Creed Himalaya, Virgin Island Water, SMW

[cstrother]

I was just looking over Luca Turin's latest edition of his scent guide in connection with the thread on B&B on "polarizing" frags. (Google him if you do not know about him. Some of his stuff is just brilliant to me. Other stuff seems way off, particularly what I am writing about here.)

He gives Creed Silver Mountain Water one star out of five and is very critical of it. He is also very critical of Creed Himalaya and Virgin Island Water, alhough he does give two rather than one stars. I would not have thought that any of these frags were "polarizing" in the sense of folks really not liking the frags versus wondering how on earth Creed can charge so much.

SMW is actually one of my favorites, and it has always struck me is something everyone would at least think was pleasent enought. I thought it was a bit light and innocuous at first, but it has really grown on me. I do not get Turin's comment about it being a confused mess with a really unpleasent metallic note at all. But maybe I am wrong. I do not want it to be a go to frag, if I am turning off some off the people around me.

I really like Himalaya, too. I have less experience with VIW, and I am not sure I like coconut in my scents--I admit that Turin's review is hilarious in this respect!--but I respect Creed for having the guts to release this one and it certainly seems clean and fresh, that is to be high quality and not to smell like some cheap suntan lotion.

So I thought I would ask: What to folks think of these frags? Does anyone hate ("indifferent" is not what I am asking about!) them except for the costs? I know that someone posted saying that they could not stand the smell of Himalaya, which smells very pleasen to me.

If people do "hate" these they must be smelling something different than I am, which is not unusual as to scents. Certainly my wife smells certain scents completely differently than I do, which was kind off a revelation to me.

(This came up when I was being rather useless to SCS in trying to create an 88 complement. Things I thought brought the scent closer to 88 my wife really thought were seps back and not good at all. The final product she and I both really like, BTW. I can see why the real 88 would be very polarizing. It is complex, forward, dark, etc. I do no see any of the above scents having these characteristics.)

So, love them?, hate them?, indifferent to them? What do folks think?

[Obsessed]

I like SMW but I'm very disappointed by the staying power. The cost to longevity ratio is way too high for me to even consider purchasing it again.

[cstrother]

I like SMW but I'm very disappointed by the staying power. The cost to longevity ratio is way too high for me to even consider purchasing it again.

Longevity is another element, for sure, particularly as to the cost-benefit ratio. You like the scent--a lot, I take it--so you (and I) and our good Mr. Turin disagree. It just that the scent, while otherwise agreeable, does not last when you wear it, so it is an even more expensive propostion.

You could probably get a good price for it on BST--as an entire bottle or broken out into decants, if you wanted to sell and recapture some of your investment. Mileage seems to vary considerably as to the longetivity folks get out of Creed fragrences in general and SMW in particular. I get little longetivity out of any of them, except maybe Bois du Portugal. I even get pretty bad longetivity from GIT, which I think some folks get good longetivity from.

I like the SMW enough to carry around a little decant to freshen it up as the day goes on, but I do not think that everyone finds that necessary. Using more across a day makes it more expensive and may raise questions a one's office as to whether one is too into scents, and t does make a scent more expensive. But I find 4 ozs of any scent, if you got that size, to be kind of a lifetime supply any way. Even 2 ozs seems like a heck of a lot of any scent to have to me.

[The Nid Hog]

I guess that I'll chime in as someone who doesn't care for Virgin Island Water. To me it smells like a pina colada-scented version of my computer screen cleaner. I'm much more indifferent to Silver Mountain Water. Pleasant enough, but I didn't feel the need to buy it when my sample ran out. Both of them strike me as strange relatives to Vintage Tabarome and Bois du Portugal, distinctive scents with nice longevity.

[Obsessed]

You are correct, I do like the scent of SMW, but if I had to do it over again, I probably would have bought the Bois du Portugal (even though they are very different). Unfortunately, I didn't really realize how much I liked the BdP until the sample spray had really dried down, and by that time I was back home. The BdP opening, if that's the correct cologne lingo, is much different than the scent that ultimately emerges. The BdP sample spray lasted until the next morning, too. (Sorry to digress too much into the BdP.)

