Wow. I’m about a few hours into my first tester of this and am pretty floored. Honestly, this doesn’t even smell like what I think of as cologne, it just smells good, like amazing incense. It took me about 15 minutes to put my finger on it, before I realized: cloves. Then, eventually, a hint of mint, a little licorice maybe? Something very much like being in a wood shop. Eventually something very warm and floral, almost soapy, comes out. Just a little.

If I had to conjure it in one image, I’d say, picture stumbling onto Cary Grant, in a tuxedo, sitting in the woodworking shop of a high-end furniture maker, eating the world’s best-smelling take out Indian food. It’s one of those fragrances that really can’t be done justice in words, but that’s kind of the references it evokes for me.

It also has a hard-to-define quality in the base that I’ve noticed in Royal Oud, too… a “thickness” or “fullness” that reminds me of smells like, say, chocolate, or jasmine, even though it smells like neither. But it’s got that sort of very round, satisfying, complex “natural” character underpinning it. [Edit: could it be rose?] The drydown brings it even closer to Royal Oud, albeit still spicier and more herbal.

I didn’t expect to like something called “Viking”, and certainly didn’t expect it to be this sophisticated.

As with all Creed’s best, the achilles heel is the price point. I would easily buy full bottles of my top few Creed favorites if it wouldn’t cost me in the 4 digits to do so. If I did that, this would absolutely be one of them. Unfortunately, though, as it’s only my 2nd or 3rd favorite, until I strike it rich I’ll settle for keeping a small decant around for an occasional treat.

EDIT: A day later, I can’t stop thinking about this scent. I can’t wait to try it again. I might eventually wind up dropping some serious coin on it after all.