I received three sample vials of Creed fragrances from the Royal Exclusive line of scents. I was interested in trying these fragrances out to see if any of them really lived up to the expensive nature of being such an ‘exclusive’ bottle of perfume. Today’s contestant is Spice & Wood, which wins in the most obvious title category, but does it live up to it’s high profile?
In this post, I am going to share my experience wearing this Creed frag, how it smells, how it performs, and whether or not I think it is worth the money.
The opening of Spice & Wood is where I detect the citrus notes, particularly that familiar bergamot that is found in Aventus. It’s subtle, but it’s there. Then, of course, is the main attraction the wood and the spice.
It should be noted that this fragrance is pretty damn linear, what you expect to get from the title, is exactly what you get throughout. Cedar, birch, and pepper with an underlying softness from the other notes.
Spice & Wood is a rather fresh fragrance, which is nice, as I thought that it could be a heavy type of woodsy scent but it is actually well done. It’s got a dry warmth and the spice is tempered and never a really heavy pepper note.
The wood notes remind me of being in a cabin or ski lodge, very comfortable yet still outdoorsy.
Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility
The projection is okay on this one. It’s closer to a skin scent and is actually fairly soft, which is fine, but for the price point I was expecting something with a little bit more of a high profile.
It’s longevity wasn’t great for me either. I’ve routinely sprayed twice in the same spot on my arm during my trial runs with this and while it’s detectable it’s mostly gone within a few hours. Not impressed.
This is a casual scent best used for the fall/winter months. I don’t see it as a date night fragrance nor a club type of scent. Very straightforward. I guess it could also venture into more formal occasions.
The one thing that I would like to point out is the pricing point. As a part of the Royal Exclusives line, Spice & Wood is even more expensive than the regular Creed fragrances. In fact, the 2.5 oz bottle is currently priced at $545.
Of course, this limits the appeal of this scent to those who can afford it, but even if you can pony up the cash…do you really even want it?
Overall Impressions of Spice & Wood
Overall, I like this scent. It’s pleasant and smells good. Just at this price level, I really can’t recommend it. The performance is lackluster and unless you’re really a fan of spices and wood, the aroma is never Earth-shattering.
There are plenty of better options than Spice & Wood and you don’t have to spend over $500 in the process. Honestly, I don’t see the point of owning this. Perhaps, it’s just a status type symbol. Though, I don’t know who it would impress exactly.
Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.
As I have written before in my post about the best smelling Creed fragrances for men, it is a long and storied luxury fragrance house which dates back to 1760 (or so the legend goes). One of Creed’s most popular, and top smelling fragrances for men. is called Aventus.
It is unique, masculine, and refreshing. Even the bottle it comes in looks cool. It’s almost reminiscent of a pirates flag, aesthetically. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try? (If you’re looking for the new Aventus Cologne, click for my review of that fragrance).
What does Creed Aventus Smell Like?
Due to the fact that it had been a while since I’ve smelled Aventus, I decided to pick myself up a sample size in order to do a review on this fragrance. (Here is my latest Creed review: Green Irish Tweed).
Update: I have updated and revamped this review, since I’ve now had even more time to spend with Aventus, over the years.
Notes (Ingredients) of Creed Aventus:
Top: Blackcurrant, Italian bergamot, French apples and pineapple
Middle: Rose, dry birch, Moroccan jasmine, and patchouli
Base Notes: musk, oak moss, ambergris, and vanilla.
The first thing I notice about Aventus when it comes straight out of the bottle is the initial intensity of the pineapple and the woodsy scent that accompanies it.
Fragrances change over time, some more than others, and Aventus is one which you definitely cannot judge right out of the bottle because it is highly layered and complex.
I’ve never really liked the opening few minutes of this Creed fragrance, as it is quite brash, and reminds me of a Pinesol-like cleaner. Yes, that’s always been the exact aroma that I get, BUT, it definitely gets much better than this. Maybe, I’m in the minority in terms of the opening, but I don’t care for that part.
I think what I most dislike about the opening is just how sharp and dry it is to my nose. The main culprits seem to be the pineapple and black currant notes.
