by Paco Rabanne
Invictus Aqua (2016) stands out as a highly effective summer fragrance with exceptional longevity and strong projection, making it ideal for warm weather and daytime use. The opening features a vibrant, zesty burst of yuzu and pink pepper, offering a fresh, slightly bitter citrus that many describe as uniquely superior to later versions. As it develops, the fragrance evolves into a balanced aquatic profile enhanced by marine, ozonic, and slightly sweet amber notes, creating a salty, clean, and enduring scent that evokes the sea. Despite being labeled as synthetic or generic by some, its performance has earned praise for making the minimalist, bubblegum-laden DNA of Invictus more wearable by toning down the sweetness and adding a refreshing marine complexity. The drydown is often noted as smooth and appealing, with the sea salt and ambergris accord providing a solid base. This version is especially praised for its ability to generate compliments, particularly among younger women, and its unfortunate discontinuation has led to extreme scarcity and inflated prices.