Paco Rabanne 1 Million Lucky dupes

What is 1 Million Lucky?

1 Million Lucky is a men's fragrance by Paco Rabanne, now called just Rabanne. It came out in spring 2018.

It is an Eau de Toilette, made by perfumer Nathalie Gracia-Cetto. It launched at the same time as a women's partner, Lady Million Lucky.

It belongs to the famous 1 Million family. The original 1 Million from 2008 is one of the best-selling men's scents ever, and its gold-bar bottle is hard to miss.

The bottle

Like the rest of the line, Lucky comes in a bottle shaped like a bar of precious metal. For Lucky, Rabanne used silver and gold accents.

One Fragrantica reviewer called the 1 Million bottles "delightfully tacky," and meant it kindly. You either love the look or find it a bit much.

What does it smell like?

The top notes are plum, ozonic notes, grapefruit and bergamot. The middle is hazelnut, honey, cedar, cashmere wood, orange blossom and jasmine.

The base is amberwood, patchouli, vetiver and oakmoss.

In plain words, it smells like a juicy plum and fresh air on top, then sweet hazelnut and honey over soft woods. Many people describe it as Nutella, honey and plums.

Fragrantica lists its main accords as woody, sweet, nutty, honey and fruity. Rabanne itself described it as woody and gourmand, fresh, vivid and sensual.

The hazelnut

Hazelnut is a rare note in men's perfume. It is what makes Lucky stand out from most sweet designer scents.

In perfume, hazelnut smells warm, toasty and a little creamy. Next to honey, it reads like a nutty dessert or a hazelnut spread.

Some people's noses pick it up as almond or praline instead. One reviewer said the plum read as date fruit and the hazelnut as almond to them.

The plum on top keeps the nut note from feeling heavy. That fruit-and-nut balance is the heart of Lucky's style.

Not a typical 1 Million

Most 1 Million flankers are very sweet and loud. Lucky is still sweet, but the plum and the ozonic, airy notes make it fresher.

Many fans see this as its big strength. One reviewer said it is less sweet than other flankers and "the most universally wearable piece of the line."

Others call it the best 1 Million of all. That phrase comes up again and again in reviews.

How it changes on your skin

The opening. Bright plum with grapefruit and a fresh, airy lift. Some reviewers notice a bubblegum-like sweetness.

The middle. The hazelnut and honey take over. This is the creamy, nutty, "dessert" part people love.

The drydown. It settles into soft woods with a sweet, nutty glow. One fan compared the drydown to a milk and honey shampoo, "masculine in the best way possible."

Why people love it

It smells good enough to eat, but stays fresh. Many reviewers call it a compliment getter, and several call it their signature scent.

One reviewer has bought it again and again since 2018, and said they have had more compliments in it than in anything else they own.

It is also flexible. Fans wear it in fall and winter, but also on cool spring days and summer evenings.

Why some people don't

Some find it too sweet or too young. A few reviewers say it smells like a sweet shampoo or caramel popcorn, and not in a good way.

Others find it synthetic, especially in the woody base. One reviewer said the base reminded them of a woody deodorant.

The performance debate

This is the most argued-about thing with Lucky. Some owners say it lasts all day, while others say it fades within three hours.

Part of the reason is that it is an Eau de Toilette, which is lighter than a parfum. Another part may be batches.

Lucky was hard to find for a while, then came back. Reviewers report a brown-glass bottle and a newer clear-glass one, and some say the newer bottles smell and perform differently.

One reviewer felt the brown-glass bottle had more honey and hazelnut, while the clear one is fresher. Another said an older version had more oakmoss.

Treat these as owner reports, not confirmed facts.

The safest rule: if you can, test the exact bottle you plan to buy.

The sprayer complaint

Many reviewers complain about the sprayer. One simply wrote, "fix your atomizers."

This is a common complaint across the 1 Million and Invictus lines. It does not change the smell, but it can make spraying messy.

Is it only for men?

Rabanne sells it for men, but many reviewers call it fairly unisex. Its sweetness, honey and soft florals make it easy for anyone to wear.

One reviewer who wears it said it is "not overly masculine or overly feminine." Another, who borrows it from their partner, called it woody, nutty, warm and edible.