In any event, Creed's not in the budget for a while, so I have plenty of time to think it over, if not Obsess[] over it.

[WhosYerBob]

Thank you guys for sharing. I'm in the process of trying to determine a good scent for me - one that the missus finds irresistible - and your comments are helping me look into new interests.

[Sam]

The analogy given above of VIW is right on. This is more like coconut suntan oil, yet the oil lasts longer. On certain skin, I bet it smells less like straight up coconut but think having Trumper Coconut shave cream as a cologne - viola, VIW

I do find that some times, GIT lasts 7 or more hours on me where I CAN smell it. My wife always says she can smell it when I get home from work and she comes up to my neck and sniffs. So, for the compliments I get in the morning, $90 to $100 for 4 ounces is okay, since some designers sell 3.4 ounce bottles for over $70 these days and I don't get complments.

[cstrother]

<I'm in the process of trying to determine a good scent for me - one that the missus finds irresistible - and your comments are helping me look into new interests.>

I see scores if not hundreds of scents in your future! It seems to me that most of us with way too many scents start out with a similar quest!

Maybe I was wrong about VIW not being polarizing. If I gt a chance I will pos what Luca Turin said about it. Really scathing and hilarious, at least to me. He still gives it 2 stars though.

The coconut is kind of too much for me, but, again, I thought it was a decent thing to take a shot at putting out. A bit of originality. Not too many negatives on Basenotes, but I do not trust those reviews much anyway.

SMW was an unusual case with me. It is usually so that it is an at first off putting scent that ends up growing on me and "capturing me." But with SMW I thought it was innocuous and not very interesting at first. But it grew on me more and more. Some reviews talk about a metallic scent in it that is offputting, which I do not seem to pick up at all. Kind of like C&S O&C--it seems to lift my spirits.

[cstrother]

Here's a paraphrased version of Tania Sanchez's review of Creed VIW from Luca Turin and her "Perfumes The Guide." I was wrrong that this was LT's writing. I assume this is a "fair use" under the copyright laws and I will note that an updated version of their book, now titled something like "Perfume Guide A to Z" is coming out tomorrow in paperback. A great book for anyone that tha is interested in scents.

TS said:

"Olivier Creed has travelled the world collectiing rare coconuts, limes, and bottles of rums to compose the bathtub-sized cocktail he drank before he decided to release something this close to Bath & Body Works Coconut Lime Verbana at 11 times the price."

[StylinLA]

HA. That Luca seems like a hoot. I'm already set to grab that one. I just picked up his "SECRET OF SCENT" and it's going to take a lot concentration to get through that one.

I too like the SMW, but dang it's longevity is killing me...OR, it's just such a light scent that it doesn't seem to be there.

A few more wear tests will tell.

[cstrother]

HA. That Luca seems like a hoot. I'm already set to grab that one. I just picked up his "SECRET OF SCENT" and it's going to take a lot concentration to get through that one.

I too like the SMW, but dang it's longevity is killing me...OR, it's just such a light scent that it doesn't seem to be there.

A few more wear tests will tell.

I should pick up "SECRET OF SCENT." I think LT does like to be controversial. I think he is too down in general on Creed. I do like that he gives big props to some scents that have been big popular hits.

I like Chandler Burr's writing, too, but CB seems to dislike anything that is or was too popular.

[BarryR]

I guess that I'll chime in as someone who doesn't care for Virgin Island Water. To me it smells like a pina colada-scented version of my computer screen cleaner. I'm much more indifferent to Silver Mountain Water. Pleasant enough, but I didn't feel the need to buy it when my sample ran out. Both of them strike me as strange relatives to Vintage Tabarome and Bois du Portugal, distinctive scents with nice longevity.
I'm not interested in coconut in a fragrance but still don't find VIW offensive. I find many of the Creeds are too mild for me including Himalaya and SMW but quite nice nevertheless; and certainly not offensive.

