CREED Aventus
Success Does Not Have a Gender
New Fragrance Review
An open letter to female fragrance fans
Dear Ladies,
If you are out browsing fragrances and find yourself standing at the Creed counter, do you see the bottle sitting there, the one with the black leather bustier? As you reach for it, the SA will probably tell you “Oh, that’s for men!” Do not let that stop you, go ahead and try it. I do not think you will regret testing the new Creed Aventus for yourself. Given the inspiration, macho leather packaging and the masculine marketing designation, you might not give Aventus a second thought, let alone a test spritz. Well, disregard the marketing “pushes” and decide for yourself. I tried Aventus based on the notes and discovered a wonderful new fragrance. Aventus means “success”, and as far as I am concerned, success does not have a gender and neither should this scent.
Aventus utilizes quality ingredients to create an unexpectedly joyful chypre, a fruity-chypre “lite” that is surprisingly long lasting. Although the structure is traditional chypre, citrus in the top, patchouli middle, oakmoss and musk base. Aventus contains a few classic modifiers; rose, jasmine, ambergris. Make no mistake; however, floral notes are not predominant in Aventus.
The interesting blend of top notes gives Aventus its unique character. In most scents, the top disappears quickly, barely noticeable in the overall personality of the scent. Aventus’ top notes create the personality of the scent, leaving the heart and basenotes to develop depth and longevity.
Normally, fruit notes in fragrance, with few exceptions (Mitsouko, VISA), would be the reason I would not wear a fragrance. Aventus breaks the preconceptions regarding fragrances with fruit notes. The top notes combine to present an opening that is refreshing, appealingly tart and only slightly sweet. Plump blackcurrants, fragrant pineapple, tangy bergamot & party colored, red-gold French apples, Aventus combines the fruit notes in such a way as to create a unique Creed-esque top, as spectacular as any signature base I have ever smelled. Considering the longevity of top notes, this seems quite spectacular a feat of aroma engineering. The resultant composition is seamless, well constructed, low-keyed and classy. The transformation from the initial spray to semidry down does leave me wishing the birch were a little more pronounced. I, for one, enjoy the leather like aroma birch imparts, particularly when combined with a smoky patchouli.
Christine Lewandowski is passionate about fragrance. She once suffered from migraines, which lead to her study of aromatherapy. As a child, she first became aware of fine fragrances when visiting a much beloved and world traveled, Aunt. She later learned her Aunt’s signature scent was the classic, Shalimar. So at age 14, before there existed the word “perfumista”, Christine was one. Now a collector of hundreds of fragrances, Christine has a reputation as a dedicated fragrance lover. She shares her knowledge and love of all things fragrant, particularly old garden roses, with many. Christine is a graduate of the University of Virginia, former educator & voracious reader. She resides in New Jersey with her husband, daughter and two adopted tuxedo cats.
Wearing Aventus is full of surprises. It is, without a doubt, the number one scent for garnering compliments. Complete strangers have told me I smell “delicious”, “sexy”, “interesting”, “amazing”, and “incredible”. They often ask me “What are you wearing?” I tell them and some say, “I though that was for guys!” Then I carefully explain that there is no rule that says a woman cannot wear fragrance classified by the manufacturer as a men’s scent. More often than not, I get a dubious look or “I didn’t know that!” as a reply.
People notice when wearing Aventus and the reaction is very positive. Aventus makes me smile and so do all the compliments. I will continue to wear it regardless. Creed did something very special creating the top notes in this scent. Do not limit Aventus by marketing to men alone. In fact, expand the line to include body products: shower gel and body lotion.
Bonaparte, for all his faults, is also remembered for the Napoleonic Code, which forbade privileges based on birth. In making Napoleon Bonaparte the inspiration for Aventus, Creed is by nature saying that those who are best suited to the scent should be the ones who wear it, gender aside. Sounds, and smells, good to me!
Special thanks to Adam Brecht and Colton Leighton of International Cosmetics & Perfumes, Inc.
Ariane French Apple, photo compliments of Richard Borrie, www.orangepippin.com
Photo of Italian Bergamot. Pineapple photo coutesy of Jun Belen from her blog; jun blog and her professional website is here
