
Paco Rabanne
Last updated
A bold unisex elixir layering zesty citrus and sage over warm spiced praline and smoky cardamom, settling into dark woods and earthy patchouli
Top Notes
Heart Notes
Base Notes
Accords
Best Clone
The best clone of Paco Rabanne Black Xs is Italiano Nero by Armaf, with a 78% accuracy score. A fraction of the cost of the $46 original.
What people who wear Paco Rabanne Black Xs report, based on votes and reviews from a large fragrance community. Created by Olivier Cresp and Christian Dussoulier and Rosendo Mateu.
Listed as Men
“This is pretty good, sweet and fresh, kind of light. Its pretty weak in performance though, in about an hour or two its skin scent that smells earthy, like potting soil. I'm thinking that this should be a summer scent, maybe the heat will make this scent project more. I will test it next summer and see.I have the same batch code 01892 that Ektoras mentioned, I highly doubt that this is the original old scent, its the new scent version just in the original style bottle. I need to get the new bottle to compare with this one to know for sure...”
“Strawberry+citruss , very nice fragrance for a blind buy. Safe smell that would mostly please everyone.Smells 80% like diesel only the brave tatto.Uniqueness/smell 8.5/10Longevity 10/10 lasts forever on clothesProjection 8/10Sillage 9/10Overall 8,5/10Great for daily usage.”
“Strawberry juice... i'm lucky enough to get my hands on this 2005 original formulation..Extreme longevity, last forever... Night fragrance..Scent 8/10Projection 5/10sillage 8/10Nice job...”

Armaf
-
Price
6-10 hours
Longevity
Strong
Sillage
Armaf's version lacks the deep black amber richness and intensity of the original, resulting in a lighter, less lasting composition. The top notes are slightly brighter and the overall scent feels more linear rather than evolving through distinct phases.

Fragrance World
-
Price
-
Longevity
-
Sillage
The clone delivers comparable performance in longevity and sillage but lacks the depth and richness of Black Xs's black amber and tolu balsam blend, resulting in a somewhat flattened dry-down. Fragrance World's version leans slightly sweeter and less smoky than the original.

Paris Corner
-
Price
-
Longevity
-
Sillage
The clone performs adequately in projection but shows reduced longevity compared to Black Xs, with a noticeably softer base after 4-5 hours. The spicy notes are slightly sharper and less refined, missing some of the original's sophisticated amber-patchouli warmth.

Swiss Arabian
$24
FragranceNet
-
Longevity
-
Sillage
Shaghaf Men exhibits a smoother, less intense spice profile with diminished brightness in the opening compared to Black Xs's more assertive lemon-cardamom combination. The performance gap is notable—the clone lacks the original's robust projection and staying power, fading more quickly on skin.

Zara
-
Price
-
Longevity
-
Sillage
Brings ebony to the mix and skips praline, brazilian rosewood and tolu balsam from the original. Voters say it fades sooner on skin.

Zara
-
Price
-
Longevity
-
Sillage
Zara's version is sweeter and more linear with a generic musk base, while Black XS offers greater complexity with distinctive woody-resinous undertones and better longevity. The original's sage note is also completely absent in the clone, making it feel less refined.

Nabeel
$17
FragranceNet
-
Longevity
-
Sillage
Nabeel's interpretation simplifies the aromatic profile, making it slightly more linear and less nuanced in the heart and dry-down. The overall longevity and sillage also tend to be moderately lighter than the original designer composition.

Riiffs
-
Price
-
Longevity
-
Sillage
The clone emphasizes the coffee and cinnamon notes more heavily than the original, which features a stronger oud-leather signature. Riffs' version has a slightly sweeter, more accessible profile that may appeal to those finding Black XS too intense or animalic.
Spot a wrong price, match, image or link?