Creed

Original Santal by Creed

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Creed is a world renown luxury fragrance brand which has served the royalty and other assorted elites of the world for hundreds of years now. It is a design house known for it use of quality ingredients and rich and fragrant scents for both men and women which have stood the test of time.

While we have already taken a look at the top Creed fragrances and reviewed such popular scents as Aventus and Millesime Imperial, we are going to take a look at a lesser known commodity in this post, Original Santal. Santal is one that flies under the radar, but is it because it hasn’t been hyped up, or is it simply not that good?

Original Santal Overview

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Notes include: sandalwood, juniper berry, cinnamon, vanilla, coriander, rosemary, lavender, tonka bean 

Click here to try: Original Santal by Creed

My Review of Original Santal

Here’s how Creed describes it: Looking to Asia for inspiration, Olivier and Erwin combine Mysore sandalwood, fiery cinnamon, warm vanilla and tonka bean. A robust scent fit for both formal and casual occasions, Original Santal is destined to captivate a room. Prepare for compliments

Santal seems to be formulated as sort of a unisex perfume (I’m not sure if this is actually the case or not but I have seen it for sale as unisex). That being said, don’t expect something that is overly masculine, because that’s not what you’ll get.

What you will find is warmth, smoothness, with a spicy kick. The most noticeable notes for me are the sandalwood and the cinnamon, though, I also get a vanilla note that seems to balance out the composition.

Immediately, I was struck by how much this reminded me of Joop!, though, perhaps it is much more ‘natural’ and less synthetic than Joop in it’s smell. Also, Joop! is much heavier, less clean, and geared toward men and wouldn’t be presented as a unisex scent.

Since I am sort a fan of Joop!, as an inexpensive option for guys, I liked Santal right off the bat. The dry down doesn’t give off the same powdery feel that Joop! does but I feel that Santal is a  smoother fragrance as well.

It opens up with the cinnamon spice and the creamy smooth sandalwood note. It is fresh, while being warm, and there is a slight fruit aroma provided by the juniper berry.

Original Santal also has a resemblance to Mont Blanc Individuel, but this one is much better, and feels more substantial. Santal has a spicier profile at the opening with the cinnamon, but also the coriander note, which gives it a more dynamic warmth.

Santal starts off projecting rather well off of my skin and after 20-30 minutes the vanilla note seems to start kicking in more. There then comes a third wave of notes which I can distinctly detect the tonka bean and lavender, which presents a warmer and woodsy sensation to this cologne.

I have to say, Santal is very pleasant to wear.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

However, for me, Santal’s projection is bordering on average. The sillage falls in the lighter moderate part of the spectrum. It’s not going to really ever overwhelm, which I wouldn’t want it to, but some kind of power would be nice.

I don’t seem to get much longevity from it…maybe 4-5 hours. Perhaps, it will have better longevity on other guys’ skin but it really doesn’t last that long on mine. That is a disappointment because this is a nice scent.

It is a safe and versatile fragrance. It is more limited in terms of climate, as it’s at its best in the cooler weather. However, as far as on what occasion it can be worn, it is the type of cologne that can fit in almost anywhere.

Again, it’s not a sillage beast, so Santal isn’t going to go hard in a night club environment. Original Santal is an attractive scent and I have gotten complements from women, while wearing it. Is it super sexy? Not really, but it is one that draws people closer.

Also, on the negative side, it’s not a particularly unique or special fragrance either. Is a cleaner and probably better option than Joop? I’d say so but would I pay for a full bottle of Santal, at Creed prices versus Joop? I wouldn’t.

Not that I really want either, all that bad. Mont Blanc Individuel can also be had for a lot cheaper, if you want something quite similar.

I’d personally take the Joop! and buy another bottle of Guerlain and probably something else as well. I do like Santal a lot, just not at that pricing point and versus my many other options.

Overall Impressions of Original Santal

Is Santal worth a buy? On smell alone? I’d say, yes. At this price? Probably not, unless you don’t particularly mind the cost. It is a very nice fragrance, that really grew on me, the more I wore it.

