This is an interesting perfume that briefly tittered on the age of trashy celebrity. However it was quickly rescued and is one of those perfumes that intrigue people for a long time. It has had some associations with real royalty because some people decided to review it as a tribute to the late Diana Spencer, previous Princess of Wales. I rather wish they had done one for Camilla Shand and we would have some real drama.

The Brand

Creed’s name belies its rather older history. By just looking at the name of the brand one might think that it is one of the new age stuff that is dominating the hippy market. However the perfume house was established in London around 1760. It them migrated to Paris in 1854. It is still a successful family owned industry. Their foray into perfumes has been successful.

The Fragrance

The notes are varied and interesting. They start off with mandarin, bergamo and peppermint. It then moves on to cumin, basil and juniper berry. The musk just adds a touch of masculinity. The perfume seems to be challenging out views on gender and it constantly shifts the boundaries such that one never really knows where they stand with this perfume. Although this is a great way of adding interest to the perfume, it can end up confusing the customers such that they do not know where they stand.

The Packaging

A simple combination of silver, crystal and pearls comes to mind when one looks at the bottle of the perfume. It looks like a great white wine but at the same time one knows that it is definitely a perfume. The packaging is elegant and appropriate. They have done justice to their perfume.

General Customer Feedback

Although some people seemed to be confused about the gender of the target audience, almost all of them agreed that it was a great perfume that did justice to the princess who inspired some of the reviews. They found it sultry and alluring yet having a certain level of innocence. Perhaps the inspiration for the perfume was quite accurate about the requisite attributes.

Popularity: 20% [?]

This perfume was launched in 1911 and has suffered some hard times in terms of popularity. It is now making resurgence on the circuit and it still has the power to amaze in the right circumstances. I think it is a great idea to revive some of those classic perfumes of our childhood because they just show us how much the new generation has to do in order to catch up.

The Brand

The Crown Perfumery came into existence around 1872. They had a runaway success but in due course the orders reduced and the company was tittering on the edge of financial ruin. A good Samaritan in the form of Clive Christian came along in order to revive its fortunes. Unfortunately for the brand, the savior turned out to be short lived and eventually closed the brand. However many people are looking back to the perfume with some nostalgia.

The Fragrance

Quite unusually the perfume opens up with heliotrope which then develops into amber and musk. There then follows a competition between citrus, bergamot and vanilla. The vanilla actually ends up with the goods because the final impression that you get is very similar to the one that you get in a cake shop. By this I am referring to a good quality cake shop for good measure.

The Packaging

The bottle is almost like crushed marble that has hints of a silvery pearl. The effect is definitely of its time and I am not sure that this kind of packaging will appeal to all modern tastes.  However I must say that the overall look is generally classic and elegant so I cannot really knock the perfume. In any case, the fragrance more than makes up for any doubts about the packaging.

General Customer Feedback

Many customers were rather confused as to whether it was a male perfume or a lady’s perfume. The marketing indicated that it was a gentleman’s perfume but on closer inspection the fragrances have feminine hints. I would therefore put it in the unisex category if it was up to me. What is not in question is that this is a great perfume that deserves a second look.

Popularity: 16% [?]

This is the latest unisex perfume from the jewelry house Omnia. It is a carefully thought through and marketed perfume that attracts both the sexes in different ways. Ultimately it something of a triumph because it avoids many of the challenges that kill off mixed sex perfumes. It is pleasant to look at and smell. A good buy for everyone who cares about perfumes.

The Brand

Omnia is a jewelry house of Italian extraction that has had some success in the perfume industry. They have only started as early as 2009 but they already have about nine perfumes on the go which shows a determination and diligence towards the industry. I find their products innovative but not shocking. They are one of those brands that will quietly last a very long time. That is what you want in today’s competitive perfume industry.

The Fragrance

The perfume notes start off with hawthorn and jasmine. They then move on to lilac, rose and gardenia. The fresh theme is developed by geranium and orange. We have the obligatory spicy stuff such as nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon and white thyme. This then settles into the more familiar anise, cedar, patchouli and sandalwood. The perfume is completed by vetiver, vanilla and white musk. It might appear that the flavors are just too many to bring out a perfume that is coherent. However I was surprised to note that the final product was quite exceptional in its ability to blend all these complex scents into a rather calm final product

The Packaging

The best description that I can come up with is beautiful. This is really a wonderful bottle that reminds me of pearls. The golden liquid within is almost like honey and the labeling is that of clean black or gold lines. The whole feeling is elegant without necessarily offending either the feminine or masculine aspects of its composition. This is packaging that is comfortable for both men and women.

