabanne: Black XS, Eau de Toilette)

Member Name: ian22

Product:	Paco Rabanne: Black XS, Eau de Toilette
Date:	21/10/07 (428 review reads)
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I have just come back from a few days away in Jersey. While I was there, I thought I'd take a look at the duty free fragrances at a perfumerie shop in St. Helier. Initially, the choice seemed truly mind-boggling and I didn't know where to start, but with the help of a kind shop assistant, I eventually found some fragrances I liked. One of these was Black XS Eau de Toilette by Paco Rabanne. It came in a box also containing a tube of Black XS shower gel and was very modestly priced at just £21.00 (UK price approx. £38.00). This seemed like an absolute bargain and although I am not a regular buyer of such products, I was very keen to try the fragrances for myself.

Today I shall be reviewing Black XS Eau de Toilette spray (shown above), which, incidentally, is available in for women as well as men. You can buy it in two sizes - 50ml or 100ml - although mine was the smaller 50ml container.

THE CONTAINER

In terms of looks, the container is quite stark, with a black background and gothic-like white script for the name. I can't say Black XS appeals to me hugely in terms of appearance, but then as the saying goes, you can't tell a book by its cover.

The bottle is, however, chicly designed and incorporates a clever flip lid which opens to reveal the trigger spray within... Okay, so it's hardly a feat of ergonomics, but it's a good design all the same!

THE FRAGRANCE

The fragrance is what attracted me to Black XS in the first place. It is a sweet, sensual scent with citrus overtones of what seems like grapefruit and lemon. The actual ingredients are not listed on the bottle, so I have done a bit of searching on the Internet to find out more. To my surprise, Black XS is made from a complex concoction of fruity, spicy, woody scents:

Calabrian lemon - I was right about the citrus smell, then!;
Kalamanzi - a citrus fruit, with a sour flavour said to resemble a cross between mandarin and lime;
Tagete - an Indian oil;
Sage, cinnamon, tolu balm, black cardamom and praline; and a range of woody scents -
Palissandre wood, patchouli and ebony wood.
Incredibly, the ingredients all complement one another. After the initial citrus aromas, the woody scents come through, although these are much subtler. Black XS is undoubtedly a very refreshing eau de toilette spray, with a seductive scent. I think it would appeal to men across the age spectrum, although is perhaps aimed at younger men more.

WHEN TO WEAR?

Black XS strikes me as being most suitable for wearing on casual nights out. However, it is a versatile fragrance, so can probably be worn on almost any occasion.

STAYING POWER

One of the most important questions is always 'how long will it keep me smelling nice and refreshed?' and I consider that Black XS performs very well in this category. Because of the sweet, citrus aromas, it is quite a potent eau de toilette and therefore lasts for many hours after application.

VERDICT....

I definitely recommend Paco Rabanne Black XS and will buy it again. I cannot profess to being an expert on men's fragrances, but this one certainly appeals to me a lot. Some men may, however, find it a little on the overpowering side. It's all a question of personal preference.

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