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In this edition of the cologne comparisons, I’m going to take a closer look at two Creed scents, that I’ve already reviewed on the site: Aventus and Virgin Island Water. How does VIW stand up against the ever popular, Creed Aventus? Which of these scents smells better? Gives better performance? Please continue below for my full take.
Tale of the Tape: Aventus vs. VIW
Virgin Island Water
Notes include: bergamot, lime, rum, sugar cane, coconut, ylang-ylang, and ginger
Click here to try: Creed Virgin Island Water by Creed for Unisex – 4 oz Millesime Spray
Creed Aventus
Notes 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.
Click here to try Aventus: Aventus For Men 4.0 oz EDP Spray By Creed
Click here to read my original Aventus Review
Opening
Virgin Island Water strikes an early victory in how these two scents open. The initial blast of VIW is a blend of lime, bergamot, and the coconut note. I honestly think that this is a fantastic tropical aroma that really draws you in.
It is juicier and boozier than how it actually end ups. The rum and lime is a great combination that I love and brings on the summer feeling.
Aventus on the other hand, opens with a really harsh aroma, that I’ve always compared to Lemon Pine Sol (yes, the floor cleaner)…thankfully, it gets much better after that. In fact, after the initial bit, the bergamot note shared by the two scents is near identical and really great.
However, just comparing the opening act of each fragrance, I’ve got to go with VIW.
Edge: VIW
Projection
Virgin Island Water isn’t a strong scent, it’s pretty moderate all around. Don’t expect a monster.
It’s really not designed to have an overwhelming sillage, which would kind of be unbearable during the warmest days.
Aventus is strong and rather bold but isn’t insanely overpowering. It is, however, much stronger than Virgin Island Water and gets the edge here. It can be over-sprayed, but not an elite powerhouse, in my opinion.
Edge: Aventus
Longevity
VIW is completely borderline on having poor longevity and just okay. It depends on the day, but I’ve always gotten 4-6 of wear out of it.
Not great and one would expect more at the price point. I don’t mind the sillage being moderate, but I do have a problem with the mediocre performance.
Aventus, will get 7 hours as a minimum and usually in the 8-9 hour range. Solid performer. Occasionally, I can hit double digits with Aventus. That’s usually when in an air conditioned environment all day.
Some people can get Aventus to last longer on their skin than I do. Either way, Aventus outdoes Virgin Island Water pretty easily.
Edge: Aventus
Versatility
Aventus is more of a year round kind of scent, though, it isn’t great in the high heat, in my experience. It can be worn casually, on a date, at work, or for a night on the town.
Aventus is a very well-balanced cologne in this regard. It’s a signature fragrance for a lot of guys out there and will give you near endless opportunities to use it.
VIW has it’s versatility in the fact that it is a unisex scent. Aventus is much more of a masculine fragrance in comparison.
However, it’s almost strictly casual and actually shines in the summer heat. Sure, you could include spring, but unless you live in the tropics…it’s stuck in one season for wear.
Edge: Aventus
Overall Scent
I really like the opening of VIW, it’s nice, and reminds me of being at the beach. As it moves along, it becomes much more coconut dominant and takes on the suntan lotion aroma, which is still good but not as much as the opening.
It’s performance is also not amazing and it has a limited use. It’s more of a niche fragrance or one you’d use only at specific times of the year.
Aventus, I’ve never liked the opening BUT it does get much better. It gives good performance and the citrus-laden blend really starts to take off after that.
There’s a reason why it’s so highly regarded. I still enjoy Aventus, even if, I’m rather fatigued of smelling it. There’s just been such an influx of Aventus alternatives, that it becomes exhausting.
Between the two, the choice is Aventus, unless you’re looking for that specific summertime scent.
Winner: Aventus
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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.