Delphinus by Creed

I bought it for $350 after trying it several times. It’s a rich fragrance, sweet but not cloying. As others say, for me it smells more like cherry than almond, with a powdery touch. What I like most is its evolution: a suede note that gives it a lot of character, associated with that leather note. I like it, it lasts quite a while on my skin, at least 8 hours. NO, it doesn’t resemble Dior Homme at all, not even remotely. YES, Creed prices are already ridiculous; for the price of one, you could buy two excellent quality niche perfumes.

For those who can’t decide if it’s cherry or almond: go smell the ingredient. Surprise, it’s neither! Benzaldehyde smells like both: fresh almond (or synthetic) and Maraschino cherries, depending on your olfactory memory. In my case, I don’t care; it’s easier to think ‘benzaldehyde’ than to debate. I agree with @OpiumYSL: Creed raises prices and lowers quality. Delphinus is weak. Those who say it has ‘a lot of character’ probably have a long way to go.

The benzaldehyde here is confusing: it smells like cherries or almonds, and I’m not sure what Creed was going for. The notes say ‘almonds,’ but when I wear it, it smells more like cherry, and you have to really force yourself to believe it’s almonds (in my opinion, Tom Ford’s F*cking Fabulous handles the almond note much better). Otherwise, it’s a pleasant fragrance and much more wearable than Centaurus. It smells warm and cozy, with a very prominent iris and vanilla. I consider it 100% unisex: neither too feminine nor too masculine.

Seriously, such a watery fragrance with no personality, totally feminine. I don’t know what’s going on with these niche houses pulling our legs; this is a cheap copy of Guerlain’s L’Homme Ideal.

Imagine a cocktail shaker with Dior Homme Intense, Lost Cherry by Tom Ford, Pegasus by Parfums de Marly, and an old L’homme Ideal with an iris note. That’s Delphinus.

Comparing this perfume to the Dior Homme line (which I don’t like; I find them unpleasant) sets up a false and impossible expectation. Don’t do it. Anyway: Delphinus is very rich. I perceive it as vanilla, with benzaldehyde adding an almond nuance and a light leather. The Orris butter gives it that powdery, spiced, natural tone, almost like ginger and oakmoss. I see it as more feminine than masculine, nothing masculine. The Bourbon vanilla provides a delicate, aromatic base, not boozy. I find it very pleasant and one of Creed’s best for romantic dates. I don’t see any point of comparison with Centaurus; Delphinus is a delicate vanilla, while Centaurus is a heavy tobacco perfume almost exclusively virile. Sending greetings from Mexico.

I tried Creed’s latest launches: Centaurus and Delphinus. I thought I’d like Centaurus more, but ended up liking Delphinus more. Both start with vanilla, but in Delphinus, it’s the star. A powdery, spicy, deep vanilla. I tested it on blotter and skin. On blotter, I found it simple and boring, but on skin, I liked it a lot, though it didn’t fully make me want to spend the outrageous price they’re asking here ($1034). Lasting power and sillage are average. If the price were half, I’d buy it gladly.

For me, Delphinus is the twin sister of Centaurus: they share the same base but take different paths, one for men and one for women, yet both vibrate in a unisex space. It’s an incredible sweetness with a spectacular iris that, unfortunately, fades in minutes to leave behind a rich syrupy trail with lots of suede and a floral touch. While it doesn’t smell exactly like Dior Homme Intense, I get why people compare them; it could be the feminine version of that classic thanks to its melted iris fused into a super rich amber base. From a distance, I catch hints of tobacco, not sure if real or just an illusion from the suede. I liked it, but I prefer its brother; over time, it gets a bit tiring and cloying due to that syrupy character. 🐬