Viking by Creed

My wife’s Christmas present. Something unexpected where, when you open it, you intuit something is happening. Like a well-forged axe in leather: sober on the outside, brutal on the inside. On my skin, Viking feels like a boarding action. First, pink pepper, sharp, vibrant, almost electric, with green absinthe, bitter and wild. No Old Spice or nostalgic barbershop here. There is cold wind at the prow of a drakkar. A perfect reinterpretation of a modern fougère: it respects the classic but pushes it forward, like Vikings with their limits. It evolves with character, nuances appearing and disappearing like changes of course. It is not linear or comfortable, and that is why it hooks. The surprise wasn’t the packaging, but enjoying it day after day. Viking does not seek to please everyone nor beg for compliments. It places you in another mental position: back straight, gaze forward. Might. Quiet authority. You wear something that needs no explanation. I don’t know if others will smell it or if compliments will come. But like a good northern warrior, Viking is not made to please: it is made to conquer.

What a man’s perfume! That vintage-elegant opening is top-notch, though the dry-down is better. Goes with a shirt, blazer or linen; perfect for heat or the office. For a made man. Should say on the box: ‘Not suitable for minors’ or ‘Keep out of reach of children’.

Creed Viking: Discreet potency, questionable price. With a fresh summer morning (10°C at dawn), I put on Viking. Instantly, a vibrant explosion of pepper and clove. Potent spiced but not piercing, with undeniable presence. A subtle sweetness, I suspect tonka bean. What intrigues is the aniseated touch of absinthe, mysterious and liquorish, far from the conventional. However, perhaps due to my skin or compared to other notes, the absinthe feels a bit lagging, not quite leading. The paradox of mastery and value: it is a round and masterful perfume, without edges, fluid and consistent. This balance elevates it to the ‘league’ of exceptional perfumes. But here arise the comparisons. There are proposals at much lower prices with comparable or superior mastery, such as Serge Lutens Poivre Noir or Montale Intense Pepper. In fact, these two, along with Trussardi Walking in Porta Venezia, I like more than Viking. Moreover, houses like Serge Lutens are more ‘honest’ in declaring key notes (pepper, cedar, nutmeg), without adornments. Creed, although declaring other nuances in Viking, does not perceive them so clearly on my skin. Perhaps with more uses or maceration they may reveal themselves, but for now, that lack of transparency adds to the feeling that, for its price, it should offer more clarity. Distinctive character and robust performance: what attracts me most is that it steps out of the mainstream. It does not seek to be the centre of attention with bombast like the Spicebomb. It does not need to, because its presence and aura captivate naturally. It embodies the elegance of discreet strength, of one who knows their worth without boasting. The performance is notable: I perceive that ‘English pepper’ spiced, almost gelid and potent, all day on skin, speaking of exceptional longevity. The expectation of niche pricing: with Viking, Creed goes beyond the ‘politically correct’ or its best-sellers like Aventus. It shows raw but refined brute force, bold masculinity without adornments, and they have achieved it. However, it happens to me as with Aventus Absolu: intrinsically I expect a 300€ perfume to have an ‘extra’ that distinguishes it and justifies the price. But just as with Absolu before falling in love with the ridiculously affordable Afnan SNOI, that ‘extra’ does not materialise. Viking is a statement of character, an invitation to adventure with feet on the ground. It is a great perfume, yes, but its high price elevates my expectations, and in that aspect, Viking remains in the drawer of the dispensable for me.

Creed Viking stands out for a fresh, revitalising and energising explosion. I detect pepper, bergamot, lavender, mint and a barely perceptible rose that harmonises. Probably it is the freshest manly smell I have ever smelled, my favourite from this house. It is slightly mature; I would say if you are over 30 rather than 20 you can use it, especially if you are going semiformal. Quite good longevity: I put it on today at 9:00 a.m. and at 5:30 p.m. I still smell it on clothes. Moderate trail. I highlight that it is an uncommon smell and I recommend trying it on skin or clothes, not buying blindly, as it sets itself apart from most.

I’ll sum it up in two words: blended fougère. The opening is very clear with pink pepper, citrus, and a sparkly spicy mint, but after five minutes the real magic begins: a blend of myrrh and lavender with a white musk and a watery, spicy rose that is nothing like a fleshy scent; think Toy Boy. Power and longevity are good; the opening is sharp and lasts eight hours on my skin. What surprises me most is the compliments; I thought it was for personal use only, but every time I go out, at least two people tell me ‘that smells delicious’, which adds extra points.

Men only, nothing for children accustomed to sweet or effeminate styles. It is a modernised, timeless fougère for men of any age. The opening is strong, sparkly, and has a touch of pipe tobacco even though it’s not listed in the notes. Soon the lavender harmonises everything, creating a clean, floral elixir that is a masterpiece with a harmony never seen before. It is so unique that it is hard to categorise; without doubt it is the most masculine of Creed, with the exception of the legendary Bois du Portugal.

The only nice thing is the bottle and the colour; the aroma smells like 1970s Old Spice, with strong clove and pepper and citrus touches. I wouldn’t gift it; better to sell it in decants. I see it as ideal for people aged 60 or over: it smells like a well-bathed, perfumed grandfather.

It is strong compared to other Creed fragrances, but it feels natural. I heard the citrus in the first few hours and I am surprised by the longevity, something Creed does not usually highlight. What stands out most after a couple of hours is the clove and pepper: simple notes and not particularly unique.

Very acidic and vintage citrus. They got the name Viking right because it is an old smell, like disinfectant barber shop lotion.

Creed has jewels like Royal Oud or Himalaya… but frankly, this, for the price, offers terribly poor performance that the ‘pleasant’ scent does not compensate for. For me, it is a no. In this case, the DUA version, although less ‘refined’, is a much better option if you like the aroma.

Why all the fuss with SpongeBob? If you don’t like the performance or the chords, sell it; someone else will surely love it. There’s no point in buying expensive perfumes blindly, is there?

They compare it to synthetic, flat Old Spice, but for me Viking is one of Creed’s best, alongside Green Irish Tweed. On my skin it lasts forever, Viking even longer, with a brutal projection and a delicious scent. Of course, it’s not something to buy blindly and it’s quite mature, just like me.

To me, it’s an absolute classic with an old-school vibe that evokes a cultured man, well-dressed, aged between 40 and 50, good-natured yet solitary and a bit dull. It smells shy, has poor longevity, and lacks projection. It opens fresh and acidic, then gradually fades to reveal pink pepper in the mid-notes. Drying down, it’s sandalwood, patchouli, and lavender. Does it smell good? Yes. Does it stand out? No. I agree with @blackened: it adds nothing special, and its performance is insulting for the price, as @drakecito says. It’s like Creed in perfumery: the iPhone. They became famous and now inflate prices regardless of quality. Just because influencers claim it’s the eighth wonder doesn’t mean people should buy it blindly. I believe there’s coherence here, and one must know how to shop. I have perfumes that don’t last long but smell incredible, and others that project massively but don’t smell as good. This is neither. Given the cost, I could build a wardrobe of infinitely better options.

Despite the criticism, it’s wonderful. The only drawback is the price. It’s an all-rounder, very long-lasting (8–9 hours with projection up to 1–2 metres). I’d classify it as retro-modern, pleasant, and high quality. Seven or nine sprays are enough for the whole day.

The best Creed perfume, tremendous aroma, and it projects and lasts the longest. Anyone claiming it doesn’t last or project simply doesn’t own it or hasn’t tested it properly. This fragrance is insane. The only downside is the price.