I love a good cinnamon note and the early stages of Original Santal has it in spades. Obviously, the main attraction is the sandalwood note, which is lovely. But, I especially love the notes that are used in support of it.

Update: Coming back to this one, a few years later, I totally dig the way this one smells on me. It’s got such a smooth vibe. Still no luck, in the performance department. That 4-5 hour limit is really holding Santal back from being an absolute must from the Creed collection.

I really wish that it had better performance, because that would push into the definitely buy category. The sandalwood, cinnamon, vanilla, and tonka bean together are great.

Millesime Imperial by Creed

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I thought it was about time to review another Creed fragrance, especially since, I grabbed another sample vial of Millesime Imperial with this last batch of cologne samples. I really do like this scent above all of the other samples that I received, some of which were down right horrid.

Update: This is a ongoing review, that I come back to every few years, when I try a new batch of this consistent best-seller.

Anyways, in this post I want to take a closer look at this Creed fragrance for men and what makes it special. How does it smell? How does it perform? Is it even worth a buy? List of the Best Creed Fragrances for Men

What does Millesime Imperial Smell Like?

imperial

Notes include: Lemon, Iris, Green Bergamot, Mandarin, salt, musk, wood

Click here to try: Creed Millesime Imperial Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Review

Let me start by saying, that this scent has a fruit based aroma to it. The lemon note that is contained in Creed Aventus (Aventus vs Imperial Millesime Comparison Review), is not the same type of lemon as in Imperial, this lemon is Sicilian lemon and it is blended with a sea salt and bergamot note to help produce a melon sort of aroma.

Yes, the opening has a fresh watermelon/melon vibe to it with a background of marine notes and musk, which get hidden a bit from the start. Imperial has a musk note that peaks in from the start, it really isn’t heavy, but provides a great complement to the bright citrus open.

Millesime Imperial is a crisp and clean cologne which is beautifully constructed. It reminds me of a summer day spent along the coast, as it is warm, inviting, and almost juicy in its presence.

The dry down period subtly shifts from the abundant fruity notes to the more marine or oceanic side of things, which reveals a certain masculinity to the scent.

This one has plenty of that salty oceanic smell to it, as it wears on, but the fruit notes are still the star overall.

Further along, Millesime Imperial, continues as a fruity marine scent but the light iris note comes through with a hint of powder sitting underneath it all. It’s a nice touch to a fragrance, that is already luxurious, and that create such a strong imagery of coastal summers.

There’s a warm dryness which runs through its heart and really stands out from other aquatic colognes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This cologne is a fairly light one, probably more moderate, so you won’t blow out the room with it. Don’t expect huge sillage with Millesime Imperial. However, it does lend itself well to more intimate moments, where someone is much closer.

It is still a pretty good performer, even without being a complete beast or insanely overwhelming. It fits in nicely with the season it’s to be used in. For me, I get a few hours where this one is noticeably above average versus the standard cologne on the market. Then, it’ll gradually lighten up.

Some people do, however, report longevity problems. I get moderate longevity out of it, it’s not a distance runner by any means but it’s not horrible in that regard either. Seems like it works for around 7 hours on my skin, sometimes it will go longer.

I’d say it maxes out at 9 hours, on a good day (few and far between), but 7 hours is usually what I can expect to get, when wearing it.

Another positive, is its versatility, Imperial can be worn for almost any occasion and work. This is no doubt a Spring or Summer scent. It really shines during the warmer months of the year, when so many other colognes begin to wilt in the heat.

It’ll add a clean and subtle touch to any man’s summer wardrobe. I really liked to wear it casually or wearing something semi-casual during the summer months, that’s when it felt correct to apply for me.

It’s not the most formal cologne out there, but it is well put together and has a classiness about it, that many warmer weather fragrances do not.

Overall Impressions of Imperial

All in all, I do think Millesime Imperial is a great choice for guys, especially during the summer months. It is a wonderful blend of oceanic and fruity notes that won’t overpower and spells class the whole way.

This has a pretty unique aroma overall and doesn’t have that same old vibe, as many other aquatic fragrances out on the market.