If you like sweet, cosy scents, it is worth a try whatever the label says.

Is it a good blind buy?

Many fans say yes, and call it mass appealing and safe. A few warn against it, because the sweetness and the nutty note can surprise people.

Because performance varies by batch, a small sample is the safest first step.

When to wear it

Lucky is mostly a cool-weather scent. Fall, winter and spring get the most love from reviewers.

Thanks to its fresh side, many people also wear it on summer evenings. In strong daytime heat, though, the sweetness can be too much.

It works for dates, nights out, casual days and even the office, as long as you go easy on the sprays.

The dupes

Lucky has several dupes, partly because it was hard to find for a while. People who could not get the original turned to clones.

We list three with medium confidence. Here is what owners say.

The well-known one: Lattafa Pride Ishq Al Shuyukh Silver

This is the most discussed Lucky clone. One owner on Reddit wrote that the hazelnut makes it smell unique, and listed it as their Lucky match.

Another owner described it as "not a one to one clone," with "a citrusy twist." They actually liked it more than the original.

A Fragrantica reviewer who owns both gave the most careful comparison. They said Ishq Silver "nails the opening but dries down sharper, less sweet and not as multifaceted."

In their view, Lucky is "silky smooth throughout its entire lifespan," and wins in every category. But they also pointed out that the clone is much cheaper.

On performance, owners differ again. Some say Ishq Silver projects strongly, while one said it needs time in the bottle to perform well.

The close one: Maison Alhambra Instant Lucky Man

Instant Lucky Man is known for being very close to the original in smell.

The catch is that it needs a heavy spray to last. It has also been hard to find at times.

The newer one: Dua Error 413

The Dua Brand sells Error 413 as its take on 1 Million Lucky, built around the same plum and airy opening.

Nobody has posted a side-by-side comparison yet. Treat it as untested until owners of both weigh in.

Other names you will see

Fans mention several more Lucky clones. These include Barrett Fragrance Lucky, Lattafa Hayaatim (with an "m" at the end) and Pendora Milano Platina.

One reviewer said Barrett's version smells close to one-to-one and performs better. Another called Hayaatim the same smell, just less bright.

We do not list these yet. We have only one owner's word on each, and we want more before adding them.

Lucky vs other 1 Million scents

The original 1 Million is spicier, with cinnamon and leather, and very sweet. 1 Million Elixir is richer and sweeter still.

Lucky is the freshest and most nutty of the bunch. If you find the others too heavy, Lucky is the one to try.

Which should you buy?

Buy the original if you want the smoothest blend from start to finish, and you can test your bottle first.

Buy Ishq Al Shuyukh Silver if you want the opening for much less, and do not mind a sharper drydown.

Buy Instant Lucky Man if you want a close smell and are happy to spray more.

Skip them all if sweet, nutty scents are not for you.

Who made it

Nathalie Gracia-Cetto is an experienced French perfumer who has worked on many popular designer scents.

Lucky takes a famous, very sweet formula and makes it lighter and fresher. The plum and airy notes are the perfumer's twist on the classic 1 Million sweetness.

The result keeps the playful, attention-grabbing spirit of the line. But it feels easier to wear in more places and more seasons than its older siblings.

Lady Million Lucky

Lucky launched with a women's partner, Lady Million Lucky. It is a separate perfume, with its own notes and style.

This page and its dupes are only about the men's 1 Million Lucky.

Tips for wearing it

Start with three or four sprays. Even fans say it can get loud and headache-inducing if you overdo it.

Spray some on clothes. Several owners say it lasts much longer on fabric than on skin.

It also layers well. One fan layers it with Armani Stronger With You Intensely, and another with Givenchy Gentleman Society.

If your bottle seems weak at first, give it a few weeks. Several owners say it smells and performs better after the bottle has been opened for a while.

The bottom line

1 Million Lucky is a fresh, nutty take on the famous 1 Million line, with plum, hazelnut and honey over soft woods. Many fans call it the best of the family.

Its staying power depends on the batch, so test before you buy. For less, Lattafa Ishq Al Shuyukh Silver gets the opening right, though the original is smoother.