These days, the perfume industry is increasingly dominated by heavily advertised international brands. It comes as a refreshing surprise to discover that there still exists a discreet family-owned perfume house dedicated to the creation of highly original fragrances of extravagant quality.
Operating from it’s luxuriously appointed boutique in Paris’ 8th Arrondissement, the House of Creed has been for many years one of the best kept secrets of the perfume world, patronised by the seriously rich, chic and famous.
From Heads of State to celebrities from the film and music industries, Creed’s client list reads like an international Who’s Who. Over the years the Creed family has produced over two hundred perfumes, all original and hand-made, often creating fragrances for the exclusive use of their wealthiest customers.
The House of Creed was founded in 1760 when James Henry Creed opened his first shop in London. It rapidly became a favorite of the aristocracy and soon Queen Victoria appointed Creed as an official supplier to the Royal household.
Eventually Creed was adopted by all the courts of Europe: Napoléon III and Empress Eugénie of France, Franz-Joseph and Elizabeth of Austro-Hungary and Queen Christina of Spain. In 1854, under the patronage of Empress Eugénie, the House of Creed moved to Paris where it established a firm reputation for the rare beauty, quality and exclusivity of its fragrances.
Today Olivier Creed, direct descendant of James Henry Creed, continues this great tradition as Createur Parfumeur and President of the House of Creed. In France, or travelling abroad, he personally selects the purest rose essences from Bulgaria, Turkey or Morocco as well as Italian jasmine, irises from Florence, Tuberose from India or genuine Parma violets. Creed also manufactures their own essences using the traditional infusion technique, now abandoned as too costly by the modern perfume industry.
Wherever possible, Olivier Creed insists on using natural essences instead of the synthetic ones used increasingly by large perfume companies these days. This enables Olivier Creed, a perfectionist, to preserve
the originality and superior quality of his fragrances. The components are then weighed, mixed, macerated and filtered, all by hand, before being shipped to only the finest department stores and specialist retailers worldwide. Creed fragrances offer all those who appreciate excellence the opportunity to rediscover the art of fine fragrance.
His two children, Erwin and Olivia, thoroughly instilled with the family heritage, are now initiated into the delicatecraft of the parfumer, and both appear bewitched by the special magic involved in the creation of perfume.
The Parisian fragrance house Creed is commemorating an astonishing milestone this 2010 – it’s 250th anniversary.
We welcomed Mr. Erwin Creed, 7th generation luxury perfumer and heir to the family owned fragrance business, to celebrate the brand’s achievement in Manila with the reopening of the Creed fragrance counter at Rustan’s Makati’s newly constructed Grand Mall area on Thursday, November 25, 2010
Erwin Creed had a special signing of Creed perfumes.
CREED’S BEST KEPT SECRET
All Creed fragrances are created using ingredients of the highest quality: MILLESIME. “Millésime” is a French term that denotes a product of extra fine quality and Creed’s “Millésime” fragrances contain the highest percentage of natural essences to be found in the French perfume industry.
They continue to be produced, largely by hand, using time-honoured techniques in the highest tradition of classical perfumery.
They are mostly of Eau de Parfum strength, and therefore more complex and long lasting than the Eau de Toilette.
The Lady Millesimes
The Lady Millesimes are more heady perfumes due to a sophisticated and foppish alliance of many rich flower essences. From each fragrance is born an atmosphere that divulges the personality of the woman who wears it.
Fluerissimo
Enjoy a real-life storybook romance with CREED Fleurissimo, the classic floral fragrance commissioned by a royal prince for his American bride on her wedding day. Fleurissimo was made to complement the royal bouquet she carried down the aisle.
Classification: Floral / Fresh
Top Notes: Bergamot
Middle Notes: Tuberose, Bulgarian Rose, Violet, Florentine Iris
Base Notes: Ambergris
Spring Flower
Celebrate the exuberance of new romance with CREED Spring Flower, a fresh, floral fragrance of pure femininity from the House of CREED. CREED made Spring Flower as the signature scent of a silver screen legend, fashion icon and renowned humanitarian. The scent was released to the public many years later. Delightfully pink and pretty, CREED Spring Flower is a playful and unapologetic celebration of feminine energy and style that is true to the spirit of the woman who inspired it. Fruity, floral, sweet, youthful and sexy.
Classification: Floral / Fresh
Top Notes: Peach, melon, apple
Middle Notes: Jasmine, rose
Base Notes: Musk, ambergris
Love in White
Enjoyed by two First Ladies of the United States, Love In White evokes America’s most influential women. The fragrance takes its name from Mr. CREED’s love of sailing. Hand-made with ingredients of rare quality from five continents. A worldly mix of blossoms in the hands of Mr. CREED becomes a fragrance at once exclusive and welcoming.