I really like that opening melon-like aroma. Fresh, aquatic, sweet, juicy, and salty. It provided something pretty unique back when it came out. Nowadays, it’s obviously been copied and duped. Though, this still stands on its own as a very enjoyable wear.

Like any other Creed fragrance, this one is definitely pricey, so if that’s a problem maybe consider picking up a small bottle for special occasions. This is one that I do think is worth the price for what you’re getting. It’s now considered a classic, across the board.

It’s a more mature summer aquatic, fairly simply, but does so much well. The scent itself is really captivating and it is without a doubt, a top Creed cologne.

Creed Viking vs Aventus Cologne Comparison

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So, here I am, back with another head to head cologne comparison. Today, I am following up my review of Creed Viking by comparing it with the most popular Creed fragrance, Aventus. How does the newest addition to the family stack up against, its highly rated counterpart? Continue below for my full take on Viking versus Aventus.

Tale of the Tape: Aventus vs. Viking

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

Creed Viking

Notes include: rose, pink pepper, bergamot, peppermint, sandalwood, vetiver, patchouli

Click here to try: Viking Eau de Parfum Spray for Men by Creed

Read my original Viking Review

Opening

Off the bat, as I’ve written many times on this site, I’m not a fan of the opening of Aventus. To me, it’s really too sharp, but it does get better.

Aventus kicks off with pineapple and black currant out in full force. That black currant is the main culprit for sharpness, especially when paired with pineapple.

Underneath that, is an apple note adding an additional watery fruitiness up top. Birch and oak moss come through also, early on. These two notes add a very dry freshness to the mix.

Viking on the other hand, is extremely fresh and crisp. The peppermint note really grabbed my attention and I like how it plays off of the sandalwood and pink pepper notes.

I don’t think Viking is the most amazing opening ever, but I did enjoy it a good deal, and I think that it takes this category.

It’s pretty simple, but it has an appealing coldness with it’s fresher warmer pink pepper. I like it.

Edge: Viking

Projection

Viking is solid but not super strong or bold. Aventus is strong but not insanely so. However, Aventus does have the more intense and noticeable scent of these two fragrances.

I always feel aware that I have Aventus on, while it wasn’t the same experience with Viking. Viking is just a softer fragrance overall.

Edge: Aventus

Longevity

With Aventus I’ve generally gotten 7-8 hours, maybe 9. During my wear with Viking, I got about the same. I’d probably have to wear Viking around more to see if any differences emerged, but for now, I’m rating them the same.

Viking just doesn’t have the same sillage. Since it is a lighter scent, it doesn’t seem like it hangs around as long, but it actually does.

Update: It might be a slight edge to Aventus. I do occasionally get that extra hour out of it, which doesn’t happen when I’ve tried Viking.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Both of these scents work casually and as an office worker kind of cologne. I do think what separates them, is that, Aventus has more sex appeal than Viking. Viking is really fresh and clean and kind of an old school sort of fragrance.

Meanwhile, Aventus, is a proven winner that can work very well in a number of situations. That’s not to say that you couldn’t wear Viking on a date, it’s just not something that strikes you as ‘sexy’, to the same extent.

Other than that, both really cover a lot of bases as to when they can be worn.

Edge: Aventus

Overall Scent

Viking is a nice scent in my opinion. I enjoy the contrast of cold peppermint and the warmth that begins to emerge as the fragrance wears on. It’s a green fragrance with notes that provide a crisp and invigorating spice.

That being said, I wasn’t blown away by it. If it was cheaper, I might consider purchasing a full bottle, but for the price…it’s not all that impressive.

Update: The more that I’ve tried it, the past few years, the more I liked it. Still, never was crazy about wearing it. Nice, but not a must have for me.

Aventus is still better. It has pretty much become classic in under a decade, which is remarkable. I think that it’s overall the better fragrance. I’ve always hated the opening few minutes, but it develops a great profile as the scent dries down.

While Aventus gets the nod as the better cologne, if I had to choose wearing between wearing these two right now, I’d pick Viking.

I’m actually completely sick of smelling Aventus and no longer keep any around. Basically because everything tries to be a Creed Aventus ‘clone’.

