Kredo by Nishane

I’d never heard of this fragrance until I tried it. Upon application, it immediately reminded me of Tom Ford’s Oud Wood. They’re not identical, of course, but something connects them: without trying, my brain linked them. I thought, ‘This is like an elevated version of Oud Wood’. The opening is strong with a prominent oud that soon softens, gaining a subtle hint of sweetness, nothing gourmand. I imagine the faint sandalwood and osmanthus polish the scent, with the suede playing a secondary role. It’s as if Oud Wood is a refinery and Kredo is that same refinery surrounded by gardens and flowering trees. I was considering replacing my Tom Ford, but it will be Kredo that stays in my collection.

The suede, with hints of oud and sandalwood, are the protagonists here. It is a balanced, long-lasting fragrance with good projection; a good perfume.

An excellent fragrance that smells like a ‘proper man’. The opening can be shocking, especially for those around you xD. As it dries down, it becomes more pleasant, slightly sweet, and has something special that attracts and invites people to get closer… It is the daddy of Carven Oud in terms of aroma and performance. It’s not for young people, but it doesn’t smell overly mature either; it’s a futuristic take on the Kouros concept (they don’t look alike, but that’s the idea). That said, it requires good clothes. I had it, let it go, and now I miss it ;( haha

Tom Ford Oud Wood, lightyears away, nonsense. Not even remotely similar… I’m sorry, comparing them is an insult. This scent is fresh and animalic at the same time: the pepper and spicy fresh osmanthus, and that suede with oud on the verge of being faecal are wonderful. I’m sorry, but my nose says ‘no’ to the similarity with TF. Careful! I love and adore TF OW, but on my skin and nose, they are nothing alike. Applied on each arm, they are day and night.

This perfume has two very contrasting stages: the opening and the dry-down, although its evolution isn’t overly complex. It starts with a potent oud with animalic nuances, nothing faecal, which can be alarming at first, but as it settles, it recedes behind the other notes, giving them weight. It’s as if the oud disappears, yet all the notes remain influenced by it. I wish that characterful opening lasted longer. The cardamom and pepper add brightness, while the osmanthus appears tart, complementing the oud with a green olive note that later becomes more fruity and floral as it dries. The suede gives it a leathery touch, making it more masculine. I can’t distinguish the sandalwood separately, but the rest of the notes are clear. What starts off challenging ends up being very enjoyable, with bright, energising woods, elegant yet original. It is often compared to Tom Ford’s Oud Wood, but to my nose, Nishane has more character in all its facets, more complex, exclusive, and niche, especially at the beginning. It suits all climates, though it prefers intermediate seasons; I have worn it in both heat and cold and it always works well. I recommend it for semi-formal or casual wear where you want to smell different. For me, who changes perfume daily, Kredo would be my signature scent this year. It projects well for the first hour, then fades and stays close to the skin. If you apply more, its performance improves significantly, like almost all perfumes. The good thing is that, in my case, it doesn’t saturate if you apply more. Moderate longevity; I miss a few hours of staying power, but it isn’t poor.

Kredo is a beautiful woody scent. Although the opening hit me a bit hard and that leather note is quite challenging, I end up enjoying it immensely. It begins with fresh cardamom, then highlights a clean oud alongside osmanthus, which adds a light, sweet floral touch, all over a sandalwood base that reinforces that sweet, fragrant wood sensation. I find it unisex, elegant, clean, and very versatile for different temperatures. It has moderate sillage and lasts over 12 hours. Perhaps it didn’t make me fall in love enough to buy the bottle after trying a decant, but it is a great perfume among the woody ones I have tried. Decant from @Mithrandir. Scent 7/10, Longevity 10/10, Sillage 8/10, Value for money 6/10, Versatility 7.5/10, Packaging 7.5/10. Would I buy again? No.

I’ll start with a brief historical review of style-defining perfumes. Tom Ford has been a pioneer in currents like Oud Wood, Tuscan Leather or Tobacco Vanille. With Nishane Kredo, we find a new interpretation of Oud Wood, of course, with the brand’s oriental touch. It starts with suede, sandalwood and cardamom that balance out. The special thing is that oriental touch; if you pay attention, you distinguish a slight floral. It remains fairly linear. If you compare it with Thameen’s Carved Oud, Blend Oud’s Oud Al Emarat or Amouroud’s Sunset Oud, this one is brighter and less woody, giving that medium sweet-spiced touch that makes it an enigmatic velvet. Good trail for the first hour, then it stays in a pleasant, seductive personal bubble. Correct longevity, between 8 and 9 hours. It’s a mature, masculine fragrance, for elegant dressing. It’s versatile, I recommend it all year round, perhaps not for extreme heat. For people over 30 who value quality, style and presence over pyrotechnics. Scent 8.5/10 Trail 8/10 Projection 5/10 Longevity 5.5/10

A spectacular oriental fragrance, a true wonder among my favourite Nishane scents. I wouldn’t recommend it blindly, but it smells a bit like Initio’s Oud for Greatness, which is a 10/10.