Creed Royal Service: Review & First Impressions

My own sources at Creed advised me months ago to expect new releases by the end of the year. As time unfolded, we were advised that one of those would be a special 250th Anniversary Limited Edition with only 300 copies to be released, each signed by Olivier & Erwin Creed. Now that the press is out, we know that Creed Royal Service is that release.

The number of 300 has been confirmed, most of those likely to have been spoken for before they hit the shelves. The suggestion is that the fragrance — packaged in a unique, hand-blown bottle of 200ml — is more a collectible than something to be subject to daily wear. I’d certainly speculate that the price point alone ($1,750) is enough to detract the casual wearer and leave it to the domain of the very serious fragrance aficionado. Most of us won’t be likely to smell this, let alone own or wear a copy.

As we all by now know, this site isn’t meant for “most of us”, but for the few who truly enjoy and appreciate fragrances and perfumes. With that in mind, we’ve obtained a sample to appreciate and experience before forming any opinion of the scent.

Creed Royal Service (2011): The newest Creed limited edition is a distinctly feminine fragrance, composed of core elements reminiscent of several other notable Creed classics, citing those worn by personalities from ranging Eva Peron to Michelle Obama, with British royalty counted in for good measure. As with all Creeds, it maintains a distinctly Creed-like signature in the organization, so there’s little dispute about this being an Olivier Creed creation, perhaps among his last as he transitions to the 7th generation (his son Erwin).

Although it might be argued as ‘unisex’ or ‘universal’, there aren’t many traditionally masculine notes as part of the composition, even amber being somewhat of a stretch. Unless you’re truly comfortable with a completely floral profile, this is less universal than imagined.

The top notes begin with grapefuit, bergamot and Mediterranean orange, which renders it as a very fresh and ephemeral opening. Fleurissimo and Love in White are cited as inspirations that share the notes, though not the entirety of composition. The heart unfolds as Iris, Neroli and daffodil, citing Fantasia de Fleurs as part of the overall template. Amber and musk complete the base of the composition, with comparisons to Ambre Cannelle and Fleur de Bulgarie as guides.

While the marketing material cites the celebrity known for each fragrance, the overall result is not simply an amalgam of all of these tossed together, but the key elements of each as compartmentalized and recombined. This begs the question of whether the whole is as great or greater than the sum of its parts, along with whether the end result is truly worthy of its price tag.

Using endurance/longevity as an indicator, the answer is no. Royal Service suffers much the same fate as most modern Creed scents in that longevity is lacking and usually dissipates between a six to eight hour time horizon (your mileage may vary). Projection is very mild, so this is more a fragrance to be enjoyed by the wearer and someone within intimate range of them. Sillage is nearly non-existent. Unlike the women to which the fragrance pays homage, this is far more timid.

When compared against other Creeds — specifically ones that are more heritage scents — this is more modern and thus very light. Despite that, it is a wonderful fragrance as it opens and unfolds into the florals and dries into the amber and lightly powdery musk. By the time that the overall fragrance has nearly dissipated, the floral heart is still so slightly detectable though not nearly as much as would be ideal for an eau de parfum. Especially one in this price range.

While not in the territory of Clive Christian No. 1 (about $17/ml), this is still quite expensive ($8.75/ml). However, it is also roughly half the concentration, so you can judge for yourself. Moreover, while not the most expensive fragrance in the world, it’s perhaps to be among the least available although given its components one might question why.

Each copy comes in a hand-blown bottle, which is numbered and signed by the perfumer. This doesn’t really justify the price point, in our view. The sheer rarity is a novelty, although the ultimate tests are both time and your own love for the scent: Time to see how the investment pays dividends as a collector; the scent is a more subjective measure, though it’s the only one we can use at the moment.

Rating: 3.75/5. Neutral. Foremost, this is a wonderful fragrance. Period. And while I genuinely appreciate the artistry, history, and craft given to each Creed creation, every perfumer has a chance of being hit-or-miss, few are ever 100% in the eyes of all. While the fragrance is lovely, even wonderful at times, it also misses the mark on key points of concentration and longevity. Neither the core components nor the bottle truly justify the price point ascribed to this. That it’s merely collectible will matter less if in five years the house decides to release a similar scent in wide distribution. Those considering a purchase for escalating collectible value likely know this and how long to hold their purchase (or whether to quickly resell it, which is also likely). And a glass decanter is sometimes just a glass decanter, ornamental or not. In the final analysis, one will likely decide whether this is a Creed worthy of a 250 year heritage in the way that Royal English Leather or Fleur de The Rose Bulgare have been elevated as icons in the collection.

This is no Royal English Leather. And while not bad, the proposition in a subjective sense for us as reviewers lacks substance. At a normal Creed price point, we feel it’s worthwhile as a fragrance though not the Creed we would most recommend.

At $1,750? It doesn’t hold much appeal.