Hey Posse. Yes, I know I’m late to the party. A manufacturers boxed sample of Wind Flowers came with a recent order from Libertine Parfumerie here in Oz. I bought some fabulous shower gels for Xmas gifts and they treated me like a king, 10 niche samples, only one of which I’d tried before. LOADS of fun and it will all be going towards my New Idea 2023. Woo Hoo!
I didn’t go looking for Wind Flowers because I’m really sad that Creed has retired the shield bottle and used a shitty, budget looking copy of the Chloé Nomade flacon. Whoever is in charge needs a throat punch, no, you’re right, zero tolerance for violence (except in movies and on TV). Whoever was in charge of this travesty should be walked, we’ll send your stuff along after you, thank you, this way please, yes you’ll get full severance pay and we will sue you to poverty for dragging our company down to this level of designer perfume bottle copies. Sorry, rant over.
Wind Flowers by Creed 2021
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Jasmine, Orange Blossom, Peach
Heart: Jasmine Sambac, Tuberose, Rose
Base: Musk, Orange Blossom, Praline, Sandalwood, Iris
Wind Flowers. I’ve been calling it Wind Song since it came out and have just realised now that it’s bloody Wind Flowers. GAH! I had to go back and change everything. Ha Ha Ha ha. Not off to a really good start are we? So let’s talk about how it smells…
Peachy, radiant white flowers, some sweetness and cream. Yes, it’s very wearable. Longevity is good, projection is quietly persistent. I can imagine Wind Flowers as a perfect wedding scent that can be remembered in the day to day without causing offence.
OK, so this is quite nice. Especially if you like the eponymous women’s Lalique from 1992. This is a less bombastic derivative shadow.
You do the math.
Wind Flowers sells for US$445 at Nordstrom.
Lalique sells for US$36 at FragranceNet
No, they are not exactly the same. Laique opens much bigger, bolder and more spectacular. The difference though is not big enough to make any real difference after the first 15-30 minutes. Also Lalique has a more growly baseline, so if you like to smell super clean the Wind Flowers version might be a better fit. After a couple of hours Wind Flowers collapses into a chemical soup and Lalique is still powering its beautiful self.
Sorry Creed, for this kind of money I want my perfume to smell amazing, new and niche.
I will add that wearing Wind Flowers three times into the public domain, every wear got at least one compliment. At work one night it was a real hit, with multiple people asking what it is. So, long after my nose says it’s a boring chemical mess it still smells beautiful to others.
I could imagine you owning Wind Flowers for day to day and when you want to smell low key. While retaining much of the same scent structure Lalique could be your suit of armour, stand out from the crowd, special occasion version.
Surrender To Chance has samples.
Have you tried? Did you like? If you haven’t tried Wind Flowers, does it sound good to you?
Portia xx
I am a fan of Lalique after you wrote about it, bought a bottle for the very reasonable price and it is wonderful. I have Fantasia de Fleur, Vanisia, and Jasmine Imperatrice Eugenie in the original flacons, purchased years ago for nowhere near the current Creed prices. Haven’t loved the current Creed perfumes and I’ll pass on Wind Flowers. xoxo
Yay Kathleen,
I love that you are enjoying Lalique.
Kick myself that I didn’t grab Vanisia.
Portia xx
I am going to beat you. That bloody WindSong jingle is now stuck in my cerebellum. And I ain’t happy about it.
That aside, this sounds…nice. But for that kinda money I should be just waking up from a Giant Perfume O..y’know?
So..no.
Musette, I don’t know the WindSong jingle so am going to google it.
HA! Yes, I know. You know has been giving me a Giant Perfume O…? Christopher Chong’s new Creatively Directed beauty for Thameen, Fanfare. It’s GORGEOUS.
Portia xx
Haven’t tried it, Portia, but I like the list of notes. I totally agree that it’s too similar to other pretty orange blossom florals that can be had for a much better price. And again, agree with you on the boring bottle! Why would they do away with their distinctive bottle design?
Yeah DinaC, I cannot understand why. It’s a mystery.
Portia x
Hahahaha $445?!?!?!?!? They are OUT OF THEIR MINDS. At that price point? A ~$500 price for me would need: extreme rarity (like some vintage Guerlain). Maybe a fancy presentation box situation. Lines I might buy at that price because I lost my mind and had to have it: Amouage. MDCI. Guerlain. But Creed? Hell to the no.
OMG! My sister said “Hell to the NO!” all the time. What a wonderful memory.
Thanks March.
This is becoming the norm for niche. It’s well out of control.
Portia xx
I have only tried a few Creed scents and have been underwhelmed, by the scents themselves and the whole Creed vibe. But that Lalique intrigues me!
yeah… me, too, Ms A. Though I need more perfume like… well, I don’t.
But…
Who among us does Musette?
I’ll be waiting to hear if you ever try it Rosarita.
Portia xx
That bottle looks cheap. I’ve never fully understood the hype around Creed. It feels like niche for people who aren’t much interested in perfume but want to have something to name drop when they do wear it. I’ve tried various things over the years, including the much vaunted Green Irish Tweed (nice but nothing special). And that price point. Madness.
I remember first encountering Creed Cinnamon. Those shield bottles and a few of their fragrances were eye opening at the time. I bought some, Fantasia de Fleury is my favourite and even though I know it’s all lies the link to Empress Sisi of Austria got me good.
Portia xx
Lalique is a far prettier bottle?
I’ve only tried one Creed scent. Virgin Island Water was part of a chypre sample pack I was fortunate enough to sample through Basenotes. Otherwise the PR bull & the legend of pantydropping, batch code dependant Aventus makes Creed a personal hard no. The overinflated prices just confirm my bias.
Hey Alityke
I think the Lalique bottle is lovely.
HA! Yes, they seem to have become very bro-ised and the not so true stories about the fragrances are part of perfumista legend.
Portia x
$445? Maybe if it comes with three dozen roses carried by Erwin himself who will make me waffles, tell me I’m pretty, and not ask for a bite. Maybe.
HA! Maybe one bite?
for $445 they’d better have Idris himself delivering those roses, Tom.
And he’ll also be making the waffles.
And he’ll let me have A Bite.
HA!
Oh Idris. I’ve loved him since he was on AbFab (as a rent boy!)
WHAT?!?
No, it does not sound good to me. I do like the name though. I have some nice, easy wear scents that I really like and did not break the bank for. For $445, it better be something VERY special that I am passionately in love with. Now I’m off to check out the Lalique! That does sound good. Fun post!
Hey Maya,
The Lalique is bloody gorgeous. Much more my wheelhouse.
Portia xx