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Baccarat Rouge 540 vs. Creed Aventus

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Creed Aventus and Baccarat Rouge are two of the most popular fragrances in the world. Since they are both luxury scents and have that popularity, they often get compared to one another. Even though, they are both different scents, and one is distinctly for men to wear. Nonetheless, I thought I’d give my full comparison between these perfumes. Which smells better? Lasts longer? Is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Aventus vs. BR 540

Baccarat Rouge 540

Notes include: saffron, ambergris, cedar, fir resin, jasmine

Click here to try: Buy from Saks

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

Opening

The opening act of both of these is pretty funny to compare for me, as I’m not a huge fan of how either starts off. The sharp pineapple note, with the other citrus and woodsy elements of Aventus has never been something I enjoyed.

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, I do like what it settles into. Fresh and lively, very enjoyable to wear. Next, you get less pineapple, and more of the birch wood and oak moss. This is where Aventus comes into its own. Plus, a little vanilla sweetness and the remaining apple note.

Baccarat rouge goes with the saffron and jasmine, front and center in the beginning. It’s clean, sweet, and presents a lemony tinge to it from the hedione (jasmine). Sitting under that, is the amber and wood notes giving this a invigorating and resinous quality early on…which will become greater as it develops.

Which is a better opening? Again, not a huge fan of either. But, I’d give the edge to Baccarat Rouge, because I like the resin.

Edge: BR 540

Projection

Both of these fragrances starts off strong. But, most of what separates them in sillage, will come later in the wear.

I think Aventus hits a higher level and can project itself further. Plus, it will maintain much of its strength for a longer time than Baccarat Rouge does.

Rouge kicks off strong, goes moderate, and then has a stage wear it is pretty airy and light. It does hang around, but doesn’t have a heavy or overwhelming presence.

Aventus is the better of the two here.

Edge: Aventus

Longevity

With Aventus, I will usually get 8-9 hours of wear out of it. Sometimes, it’ll hang around for 10, on my skin. But, within that time frame, the sillage will mostly stay pretty substantial and it won’t be a pure skin scent.

Meanwhile, BR 540 will land anywhere from 8-12 hours. It has a much wider spectrum than does the Creed, usually hitting around 10 hours total. They’re fairly close to one another, but Baccarat does have a higher high than Aventus.

Thus, the Kurkdjian perfume takes this category.

Edge: BR 540

Versatility

This is an interesting category. Baccarat Rouge 540 is much more of a unisex fragrance, than the more traditionally masculine Aventus. So, in that sense it is more versatile.

However, I think seasonally Aventus is more versatile since it can hold up better in the warmer weather, while also being able to stick around for the cold. Spring and autumn is where Aventus is best, in my mind.

Both are the sort of fragrances that can be worn pretty much anywhere.

All in all, I think I’ll give BR 540 the nod. Just because it will have a greater appeal to a wider range of people, even if it isn’t a warmer weather scent.

Edge: BR 540

Overall Scent

Baccarat Rouge is a very nice fragrance, that has captured so many hearts, that it has been endlessly copied. It is distinct, pleasant to wear, and has very good performance.

I do like when it settles down. The amber, jasmine, and overall clean yet resinous quality is intriguing. For women, it’d be the one I’d go with between these two. Although, if you can swing it, BR 540 Extrait is a better scent.

As to which of these two fragrances is better? The answer is Aventus. Yes, I think the opening is rough, but the dry down has so much depth and just smells better than does Baccarat Rouge. Sure, Rouge has a slight edge in different metrics, but Aventus isn’t far behind.

I would rather wear Aventus, hands down. Most men, will probably prefer the Creed fragrance, also.

So, women: vast majority will want BR 540. Men: Vast majority will want to go with Aventus. But, again, BR 540 is the more unisex friendly scent.

Winner: Aventus

Aventus by Creed

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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.

creed aventus

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.

Click here to try Aventus: Creed Aventus Creed 4 OZ Millesime Spray For Men

Full Wear Review

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.

Also check out: Creed Aventus vs. Green Irish Tweed Fragrance Comparison

How Long Does it Last? What’s the Sillage Like?

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.

Erolfa by Creed

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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.

What does Creed Erolfa Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, ambergris, lime, melon, orange, violet, ginger, coriander, pepper, sandalwood, musk, amber, cedar

Click here to try: Erolfa By Creed For Men. Millesime Spray 4.0 Oz.

My Full Review

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.