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Paco RabanneEau de Toilette · EST. 2021

Phantom

A bright, modern fresh-gourmand built on sparkling lemon, lavender, and a smooth vanilla base. A fun, easy-to-wear crowd-pleaser housed in a distinctive robot-shaped bottle.

NOSE: Loc Dong, Anne Flipo, Dominique Ropion & Juliette KaragueuzoglouRELEASED: 2021RETAIL: $70 - $110
The Quick Answer

Phantom opens on Lemon and Lavender, moves through Apple and Sage, and dries down to Vanilla and Patchouli. At $70 - $110 it is which sits at fair mid-range value, with moderate (6h - 8h) on skin. A relatively safe blind buy for most wardrobes.

ADEGBE ANALYSIS SCORES

8.3
Expert
7.4
Longevity
7.2
Sillage
9.0
Versatility
9.2
Value

Scores are AdeGbe's editorial analysis based on composition, concentration and community-reported performance — not a single personal wear test.

Approx. $0.70/mlBased on the lowest street price ($70) over an assumed 100ml bottle for this concentration.

OLFACTORY PYRAMID BREAKDOWN

TOP NOTESFirst impression · 15–30 min
  • Lemon
  • Lavender
  • Bergamot
HEART NOTESCore character · 2–4 hours
  • Apple
  • Sage
  • Geranium
BASE NOTESDry-down · 6–24+ hours
  • Vanilla
  • Patchouli
  • Woody Notes

EXPERT ANALYSIS — COMPOSITION & PERFORMANCE

AG
AdeGbe Fragrance Research Team Data-Driven Analysis
Olfactory composition & performance assessment
Updated Spring 2026Eau de ToiletteMethodology: note-pyramid analysis + community performance data + AdeGbe scoring model

Phantom by Paco Rabanne is a bright citrus-leaning eau de toilette released in 2021, composed by Loc Dong, Anne Flipo, Dominique Ropion & Juliette Karagueuzoglou. This is our research team's structured analysis of how it is built, how it performs, and who it suits — based on its composition, community-aggregated performance data, and the AdeGbe scoring model.

The Opening

It opens on Lemon, Lavender, Bergamot, a bright citrus and aromatic herb introduction that sets expectations before the heart emerges.

The Heart

The middle phase is juicy fruit and aromatic herb: Apple, Sage, Geranium carry the core of the scent through its most expressive hours.

The Dry-Down

Hours later it resolves into a sweet gourmand foundation — Vanilla, Patchouli, Woody Notes — that determines the lasting memory of the scent.

Projected Performance Timeline
Hour 1
Lemon and Lavender opening. Strong, room-filling projection.
Hour 4
Apple and Sage heart fully developed. Still projecting clearly.
Hour 8
Vanilla and Patchouli base emerges. Becoming a skin scent.
Hour 10
Soft base notes still detectable close to skin.
Longevity
7.4/10
Sillage
7.2/10
Blind Buy
LOW RISK
Final Score
8.8/10

Who Should Buy Phantom

Phantom leans masculine but is wearable by anyone who enjoys the style. Its season vector points strongest to spring, and its day/night balance makes it best suited to versatile day-to-night wear. If you gravitate toward bright citrus and juicy fruit compositions and want a more moderate, easy-going wear, it belongs on your shortlist.

One Honest Warning

Performance and quality are not in question here. The honest caveat is ubiquity: Phantom is widely worn, so if smelling distinctive matters more to you than smelling excellent, factor that in.

Analysis based on composition, community-aggregated performance data, and the AdeGbe scoring model.A human skin-test review is added as our team tests each fragrance.

PERFORMANCE INDEX & SUITABILITY VECTORS

LONGEVITY FACTORModerate (6h - 8h)
Weak (1h)Moderate (4-6h)Beast (24h+)
SILLAGE / PROJECTIONModerate Projection
IntimateModerateEnormous
DAY · NIGHT SUITABILITY
DAY
60%
NIGHT
40%
GENDER INDEXMasculine
FEMININEUNISEXMASCULINE
SEASON SUITABILITY VECTOR
SPRING 🌸35%
SUMMER ☀️30%
AUTUMN 🍂20%
WINTER ❄️15%

PROJECTED PERFORMANCE TIMELINE

Projected from this fragrance's concentration, note structure and reported longevity — an analysis, not a single personal wear test.