There is also a hint of citrus from the bergamot and the watery crisp apple note, but they are background players to the other two fruits.
The black currant and pineapple feel too intense for the first few minutes that I’m wearing Aventus, and then, the birch and a bone dry oak moss are present but yet to fully form.
So, yeah, the opening is much closer to a soapy floor cleaner (but not the entire wear throughout).
The next wave dulls down the strength of the pineapple note and gives it a nice, sweet scent, which is less fruity and more of a woodsy aroma.
The birch and the musk notes really start to emerge and Aventus takes on a new and I would say much better character than it had previously.
The aforementioned oak moss comes to life in whiffs, every so often, and reminds me of something like Drakkar Noir (just that one note in particular).
This section of the fragrance is much like a brisk October day, spent outdoors, walking along a forest of birch trees. Low humidity and cool weather abound.
Aventus is noticeably sharp throughout, but again, softens as it moves through it’s life cycle. I would say that the black currant note is the underrated contributor here, as that is a rather unique fruit smell, and what I believe gives Aventus most of its ‘sharp’ tone.
While I don’t like its pairing with the pineapple in the beginning (which just makes it too overwhelming), I think it contributes quite nicely, when the Creed scent is much more developed.
The woodiness does have a slight smokiness to it, also. Dry birch and the oak moss note, will give it that sort of profile, and keep it from being a less ‘juicy’ fruit kind of scent.
It is noticeably dry smelling but that smokiness really gets going later on in the dry down period. This is the time when Aventus, really starts to get interesting. As the warm and familiar Creed ambergris note comes alive and is joined by the ubiquitous sweetness that is vanilla.
What I’m ultimately left with for the remainder of the day, is a main trio of pineapple, birch, and oak moss. With supporting roles by the ambergris, vanilla, and black currant. Aventus is a juicy, deep, rich, and woodsy scent that has plenty of character.
Creed Aventus is a long lasting fragrance but not a complete monster. When I gave it another trial run during the past few days, it stayed with me while I was at work all day and into the evening.
I’d say it’s an 8 or 9 hour type of cologne, most of the time. Though, I have found that on hotter days, it will usually only pull around 6 hours on my skin.
I’ve seen plenty of people claim that they hit double digit hours of longevity with Aventus, but I really don’t think I ever have. Everyone’s body chemistry and skin is different, but I do hit 10+ hours with plenty of other colognes, just not this.
It isn’t overpowering but it also isn’t a fragrance that needs very much to be potent. Don’t go overboard and use a lot, because it really isn’t necessary with this cologne. However, the sillage is very good and you’ll always know that you are wearing it.
Again, the first few minutes are when it’s at its most ‘in your face’, and even then it’s not as powerful as some of the so-called ‘club beasts’. Strong but not crazy so. Other people will most assuredly be able to smell it on you.
When Should Aventus be Worn?
While it is late summer now, I don’t find this to be a great fragrance for summer overall. I like it, it can be fine inside with air conditioning, but when outdoors it loses much of its charm (another Creed option for summer is Imperial Millesime).
I actually like wearing it in the early spring or autumn, I feel like the air temperature and humidity levels are the best for this scent, during those seasons. As I mentioned before, that period during the dry down, the crisp and dry woods, really evokes those thoughts of being outdoors on a Fall day.
In terms of Aventus’ versatility, it can be worn casually or dressed up. It’s a mature scent, but not an out of date one. I’ve worn it at an office before, during the day, on a date, or a night on the town.
I will say, that it’s probably not one for a teenager, to wear to school. I mean, most teens won’t be able to afford this anyhow, but it still has a more masculine aroma.
Does This Creed Get Complements?
It’s very nice and pleasant, but not too much of a ‘sexy’ kind of cologne. I’ve gotten complements from women about it, but it doesn’t completely draw them in, like some others that I’ve worn.
While, I’ve read elsewhere, that Creed Aventus is other folks most complemented cologne. That’s not really the case for me.
Yes, indeed I have gotten plenty over the past five or however many years, that I’ve been wearing this juice. However, I will say frankly, it is not the one I get the most praise for wearing.
