House of
CREED
Founded in 1760, Creed is still considered the “Perfume House of Kings” today. In Vienna, these royal perfumes are available in their own flagship store.
Text:
JÖRG BERTRAM
Photos:
CREED
The fragrance “Aventus” is one of Creed’s signature fragrances.
Elegant ambiance: the interior of the Vienna Creed boutique.
The Vienna Creed boutique is located in the center, just a few minutes from
St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
Olivier Henry Creed runs the family business together with his son Erwin in the sixth and seventh generations
“Once upon a time,” fairytales begin this way and sometimes, so do almost fairytale-like success stories. Like that of James Henry Creed, an ambitious but penniless London tailor who, in 1760, had the brilliant idea to send a pair of perfumed leather gloves to George III for his coronation.
The incomparable scent – and the extraordinary gift – pleased the young ruler, thus beginning a long and close relationship between the House of Creed and the English court, eventually leading to Queen Victoria, the granddaughter of George III, appointing the then-young couture and perfume label as an official royal supplier. More than 250 years have passed since then, but the descendants of James Henry Creed still excel in creating and producing truly royal and absolutely unique fragrances.
Today, Olivier Henry Creed and his son Erwin lead the company, headquartered in Fontainebleau near Paris. Like their ancestors, both representatives of the sixth and seventh generations have not changed the elaborate production methods. Whether it’s Bulgarian rose, Italian jasmine, Haitian vetiver, or Indian tuberose – where other perfumers have long relied on cheap synthetic reproductions, Creed still uses only the finest natural ingredients from around the world. These are selected by experts on site, further processed in the family-owned factory, and finally filled by hand. No wonder many of the approximately 100 Creed fragrances are already considered legendary scent icons by connoisseurs and have been offered in unchanged compositions for decades
Among the absolute bestsellers are the fragrances from the traditional Aventus line, available in three versions: “Aventus Eau de Parfum” and “Aventus Cologne” for men, and “Aventus for Her” for women.
What sets them apart? Launched in 2010, “Aventus” presents itself as a masculine and charismatic scent with fruity berry nuances in the top note, smoky birch, earthy musk, and refined spice notes as sophisticated accents. “Aventus Cologne” represents an aromatic explosion of fruity-spicy accords with sandal-wood, vetiver, and patchouli nuances, giving the freshness of the scent unparalleled depth.
In 2016, “Aventus for Her” was introduced as a luxurious women’s fragrance, a feminine counterpart. With bergamot, apple, violet, and gentle pepper tones in the top note, it is invigorating and energetic. The heart of this elegant eau de parfum captivates with warm sandalwood, balsamic styrax resin, and powdery musk. In the base note, distinctive cassis facets, spring-like lilac tones, exotic ylang-ylang, and noble rose provide a floral rounding.
What connects the three Aventus fragrances despite their impressive individuality? A winged horse on the bottle, symbolizing dynamism, strength, and self- confidence. Additionally, “Aventus”, “Aventus Cologne”, and “Aventus for Her” share the distinctive bottle instantly associated by perfume lovers worldwide with the compositions from the House of Creed.
Whether “Silver Mountain Water”, “Royal Oud”, “Bois du Portugal”, “Millésime Impérial”, or the aforementioned “Aventus”: choosing one of Creed’s iconic fragrances places you in excellent company.
The iconic Creed crown adorns every cap.
Royal families and Hollywood stars, as well as style legends, are among the loyal clientele. King Charles III of England and movie legend Robert Redford, for example, share a love for thefresh classic “Green Irish Tweed,” while Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis never left home without the unisex classic “Royal Water.”
Another great love story is told by “Fleurissimo”, a perfume that Prince Rainier of Monaco commissioned for his wedding to Grace Kelly. After a five-year exclusivity period, the scent, composed of tuberose, violet, iris, and rose, went on sale and continues to delight many loyal fans. What did Emperor Franz Joseph and his Sisi smell like back then? Unfortunately, this can no longer be said precisely. However, it is certain that the court in Vienna was once among Creed’s loyal customers. In the heart of the Austrian capital, just a two-minute walk from St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Creed fragrances have been available in their own boutique since 2019.
The perfect opportunity to treat yourself to an olfactory delight during your next visit to Vienna and immerse yourself in the fascinating scent worlds of Creed.
Rich in tradition: Creed boasts a history of over 250 years and still counts crowned heads
and celebrated stars among its customers.
Every single Creed perfume is filled by hand.
CREED BOUTIQUE WIEN
Seilergasse 1, 1010 Vienna
tel: +43 (0)720 51 36 74
creedfragrance.com