It’s not easy to create a sweet, floral, and woody composition without losing its masculinity. But Paco Rabanne did it perfectly through its latest cologne, Phantom.
Other than that, Phantom has a unique yet interesting smell making it one of the trendy fragrances of the present time.
Well, despite all the good qualities, you may get disappointed with its poor longevity and high price.
Hence, I decided to dig out the affordable and better-performing alternatives to this trendy scent.
So, if that’s what you are longing for, stay till the end!
What Does Paco Rabanne Phantom Smell Like?
Launched in 2021 by Paco Rabanne, Phantom is a unique creation for woody aromatic scent lovers. Its not-so-ordinary approach successfully reached the customer’s hearts which made this cologne an instant hit.
Let’s take a look at this futuristic cologne’s note profile:
Top Notes: Lavender, Lemon Zest, and Amalfi Lemon
Middle Notes: Lavender, Earthy Notes, Smoke, Apple, and Patchouli
Base Notes: Vanilla, Lavender, and Vetiver
Well, the notes used in this trendy cologne may look a bit off the boat, as the perfumers tried to combine some unusual notes together. But the notes here are so perfectly balanced that it will surely blow your mind with its unique composition.
After you spray this cologne, a creamy lavender aroma balanced with the uplifting lemony zest will welcome you right away.
The lemon on the top doesn’t smell sharp or piercing, rather, it supports the aromatic lavender nuances by giving it a clean, refreshing touch.
This scent is fully dominated by the lavender aroma that stays on board till the end.
After a while, the fragrance gets a warm earthy turn in the core when licorice lavender melds with smoke, patchouli, and green apple accords.
The base of this cologne is beautifully layered with sweet vanilla, lavender, and woody vetiver. All the base notes work together to give the cologne a pleasant yet alluring amber woody closing that stays on the skin for 6-8 hours.
Overall, Phantom is a sweet, warm, woody, and masculine fragrance, perfect for those looking for a decent scent for everyday use.
What Colognes Smell Similar To Paco Rabanne Phantom?
Paco Rabanne Phantom is one of those scents that you can wear all year round without any hesitation. From citrusy freshness to earthy, smoky dry down, Phantom has everything you need in a pleasant cologne.
Such perfection isn’t that easy to replicate, but you may still look for its affordable or long-lasting alternative.
Hence, I tried out a lot of other colognes and shortlisted the closest-smelling ones that come with lower prices and better performance.
Furthermore, along with Phantom, Paco Rabanne has a lot of other great colognes as well. So, don’t forget to know about the best smelling Paco Rabanne colognes that you can surely try.
Here’s my list of Paco Rabanne Phantom smell-alikes that you can try for sure:
1. Phantom Legion Paco Rabanne
Top Notes: Lemon Zest, Lavender, and Lemon
Middle Notes: Patchouli, Lavender, Smoke, Apple, and Earthy Notes
Base Notes: Lavender, Vetiver, and Vanilla
The first Paco Rabanne Phantom dupe on my list is its underrated flanker Phantom Legion. Launched in 2022, this cologne has a similar notes profile as the original but with a few changes in the composition.
Although the opening accords of this cologne are exactly the same, the vibrant lemon flavor is more prominent here. Lavender is also there, but rather than dominating, it adds a subtle sweetness to the cheerful beginning.
Much like the original, it has an earthy aromatic core with a smoky undertone. But it gets much warmer and spicier as the powerful patchouli emerges.
The sweet earthiness retains as you reach the dry down, but there is a pleasant fougere attribute in the base that makes the aroma more likable and approachable.
The blend of sweet lavender and woody vetiver gives the aroma a perfect masculine finish that lasts around 6 hours.
Overall, it’s an attractive and decent fragrance, perfect when you wanna leave a pleasant impression on everyone.
Additionally, this brand also offers some spicy scents like Paco Rabanne One Million. So, if you are also curious about the smell-alikes of this famous Paco Rabanne cologne, check out our article on colognes similar to Paco Rabanne One Million.
When To Wear
Whether it’s summer, fall, or winter, you can wear this versatile fragrance any time you want.
Well, I won’t recommend you wear it at work or formal events as it smells a bit provocative. Wear this with your cool outfits at casual events, and everybody will definitely notice your sensual presence.
Why Should You Buy
- Warmer and less sweet than the original.
- Well-balanced composition.
- Suitable as a signature scent.
- Very versatile cologne.
2. Indigo Suede Lunio
Top Notes: Ambroxan, Musk, Mandarin Orange, and Virginia Cedar
Middle Notes: Lavender, Jasmine Sambac, Apple, and Smoke
Base Notes: Russian Leather, Amber, and Patchouli
Launched in 2023, Indigo Suede is an excellent dupe for Paco Rabanne Phantom. This cologne perfectly conveys the aromatic woody Phantom tone along with its own musky twist.
Indigo Suede also has a refreshing and classic citrusy opening. But with all the woody ambery top notes, it smells musky right from the start.
Its similarity with Phantom actually begins from the core, which is filled with the sweetness of lavender and jasmine, blended harmoniously with smoke and a crispy apple aroma.
Soon the fragrance settles into a warm, spicy, amber-like base along with the muskiness of leather.
Overall, Indigo Suede is a completely floral musky aroma that is very likable and easy to wear.