Not that it’s a requirement for a great cologne. You should wear a particular fragrance because you enjoy it first and foremost. If it gets other people’s attention, that’s cool.
Honestly, I get more complements from wearing Dior Intense, and even at times from Bvlgari’s Man in Black. The later is more hit or miss, but some women really love that dark/boozy/spice sort of fragrance.
Overall Thoughts and Is it Worth a Purchase?
Overall, would I recommend Creed Aventus? Yes, if you have the money to spend on a bottle, its well worth a try. It seems like the price per bottle has been going up, with the popularity. Is it worth the price of admission?
Personally, I would drop hundreds of dollars, on a variety of fragrances instead of just this one. Although, as a signature scent Aventus, really does deliver the goods, so to speak.
I’ve actually grown somewhat tired of it over the past few years, so I’m not as high on it as I once was. A lot of that may have to do with just how many times it has been copied or very closely mimicked, which is an insane amount.
However, I cannot deny that it is a great scent, and also one that performs up to its reputation.
It’s still one of the best fragrances that Creed has put out and an important landmark within the fragrance industry.
Is it overrated? Perhaps, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t good. It’s actually damn good, but like anything else popular, it will have its zealots and detractors. Nowadays, it’s something that I can enjoy wearing every so often, but not really something I’m totally in love with.
Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.
I have several more cologne reviews on the way within the next week or so. However, before I got to those I wanted to do one on the last Creed fragrance I sampled while visiting their boutique in Las Vegas, named Erolfa.
Yes, it’s an odd name but it’s taken from the letters of the names of the Creed family. I had never encountered this particular Creed scent before trying it out on my vacation, so, I came at it with no real expectations of performance or smell.
Update: I have tried this again, years after the original review, so I’m adding to my thoughts on this scent. This cologne is in the aquatic/marine end of things and as such I was interested in giving it a whirl in the desert heat.
The opening of Erolfa is mainly a citrus affair. The lime, melon, and bergamot really stand out in the start which reminds me of pieces of other Creed fragrances such as Imperial, Virgin Island Water, and Silver Mountain Water. Now, it isn’t wholly similar to any of them, just vague reminders from these opening notes.
I rather enjoy the opening that is a citrus blended with saltier notes which replicate the air of the sea, sort of like Acqua di Gio Profumo.
I think that Creed has done a really good job at creating a summertime fragrance that is so reminiscent of spending time on the water. It is fresh, bright, with a clean, quasi-soapy aroma to it.
Mostly what I get from this scent, beyond the citrus opening, is a slightly spicy/woody undertone with that prominent saltiness that hangs in the air.
The musk, ambergris, cedar, and sandalwood are the notes which stood out the most to my nose. The citrus stays throughout but it does weaken as time moves on and these other ingredients begin to shine.
It is still a rather fruity fragrance, with salt watery elements, and ambergris sitting on top of a woody base. What I did notice about Erolfa, the second time around, is the secondary notes.
This time, I made sure to really pay attention to the composition. I definitely got more violet, than previously, and an underlying earthy dryness. Now, neither is all that powerful, but you can zero in on each if you’re focusing.
Nonetheless, Erolfa is going to be more about the citrus, melon, ambergris, woods, and musk.
Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility
Projection wise, Erolfa is honestly pretty moderate. It isn’t really a heavy hitter in that regard, decent but nothing to write home about either. The projection will stay within about a 5 foot radius from your skin and move in closer from there.
Longevity, I don’t know if it was just that one test I did or if it has problems, but I got a little more than 4 hours out of Erolfa. This is disappointing when compared to other Creed scents but then again it might have just been a one time thing.
Update: I’ve tried this again, since the review in 2016, I got around 5-6 hours the second time. Still, not all that great. I think the extra few hours were due to being inside more, during the second wear.
I’d definitely say that Erolfa is a warm weather or summertime scent. I couldn’t see myself wearing this at any other time of the year. It just captures that kind of atmosphere.
Erolfa seems more of a casual daytime wear more than anything. It smells nice but it isn’t a date night or club wear by any means. Not really a sexy cologne.
