First, the winners of the En Voyage special bottles – Pattie and TaffyJ. Click on Contact Us over there on the left, send me your name and address, remind me which draw this is for, and I’ll send this on to En Voyage or they’ll send to me and I’ll send on to you! Also, I will give you a quick “got it” reply so you know I got the e-mail and it didn’t land in the spam filter.
So Creed has their own Oud scent as of July 15, and they sent me a sample (my traditional disclosure on sample sources if it is from a manufacturer). When I heard this was coming, I was thinking it was a pretty late entry on the oud ship, which I was thinking had sailed about a year ago, if it hadn’t already jumped the shark. What possibly could any perfume company contribute in this area that was new?
Well, skip a lot of the oud, for starters! Not that I find that a bad move. There’s enough in there, like a lighter Kilian Pure Oud feel, layered on top of with some really nice spices (ginger, maybe cardamom, clove, angelica) and smoke. When I first tried it a couple of days ago, I dabbed it on, promptly forgot about it, and then went just a little crazy trying to figure out what I had on that smelled so good, a little vanilla’ish (more angelica than vanilla, but the smoke in it seemed to push it in the smokey vanilla zone a little when my wrist went flipping around in the air). I’ve read other opinions on it being too brief and fleeting. I don’t have a longevity problem at all, it lasts several hours.
Having said that, if you’re looking for a strong oud fragrance, this isn’t going to be your scent at al, and you’ll be whining like it was your job. I really like it, but I think that’s mainly due to the spices in it – I’m a complete cardamom and ginger and smoke whore. I cut up fresh ginger just so I can have the scent on my hands. I like the balance in it, it’s not too medicinal or strong, completely wearable, but deep at its base it has that oud, dark oily feel, without making me wince. My prediction – it will be a wildly popular scent for Creed.
Worth $300 for 75 mls? Is anything? But let’s let you guys be the judge. This time I’ll split off like 3 samples from my sample for three commenters, but only if you agree to send back your quick two-sentence impressions of the scent later on so I can add them as additional opinions to this review or an updated review. So there’s this one, the White flowers and an Original something or other they are releasing July 15. Just drop a comment to be entered in the draw telling me which one of the three you’re most excited about sniffing, or none at all! White Flowers will have notes of green apple, Italian and Moroccan jasmine, sandalwood and narcissus, just in case you haven’t read anything yet about it. Yes, I do have a sample of that, but will review it next week.
Would love to sample this! I love GIT and Aventus, and am very curious about this coed fragrance.
I would gladly send you my thoughts if I am drawn. Cardamom brings back such happy memories of learning how to make Indian-style rice pudding with good advice from my perfume/cooking buddy HS. I love cutting open the little green footballs and smelling the nuggets of spice. Yum.
The Royal Oud sounds good – I love spices too. White Flowers seems right up my alley but I’m kind of over summer scents (yes, I know it’s only July, lol). A smoky vanilla sounds like a nice change…
Please enter me in the draw…I love writing reviews!
I love cardamom. If there’s any in Royal Oud, I’d love to smell it. And of course I would be glad to give my two sentences worth of opinion.
I have nothing by Creed and would love to win so I can get an idea of what Creed is all about. The oud sounds killer. But I love the sound of the white flowers. And If I did win one of these I would love to give a short review.
Am also intersted in the oud–please enter me for the draw. I guarantee you’ll get two sentences from me; hopefully there are no lenghth restrictions on submissions? I’ve got lots of other spices and ouds with which to compare it.
I would love love love to sample and write my reaction to these. The oud and the white flowers interest me. I love spices and sandlewood and jasmine. Many thanks for the interesting blog!
Would love to try any of these three scents, particularly Royal Oud, as you describe it (I prefer the tamer ouds). I have reservations on White Flowers, given that both Love in White and Spring Flower are very sharp and screechy to me, and this one has the dreaded green apple note. But ya never know..so I’d be happy to try any! :-)
I still think oud is for boys, so I’d be curious about the flowery one…
You had me at cardamom, clove and smoke. I would love to try this and will happily supply a two sentence mini- review should I be lucky enough to win!
