This English Fragrance House Has Been Making Artisanal Perfumes for 260 Years

Over seven generations (and 260 years), The House of Creed has defined itself as one of the most recognizable and celebrated luxury fragrance houses worldwide. The brand started its unique journey in 1760 as a tailor shop founded by James Henry Creed in Mayfair, London, before shifting to high-quality, artisanal fragrances for men and women. After relocating to Paris in 1854 at the request Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie following the brand's appointment as the official supplier of the royal household, Creed quickly became associated with socially prominent clientele ranging from royals to aristocrats. The brand has since created over 200 luxurious perfumes, each filtered, bottled, and labelled by hand at the brand's family-run factory in Fontainebleau.

Read on to discover which of the brand's niche, artisanal perfumes are absolutely worth the investment.

Photo:

@deborabrosa

The Best Fragrances by Creed

Key notes: Indian jasmine, orange blossom, tuberose absolute, sandalwood, and praline

Creed's latest women's eau de parfum is inspired by movement. Blending delicate notes of jasmine flower, zesty orange blossom, and juicy peach, Wind Flowers is the perfect dusky, sophisticated fragrance.

Key notes: Bergamot, green mandarin, iris, sandalwood, and musk

Bold and elegant, this refreshing fragrance evokes citrus groves and salty shores. Millésime is one of the brand's best-selling unisex scents, boasting a salty-sweet mix of bright citrus, warm musk, and fresh lemon.

Key notes: Bergamot, mandarin, green tea, blackcurrant bud, and sandalwood

Take a trip to the Swiss Alps without ever having to board a plane by wearing Creed's Silver Mountain Water. It's a modern, marine scent that balances notes of soft blackcurrant buds and green tea with rich bergamot and sandalwood.

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@emanuellek_

Key notes: Jamaican lime, Sicilian mandarin, hibiscus, Indian jasmine, tropical wood

In the mood for an opulent fragrance that's as fresh as it is warm? Creed's uplifting Virgin Island Water captures the tropical trade winds of the Caribbean with uplifting Jamaican lime, milky Tonkin musk, and delicate hibiscus.

Key notes: Rose, sweet violet, jasmine, vanilla absolute, and oud

Known as the "wood of the gods," oud is the fragrant core of the aquilaria tree native to Southeast Asia. Creed's captivating fragrance, Royal Princess Oud, uses this key ingredient to create an olfactory experience skillfully blending bright florals with cozy sandalwood and vanilla.

Key notes: Greengage plum, apple, white carnations, Virginia cedar, and white grapefruit

Creed's vibrant and youthful Aqua Florentina (originally featuring notes of sweet plumps, bergamot and lemony blooms) was updated to celebrate 60 years of Queen Elizabeth's reign with the addition of greengage plums, Virginia cedar, white carnation, and Renaissance roses.

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@sarahhsol

Key notes: Egyptian green apple, pink berries, lilac, sandalwood, and sweet peach

The feminine counterpart to the brand's best-selling masculine fragrance, Aventus, Aventus for Her is a fresh and floral eau de parfum inspired by some of history's most powerful women of the past and present. Exquisitely floral and fruity, this is a fragrance I could see myself wearing all spring.

Key notes: Bergamot, violet leaves, Bulgarian rose, tuberose, and Florentine iris

Creed's Fleurissimo is the fragrance that was worn by actress Grace Kelly as she wed Monaco's Prince Rainier III in April 1956. With a delicate blend of bergamot, Bulgarian rose, Florentine iris and amber, there's no denying that it perfectly evokes images of matrimony.

Key notes: Apricot, bergamot, jasmine, rose, and musk

A successful attempt to bottle the glamour of Hollywood's Golden Age, Creed's Spring Flower eau de parfum skillfully combines bright topnotes of apricot, apple, and peach with soft florals to create a flirty and classically feminine fragrance that's as timeless as the silver screen.

Photo:

@deborabrosa

Key notes: Orange zest, Bulgarian rose, Florentine iris, ambergris, and vanilla

Love in White is a fresh and floral fragrance that combines hand-selected essences from five continents, representing a statement of global unity through craftsmanship. To honor its launch in 2005, the Empire State Building was illuminated with white lights. 

Key notes: Violet, rose, blackcurrant, clove, and Virginia cedar

Nothing's better than discovering a fragrance that's a sophisticated edgy floral. Love in Black features mysterious notes of Florentine iris, violet, Virginia cedar, and blackcurrant to create a fragrance that's beyond chic and timeless.

Key notes: Violet leaves, green apple, geranium, musk, and narcissus

This Creed fragrance embraces a soft and sweet approach to a versatile and rich floral blend by notes of bright green apple, sweet violet, and opulent narcissus. Trust me: It's an olfactory experience you won't want to miss.

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@emmanuellek_

Key notes: Bergamot, grapefruit, neroli, orange blossom, and ambergris

Néroli Sauvage celebrates the 17th-century Duchess of Nerola, known for the extravagant summer parties held in her castle and gardens. This is an energetic and crisp fragrance that uses bright citrus, bergamot, and grapefruit to balance the fragrance's bold neroli.

Key notes: Basil, melon, rosemary, pepper, and amber

Clearly, Creed has a knack for creating some of the world's best nautical-inspired fragrances. Erolfa follows suit with a mix of bright citrus, leafy greens, and soft florals. An ode to the Creed family, its unique name is crafted from the names of each member of the Creed family.

Key notes: Lemon, mandarin, pink berries, basil, and Tonkin mist

Vibrant and clean, this fragrance is an understated classic that was launched in 1997 as a tribute to Britain's young royals. With invigorating notes like clementine, lemon, peppermint, and pepper, Royal Water boasts an undeniable crisp and invigorating scent.