Creed
Creed
204 votes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
Violet and rose arrive simultaneously with the bergamot, creating that peculiar metallic-sweet effect where the citrus sharpens the florals rather than softening them. The bergamot fades quickly, leaving behind a dewy, slightly green violet that has an almost cucumber-like freshness before the rose's jammier aspects begin to emerge.
The iris takes centre stage, bringing its signature rooty, powdery quality that mingles with jasmine's indolic richness—there's something decidedly vintage about this phase, like opening an antique compact. Patchouli grounds everything with a cocoa-tinged earthiness, whilst vanilla absolute begins to warm the composition from underneath, creating a soft haze that makes the florals feel intimate rather than effusive.
Sandalwood and benzoin create a creamy, resinous foundation that's more comfort than complexity, with the oud appearing as a subtle woody hum rather than a starring note. The styrax adds just enough leathery bite to prevent the base from becoming too sweet, leaving a skin-close veil of polished wood and soft balsam that lingers for hours without demanding attention.
Royal Princess Oud is Creed's attempt to marry old-world European florals with the opulent resinousness of oud, though the result leans more towards a polite introduction than a passionate embrace. The opening delivers bergamot-laced rose and violet in that classically Creedian manner—refined, slightly soapy, undeniably expensive-smelling. What makes this iteration interesting is how the Florentine iris behaves in the heart, creating a buttery, lipstick-like texture that plays beautifully against the earthy darkness of patchouli. The vanilla absolute adds an amber-like warmth without tipping into gourmand territory, whilst jasmine weaves through sporadically, more suggestion than statement.
The oud itself is handled with restraint—no barnyard funk or medicinal sharpness here. Instead, it's buffed to a high shine alongside sandalwood and benzoin, creating a woody base that feels more like a mahogany writing desk than a souk in Muscat. The styrax adds a leathery, balsamic quality that prevents the composition from becoming too powdery. This is oud for those who find most oud fragrances rather confronting—civilised, drawing-room oud with its rough edges smoothed away.
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3.5/5 (97)