Classification: Floral / Oriental
Top Notes: Orange zest from southern Spain
Middle Notes: Young iridescent rice husk from Tonkin in the south Asian seas; iris from Egypt; white jasmine from the Italian coast; daffodils from the French Riviera; magnolia from the mountains of Guatemala; and Bulgarian rose
Base Notes: Vanilla from the island of Java; ambergris from Calabria; sandalwood from Mysore, India
Love in Black
Olivier CREED with his son, Erwin, presents a fragrance that evokes in dusk blooming wildflowers the enigmatic beauty of America’s most intriguing First Lady of the 20th century: her dark, mysterious eyes behind black sunglasses, her wavelets of brunette hair, her trim shape in a black sheath. To create Love In Black, Mr. CREED blended ingredients from places loved by this well-traveled woman. Even the bottle is made with black sand like that in the Greek isles where she wed a legendary shipping tycoon.
Classification: Violet Oriental
Top Notes: Night-blooming wildflowers from the Greek isles, Violet from Italy, Virginia cedar.
Middle Notes: Iris from Florence, Clove, Tonkin musk
Base Notes: Blackcurrant from Bourgogne in her beloved France, where her ancestors were born; Bulgarian rose
Acqua Fiorentina
Master perfumer Olivier CREED with his son, Erwin, offers a fragrance of lasting artistry and permanent value with CREED Acqua Fiorentina. The inspiration is 15th century Florence in Italy, where artists and innovators such as da Vinci and Michelangelo lit a new flame of beauty and culture, sparking a Renaissance of art always growing in worth, even today. Orchards and farms around Florence are sources for CREED Acqua Fiorentina ingredients.
Classification: Fruity / Floral
Top Notes: Lightly sweet greengage plum, often used in cuisine as a dessert plum, and bergamot orange
Middle Notes: Renaissance roses, pink carnations and Calabrian lemon are a finely rendered portrait of fruits and blooms.
Base Notes: Virginia cedar and Indian sandalwood are the warm, sculpted frame for this work of art.
The Gentlemen Millesimes are fresh and hot perfumes, although all virile. All recalls a distinctive ambience that project men in a different world; they create a unique climate whom none resist.
Millesime Imperial
This light and invigorating scent evokes the citrus groves and lush landscape of a seaside palace in Sicily. A scent for persons of stature, Millesime Imperial is famed for its golden look and feel that fit perfectly with the Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony, a reason for this fragrance’s lasting popularity with the world’s top entertainers, male and female. Imperial Millesime is literally the gold standard in fragrance.
Classification: Citrus / Floral
Top Notes: Crisp fruit notes, sea salt
Middle Notes: Sicilian lemon, bergamot, mandarin, Florentine Iris
Base Notes: Musk, woody and marine notes
Himalaya
CREED Himalaya is a fragrance of rugged masculinity and strength. Olivier CREED made this scent to commemorate his daring climb in the beautiful but treacherous Himalayan mountains. CREED Himalaya is a fragrance that evokes the power and majesty of man and nature. The one-of-a-kind metallic bottle makes a statement of unmistakable confidence. The bottle was developed by Erwin CREED, the seventh generation and designated future head of the House of CREED. Many say it resembles ice on mountain rocks. Others say it resembles a climber’s canteen.
Classification: Woody Oriental / Fresh
Top Notes: Grapefruit, bergamot from Calabria, lemon from Sicily
Middle Notes: Sandalwood
Base Notes: Musk, ambergris, cedarwood
Green Irish Tweed
As classic as a perfectly tailored tuxedo on Oscar night, CREED Green Irish Tweed is loyally worn by today’s Hollywood leading men who ask for it by name. A film colony legend like the stars who wear it, Green Irish Tweed has an invigorating freshness and pure masculinity that have made it not only one of the most artistic fragrances from Olivier CREED, but also one of the most successful.
Classification: Green / Woods / Classic
Top Notes: French verbena, Florentine iris
Middle Notes: Violet leaves
Base Notes: Sandalwood from Mysore, ambergris
Royal Water
Royal Water is a dry, clean understated classic created as a tribute to the next generation of royals. With its versatility and regal appeal, Royal Water is a scent beloved by men and women alike. Royal Water captures the glamour, energy and power of tomorrow’s international newsmakers.
Classification: Herbal / Citrus
Top Notes: Fresh citrus infusion with peppermint
Middle Notes: Juniper berry, basil
Base Notes: Musk, ambergris
Original Santal
India’s royal and spiritual splendor meet in Original Santal, the contemporary scent for men and women from master perfumer Olivier CREED, who for the first time looks to Asia for inspiration. Mr. CREED combines the essence of royal sandalwood trees from India with other pure elements known for sublime scent, spiritual strength and calming power. Red-as-rubies Original Santal aspires to opulent inner calm for those who wear it.
Classification: Woody / Oriental
Top Notes: Royal Indian sandalwood; cinnamon evoking calm and home; divine coriander; fragrant, cleansing juniper berry
Middle Notes: Tender lavender, leaves of the absolute orange tree; fragrant rosemary; revitalizing ginger
Base Notes: Soulful Tonka bean; dreamlike vanilla
The Lady Millesimes are available in 75ml (P7,700), 30ml (P4,600).
The Gentlemen Millesimes are available in 125ml (PHP8,800), 75ml (PHP7,700) and 30ml (PHP4,600).
The Creed Fragrances are exclusively available at Rustan’s Makati and are distributed by Prestige Brands Philippines, Inc.a subsidiary of the Prestige Group of Companies, which represents international designer fragrances in Southeast Asia.