You could wear it in a semi-formal situation during the spring/summer months, but it doesn’t come across as being for any specific purpose.
Overall Impression of Erolfa
Overall, is Erolfa worth a buy? To me, I don’t think so. I like it but I was never blown away by it and I think there are not only better Creed colognes but also better seaside aquatics out there for cheaper.
I enjoy aspects of this fragrance. Coming back to it, I really appreciate the bergamot and melon notes, here. The melon is on the lighter end of things, but it pairs very well with the citrus.
Erolfa is a very pleasant fragrance, but I still can’t say that it reaches another level of greatness.
Erolfa didn’t really wow me with its performance and while it’s pretty nice, I don’t want to spend that kind of cash for something that isn’t remarkable.
If you need to add to your Creed collection, then, by all means have at it. Anyone else, should probably look elsewhere.
Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.
I have already reviewed multiple men’s fragrances by Creed on this site including both Aventus and Green Irish Tweed. Now, I want to do a bit of comparison between the two colognes to see which one is better. Now obviously, scent is an entirely subjective experience, even if a majority of people are able to agree on something that smells good (which is why we have best selling fragrances).
However, I want to present my opinions on each of these colognes in this post and weigh as to which one is the better bet and why I think that.
Now, as I’ve stated in my original reviews (Aventus and GIT), I’m not really a fan of either cologne’s opening scent. To me, the opening 15 minutes or so of Aventus is akin to a dulled down version of Lemon Pinesol. Meanwhile, GIT has a pretty earthy and mossy type of opening which doesn’t really wow me either.
Aventus kicks off with a sharp mix of pineapple and black currant. It’s pretty darn harsh to my nose, quite dry with the super dry birch note coming through. The citrus and apple notes, aren’t too prevalent but you can pick them up.
While, I don’t like this opening act of Aventus, I do enjoy it once it settles down. The birch strengthens, with oak moss, and the intensity of the fruity notes fade. This makes it much more balanced and tolerable to me.
Green Irish Tweed, is pretty mossy and earthy in the beginning, to my nose. I get plenty of violet leaf, lemon verbena, and other assorted notes giving it that flair. I don’t particularly enjoy the opening, but like Aventus, it gets much better.
I enjoy GIT more, once it takes more of a turn toward the citrus, but this follows that earthy violet leaf start.
If I had to choose the better opening from two which I’m not fond of, I’d give the nod to GIT. It doesn’t blow me away but it isn’t as pungent and intense as the opening of Aventus. So, during this initial stage it is a better fragrance.
Edge: GIT
Longevity
Both of these fragrances are very good in terms of how long each of them lasts. There really is no edge here as both of them have about the same wear time of somewhere in the 7-10 hour range in most cases.
I’ve worn each many times, in a variety of climates, and I always get them to fall in this same range. Yes, heat and humidity, can diminish the results more toward 7 hours. Though, they are very resilient compared to a lot of other men’s fragrances, in such scenarios.
Edge: Push
Projection
Just as both of these fragrances have good longevity, they also project very well too. I would say that Aventus is the stronger of the two in this regard, as I usually won’t apply more than the equivalent of two sprays, after that I think it just becomes too loud.
Neither of them, has an absolutely massive sillage, compared to others on the market. However, I view each as being firmly in the strong category.
Edge: Slight Aventus
Versatility
I view GIT as more of a spring scent and Aventus as a spring/early summer scent. However, Aventus could be used well during the winter and in the summer as well, if it is not too hot.
Also, I think Aventus has more uses in terms of the occasion than does Green Irish Tweed. GIT doesn’t feel like a date night cologne to me or one that I’d one to wear out to a party or something.
Whereas, I think Aventus can pull both of these situations off. Aventus seems sophisticated but not necessarily something a younger guy couldn’t wear and GIT comes off as more mature in its use.
Edge: Aventus
Overall Scent
I like GIT but I’ve never been blown away by it. I understand why some people swear by it but it really isn’t my style and I feel like that’d also be the case for many other guys.