I like Tabarome a lot (though my samples almost gone) and think BdP is excellent so I largely agree with many of these comments.

[cstrother]

I'm not interested in coconut in a fragrance but still don't find VIW offensive. I find many of the Creeds are too mild for me including Himalaya and SMW but quite nice nevertheless; and certainly not offensive.

I like Tabarome a lot (though my samples almost gone) and think BdP is excellent so I largely agree with many of these comments.

To me there are sort of two Creed styles: the SMW style and the BdP style. Probably others, too. But the former is trying to me more modern and fresh, similar to C&S O&C. I think of it as almost a counter to the Cool Waters and Polos of the world. A more natural reference to those scents. Hard to get longevity though. The latter more old school. Deeper, more formal, longer lasting by nature. Still taking out the strong synthetic scents that characterized many popular scents of the 70s, 80s, 90s. (Not that I am dissing many of those frags. I love Grey Flannel, Aramis, Havana, Issey, Z14, even Cool Water, even Polo. I disturbs me how much of a "fan boy" I am!)

Not sure whether GIT is in the latter or yet another general style. GIT is such a nice piece of work. Not my favorite ever, and relatively easy to mock given its popularity, but hard argue that GIT is a not a versatile scent that smells really good to most people--whether fragranistas or K-Mart shoppers. To me works with an expensive suit or a Blink 182 t-shirt and jeans. To me a nice combination of Brit and French thinking on scents.

Decent longevity on most people. Not so much on me, but acceptable longevity.

[StylinLA]

I should pick up "SECRET OF SCENT." I think LT does like to be controversial. I think he is too down in general on Creed. I do like that he gives big props to some scents that have been big popular hits..

Psyche up for it...don't know what your background is, but it's like a chemistry textbook. But he weighs in with funny stuff too...

[cstrother]

Psyche up for it...don't know what your background is, but it's like a chemistry textbook. But he weighs in with funny stuff too...

So I hear. Interesting guy. Interesting background. Amazing how little there is written about scents. He was really one of the first, as far as I know, and he had to come from completely outside the usual scent experts!

[StylinLA]

I bought his new Guide today and he loathes everything I like...LMAO

[whitebar]

I enjoy both SMW and Himalaya quite a bit and am glad to have them. BdP is my favorite though and I bought the 8oz flacon of it so I wouldn't run out. Don't know about the Virgin Island Water but will say I'm not overly fond of any coconut smells. BTW, I find that most perfume critics just seem to like the sound of their own voice. IMO you should just trust your own nose.

[StylinLA]

I enjoy both SMW and Himalaya quite a bit and am glad to have them. BdP is my favorite though and I bought the 8oz flacon of it so I wouldn't run out. Don't know about the Virgin Island Water but will say I'm not overly fond of any coconut smells. BTW, I find that most perfume critics just seem to like the sound of their own voice. IMO you should just trust your own nose.

I always do trust my own nose...but I do enjoy reading his stuff.

Until he and Tania start sending me their top picks for free, his opinions are just that- his opinions.

Yeah, he's got a real thing about Creed.

[DULLAH]

I like SMW but I'm very disappointed by the staying power. The cost to longevity ratio is way too high for me to even consider purchasing it again.Strange as i find SMW's lasting power and especially sillage to be outstanding. My only critique of SMW is i dislike the synthetic feminine floral notes that are too prominent amongst the citrus and currant. it is a very sharp and shrill cologne.

Virgin Island Water i think would benefit from a higher dose of long-lasting citrus notes, and slightly less of the palm oil (buttery popcorn) note in the base. Although i think overall it is one of the better truly unisex releases of the last 1/2decade.

Himalaya i think is bested by it's inspiration......Rabbane's original XS.

[cstrother]

Strange as i find SMW's lasting power and especially sillage to be outstanding. My only critique of SMW is i dislike the synthetic feminine floral notes that are too prominent amongst the citrus and currant. it is a very sharp and shrill cologne.

Virgin Island Water i think would benefit from a higher dose of long-lasting citrus notes, and slightly less of the palm oil (buttery popcorn) note in the base. Although i think overall it is one of the better truly unisex releases of the last 1/2decade.

