Olivier Creed hits fresh notes with the tones of yesteryear
The first words suave Parisian Olivier Creed says when we meet are “Et voilà, it is finished.” He produces a small glass vial of his new scent and, with a flourish, uncorks it for our delectation.
Olivier Creed is a direct descendent of James Henry Creed, who founded the fragrance house, one of the most highly regarded in Paris (and therefore the world), in London in 1760.
Although the business moved to the French capital in 1854, it is still perceived as English in France. And it remains independent – remarkable in an era when the franchise rights to designer aftershaves are bought and sold so regularly.
Under Olivier’s control, Creed has continued to produce cologne of a ludicrously high quality, with little regard for the startling cost of ingredients such as Haitian vetiver, Bulgarian rose, Sicilian bergamot and Indian sandalwood.
Original Vetiver is the first new aftershave from Creed since Himalaya was launched two years ago. Like many of Olivier’s scents, it smells green and fresh, but it settles with rounder notes of sandalwood and ambergris. His first fragrance, created 30 years ago, was equally fresh, but bombed in that era of heady musks.
Now, the nose of this créateur (what a job title!) – who was a painter, textile designer and skier before he was a perfumer – is chiming nicely with the current mood. In his words, “This is my taste: light, distinguished and very green. It’s more contemporary.”
From Esquire Magazine June 2004