Himalaya by Creed

Few ingredients for a masterpiece perhaps eclipsed by the popularity of its brother Aventus, but undoubtedly as (or more) enjoyable in any occasion and at any time. After a delicious citrus opening typical of its DNA, everything flows smoothly; the sandalwood is masterfully balanced with the citrus to the point where I seem to detect an undeclared vetiver, possibly a mirage, but I’m impressed by the similarity to some Roja Dove compositions, characterized by their excellence. After 4 hours, it dries into a fine woody-musky note reminiscent of Amouage’s Reflection Man, but less soapy and intense… an authentic delight from start to finish, with correct projection and sufficient longevity. Himalaya is a hit even in a blind buy; a clean, easy-to-wear, and incredibly elegant scent that’s impossible to get bored with and that everyone should enjoy at least once. I don’t think I’ve enjoyed any dry-down more than with this Himalaya from Creed; it’s simply memorable. With others, we reach 6-7 hours as a shadow of what they offered at the start, but with Himalaya, after applying a small amount to the forearm, the real good stuff begins: an amber delight that needs no further arguments to rank among the greats, aiming for the top, where only the best creations have a place.

Himalaya reminds me a lot of Paco Rabanne’s XS (1994), which in turn recalls Adolfo Domínguez’s Agua Fresca (1993), so ultimately it smells very much like that last one from AD. Domínguez’s was created by Ramón Monegal, while Rabanne’s was by Rosendo Mateu, so it’s not surprising that it’s inspired by AD’s; in fact, they share a lot of their pyramid. XS is less sharp and slightly more herbal. Himalaya is more refined than XS, with a rich woody, musky, and amber base. The longevity on my skin is brutal, lasting over 10 hours even above 30 degrees. It doesn’t project much; it’s more of a personal bubble for 2-3 hours, then about 10 cm on the skin for another 3-4 hours, close to the skin. It’s pleasant, widely liked, versatile, and dresses well; it’s the classic that can be a great signature. Its main drawback is that it’s not exclusive, and like all Creeds, I think it’s overpriced. Au revoir.

It starts with fairly natural and balanced citrus, especially the Sicilian lemon (though not as natural as in Annick Goutal). I also thought I smelled neroli. At 5 hours, the sandalwood and a salty sensation from the ambergris are clearly noticeable; here it feels right, unlike Dior’s Sauvage, which I didn’t like. At 10 hours, it’s a musky sensation with soft sandalwood. At 12 hours, just residual musk and cedar. With the 1 ml sample, the trail was heavy-moderate for the first 3 hours, then moderate for the next 3, and the last 6 hours were skin scent. It’s a soft oriental-woody fragrance, ideal for spring and daytime wear. Supposedly the heart is sandalwood, but I didn’t feel it was impactful; I prefer the sandalwood in Chanel, where it has more personality; here it’s very shy.

I agree with Juancar: Himalaya, along with Silver Mountain Water, is one of Creed’s best in terms of scent, longevity, and sillage, thanks to that potent sandalwood and musk base where cedar and citrus cling for up to 12-13 hours. It’s more masculine, easy to wear, refreshing, and icy. Without pretensions or flashy notes, it creates a rounded, high-quality composition with just four simple notes. It’s worth paying for a Creed if you and your skin are meant to carry it; if it suits you, people will fall in love with it and point you out wherever you go. Definitely worth trying. In my case, Himalaya or Erolfa are brutal in their simplicity, while Green Irish Tweed smells like a poolside outfit. Undisputed quality. 9/10.

My take is that it has very familiar notes, but they’re masterfully composed to achieve so much. It’s all-terrain and elegant like few others. The person’s pH always decides if it’s better or worse. For me, it hasn’t failed at social events or during free time; French friends even praised it. The real test is that I repurchased the 120 ml bottle. My only complaint is that it’s pricey for a longevity that’s good at skin level and depends on the wind. After testing niche fragrances over 400 euros, I’ll keep my mouth shut. You have to find the value-for-money within what your pH accepts; that’s success, like wine you enjoy. What you like is good; the unreachable stuff is in other galaxies.

Timeless Joy, vibrant, and versatile. It’s a superlative freshness that works even in winter. It’s therapeutic and changes your mood. The opening is almost medicinal, mentholated like the 80s sports spray, then it dries down to woody and musky without losing its freshness. The gunpowder note at 15 minutes gives it a crazy edge. It shares similarities with XS EDT, but this one smells more generic and vintage; here, the quality is palpable from the start. XS is more fugue-like and green, while Himalaya is frozen nature. In short: ‘Frozen Nature’. Ideal for cold winters. An alternative to Platinum Egoïste. Total buy.

Clean, citrusy, and soapy scent with an 80s vibe. Probably won’t appeal to anyone under 30, not because it smells bad, but because it evokes old-school barbershops. I detect citrus, lavender, and musk; I don’t smell sandalwood or ambergris. It has personality and elegance, but I struggle to rate it as niche because it reminds me of designer perfumes. Great for spring/summer, daily wear, with average longevity and projection. It polarizes opinions: to me, it’s one of Creed’s weakest, though I know others love it. All in all, respectable.

Many people immediately think of Creed’s Aventus, which is good but loses exclusivity. Himalaya is far more exclusive because very few know about it. It offers a 360-degree twist on the familiar and is rarely imitated. If Aventus has masculinity, Himalaya surpasses it by being bolder. My advice: try all of Creed’s hidden gems before buying Aventus; it might be the one for you. I give it 9/10 for being extraordinary and unique. WARNING: always test on clothes and skin before buying, not all scents work for everyone.

I had high expectations, but for me, it was a disappointment. You don’t smell this on just anyone because of the exclusive price, but honestly, it doesn’t seem good to me. Some people might feel powerful because of the price tag, not the fragrance itself. That said, the packaging and bottle are top-notch; I’d give it 5 out of 10. When people ask me and don’t know it, I tell them they’re not missing much.

Citrus, sandalwood, and white musk for people with a refined sense of smell. Top quality and very well-balanced, with a subtle trail… but it doesn’t smell like Himalaya, ice, cypress, or Buddhist temple incense. Too much sandalwood (fortunately it fades), which overwhelms my brain and reminds me of Zara, even if it’s natural. A good perfume, but lacks complexity for the price. Not for me.

Creed Himalaya is fresh yet cool, clean with a distinctive touch of sandalwood. It has a vintage vibe but remains timeless, sublime quality, and versatile for many occasions. I really liked it: it’s simple yet full of style and elegance, exuding class. Worth every penny for the sensory experience. Recommend it so you can draw your own conclusions.

Creed’s crack fragrance, no wonder it’s the most copied house in history. Fresh, perfect for the heat, just putting it on makes me feel refreshed (or maybe it’s a great placebo playing tricks on the mind). Moderate longevity and projection, like all Creed scents and any fragrance with so many natural ingredients, it just delivers.

It gives me a headache and feels suffocating; smells like powdered soap and sandalwood. I don’t detect the citrus at all—it feels very cold, like a steel iron. Still, I absolutely love it: it’s rich, charming, timeless, and impeccably high quality. Scent 7.5/10, Price 3/10, Projection 7/10, Longevity 7/10.

It’s an elegant, non-intrusive fragrance that knows how to shine in many occasions. Although its components are simple, they’re combined brilliantly, and you can tell the essences are top quality; from the simple, something great is perceived. Truly magnificent.

Smells similar to Green Irish Tweed but without the fresh forest notes; the sandalwood is very prominent, and the bergamot makes it citrusy, fresh, and delicious. If you’re looking for a spring and summer perfume, I recommend it.