Just the ‘new’ factor of Viking and the fact that it is somewhat enjoyable in the same way Creed’s Original Santal is, would get me to favor it.

Maybe I’ll come back to Aventus at some point, but not for a long while. Between these two, most people will absolutely favor Aventus, and it takes the win here.

Winner: Aventus

Jardin d’Amalfi by Creed

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Yet another sample I’ve received as of late is Jardin d’Almafi by Creed. This is a unisex fragrance, that is a part of the Royal Exclusives collection, of high end specialty scents. In this post, I’m going to cover my usual how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and if I think it is worth a purchase or not.

What does Jardin d’Amalfi Smell Like?

Notes include: neroli, mandarin, bergamot, rose, vetiver, cedar, musk, pink pepper

Click here to try: Jardin D’amalfi By Creed EDP 250ml 8.4 Oz Splash

My Full Review

The opening of Jardin d’Amalfi is a strong burst of mandarin with a bergamot note that is very similar to Creed’s Aventus for men. The bergamot note never takes over and the mandarin is interestingly paired with green/woodsy notes, mainly neroli and vetiver, I think.

Very citrusy up top with that neroli floral boosting it. There is also a slight warmth/spice from pink pepper, but it isn’t all that powerful.

This fragrance is quite a bit floral during the middle act, and though unisex, it definitely seems to stray more toward the feminine end of things. The light apple note, gives this one a slightly crisp bite.

Jardin is my third scent from the Royal Exclusives line by Creed. I would honestly, put it behind Sublime Vanille, but ahead of Spice and Wood in terms of how it smells.

Jardin definitely does have that natural garden type of scent to it; with the rose and neroli which give it, it’s floral dimension. Plus, the top citrus layer gives off a ripe sweetness, like a spring/summer day. It’s a very pleasant and clean fragrance.

There is another layer of woody crispness and greenery involved. Vetiver and cedar seem to be the main two players and I detect just a hint of the pink pepper note in there as well. It’s sort of reminiscent of a pine tree aroma but not as heavy.

The majority of the wear is a citrus/floral with a woodsy green base. The rose note becomes the main floral ingredient, but it never fully takes over the composition.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection on this scent isn’t too strong but it is still very noticeable. Jardin d’Almalfi doesn’t strike me as weak in any way, but it isn’t really a smell it across the room fragrance, unless you overdo it.

Overall, it’s a nice moderate sillage that is actually consistent throughout most of the wear, before fading out.

The longevity is actually where it seems to shine, I’ve gotten a full workday out of a few dabs of this juice, during both times that I have worn it. For the price, it should provide good longevity and it actually does the job.

So, after a few times of use, Jardin seems to fall in the 8-9 hour range on my skin. Not complete beast mode, just good.

I totally see this mainly as a casual springtime fragrance, possibly early summer. I’m not sure that it will be all that fantastic when it is super hot outside, but it’ll do nicely in the warm weather.

This is not a club scent or one that I find all that sexy or alluring. It’s natural, fresh, green/citrus.

Unisex fragrance that leans more towards the traditionally feminine. If you’re a man, who isn’t a fan of the floral notes, this will most likely be a pass for you.

Overall Impressions of Jardin d’Amalfi by Creed

Overall, is Jardin d’Almalfi worth a purchase. I’ll set aside the eye-popping price tag for the moment and say that while it’s not really my style, I do think that it smells good.

It’s a bit too floral and ‘girly’ for my tastes and added with that high end Royal Exclusives price, I’ll pass on ever getting a full bottle.

It’s a nice fragrance and if you’ve got the money to spend, you could do a lot worse, but this scent is hardly earth-shattering…it’s just nice and clean.

Again, I think that Sublime Vanille is better than this one. Though, even that fragrance, probably isn’t worth the price, despite having the best vanilla note I’ve come across.

In lieu of this, you could grab an Acqua di Parma or Tom Ford citrus/floral for cheaper. While still getting a perfume that smells great. There’s a ton of other options in this style of scent, which can do the job just as well if not better.

Creed Aventus vs Imperial Millesime Comparison

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Deciding which fragrance to buy can be tricky sometimes, as there are a multitude of factors from which to consider. This can become especially true when the colognes that you are considering cost in the triple digits to buy.

