TL;DR: 1 Million's "nightclub bomb" reputation comes mostly from how it's typically overapplied by some younger wearers, not necessarily from the composition itself — a classic case of usage damaging a perfume's perception more than the perfume does on its own.
A reputation shaped by marketing as much as by the juice
1 Million was positioned from the start toward a young audience, with very festive marketing and a striking visual identity (the gold-bar-shaped bottle). That strategy worked commercially, but it also stuck the perfume with a "party" image it's since struggled to shake among a segment of enthusiasts.
The real problem: the dose, not the perfume
A point that comes up often from the perfume's defenders: the reputation for being a "relentless sillage bomb" mostly comes from younger wearers applying far more sprays than would be reasonable. Tested at a normal dose, several accounts instead describe a surprisingly restrained scent on certain skin types — the opposite of its reputation.
A gourmand-spicy profile that defined an era
Beyond its reputation, 1 Million remains a gourmand, spicy composition that clearly influenced a whole generation of men's perfumes in that register. As with other heavily-worn best-sellers, that influence also explains why the perfume is simultaneously loved and rejected depending on the wearer's profile.
Should you give it a second chance?
If your only memory of 1 Million comes from exposure at a heavy dose in a loud social setting, it may be worth retesting it under more neutral conditions, with just one or two sprays — the gap between the two experiences can be bigger than you'd expect.