The Phantom Cologne Guy: Unmasking The Mystery Man

The guy in the Paco Rabanne Phantom cologne commercial is actor and musician Charlie Heaton. Heaton is best known for his role as Jonathan Byers in the Netflix series 'Stranger Things'. In the commercial, Heaton is shown in a city at night, surrounded by lights, and encountering a female love interest. The advert also features Heaton playing the drums, one of his skills in real life.

Charlie Heaton is the guy in the Phantom cologne commercial

The campaign shoot, which had elements reminiscent of a music video, was a thrilling experience for Heaton. Classic David Bowie songs, including 'Let's Dance', set the backdrop for the shoot, as the actor, also a musician, embodied a mysterious, sexy character.

Heaton's approach to the campaign was a blend of his personal style and the brand's vision. Vincent Thilloy, chief brands officer of Paco Rabanne, emphasised the importance of this intersection, highlighting the Parisian touch that the brand values. Heaton's sophisticated rock attitude and aspirational appeal to his generation made him the perfect choice for the brand, which sought to appeal to the Gen Z demographic.

Jérôme Leloup, vice president of Paco Rabanne Beauty, described Phantom Parfum as a relaunch of the original Phantom, with a new scent profile and a black matte finish on its robot-like, refillable bottle. Combining French lavender, black vanilla bean from Madagascar, and Haitian vetiver, the perfume exudes a timeless, sexy, and empowering aura.

He is an English actor, musician, and drummer

The guy in the Paco Rabanne Phantom cologne commercial is English actor, musician, and drummer Charlie Heaton. Heaton is known for his role as Jonathan Byers in the hit Netflix sci-fi horror series *Stranger Things*. He was also previously a drummer in the band Comanechi.

Heaton was chosen as the face of the fragrance because he is a favourite among Paco Rabanne's target audience, Gen Z, and was described by the brand's vice president, Jerome Leloup, as "a very interesting, complex character, who portrays very well the kind of men we are interested in portraying today – a bit more complex, sensitive, very magnetic".

The campaign for the cologne was shot by Matt Lambert, with still images by Florian Joyce. In the film, Heaton dances erratically to David Bowie's "Let's Dance", lounges on the hood of a car, walks through Paris, meets a romantic partner, and plays the drums.

Heaton said of the experience:

> It was pretty freeing...It was [about] just leaning into the confidence of it, because you have to create this very mysterious, sexy character.

Heaton plays Jonathan Byers in Stranger Things

The guy in the Paco Rabanne Phantom cologne commercial is actor and musician Charlie Heaton, who plays Jonathan Byers in the hit Netflix sci-fi horror series Stranger Things. Heaton was named the global ambassador of the new fragrance, which was released in July 2023. The campaign for the perfume was shot by Matt Lambert, with still images by Florian Joyce.

Heaton's character in the advert dances erratically in a room to David Bowie's 'Let's Dance', and the campaign was intended to be more modern and in sync with Paco Rabanne's fashion. Paco Rabanne's vice president of beauty, Jerome Leloup, described Heaton as "a very interesting, complex character, who portrays very well the kind of men we are interested in portraying today – a bit more complex, sensitive, very magnetic".

Heaton is best known for his role as Jonathan Byers in Stranger Things, which began streaming in 2016. In the series, he plays one of the main characters, a teenager whose brother disappears, sparking a hunt that uncovers a mysterious otherworldly threat. Stranger Things has been a huge success, with Heaton's performance receiving particular praise. The show has been renewed for a final season, which Heaton will return for.

Heaton's performance in Stranger Things has made him a favourite among Paco Rabanne's target audience, Gen Z, and so he was a natural choice for the brand. The campaign for Phantom Parfum aims to showcase a more seductive modern masculinity, and Heaton's sophisticated, rock attitude and aspirational image for his generation made him a perfect fit.

The commercial features David Bowie's 'Let's Dance'

The Paco Rabanne Phantom cologne commercial features the song "Let's Dance" by English singer-songwriter David Bowie. The song was recorded in 1982 and released in 1983 as the title track of Bowie's 15th studio album of the same name.

"Let's Dance" is a dance number with elements of rock, funk, new wave, and post-disco. It was co-produced by Nile Rodgers of Chic and featured then-unknown Texas guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, who added a blues edge to the track. The song was a massive commercial success, topping the charts in several countries, including the UK and the US, and became the biggest-selling single of Bowie's career.

The commercial for Paco Rabanne's Phantom fragrance stars English actor Charlie Heaton, known for his role in the Netflix series "Stranger Things." In the commercial, Heaton can be seen dancing erratically in a room to the upbeat and catchy tune of "Let's Dance," showcasing the fragrance's modern and stylish appeal.

The choice of "Let's Dance" for the commercial is interesting, as the song has an energetic and catchy vibe that can enhance the visuals of the advertisement. The song's popularity and recognisability may also help associate the fragrance with a sense of fun and excitement. Additionally, the song's lyrics, which invite a lover to dance under the moonlight, could be interpreted as a metaphor for embracing new experiences and taking a chance on something different, like trying a new fragrance.

The combination of David Bowie's iconic music and Charlie Heaton's acting talents in the commercial creates a unique and memorable advertisement for the Paco Rabanne Phantom cologne, targeting a youthful and trendy audience.

Paco Rabanne's Phantom Parfum is aimed at Gen Z

The fragrance itself is an aromatic scent for men, described as "powerful, flamboyant and mysterious." It is crafted for the "Parisian night owl whose rock ‘n’ roll and rebellious spirit rules the night." The scent is an enigmatic blend of lavender, vanilla, and vetiver. The bottle is also designed with the target audience in mind, featuring a robot-shaped bottle with a black matte finish.

The marketing campaign for Phantom Parfum seems to be geared towards a younger demographic. The choice of Charlie Heaton as the face of the campaign is likely intended to appeal to Gen Z consumers, as he is a young actor who has gained popularity among that age group through his role in *Stranger Things*.

The creative direction of the campaign also seems to target a younger audience. The campaign was shot by Gorka Postigo and features erratically dancing and eccentric styling, which could be interpreted as an attempt to capture the energy and rebellious spirit of youth.

Additionally, the fragrance's bottle design is playful and unique, with its robot shape and black matte finish. This design could be seen as a nod to the target audience's interest in technology, gaming, and modern aesthetics.

The scent profile of Phantom Parfum also seems to be geared towards a younger demographic. The fragrance is described as aromatic, sweet, and youthful, with notes of lavender, vanilla, and rhubarb that create a "sleek," modern, and rebellious scent. These scent profiles and descriptions suggest that the fragrance is intended to appeal to a younger audience who values uniqueness, modernity, and a departure from traditional cologne scents.

Overall, the choice of brand ambassador, creative direction, bottle design, and scent profile of Paco Rabanne's Phantom Parfum all indicate that the target audience for this fragrance is Gen Z consumers. The campaign and fragrance seem to be designed to appeal to younger individuals who value individuality, modernity, and a playful approach to fragrance and personal style.

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