Aventus by Creed

For me, this is the definitive men’s fragrance, pure elegance in the bottle. It’s super versatile, works in any weather because it blends fresh citrus with woody notes; for me, the birch, patchouli, and cedar really stand out. That versatility applies just as well during the day as at night. The projection is a solid 10 out of 10.

A friend used only this and said, ‘He’s a magnet for chicks.’ I came from wearing designer scents, and when I smelled it, I was speechless—nothing like that existed. When he told me the price, the idea left my mind. Then the clones arrived: Club de Nuit, Vibrant Leather, and other Arab fragrances. I bought them all blindly because I wanted that perfume that made my friend a Casanova at a steal of a price, but none were equal. I think Al Haramain L’aventure came closer. In the end, I realized I could have saved up for a bottle of Aventus by buying the clones. I sold what I could and saved until I bought the 100ml bottle. I won’t go into batch paranoia; I already had my head spinning wondering if a clone was an 85 or 92%. Nonsense, there’s nothing like the original. Does it last long? Not for me, but it smells natural, without harsh notes like Club de Nuit. Does it generate compliments? Almost none for me, though it did with others. Now, when I smell it, I feel it’s the best perfume in history. It smells delicious, gentlemanly, elegant, masculine, natural… Wearing it elevates my happiness. I know it’s no longer popular, but for me, it remains the king.

This is a definitive OG in perfumes. Even though I don’t own one, I smelled it on my own skin and it’s something primordial. Nowadays there are many perfumes with this profile, and using it daily creates uncertainty for both that reason and the price. I have to say it, crucify me if you want, there’s something about it that reminds me of a certain fountain pen ink.

Pure elegance, a classic.

Smell of an old millionaire, nothing more to say, it’s not worth it.

THE SOUL OF PERFUMERY. This fragrance is marvelous; its batches maintain the same soul with different nuances, like flankers of the original. It doesn’t bother me at all. I bought a 2011 decant: brutal citrus opening with a sweet pineapple touch, then evolving into smoky pineapple, floral, and fresh—nothing heavy. In 2023, the smoky pineapple disappeared, leaving just the citrus opening evolving into a lake scent alongside a golf course, full of reeds and rushes—fresh, green, floral with pineapple hints. The dry down is the same: noble woods and a clean sensation. Longevity and sillage aren’t the best, about 6 hours, ideal for spring because the heat kills it. Projects to a meter for two hours, then fades to a bubble. Two gripes: people asked me twice if it was Montblanc Explorer. It hurt that a 435 USD perfume got confused with a 45 USD one, but smelling them side-by-side reveals a brutal difference in ingredient quality. Explorer smells similar but projects better, though longevity is similar. Scent: 8 (due to inspirations that overshadow it). Longevity: 7. Projection: 7. Total: 7.3.

The scent of success (and first impressions). Aventus made me understand why it has so much hype. From the first spray, it feels different: elegant, fresh, and with an instant confidence vibe. It has that fruity touch of pineapple and apple at the start, but with a more serious, woody, and masculine base. It’s not a perfume that shouts, but one that everyone notices. It lasts very well and leaves a clean, sophisticated trail. I understand why they call it ‘the scent of success’: it smells like someone who knows what they want.

I used it again yesterday after a break. I wore it freely, without counting sprays or worrying about the cost. The perfume is clearly made for a specific segment; I’m not saying I belong to that group. I had to save up, but knowing this, I realized it’s not bad, only that if you have to go into debt or save just to buy it, things are already off. You’re better off going for something from Zara or CdN to the office; my colleagues noticed it, gave me compliments, and it still smelled good at the gym and even after arriving at work. It’s an incredibly rich scent. We shouldn’t hate a perfume just because we can’t afford it; let no one think they’re obligated to buy a fragrance. I doubt the wealthy are complaining that it doesn’t last. I doubt I’ll buy it again, but it’s not bad.

December 2022. I’m sitting in front of the screen. Andrés Perfume Man is talking on YouTube, saying Creed Aventus is the ultimate fragrance and that no woman will resist it. I believe him, I’m amazed. I decide to buy it, put it on twelve installments, doesn’t matter, I know I’ll succeed. January 2023. Walking through the office, my steps are heavy, my scent light. No one notices, no compliments, no glances. Aventus fades from my skin faster than my hope. I wonder if it’s fake, I laugh silently, apply double. March 2023. Finally, a comment. I let a young colleague smell it from my hand; she presses her nose to my skin and says I smell like her father, the same one who abandoned her when she was a child. I don’t know how to respond, I stay still, the compliment turns into a dagger. August 2023. A colleague has a similar scent, I approach, it’s Club de Nuit Intense, he smiles and says it cost him 15 dollars on sale. I don’t smile, I think about my twelve installments. April 2024. I discover Montblanc Explorer, they say it’s similar to Aventus, I refuse to accept it, I repeat that Creed is on another level, although doubt is already seeping in like smoke in a closed room. September 2024. I walk into a Zara, try Vibrant Leather, the similarity hits me, it’s impossible, Aventus, the fragrance that was supposed to be a myth, is now reflected in a cheap bottle. The mirror breaks in my head. I take advantage of having Vibrant Leather Oud, I remember Andrés said it was the best from Zara. February 2025. I return to Andrés Perfume Man, in a new video he says the DNA of Aventus already seems boring to him. I listen in silence, my twelve installments are already dust, my expectations smoke, I need a drink.

Excellent perfume. I don’t fully understand the hate it receives, maybe because of the price, its mass appeal, or because people review dupes. I agree with user Fetch’s review. Surprised by the performance, given the very bad reviews, depending on the person, but in my late 2024 batch F002426, it lasts and projects like a beast, even the next day after a shower you can still smell it, which also happened with the tester at the perfumery. A scent that will never go out of style and is addictive to wear, very natural, balanced, and soft. The quality of Creed is felt, and you have to pay for it. For someone who doesn’t truly appreciate perfumes, some of its multiple dupes might work, but it’s a gem for those who are passionate about fragrances. 10/10.

@JavierSantana, I have nothing left but to stand you up and applaud you.

I was surprised by how many people love it… I tested it at a store in my mall, and the disappointment was brutal. To me, it smells like cheap deodorant or a perfume for very old men, something known since the 80s with nothing special. Even when it dries down, it smells bad. For the price, it’s not worth it; there are cream deodorants that smell the same for a fraction of the cost. Creed has hits, but this is one of their worst.

@Gustavo1970, I think the formula is missing compounds. Which formula is the ACG you posted? On Fraterworks there are free formulas based on chromatography (including Millesime Imperial and Green Irish Tweed, without natural ambergris). There are discrepancies between them: one is a bomb of bergamot and fruity notes, another of fixatives like musks and Iso E Super. Pineapple probably carries Allyl Amyl Glycolate. It’s true they reformulate a lot, batch by batch, to create the false illusion of variations. That’s implausible; if that were true, they would change proportions, not ingredients.

It’s the undisputed king, buy it blind without a second thought. Anyone who says otherwise, don’t trust them. It’s expensive, but it’s worth it. You’ll surely hear complaints from dry-eyed jealous people; go for Club de Nuit instead. Creed Aventus is pure man, no nonsense.

I’m surprised they talk about an epic and masculine scent. It’s pleasant and long-lasting, but overrated. It’s not worth the price; if you want the same thing, buy Zara Vibrant Leather, it’s the same for a quarter of the Creed value.