Plus, this cologne lasts longer than Phantom with a broad projection and incredible masculine sillage. So, if you are looking for a muskier Paco Rabanne Phantom alternative with good longevity, this is your way to go.
When To Wear
Although you can wear Indigo Suede all year round, I think it works best in winter or fall.
You can wear this versatile cologne both for everyday use or special occasions like parties or date nights.
Why Should You Buy
- Reeks of masculinity right from the start.
- Very attractive opening.
- Longer lasting than Phantom.
- Modern and likable composition.
3. Rochas Man Rochas
Top Notes: Lavender and Bergamot
Middle Notes: Cappuccino, Raspberry, Jasmine, Virginia Cedar, and Lily-of-the-Valley
Base Notes: Vanilla, Amber, Sandalwood, and Patchouli
Next, we have Rochas Man by Rochas, a woody, spicy cologne with the sweet creaminess of vanilla and lavender.
How similar it smells to Paco Rabanne Phantom becomes evident as soon as you spray this gorgeous fragrance. The opening is full of citrusy and aromatic lavender nuances.
As the scent progresses, a blend of raspberry, jasmine, and cedar, along with the smokiness of coffee, gives the scent a fragrant core.
And its dry down is warm, cozy, and spicy. You’ll mostly pick the sweet vanilla aroma that adds a rich creaminess to it.
Overall, Rochas Man smells like a sweeter and creamier copy of Paco Rabanne Phantom. So, if that’s what you are looking for, give this dupe a try.
Plus, with an incredible longevity of 10-12 hours, this cologne comes at a very reasonable price which makes it even more desirable.
When To Wear
This aromatic musky scent is ideal for winter or fall. You can wear this intoxicating cologne as your signature scent, for clubbing or for date nights.
Why Should You Buy
- Classy masculine scent.
- Very affordable.
- Great lasting power.
- Well-balanced and attractive fragrance.
4. 9pm Afnan
Top Notes: Apple, Cinnamon, Wild Lavender, and Bergamot
Middle Notes: Orange Blossom and Lily-of-the-Valley
Base Notes: Vanilla, Tonka Bean, Amber, and Patchouli
If you wish to last the soft ambery vanilla essence of Phantom for a very long time, 9pm by Afnan is your one and only option. It smells like Paco Rabanne’s Phantom mixed with a lot of spicy and floral notes.
It starts with citrusy bergamot and a sweet lavender aroma that has spicy cinnamon and crispy apple blended in them.
Soon the refreshing opening smoothly transforms into an aromatic floral heart filled with the freshness of orange blossom and lily of the valley. While making the fragrance fresher and more pleasing, the core also paves the way for a warm woody base.
In the dry down, sweet, creamy vanilla combines with spicy tonka and amber, giving a sense of maturity and depth to the composition.
Overall, Afnan’s 9pm is a charming and versatile fragrance that comes with an impressive longevity of more than 12 hours.
And the best part is you can get this Paco Rabanne Phantom dupe at a very affordable price range.
When To Wear
Although 9pm is a perfect scent for night outs in winter, you can wear this versatile cologne throughout the year.
This cologne is so strong that only 1-2 sprays of it can make you smell sensual and masculine for the whole day.
And last, but not least, ladies love its enticing aroma, so wearing it to clubbing or blind dates will definitely help you to make a memorable impression on your crush.
Why Should You Buy
- Insane longevity and projection.
- Stronger version of Phantom.
- Great price value.
- Alluring and likable dry down.
5. 212 VIP Men Wins Carolina Herrera
Top Notes: Yuzu, Basil, and Mandarin Orange
Middle Notes: Madagascar Pepper and Lavender
Base Notes: Skin and Tonka Bean
The last one on my list is another lighter yet spicier alternative of Paco Rabanne Phantom, named 212 VIP Men Wins.
This modern fougere scent starts with a citrusy blast of yuzu and mandarin orange, while basil in the background gives it a whiff of green freshness. The opening is so uplifting and soothing that it will give you the feel of a cooling shower on summer days.
The core of this scent has a gorgeous blend of sweet lavender with spicy nuances of Madagascar pepper.
This spiciness gets stronger as the smoky tonka bean starts to emerge. In closing, it gets a warm musky finish with a subtle touch of earthiness coming from the skin accord.
Overall, this cologne is so well-balanced and layered that you will never get bored with its modern aroma. Another plus point for this scent is its longevity. It can easily last for 8-10 hours, sometimes even more.
And the projection and sillage are also good given its affordable price.
So, if you are looking for a light and fresh summer cologne with the essence of Paco Rabanne Phantom, this is your best option.
When To Wear
Unlike all the above-listed colognes, 212 VIP Men Wins is actually ideal for summer or spring, mainly for its bright, citrusy opening.
You can wear this fragrance as your signature summer scent or for other casual to semi-formal outings.
Why Should You Buy
- Fresher and spicier Phantom alternative.
- Super-lasting power.
- Versatile and enticing scent for men.
- Suits the taste of zesty scent lovers.
Bottom Line
Each cologne I’ve listed here comes with the scent profile and aroma of Phantom. Yet they last way longer and come at an unbelievably low price.
Hence, if you are also looking for such Phantom replicas, this article will end your quest for sure.
So, go ahead and pick the cologne you were searching for a while.
