Curious about colognes from Invictus? This hand-picked guide has you covered.
Spanish designer and erstwhile enfant terrible of the fashion world, Paco Rabanne, opened his fashion house in Paris in 1966. His designs were radical and cutting-edge, producing clothes fashioned from metal discs, plastic, and a variety of unusual materials.
Paco Rabanne fragrances, developed by the professional ‘noses’ at Puig, have made their mark by creating successful, irresistible fragrances that appeal to a wide variety of men.
Invictus is a Paco Rabanne fragrance line, in case you were unaware. You may be familiar with the parent company of Invictus, Puig, which acquired the license for Paco Rabanne fragrances in 1968.
Their first fragrance was Calandre, a ground-breaking fragrance for women that defied perfume tradition with its heavily floral notes. It was launched in 1969 and is still available today. Paco Rabanne has developed over 100 fragrances and perfumes since then.
Best Colognes From Invictus
Here are the best colognes from Invictus in no particular order.
Invictus
Invictus, the original cologne, was an enormous success when it launched in July 2013. So much so, in fact, that a slew of flankers has been introduced to capitalize on its popularity.
The name Invictus is Latin for “invincible” — and indeed it seems as if Invictus has been a dominant force in the men’s cologne market since its introduction.
Its bottle is even designed in the form of a trophy and is obviously aimed at those who already consider themselves to be winners (or those who would like to be).
How does it smell? It is a sporty, fresh fragrance, which has become a go-to staple for younger customers everywhere. You will smell it in bars and clubs around the world, an indication of its perennial global popularity.
Notes include grapefruit and sea notes, mandarin orange, bay leaf, jasmine, ambergris, and oak moss. It opens with a citrusy fruity vibe with a sweet, sugary scent early on.
When it dries down you will find saltier oceanic notes combining with ambergris for a clean aqua smell.
Deeper notes release jasmine and bay leaf floral scents. Overall it is fresh and appealing (especially to women, apparently). Wear it in any climate, in the summertime and through the fall, on casual dates, or on a night out with friends.
Invictus Eau de Toilette
Invictus Eau de Toilette debuted in 2013 and immediately took off with the 20-something crowd.
The first spray opens with a blast of citrus, grapefruit, and orange, settling into sea spray and jasmine. Bitter bay leaf, ambergris, and resin add depth and male confidence.
It is a warm season scent, pretty much suitable for any occasion, perfect for spring or summer parties, holidays, or even casual office days.
Invictus Eau De Toilette is a classic marine/citrus crowd-pleaser. You can’t help but get compliments.
Invictus Aqua
Invictus Aqua was introduced in 2016, and it was developed to take the original Invictus fragrance in an even more aquatic direction.
Its top notes include energetic hints of yuzu, grapefruit, and pink pepper, but deeper, middle notes of seawater and violet leaf soon come to the fore.
Base notes of ambergris, amber wood, and guaiac wood round out this legendary fragrance.
If the original Invictus was sweet, Invictus Aqua is salty and tart, yet not completely missing out on hints of the bubble-gum(ish) notes famous in all Invictus fragrances.
Invictus Intense
Also launched in 2016 was Invictus Intense, which turns up the volume on its older brother in a bolder, more intense, and spicier way.
Expect a vibrant, sensual woodiness with deep floral undertones.
Your first spray opens immediately with warm amber notes leading to a malty booziness. Soft orange blossom then takes over, leading to woody notes, black pepper, and ambergris.
This is a deeper, richer offshoot of the original Invictus in a warmer, spicier, fresher, floral recipe.
Base notes of malt, wood, and black pepper keep its masculinity indisputably intact. Its longevity is 7-8 hours, so you don’t need repeat applications. Invictus Intense is one to wear in the colder seasons due to its depth and intensity.
Invictus Victory Extreme
Invictus Victory Extreme was a 2021 introduction.
Here’s how it was described at the time “Invictus Victory Extreme seizes with its power and seduces with its freshness. Instantly, citric lemon notes flow”.
The woody fragrance in incense strengthens the composition while the sensual vanilla wraps itself round a fiery tonka bean…”
Top notes are pink pepper and lemon; middle notes are lavender and olibanum; base notes are vanilla, tonka bean and amber.
It’s a bold, fearless scent that masterfully unites the two opposites of lemon and vanilla. Somehow, together they work in an exhilarating rush. And yes, it will last long into the night.
Invictus Legend
Invictus Legend opens with a bold burst of grapefruit, aquatic notes, and amber. Sweet, citrus with notes of the oceanic lead into spicier/woodier undertones.
Fragrance notes include salted grapefruit, geranium, laurel, mead, red amber, and guaiac wood.
This is a strong cologne, so we recommend you spray sparingly. Its longevity is good, so you can expect it to keep working from 8-10 hours, as you move from day into your later hours club scene.
Wear it on warm days, afternoons, spring and summer, and on weekends.
Invictus Platinum
Invictus Platinum is the new kid on the block. It launched in 2022 as the new flavor for the former Invictus wearer and is meant as a sharper, less sweet, more mature version for a slightly older guy who has gone beyond the all-things-sweet stage.
Invictus Platinum still has enough of the fruitiness, and that famous quasi-bubble-gum appeal, but is sharpened with metallic, herbal notes or “absinthe.”
Lavender and mint take up the middle note position with a base of ambroxan, patchouli, incense notes, and cypress.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still wondering about this interesting fragrance line? Check below for answers to common questions.
When did Invictus cologne come out?
The original Invictus first launched in 2013.
What does Invictus mean?
Invictus means “invincible” in Latin.
Is Invictus a good cologne?
As with all fragrances, it depends on your preferences and on your personal body chemistry. Try Invictus if you’re looking for a sporty scent.
Conclusion
The Invictus fragrance line-up offers bold, crowd-pleasing options which represent a battle (or perhaps we should say clever balance) between citrus freshness, sweetness, and woody spiciness.
It is a battle where all sides win, however, depending upon which direction and flanker type you prefer. Paco Rabanne rarely makes a mistake.
There’s a great fragrance here for everyone.
Questions? Comments? Leave them below!
