No.169 Pure XS

No.169 is Eden's inspired-by aftershave version of Paco Rabanne Pure XS for men, a fragrance built around a powerful boozy-spiced character. It opens with a shot of liquor alongside ginger and thyme, giving an immediate warmth that sets a confident, unmistakably masculine tone. The heart deepens the spice with cinnamon and a rounder vanilla sweetness, echoing the original's blend of herbs and spice that Eden themselves describe as nutty and slightly petrol-like in its intensity. Myrrh and cedar form the base, carrying the fragrance through a long evening wear with a smoky, resinous finish. Community reviews of Pure XS dupes note that the boozy-spice opening is usually the most recognisable and easiest stage to replicate, while the original's more unusual, almost industrial facets soften into a more conventional spicy-woody profile in budget versions - a pattern that holds here. Eden themselves recommend restraint with application, noting the fragrance is more suited to evenings than daytime wear, and a little goes a long way. This is a bold, warming scent for autumn and winter nights out, delivering the core boozy-spiced appeal of the Pure XS line at a fraction of the cost, even if some of the original's edgier complexity is smoothed over.