Paco Rabanne Metal Eau de Toilette
Notes: aldehydes, citrus oils, basil, hyacinth, green note, jasmine, rose, muguet, tuberose, ylang ylang, orris, cyclamen, vetiver, sandalwood, amber, oak moss, musk*
Metal is a beautiful bright floral aldehyde with prominent green leaf notes, an early spring floral bouquet of Lily of The Valley (muguet) and hyacinth leaving a clean aldehydic and musk base. As if the perfumer was concentrating more on the Lily of The Valley large green leaves than on the reconstruction of its flower. The fragrance stroke me as exquisite and took my breath away when I first scented it last week. I had ordered it together with another fragrance a bit by accident on the Dutch eBay site Marktplaats to save shipping cost and was pleasantly surprised.
Metal transported me directly to my childhood in the seventies which was surprising as it was so unexpected which made it even more enjoyable. Normally I would not wear fragrances which are greener but I will gladly wear Metal Eau de Toilette.
Metal was created by Firmenich perfumer Robert Gonnon (1926- 1988) and launched in 1979. It has been discontinued. Robert Gonnon created O de Lancôme and worked on Cacharel Anais Anais together with other perfumers as well. The version I have is about 30 years old so it is probably different from the fragrance when it was just launched. But as I do not know another version this does not bother me.
Not much has been published about Metal or its creator Robert Gonnon. This article is a way to honour his work and specifically Paco Rabanne Metal as well. But although Metal was discontinued many still enjoy his creation the refreshing O de Lancôme. I got the strong impression either Robert Gonnon liked gardening or being in a garden as Metal strikes me as a scent you make with a deep love for spring flowers and the joy you experience as a gardener or garden lover when spring with all it’s green lushness arrives again after a leafless winter.
Metal in a few words: cool, sparkling clean, young, green, from another era, a pristine beauty, joyful and light, happy.
Bottom line: I was pleasantly surprised by this green, bright exquisite scent. If you find it, buy it, you will not be disappointed.
Have you tried Paco Rabanne Metal Eau de Toilette? Would you like to? If so, tell me why you would like to try it as I want to share this beautiful scent with a give away.
Give away: Leave a comment (and tell me how you follow as well) before August 11, 2017 12.00 PM Parisian Time to win a 1 ml sample from my bottle. Worldwide shipping and I will select using random org to select the winner. You have to follow this blog by WordPress, Instagram or Facebook to be able to win, if you do not follow you can, I encourage you too! The draw is closed.
*Source: Scent and Subversion by Barbara Herman
Photographs: first was made by me, the second is the iconic seventies model Lauren Hutton in 1975 for Revlon Ultima II by Richard Avedon
August 4, 2017 @ 09:28
This was actually my first grown up perfume. I wore it for a few years in my 20s. I haven’t smelled it in so long, it would be wonderful to have a sample to refresh my memory 🙂
August 4, 2017 @ 09:45
Interesting to read it was your first grown up fragrance, Sara! You are in for the give away! I would be curious about your impression when you would smell it again!
August 4, 2017 @ 10:39
Beautiful notes in this one and it sounds lovely : as i don’t have a garden perhaps i could pretend if i was lucky enough to win a sample. 🙂 I follow you by Bloglovin and email.
August 4, 2017 @ 10:46
It is beautiful, Pats. You are in!
August 4, 2017 @ 14:08
This has many of my favorite notes! I follow you on WordPress. Thanks for doing this!
August 9, 2017 @ 16:59
You are in!
August 7, 2017 @ 10:35
I’d love to try this, it sounds perfect for summer. I follow you by email.
August 9, 2017 @ 16:59
You are in, Mary!
August 8, 2017 @ 02:44
I have tried it more than 20 years ago because when I was at school I had a classmate who wore Metal and brought the mini bottle to school… and I loved it. I follow you on Inoreader.
August 12, 2017 @ 06:30
DNEM, but I wanted to comment because the last time I smelled anything from this brand was probably more than 20 years ago when I bought a bottle of some masculine perfume for my vSO – I can’t even remember the name – something with X, I think. Is this brand still around, I wonder?
August 15, 2017 @ 12:39
Hi Undina! What does DNEM mean? I presume do not I include in the draw but I am curious. Paco Rabanne is still around but with fragrances which not really sound attractive like Olympia. I was pleasantly surprises by Metal.
September 11, 2018 @ 06:37
I love Metal, im so sorry it was discontinued …..it was my first serious perfume i got as a gift from my uncle…..