Hour 1
Top burst

Lemon and Lavender lead the opening before the volatile top notes burn off.

Projection: Strong
Hour 4
Heart in bloom

Apple and Sage take over as the core character of the fragrance.

Projection: Strong
Hour 8
Early dry-down

Vanilla and Patchouli anchor the scent close to the skin.

Projection: Moderate
Hour 12
Base residue

A skin-scent of Vanilla and Patchouli is what typically remains by now.

Projection: Skin-close

Wear It

  • Spring (35% seasonal fit)
  • Summer (30% seasonal fit)
  • Daytime and casual daily wear

Skip It

  • Winter — it underperforms here (15%)

Blind-Buy Risk

7/100SAFE
Risk factors
  • Fresh, broadly-likeable profile lowers the risk of disappointment
In its favour
  • Clean citrus/fresh structures are widely accepted and rarely offend.

INGREDIENT SAFETY SNAPSHOT

Linalool / Limonene

Common EU-declarable allergens; can oxidise and irritate sensitive skin.

Benzyl Benzoate (fixative)

Generally well-tolerated base/fixative materials with low sensitiser risk.

This snapshot is based on the published note list, not a full INCI ingredient breakdown. Always check the box for the official allergen declaration and patch-test if you have sensitive skin. See full ingredient-safety guides →

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How long does Paco Rabanne Phantom last?
Phantom typically lasts 6 to 8 hours on skin. The fresh lemon and lavender opening is bright but fades within the first couple of hours, leaving a smooth vanilla and woody base that lingers closer to the skin. Performance is decent for an affordable EDT, and spraying on clothing helps extend its overall presence.
Is Phantom good for summer and daytime?
Yes, it is well suited to spring, summer, and daytime wear. The sparkling lemon and lavender opening feels fresh and clean in warm weather, while the light vanilla base keeps it from feeling too heavy. It is a versatile, easy-going scent that works for casual outings, the office, and relaxed evenings.
Does Phantom smell good and get compliments?
It is a friendly crowd-pleaser that tends to earn compliments thanks to its clean, slightly sweet vanilla-citrus profile. The scent is approachable and broadly likeable rather than bold or distinctive. Some find it a bit generic, but for an inoffensive everyday fragrance that most people enjoy, it performs its job well.
Is Phantom worth buying?
For the money, Phantom ($70 - $110) is a fair buy. It projects at a moderate projection level and lasts in the range of moderate (6h - 8h), which puts its performance around the average mark. It is worth it if you connect with its Lemon and Lavender character; if you want an all-occasion safe blind buy, sample first because it leans toward casual daytime wear.
Can I wear Phantom to the office?
Yes, within reason. Phantom sits at a moderate moderate projection projection, which is generally office-friendly with one to two sprays. Apply before you leave home rather than at your desk, and you should stay within polite, non-intrusive range through the working day.
How many sprays of Phantom should I use?
Two to four sprays suits most people. Phantom has moderate projection projection, so you can apply a little more generously than a beast-mode scent without crowding others. Spread sprays across pulse points and let it settle; its moderate (6h - 8h) longevity means you rarely need to reapply.
Is Phantom safe for sensitive skin?
Phantom is an alcohol-based eau de toilette and its note list includes materials such as Lemon, Lavender and Bergamot, some of which fall under EU-declarable allergen rules (for example linalool, limonene or coumarin depending on the notes). That does not make it unsafe — most wearers have no reaction — but if your skin is reactive, spray onto clothing or patch-test on the inner arm first. This guidance is based on the published note list, not a full INCI breakdown.

INTERACTIVE FRAGRANCE TOOLS

Personalised calculators and scanners specific to Phantom.

INTERACTIVE FRAGRANCE TOOLS

Personalised calculators and scanners specific to Phantom.

TOP DUPES & AFFORDABLE ALTERNATIVES

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