Black XS Los Angeles for Him

The Verdict

Paco Rabanne's Black XS line has always been the brand's love letter to rock and roll, and the 2016 Los Angeles edition takes the franchise to the cradle of West Coast music culture. Crafted by Olivier Cresp, it trades the original's berry-laden sweetness for a brighter, juicier citrus profile. It is a pleasant, easy-wearing summer fragrance that does its job without demanding much attention -- for better and for worse.

What It Smells Like

The opening is all about Orange -- bright, juicy Florida oranges that dominate the first few minutes alongside Lemon and Clary Sage. If you come expecting the original Black XS's darker, sweeter character, this will catch you off guard. Several Fragrantica reviewers report getting "lots of juicy orange and some clary sage" but "no detectable cinnamon at all."

The listed Cinnamon in the heart is indeed shy, appearing more as a subtle warmth than a recognizable spice. Apple and Pineapple add a fruity lift, while Lily-of-the-Valley contributes a clean, slightly green floral note. The overall heart impression is clean and fruity rather than spicy.

In the base, Coumarin and Vanilla bring a gentle sweetness, grounded by Oakmoss and generic Woody Notes. The drydown has been compared to the original Paco Rabanne from 1973 -- "just a dash" of that classic aromatic warmth -- layered over the characteristic Black XS woody sweetness, but dialed back.

One Basenotes reviewer summed up the construction as "another XS flanker that is a variation on the same theme," noting the berry notes have been replaced with spices and sage.

When to Wear It

Summer daytime and warm evenings are the clear targets. Community voting leans 25% day versus 13% night, but multiple reviewers call it an "amazing summer evening fragrance" too. Spring works as well. This is not a cold-weather scent, and it lacks the sophistication for business settings.

One interesting observation: several users describe it as a "grower" -- underwhelming on first wear but increasingly satisfying after multiple outings. One reviewer reported not understanding what they were smelling at first, then falling in love after wearing it five or more times.

Longevity & Projection

Performance is decent for a summer EDT. One surprised reviewer reported 8 hours of wear time with good sillage and compliments. The community average sits at a more realistic 3.36 out of 5 for longevity. Expect 5-7 hours with moderate projection that becomes a skin scent after a few hours.

Some users note this may be a limited edition and recommend using it wisely to avoid running through the bottle too quickly.

The Community Says

With 116 community votes and a 3.87 average, Los Angeles for Him sits in the "decent flanker" zone. The 36% love and 37% like split shows more people enjoy it than not, but the 21% who find it merely acceptable hint at a lack of excitement.

One critical reviewer compared Paco Rabanne to "the Ubisoft of the fragrance world -- producing flanker after flanker of the same smell with mild alteration." It is a fair comparison for the Black XS line, which has produced over a half-dozen variations since 2005. The Los Angeles edition is distinguishable from the original, but only just.

On the positive side, those who connect with it often become genuine fans, praising it as a great value with a personality that reveals itself over time.

Who Should Buy This

If you enjoy the Black XS family but find the original too sweet or heavy for warm weather, the LA edition is a cleaner, more citrus-forward alternative. It also works for anyone who wants a simple, crowd-pleasing summer fragrance that is easy to find at a discount online.

Skip it if you are looking for something genuinely creative or distinctive. The citrus-fruity-sweet territory has been covered more convincingly by fragrances like Versace Pour Homme or even Paco Rabanne's own Invictus lineup.

The Bottom Line

Black XS Los Angeles for Him is a competent summer flanker in an overcrowded lineup. It smells good, it gets compliments, and it does not overstay its welcome. But in a world overflowing with citrus-fresh masculines, "competent" is a hard sell unless the price is right. Find it on discount and it becomes a reasonable warm-weather rotation piece. At full retail, there are better options.