Spice and Wood by Creed

In my opinion, Creed Spice & Wood is the closest representation to the English style: elegant, sophisticated, and with that good taste that always stands out in their bespoke suits. I find it very herbal from start to finish, with that cold green, like a rainy and fresh winter. Suddenly, the secondary notes appear in harmony: a delicate and fine iris that marks its territory without imposing, aromatic and elegant cedar, and bergamot that smells like freshly cut peel. It’s extremely aromatic, herbal, and of exquisite freshness, similar to a pine, comforting and serious. To my taste, it’s of adult cut, not lordly, but for men and women with great personality who give it the appropriate presence. It’s not for any situation, but for important events. Very classy, it could be James Bond’s perfume. Creed shows its superior level in raw materials; it’s olfactory luxury and an imposing creation that demonstrates quality costs. Magnificent, although only for a select audience or those willing to pay the high price. Scent: 11/10. Projection: just over 2 hours. Longevity: 7 hours. Recommended (if you can afford it).

Absolute stunner. It’s in my top 10. Yes, it’s expensive and quite so.

I think it’s one of the best perfumes I’ve tried. It’s true that the trail, after three sprays, doesn’t generate a force field around you, but why is that necessary? It seems we want to smell it constantly; that’s fixed if others wear it or we dab it on a handkerchief to smell whenever we wish. What interests me is to smell like this without invading spaces, without shouting. If someone comes close, they’ll know what I want to smell. I don’t shout, I don’t yell. I understand that people pay to be heard loud and clear, but that’s not my case; I pay for only those who are attentive to hear me.

We went hunting today. I’m going to explain why Spice & Wood is one of the best perfumes created, or at least accessible today for those who have the money. But first, a complaint about Creed: I don’t have a good relationship with them. For quality and beauty they should have more in my collection, but I only have two: this one and Erolfa (I hate that name). The reason is that I don’t tolerate lies. Creed is a great lie about its origins, its legacy, and Oliver Creed. I understand that brands use myths, like Rolex with its sports watches, but appropriating formulas and selling them to an investment fund is over the top. Back to the perfume: there are thousands of fragrances, but some give the ‘twist’. Spice & Wood starts soft with dark apple and pepper, but instead of being sweet, it smells like a luxury barber shop and elegant. Then the twist appears: it brings out spices and cedar towards a soft woodiness, almost creamy, like candied wood thanks to the musks. Creed’s musks are on another level, unique. It belongs to that select group that stands out in scent, originality, opening, and complexity. It’s a masculine gem, spicy and technical. Who created it? According to Fragrantica, Oliver Creed. Ja, ja, ja. If it wasn’t Pierre Bourdon or his disciples, I don’t believe it. A work like this doesn’t come from mean hands. Only a genius can do this.

Creed’s Spice & Wood smells frankly delicious, of excellent quality, very balanced and with presence, but I don’t think it deserves the 500 euros it costs. It opens with citrus and apple, which, unlike usual, are lifted by the heart and base notes, which stay present and become dense with birch wood or clove (the latter being most noticeable), giving it a dark, creamy, sweet, and perfectly balanced character. The evolution is linear but needs nothing more; it’s a rich, unisex, refined, and versatile scent with good performance on skin (you must test it on skin; it changes significantly from paper). Said all that, I’d be happy with it, but I think it’s better to look for similar or better alternatives before spending such a fortune on 75ml of something delicious but not irreplaceable, although I respect immensely those who believe it is. Note: 9.5/10 for the scent, 7/10 for the price.

Gourmand scent? Exact copy of French Lover? 🤔… Spice & Wood is a perfume with very light spicy cedar, citrus in the opening, and a slightly sweet apple. The composition is very light, like a cologne. It’s classic-atemporal, the perfume your father would wear, neat. Does it smell good? Yes, but it’s nothing to lose your mind over. It’s not original and you feel you’ve already smelled it in other brands. It’s very watery-bodied, it lacks punch 🥊 and the performance is modest (and I’m being generous). 🖋 The fact that it accompanies apple doesn’t make it gourmand under any circumstance and has nothing to do with French Lover, which is very “herbaceous-spicy” with a distinguished character. Under construction, both “resemble” each other by having woods and spices in a classic cut, but in scent they are very different. Spice & Wood is very soft, refined, and light. Linear and elegant for daytime use. I think an option that surpasses it in performance and projection, following the atemporal line, would be a Royal Oud from the same brand (woody oud, not resinous, very aromatic, and cheaper). Another option: Cedre Blanc by Creed, with very marked cedar, fresh and clean at half the price. Spice & Wood could belong to the Acqua Originale line, but being “Les Royales Exclusives”, the price of over 500 dollars for 75 ml is hard to swallow. The presentation with a 10K gold bath and engraving is pretty, but in the end, the bottle… you’re not going to wear it hanging. Dry down: 7/10.

This is incredible; it’s an exact copy of French Lover by Malle. I ordered samples and the Spice and Wood one interested me because of the name, which sounded great, and the good reviews, but I expected more. It’s basically an overdose of apple with a sweet and spicy touch, nothing special, and at that price, you’re left patitieso. I continued testing my samples and came across the F Malle one; I apply it and say: if it smells like SW by Creed! I look at the label and I wasn’t confused (besides, French Lover came with the original box from the house, very pretty, with the FM logo on dark brown, it opens like a matchbox with the 3.5 ml bottle, so surely they didn’t make a mistake). Are they twin brothers?? (try both if you can and you’ll see how true it is; it’s better appreciated on skin than on paper). Now, who copied whom? Spice and Wood came out in 2010, French Lover in 2007, so that’s said. If anyone wants to spend the over 400 dollars on a bottle of Spice and Wood, let them, but there’s a version with better longevity and a more reasonable price from Frederic Malle that’s worth it.

The title gives it all away; nothing surprising. It opens fresh with bergamot and lemon paired with a tart, sugared apple, very pleasant. Then the spices emerge: pepper, clove, and angelica, adding character and a kick. The iris is noticeable, a powdery, languid breeze, alongside a dominant cedar that dries and heats up this forest so much it feels slightly burnt and smoky from the birch. The moss and musk finish reads like a vegetable-tanned leather, lightly sweet and acidic. Honestly, the composition doesn’t seem anything special to me; the potency is light, and with an astronomical price tag, I don’t think it justifies the purchase. Rating: 5.5

I’ve just bought the special edition of 8 oz for 745 dollars and I don’t regret it, I love it so much. It’s exquisite, elegant, romantic, intoxicating, bewitching; when I wear it I’m a princess, I’m transported to a beautiful old castle, as if a string orchestra of violins, harp, and piano were playing, all its notes forming a beautiful melody that bewitches and enchants whoever perceives it. It’s like a fairy tale and queens. I know not everyone can afford it, but buy a sample to feel the beauty of this mysterious perfume. I bought it and gave myself this expensive gift; many criticised me, but I work hard and I deserve this charm. Life is only one.

Delicious! 😀 It’s truly exquisite. I don’t know how to describe it better, but everyone should try it and delight themselves with this scent. What a lovely perfume!