I haven’t been a fan of Creed for a long time, though I used to be quite enamored of their Silver Mountain Water until one note in it or just the potency of it overcame my nose, and now I’m way too sensitive to that note to wear it anymore. I still love it in theory and think it’s pretty original. So I ignored their Love in White release for the longest time… mostly because I didn’t want to shell out $180 for it. Finally it showed up on the discounters at a more reasonable price point, and I snagged it up.
Love in White has notes of orange zest, white jasmine, daffodil, sandalwood, rice husk, iris, magnolia, vanilla. There is something about the initial spritz of this a note that I’m totally not loving, and it just lingers around forever. I’ve seen reviews of this that hate it, love it, says it lasts no time at all, but my experience is a mix of some of those and the opposite of others. I hate it at first, and I’m not sure it ever turns into love, BUT… this is one of those perfumes that are like lasagna — it smells awesome the second day. I found it okay when I put it on, but it was only when I got up the next morning and smelled it on the sleeve of my jacket that it became near-love or great like. This thing seems to last forever on me, just softening a bit, getting rid of that sharp note that seems to annoy me (wish I was better with note dissection so I could tell you what note that is), and that makes it wearable and likable. So like washed hair that always looks better on the second day, that’s how I feel about Love in White. I think it’s the first perfume that has ever gone into that category.
Finally got my bottle of Hermes Elixir des Merveilles. I’ve seen a lot of mixed reviews on this, from love to like to hate. Notes of Orange Peel, vanilla, tonka bean, sandalwood, incense and ambergris. This is much more gourmandy than the original, which I adore unabashedly. I was a little worried about Eau des Merveilles getting its freak on with some foody notes, but I needn’t have worried. Purists won’t be too happy with it, but I think this thing rocks. It’s not as great as the original (few things are, but I think the addition of the gourmandy notes gives it a different appeal which is pretty delicious. The base of it holds the gourmand notes together so it doesn’t go off in some unwelcome overly sweet direction, and as it dries down, more of the base comes through, just with a softer feel.
Maybe it’s just the autumn, which is the only time I love me some gourmandy scents, but the Elixir is a great addition to the Merveilles franchise.
I don’t think I will need either of these scents. The LiW sounds potentially decant worthy, but only a couple of Creeds work on me, so I’m doubting I’ll have to shell out the bucks for a full bottle. Phew!
I love Silver Mountain Water and Spring Flower. I smell a minty note in both that is so fresh, theres nothing like either of those two scents on a warm spring day. I haven’t tried Love in White and lets face it the name itself is so…so…innocent and girlish that it doesn’t really speak to me. But now I’m going ot have to give it a shot, jsut to see if I love the opening note.
On the Merveilles, I may be the only person who loathes that scent. On me it morphs into one awful note that I call ack, as in “ack, what is that smell?” So, maybe the elixir would be just the ticket. I’ll have to give it a spritz.
Oh no way! Elixir de Merveilles is hands down the best of the three, no question in my mind. 😡 My bottle (and I love those bottles!) is on the way, too.
Love In White: I have considered this, but am not loving the magnolia in it. I used to wear Fleurissimo, which I will always adore even though I don’t wear it anymore. The best Creed, however, is Green Irish Tweed. It smells like violet leaf heaven on my handsome hubby. 😉
Hugs, babe!
I like both of this. I am still debating whether I should buy Elixir, or whether, since I own Parfum des Merveilles (which is still the best of al 3 kinds of Merveilleses), I should not.
Hi, Patty-
I’ll echo Judith here, in that the former was pretty, but something metallic in it made me wince…
Love AE, but it won’t last on me, and for the price, I can’t go there.
Love the Elixir myself, in that it’s not too sweet , but a small bottle was plenty, considering the vast array of fragrance that looms like a mushroom cloud !
THAT’S a predicament with which [I’m sure] you, and a few others, can identify !
Well LiW is meh on me, but I never wore it into the second day (merely tried it at the store). My favorite Creed is Angelique Encens–and I adore that! The Elixir is too sweet/gourmand for my tastes, but I can see how, for someone who enjoys those things, it would be a real winner!