Pure XS - 647

Rabanne's Pure XS is known for its electrifying contrast between icy ginger and an excessive, almost Coca-Cola-like blend of vanilla, cinnamon and myrrh, and No. 647 captures that opening trick convincingly. The green, spicy ginger top note is sharp and true to the original, and the sweet cinnamon-vanilla-liquor heart delivers the same indulgent, slightly gourmand warmth. Where it falls short is the myrrh-driven base, which in the original brings a resinous, almost incense-like edge that gives Pure XS real depth and staying power; here the base is softer and more generically woody-sweet, fading into a light musk within a few hours rather than the five-to-eight the designer version manages. A good pick for anyone chasing that spiced-vanilla, hot-cold sensuality on a budget, best applied generously for evening wear.