While the opening of Aventus has never sat right with me, once it settles down it does become a really great scent that is quite woodsy and masculine with the undertones of citrus, instead of its initial overwhelming citrus notes.
I really like the woodsy tones of Aventus, once separated from the fruit, and when paried with the ambergris and vanilla. Both add a touch of sweetness, without the tart feeling of pineapple and black currant in conjunction.
Pineapple, birch, and oak moss are still the strongest in the end, however. Though, have a much more balanced scent than before.
Again, this is all subjective to my personal tastes and experiences. But, I simply think that Aventus is the better choice between the two, for most guys. Even if, there have been a ton of Creed Aventus copies hitting the market the past however many years.
Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.
As a part of my ongoing fragrance reviews on this site, I have been gradually tackling the Creed line of colognes for men. Creed is a luxury fragrance design house which has hundreds of years of history and has created scents for the rich, famous, and leaders of the world during this time period. In this post, I want to take a closer look at what I consider to be one of their best colognes, Silver Mountain Water. How does SMW perform? What notes does it contain? Is it worth a buy?
What does Creed Silver Mountain Water Smell Like?
Notes include: mandarin, green tea, bergamot, black currant, musk, and sandalwood
The opening of Silver Mountain Water reminds me of Imperial Millesime, in a lot of ways, as both fragrances contain mandarin and bergamot notes. The main difference between the two is Imperial develops into a melon scented cologne with a sea salt note that brings about images of the summertime, while Silver Mountain Water, is cooler in crisper in its presentation and evokes mountainous terrain.
The citrus notes are most noticeable during the first 20 minutes of wear and after that, the green tea emerges along with the black currant, to really become the highlights. The black currant and citrus notes together can be fairly sharp, but the tea note settles it down quite a lot.
SMW is a very clean type of scent and isn’t overbearing at all. The musk note gives this fragrance it’s heart in my opinion and keeps it from becoming a completely light and airy affair. Once the green tea takes over, it starts to have a more green/herbal type of vibe to it.
It’s almost as if it goes from being a summertime type of fragrance towards a springtime wear. It’s like the melting of the last snow of winter and life starts to come out in full bloom again. Another good springtime Creed fragrance is Green Irish Tweed. Silver Mountain Water is super fresh at this point, with a green herbal chill, running through the heart of the fragrance.
Finally, the ultimate dry down, is the tea, musk, black currant/citrus mix, on top of a sandalwood base. Together, it’s a pretty simple and fairly linear scent, but does everything it needs to. Clean, sharp, and refreshing.
Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility
Projection wise, I’d say it’s moderate. I can definitely tell I’m wearing it, but it isn’t going to choke out the rest of the room. I mean, it can if you overapply, but with a few sprays the sillage doesn’t stray too far. It’s longevity is decent in my opinion, even though it gets a reputation for being short-lived.
I can tell you from my experience, I get six hours from this more or less. I have applied it before in the morning, and went on a long running work out, and could still smell it on me afterwards. Sometimes, it’ll go up to 8 hours but that’s not usual for me.
Seasonally, it’s actually good year round. The coldness of the fragrance is interesting in the warm weather. However, that bright citrus/icy quality, hangs around well in the wintertime. SMW is a unisex fragrance.
It’s good for daily wear, not really a ‘sexy’ scent, but can go casual or formal. Personally, I’d wear it casually or in some kind of semi-formal fashion during spring or summer.
Overall Impressions of Silver Mountain Water
Is Silver Mountain Water worth a try? I’d say yes. I honestly like it a lot, though, it definitely isn’t my favorite cologne ever. I think it is a great idea for spring wear and it does develop this interesting herbal and almost metallic scent (the silver in the name), that is pretty unique and enjoyable.
I like the cold sensation that I get from the opening act, I do like a good black currant, and the tea is also a nice touch. It’s not a must have for me, but I have emptied the sample vials of this stuff over the years, and it didn’t just sit on the shelf forever.
I’d put it near the top of my Creed list and would choose it to wear out of the group depending on the weather and my mood (I have also been warming more and more to Original Santal, even if it is still a weak performer). Silver Mountain Water is a winner in my book.
Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.
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