Millésime Impérial by Creed

My aunt owns this; I thought it was a ladies’ fragrance as she’s the only person I know who wears it. The aroma simply delights me, especially that rich opening. The problem (in my opinion) is the very low longevity and super weak projection… and for the tremendous price it commands. That’s why my aunt kept nagging me when I sprayed it heavily without permission to see if it projected a bit more, hahaha (I was still a child… and this has been on the market for a while).

This is one of the fragrances I’ve considered buying the most; I lost count of how many times I passed the store and tried it on… what a problem, because I liked it… but the catch was always the longevity of a mere breath. Until I started researching and the result couldn’t have been better: Rush of Unicorns Intense by Parfums Vintage. Well, I received it recently and it’s very hard to distinguish from the original, except that it’s a projection and longevity bomb. This isn’t just any clone like the other two I have from them (Nio and L’Humaniste Frapin)… there is quality here for less than half the price, without needing to let the fragrance mature. Therefore, my advice to anyone like me who yearns for this fragrance is to go for this clone without hesitation. Interestingly, this one, which I just noticed, is one of the best-rated fragrances on Fragrantica. There must be a reason. I really hope this advice helps… for me, the problem now is moderating sprays without going overboard.

Brief Luxury: let’s be honest: Creed’s Millésime Impérial is outrageously expensive, lasts little, and projects very little. That’s the big ‘but’ of this fragrance. Now, the truth hurts: the aroma is simply delicious. It is the definition of cleanliness and tidiness. The opening is a vibrant citrus blast that quickly settles into a soapy, luxurious vibe. Then a subtle fruity sweetness appears (very timid) preventing it from being just a clean scent. It closes with marine and musk notes, making it super elegant, fresh, and classy. The Secret: as it doesn’t last on skin, I pulled a trick: I applied it to my clothes. The result? Hours later, when I no longer smelled it, two colleagues asked what I was wearing. The compliments saved it! My verdict: don’t lie to yourself, don’t spend the full price. Look for a good clone because the scent is a 10/10, but its performance doesn’t justify the price. Rating: 8/10 (just for the compliments).

Tested several times on skin and it’s drying. Lasts about 6 hours on clothes and 2 hours on skin but projects nothing unless you empty the bottle over yourself. If it were a perfume from Mercadona, it would be acceptable, but £295 for this? What a rip-off!

Creed is abusing their reformulations these days; you spray 20 times and your wife doesn’t notice it after 40 minutes 🤦🏻♂️. I hope this house breaks under corrupt leaders and abusers; it’s too expensive for the rubbish they offer.

I’ve been wearing this for months. It was created by Pierre Bourdon (who only signs Creed’s new fragrances). It’s the first Acqua Di Gio, featuring a pyramid almost identical to the original: citrus, fruit, marine notes, white musk, and woods. Out of everything I’ve tried from Creed, this is undoubtedly the weakest, despite the bottle looking very cheap. My advice: use it sparingly so the liquid opens up over the months. It’s an excellent perfume for this summer; I’ll wear it alongside Aventus and GIT. Edit: In retrospect, it’s one of Creed’s worst, a brand with a poor quality-to-price ratio and presentations that are an insult.

What a disappointment. It’s supposed to be an ultra-refined and exquisite perfume, but upon applying it to my skin, I barely notice anything. The longevity is minimal and the projection is non-existent. The scent sounds like a supermarket cologne. Perhaps it’s due to the cold, damp winter or my olfactory fatigue, but it just doesn’t work for me.

Millesime Imperial is the Tygar of Creed, and I’m surprised no one has said this yet. I wear Tygar in summer as my signature, and after trying this, I wouldn’t mind alternating them or switching. Tygar has become mainstream due to dupes and YouTubers, but here you have a perfect substitute without losing the Bulgari gem: realistic, refreshing, with intense blue brightness and a luxurious dry-down in fine woods and minerals. It has the same performance as Tygar, though Millesime seems slightly shorter in longevity (around 2 hours), but what a scent! It’s equally a winner for women, by far. Send them to therapy. Scent uniqueness 5/5, longevity 2/5, sillage 4/5, versatility 5/5, presentation 5/5, value for money 5/5. Suitable for office and party. Use in summer. Adult range. Unisex. Moderate atomisation. In short: ‘The Tygar of Creed’. Occasion: Summer by the coast. Alternative: Tygar. Blind buy: Yes. Total 4/5.

Smells like the Italian coast, being on a yacht in the Sicilian sea eating fruit, with the sea breeze on your face.

It’s a scent that, from the very first moment I heard it, I fell in love with. Creed is known for the quality of its ingredients when creating a fragrance. The first spray smells strongly of alcohol; after a few seconds, you already feel the first aroma; very fruity, with some iris and mandarin as the most prominent notes. After applying it to skin and clothes, you must wait a few minutes for it to develop its notes and reach good potency. After an hour or more, the trail increases and all the heart and base notes are felt. At this time, it is at its best. It’s a charming and easy-to-like scent; I recommend using 6 to 8 sprays between skin and clothes. It’s important to remember that it’s a Creed fragrance, and few know what it means when you wear one. It costs $470 on the website, which is quite expensive, but if you can afford it, it won’t be superfluous in your collection; besides, it’s very versatile and suitable for different occasions.

Second Creed perfume I absolutely love; with this brand, I either adore them or hate them. It smells like a breeze with sweet citrus juice. I have a decant of Bois 1920’s Insieme and it resembles it greatly. Based on what I’ve read about its sillage and longevity, I think the latter might be worth buying instead.

Of course, perfumery is personal… For me, Millesime Imperial by Creed is my favourite if we focus solely on the scent and set aside longevity or sillage. I have a large niche collection with perfumes I adore; among Creeds, I have Aventus, Aventus Cologne, VIW… Yet, every day I reach for this one in my drawer to smell and spray it, even if just a mist. It has become a very special scent to me. I’m of the opinion that a perfume must last, and this one doesn’t, nor does it make much of a presence. In the existential journey of finding the ideal perfume, you suddenly find something that, although it’s not exactly what you were looking for, makes you feel special and captivates you. You don’t want to let it go. It would be my signature if not for the price (understandable given the quality) and the longevity; it hurts having to reapply as if there’s no tomorrow. I wish it lasted longer; if it did, I’d sell part of my collection and buy only this. I’m tired of people speaking as if it’s divine law whether something is worth it or not. If you think that, great, but now respect others who have their own criteria. Is it worth it? Try it, ask yourself what you’re looking for, don’t let others guide you, and decide for yourself. If you need a perfume with heavy, noticeable sillage, this isn’t it, but if you want an intimate, beautiful cologne at a fair price, being aware that it lasts a mere breath, then for me, it is worth it. By the way, I also have Milestone, and if you smell them side by side, you’ll notice they share the same concept but have different endings. If you like Millesime Imperial, it’s fine to have it for everyday wear.

Personally, it’s neither citrus nor aquatic; I sensed it more as herbal, like freshly cut grass in a carrot patch. It’s fresh. It has that original touch that many lack; it’s not a mass-produced aroma. The only negative is the longevity of a maximum 1:30 hours close to the skin and the price. Scent: 8 Longevity: 6 Sillage: 6 Quality: 8 Price: 7

Well, in this world, everyone self-deceives and squanders their money as they please. Does it smell good? Yes, but nothing spectacular. Is it worth paying $300? Of course not; there’s nothing more to say.

It’s the same as Unforgivable by Sean John, which costs about $35; it’s not worth spending so much on this Creed. The only attractive thing is the bottle’s current gold colour.