Himalaya i think is bested by it's inspiration......Rabbane's original XS.

<it is a very sharp and shrill cologne.>

Wow, you and Luca must be smelling something in SMW that just in not registering with my nose at all. Not that it is not there for you as objectively as anything else it is just that my nose is not registering it or not registering it the same way. Luca says "metallic" where you say "synthetic feminine floral," though.

So strange are olfactory senses. SMW seems to me entirely pleasent, perhaps soft, but fresh, lively. I would never have thought sharp or shrill much less metallic. The criticsim I could more relate to woud be transient, innocous, unexciting, which seems very different than sharp/shrill.

I guess I am going to have to get a decent sized decant of VIW and really experience it. The guy who has the best nose to my mind that I know personally at all. really likes VIW, too. I my experience is that if he likes it, he is always right. If he likes it and I do not, I will come to like it. Even if I do not like it--whatever it is--after a few wearings and sort of put it aside, the evening will come when out of the blue I have near craving for whatever it is!

(The opposite is not true. There is lots of stuff he does not like that I do like. And I trust my nose on what I do like. If I like it some others may not, but whatever it is not utter crap that has fooled me somehow with advertising or mystique or something non-scent related!)

So you like Himalaya, but just like Rabbane's original XS better? Or is it that you think Himalaya is such a poor imitation of Rabbane's original XS that you do not like Himalaya? I truly hate to admit it because on some level Creed seems over-priced, derivative, even phony with its tales of Carey Grant, etc., but I find that with any extended experience with any of their scents I have had extended experience with, I at least like it. Himalaya seems very pleasent and classy to me. I realy cannot find anything to knock about it at all.

[DULLAH]

<it is a very sharp and shrill cologne.>

Wow, you and Luca must be smelling something in SMW that just in not registering with my nose at all. Not that it is not there for you as objectively as anything else it is just that my nose is not registering it or not registering it the same way. Luca says "metallic" where you say "synthetic feminine floral," though.

So strange are olfactory senses. SMW seems to me entirely pleasent, perhaps soft, but fresh, lively. I would never have thought sharp or shrill much less metallic. The criticsim I could more relate to woud be transient, innocous, unexciting, which seems very different than sharp/shrill.

I guess I am going to have to get a decent sized decant of VIW and really experience it. The guy who has the best nose to my mind that I know personally at all. really likes VIW, too. I my experience is that if he likes it, he is always right. If he likes it and I do not, I will come to like it. Even if I do not like it--whatever it is--after a few wearings and sort of put it aside, the evening will come when out of the blue I have near craving for whatever it is!

(The opposite is not true. There is lots of stuff he does not like that I do like. And I trust my nose on what I do like. If I like it some others may not, but whatever it is not utter crap that has fooled me somehow with advertising or mystique or something non-scent related!)

So you like Himalaya, but just like Rabbane's original XS better? Or is it that you think Himalaya is such a poor imitation of Rabbane's original XS that you do not like Himalaya? I truly hate to admit it because on some level Creed seems over-priced, derivative, even phony with its tales of Carey Grant, etc., but I find that with any extended experience with any of their scents I have had extended experience with, I at least like it. Himalaya seems very pleasent and classy to me. I realy cannot find anything to knock about it at all.I do like himalaya, buty not enough to own. It has far too much musk and Ambergris, and not enough pepper or grapefruit to balance them, as it's notes state. If you are looking for an excellent fresh classy subdued scent that lasts well even in extreemely cold weather Himalaya is good, but I much prefer the much mintier and herbaceous XS, as it shares almost the same heart and base notes, albeit with less musk and thick ambergris.

[Obsessed]

I like SMW but I'm very disappointed by the staying power. The cost to longevity ratio is way too high for me to even consider purchasing it again.

I'm wearing SMW today and I really do like the scent. I may have to experiment with using a bit more (because it's so inexpensive :eek:) and applying it in different places to see if I can milk some more longevity out of it.