Let me say that I love OUD! I have so many oud based perfumes I can get lost in them! Second, I have yet to find a Creed I like. When I heard this, I had the same reaction that Patty had. Been there done that. Yes I would like the chance to try this. I have tried real Oud the stuff that cost over 800. I am pretty sure I know Oud! The one Oud that has me drooling is Mona Di Orio Oud! Its another one without rose or saffron in it! Maybe Oud will veer into new territory and drop that combo. I still have to try The Different Company new oud. OMG I just realized I have a 800 dollar perfume bill coming with all of these new ones!
Cheers!
Gojira
I’d love to try the White Flowers, but you’ve made the new oud sound enticing as well (unusual as I’ve managed to avoid the oud frenzy quite successfully). Creed’s been either a total hit or a total miss for me – nothing in between – so I’m looking forward to sniffing whatever they have coming out next.
I would love to try any of the samples. I have yet to find a Creed I love.
Patty: Please consider me for the drawing for Creed Royal Oud. I, too, am thinking they are late to the party, but I am intrigued at how many different ways the oud party dress can be worn. Thanks for the review. Scott
That green apple note dampens my interest in the white flower offering. Everyone is going for the oud, aren’t they? Well, me too – I’d like to try an “oud lite”. I love the Kilian ouds that I’ve sniffed, but won’t pony up for them either.
I’d like to give this a try. It’d be nice to experience oud without being hit over the head :)
The oud, the oud, love to try a pricey fume that I hope I will never spurlge on.
I’d love to try the Royal Oud. I also am a spice nut and I like my oud in smaller, less overwhelming doses. I’d be happy to write a short review if I am so lucky as to win one of the samples. Thanks for enticing me with your review. I’ll keep it in mind if ever I see a Creed counter, which is rather unlikely given where I live.
I would love to try the Oud. Love the sound of those spices! I’m willing to do a two sentence review of anything you send me.
Put me in your drawing –preferably for the Oud–and I will give you a review of at least two sentences, but only if I win.
It seems that this one will be exactly what i was expecting, not a fragrance totally dominated by oud, which is not bad, but i was also wondering if it`s worth the price. The last creed that i loved was sublime vanille, it`s a shame that they don`t offer it in smaller bottles.
Two oud fragrances that i`m very curious to try are the one that mona di orio launched recently and Makeda by Parfums Envoyage
please enter me in the draw for any of the scents.:d
Ouds are all the rage these days. I would love a chance to try it and talk about it. :)
I always sit up and take notice when you say something has really caught your attention by smelling great. I’ve only tried a few ouds – mainly the Montales, and would love to try this one. Ginger and cardomon sound fantastic. I promise I’ll send in my mini-review. Thanks, Patty!
I wasn’t even slightly interested in the Royal Oud but you’ve made it sound wonderful. The White Flowers sounds lovely apart from the apple. I have never met a smell with apple or pear that I liked. I’ll happily let you know what I think about them if I ever smell either! According to Basenotes it’s Original Cologne and there’s also Jardin d’Amalfi which I bet will be horrendously disappointing as I love Amalfi.
I’d love to try them and would provide two-sentence reviews. The one I’d like to try the most is the one with jasmine, White Flowers.
FWIW, I don’t think the Creed sounds worth it for $300.
Patty – I’d love to try the Royal Oud and would be happy to send a quick review of this. I’ve only ever tried a couple of Creeds – Angelique Encens and Royal Water, but like both quite a bit. Thanks!
hmmm, I’ve never sniffed anything by Creed, but you make the Royal Oud sound irresistible. Sign me up, please. Thanks!
I’d love to try the Creed Oud. I promise you’ll get my two sentences worth on it.
I hereby promise a two-sentence review of anything I’m lucky enough to win. All of it sounds interesting, but I guess I’ll go with the oud as my first choice.
I would love to try the Royal-Oud but the Original something or the White Flowers would also be welcome. I promise my two sentences.
Can’t resist the surprise of an Original something or other!
I’d like to sniff the Royal Oud, closely followed by the Original something or other.
I’d be happy to try all three of them ;) I am interested in the Royal Oud, as I have managed to avoid trying anything with oud in it (the joys of living in the middle of nowhere) and have been wanting to try some, but have been absolutely terrified that the oud would be too overwhelming.
Royal-Oud sounds devine. I’d be so happy to win a sample and willing to offer my 2 sentences!