General Customer Feedback

The customers really enjoyed the perfume and commented on its ability to satisfy both the male and female elements of the customer base. Quite surprisingly for a new perfume, I did not find negatively in the boards that I visited. They praised its versatility and the kinds of aromatic flavors that it brought with it. I think the makers are onto a winner here. If they can continue in this vein, I am sure they will be up there with the perfume greats.

Popularity: 11% [?]

Givrine is a herbal perfume that can be used by both ladies and gentlemen. It is made by the old perfume  house of E Coudray. The perfume is a repackaging of some older versions that go back as a far as the 1950s. Overall it is a great nostalgic look at what might have been but also shows courage in updating an older perfume for modern tastes. I admire the fact that they have decided to repackage an old perfume and make it appropriate for the modern age.

The Brand

E Coudray is by no means as famous as the great fashion houses such as Lacoste. However on occasion they are able to produce a perfume that is more than capable of holding its own. Givrine is one of the their better successes. However it must also be remembered that the fashion house is capable of producing less successful ones so it is a pity that on this occasion they insist on buying the perfume without sampling first.

The Fragrance

I like the very straightforward top notes. There is nothing complicated about the mandarin, bergamot, lemon, orange blossom, lavender, thyme, tarragon, jasmine, amber and mint. Rather it gives you a perfume that is both fresh but also has some depth. The almost citrus notes combine with the mint to give you a herbal mixture and then the lavender tones it down a bit to give you comfort. This perfume is the antidote to showy perfumes that lack substance.

The Packaging

The packaging reminds me of classic French style with some baroque overtones that cover the floral theme. I like the slightly golden hue that surrounds the whole package. It gives the perfume an elegant and luxurious feel. I think that the packaging is very effective.

General Customer Feedback

Customers were very complementary about the perfume. Curiously many of them said that they felt that the perfume made them feel clean. Whether this was the intention of the manufacturers is another matter altogether. However they were dissatisfied that they could not sample the perfume before buying. This is definitely an area that they can improve on because it does put off an awful lot of customers from buying.

Popularity: 11% [?]

This is an interesting perfume from the Washington Tremlett line. It is marketed as a unisex perfume that can be used by either sex but I believe that its rather powerful ingredients are more suited to gentlemen. However I could be wrong. The general consensus seems to be that this is not a perfume for the faint hearted. Some people have gone as far as describing it as having medicinal qualities, which is quite something for a perfume. I suppose if you are one of the experimental types, this perfume will be right up your street.

The Brand

Washington Tremlett have built their brand up from an understanding of the curious customer. They try to meet the needs of those perfume connoisseurs who will not settle for the bland. Black Tie continues this trend and I believe that it challenges the sense buds of anyone who dares to try it. Like any brand that is experimental, some of the efforts of Washington Tremlett have not been well received. Some customers grumbled at being overpowered by their perfumes. However on balance the brand does bring a new edge to the market and we would all be the poorer for its absence.

The Fragrance

I was amazed that such a challenging perfume could be constructed from very simple materials. I think that it is a testament to the imagination of the Washington Tremlett brand that they have been able to create Black Tie with a minimum of fuss but the maximum of effect. The perfume starts off with some bright citrus flavors. It then transitions into  greenish rose  and hints at some woody quality that I cannot quite place. The scent list includes henna, saffron and agar wood. This is where some people argue that it has a medicinal background, although I am not particularly into that kind of thing. Anyway the combination of the scents is dazzling in its unusualness.

The Packaging

I find the packaging weird. The bottle is almost gothic in its blackness but then this is completely thrown off the boil by the florid pink writing. What is that all about? Perhaps they wanted to shock. If that was their intention then they have succeeded well. I have to say that I do not live the bottle and would rather they looked at something a bit more elegant.

General Customer Feedback

The customers were rather curious about the strange fragrance combination but then they calmed down and started to enjoy it. From the general feedback it appears that the perfume is not particularly pleasant when you first smell it but as time goes by, it acquires  rather classy scent to it.

Popularity: 9% [?]