Viking by Creed

So, being in Las Vegas, I had to remember to make another stop at the Creed Boutique that is on the Strip. There were a few things that I wanted to smell while in there, including the new release, Viking. Naturally, I sprayed it on myself multiple times, in order to give my one-time wear review. How does this Creed cologne stack up? What does it smell like? Is it worth a purchase? Update: I am revising this post, a few years after the fact, and after using Viking some more.

What does Creed Viking Smell Like?

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

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

My Full Viking Review

My initial impressions of Viking are specifically related to just how fresh and green of a scent this is. The peppermint is crisp and biting. This note is then met by a wooden note, sandalwood (sandalwood), which I believe was suppose to lend to the aroma of being like a Viking ship. Having never been on a ship in the 9th century, I have no real idea, if that’s the case or not.

It opens up with a bit of citrus, pink pepper spice, and the really nice peppermint. The more that I’ve tested this over the years, the more I have come to really enjoy this opening. Fresh, cool, warm, and super crisp. It has such a great hook.

Viking has a certain warmth to it, that goes along with the colder peppermint. It reminds me of Original Santal in that regard (especially with sandalwood), warm/masculine, but Viking opts for a spicier pink pepper instead of a sweeter scent. Yet, there is a hint of sweetness in the opening act.

Viking is extremely well-blended and nothing seems out of place. Even the rose note, isn’t remarkably noticeable to my nose, just adds a dash or floral sweetness the the mint/pepper freshness. As I’ve spent more time with Viking, the rose does have its moments, just not a huge factor overall.

I don’t really get all that much citrus from it Viking, somewhat at the start, but it quickly fades. It is a minty/spicy/wood with green vibes and a slight smokiness to the wood like the sort of smell you’d get from a dying campfire.

When it fully dries down, I pick up more patchouli and maybe another floral note, that I can’t identify. Most of what you’re going to get is an old school sort of fragrance that’s got a cleanliness to it, through the interplay of the peppermint and pink pepper notes.

Pink pepper, mint, and drier woody notes. Vetiver, patchouli and sandalwood come through big time on my skin. The end of the wear, really shifts into a classic clean sort of masculine scent. Mature and polished.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it was solid. Not super strong stuff but with two sprays on my forearm, I knew it was there while wearing. It’s also got pretty good longevity, somewhere in the 6-8 hour range, it seems.

I had gone all around the Vegas Strip and the cologne hadn’t faded away at all. I have no real complaints about the longevity.

Update: So, the first time I reviewed this fragrance, part of the time was spent in the Las Vegas heat. It held up pretty well in that circumstance. Now, in more moderate temperatures, it will go more in the 9 hour range pretty consistently.

It’s still not a powerful scent, but it is noticeable, and projects well for a majority of the wear. Just don’t expect a completely ‘in your face’ fragrance, that’s not what Viking is.

Viking is much more of a casual (like business casual) kind of cologne. You could wear it to work, as it’s not offensive, and not super dressy. It’s an attractive fragrance, like being fresh out of the shower and well groomed, but it doesn’t strike me as something particularly sexy or attention grabbing.

Again, the more time I spent with this cologne, the more it hits me as a classic sort of wear. The opening act, has a great modern take, but it settles down into something highly familiar while retaining its own unique identity.

Overall Impression of Creed Viking

Overall, do I like Viking? Yes, I like it. I wasn’t really impressed with it, either. It’s a good scent but it smells familiar and it’s not reminding me of any kind of remarkable cologne. I think it might be one that would grow on me much like Original Santal did.

Even then, it would never be my go to scent, and at that price..why bother? I think that the bottle looks really cool, though, it’d be a nice decoration. I think there’s been a lot of people who have been pretty harsh on this scent, but I think that it’s above average, and enjoyable. Just maybe not, $350, enjoyable.

Update: I have come to enjoy Viking, a bit more than originally. I find it to be much more striking, than my initial impressions of it. The pricing concern, isn’t as relevant nowadays, as it has come down somewhat. You can find bottles discounted. Is it worth the reach? Maybe. I still don’t think that I’d go out of my way to get a bottle, but I do think that it’s a very good fragrance.

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.