It is one thing to purchase a crummy scent that was $20 for the bottle versus one which was $175+. Creed is a luxury boutique brand known for its high quality ingredients and beautifully crafted scents.

In this post, I want to do a bit of a comparison between two options from Creed, Aventus vs Imperial Millesime and break down which will be the better option for most people and highlight the pros and cons of each.

Tale of the Tape: Aventus vs. Imperial Millesime

 

Creed Aventus 

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 read my original Aventus Review

Click here to get Aventus: Aventus by Creed

Creed Imperial Millesime

Notes include: Lemon, Iris, Green Bergamot, Mandarin

My original review of Imperial

Click here to try Imperial Millesime: Creed Imperial

Opening 

The opening of Aventus can be a pretty harsh citrus to deal with. I don’t really like the opening of Aventus and if all I’d have to go by was the first 15 minutes or so, I’d think that this fragrance wasn’t worth wearing. The pineapple, blackcurrant, and the dryness of birch can be a bit much at first.

However, the fragrance settles down into something much more enjoyable and fresh. The next wave has less of the pineapple, more birch/oak moss, and some sweetness provided by a light vanilla and French apple. 

Meanwhile, the opening of Imperial is much smoother, with a wonderful melon type of scent that blends with sea salt to create something quite pleasant.

The melon-like smell is like a blend of a standard melon and a bit of watermelon. This is paired with a salty aquatic note, which is why I suppose it comes across smelling that way. It’s actually lemon and mandarin orange, as the notes, and not any watermelon. 

Anyway, Imperial Millesime is juicy, musky, and very bright in the opening stages. Which scent is better? To me, I greatly prefer the start to Imperial, more than I ever have Aventus. 

Edge: Imperial Millesime

Projection

Neither one of these fragrances is slipping in quality when it comes to projection. Aventus never really requires more than two sprays while Imperial is no slouch either. Aventus is the stronger of the two and I’d say it projects more than Imperial does.

So, both start strong, but Aventus reaches the higher heights of sillage and keeps at it for longer. 

Edge: Aventus

Longevity

Wearing both of these colognes, I haven’t noticed a difference in terms of how long they last. I usually get 7-10 hours of solid performance out of each. Mostly, Aventus will go 8 or 9 hours on my skin, a bit less when it’s hot out.

Imperial is usually around 7 or 8 hours, but can last better in the heat than can Aventus. It can also reach that 10 hour mark, on occasion, like Aventus. No clear winner, in my experience. 

Edge: Push

Versatility

Creed Aventus is best worn in the spring and autumn, in my opinion. I don’t think that it holds up well in the heat, but early summer isn’t bad. On the other hand, Imperial Millesime is great for summertime wear as well as the warmer months of spring.

However, Aventus can be pulled off rather well in the winter months, to whereas Imperial would seem out of place in the cold weather.

As far as, on what occasion each of these scents could be worn, I’d say that they could arguably be worn anywhere for any event. I wouldn’t really call Imperial a date night type of cologne though and even if I’d wear other scents besides Aventus on a night out, it could be done well. 

I much prefer Imperial, as a daytime wear, in more casual situations. Overall, I’d say Aventus has the greater versatility. 

Edge: Aventus

 

 

Overall Scent

Aventus develops into something that is woodsy/masculine/leathery and the citrus notes become undertones as the fragrances wears on. Meanwhile, Imperial has that unique fruity quality blended with salt notes that just reminds me of the summer and the ocean.

I actually like Imperial better in terms of its smell, BUT I think that most men would be better served by Aventus out of the two.

I say this simply because of its greater versatility of being worn. Imperial Millesime is a great signature type of scent, but I feel that it does have its limitations.

Aventus fits in better, during more situations and climates. Imperial is rather straightforward, but has a really delightful salty melon aroma. Aventus is deeper with greater nuance.

These two are pretty neck and neck, in my book, but most would go with Aventus.  I have grown sort of tired of the formula, as there have been endless Creed Aventus ‘dupes’ coming to market over the years.

Winner: Aventus (for most guys)