Creed: Original Santal

If anything, this is a rather toothless sandalwood fragrance. It opens with a candied berry accord (one that is similar to that in Paco Rabanne XS Pour homme) that is supported slightly by a cooling (almost minty), aromatic lavender accord (I don't get the raw/herbal kind in this). The over-sweetness pretty much wraps up everything and you get traces of the tonka and vanilla in the dry down. Wait, where's the sandalwood?

I've regretted a few Creed purchases, this is one of them.

Death by sweetness.

Creed: Silver Mountain Water

Silver Mountain Water is fantastic for a fresh (not a favorite genre of mine) fragrance. I'm not particularly a fan of the citrusy opening, but I really enjoy the tea and black currant marriage, held together by a thin, slippery/silky-textured soap-musk accord (common in many Creeds) that sets it apart from many other designer citrus/fruity scents. This has to be one of the better contemporary releases from Creed.