Royal Water by Creed

When I was testing out Aventus Cologne, I also went back to the Creed boutique to try a  fragrance, that I hadn’t given a full look at yet. Royal Water is an older release from the brand released in 1997, but one which has definitely develop a niche fan base, in its time. What does this one smell like? How long does Royal Water last? Is it ultimately even worth a try?

What Does Creed Royal Water Smell Like?

Notes include: peppermint, juniper, basil, musk, ambergris, citrus

Click here to try: Creed Royal Water Eau De Parfum Spray for Men, 4 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

Royal Water opens up with a mix of citrus and spice. It is dominated, mostly by those citrus notes, but you do get plenty of freshness provided by juniper, basil, and mint. Royal Water is upbeat and energetic, with a refreshing coolness, beating through the heart of the scent. The citrus can be a bit sharp at first.

The main complement to the citrus notes, in the beginning, comes from the juniper. I like how the juniper sort of tempers the orange/lime/lemon aroma, and makes things much more palatable. Then, the basil provides a further light jolt to the mix, before being joined by a light peppermint note.

As it moves forward, the citrus is still the star of the show, but the basil/mint combo takes on a larger role. The juniper falls back some. This Creed sits fairly steady in this stage, for a few hours, and then goes into its final dry down.

Finally, we get to the base layer of ambergris and musk. To me, the musk is a bit stronger. This creates more of a soapy aroma. It isn’t complete soap, but it does change from the earlier scent. What I get at this stage is: citrus, musk, and then ambergris. The spice has mostly faded and the composition is much smoother overall.

Royal Water is a fairly simple fragrance, without a bunch of unnecessary complexity, but it still provides a very nice wear.

Longevity, Sillage, and Versatility

Royal Water isn’t a projection powerhouse, nor should it be. The sillage isn’t weak, but this isn’t the type of fragrance, you want to dominate a room with. It’ll project within 3-5 feet from the skin, be noticeable, and definitely not weak.

The longevity is pretty good, it stayed for around 6-7 hours, on my skin. Not amazing, but what you can expect from most citrus led scents. However, it definitely could be a better performer, considering the price that Creed scents sell for.

This one is really great in the spring through the summer months. It is a refined clean that can be worn casually or for a more dressed up daytime purpose.

Royal Water will have a pleasant mass appeal, but definitely isn’t a ‘sexy’ nighttime wear. It is more of a any other time daily wear, mostly for those warmer months. Though, I don’t think it would be too out of place during autumn.

If you like the scent, you’ll definitely get plenty of use out of Royal Water.

Overall Impressions of Royal Water

Do I like Creed Royal Water, overall? I do. I really enjoyed the interaction between the citrus and the basil, juniper, and mint. The fragrance shifted slowly into new phases, which provided a different experience wearing it.

It’s a refreshing scent, that I find to be uplifting, and quite nice to wear on a warmer day. For me, the opening act was the most appealing part. The citrus notes are really great and give off an upbeat vibe.

Is it amazing to me? Not really, but I think that it is really good. Obviously, with the Creed price tag, it isn’t one which most people will want to simply take a blind flyer on. Personally, I think the cost is a reach, especially when this brand has better fragrances available.

However, this is a fragrance that is worth trying out to see if it speaks to you, and can serve as a signature scent for some guys.

Best Men's Colognes

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.