Creed Imperial Review

Creed Imperial is a unisex fragrance conjured by master Perfumer Olivier Creed at the House of Creed, one of the oldest high-end perfumers in the world.  Creed Imperial was released in 1995 and is sold in millesime strength, as are virtually all Creed fragrances (this is comparable to an Eau de Parfum strength scent, providing greater concentration per ounce so the product lasts longer on your skin).

It is rumored that the Creed Imperial scent was originally created for one of the Kings in the middle east (with the King of Saudi Arabia being a favorite guess among fragrance collectors).  It falls into the citrus / floral family and will be preferred by those who like clean, bright fragrances.  Due to the crispness of the scent, though, it tends to fade from the skin within a few hours but lasts much longer when applied to clothing or fabric.

We think of Millesime Imperial as “crisp and rich”, a difficult combination to achieve but one which master perfumer Olivier Creed accomplishes with tremendous results.  We happen to have a slightly older bottle, which was entirely wrapped in gold foil (the newer bottles are clear with a gold label).  It seemed appropriate to wear it as we read railroad annual stockholder reports and collected dividends, so we snapped a picture of the bottle next to a share of stock we have framed in the office, which you can see at the top of the article.

Creed Imperial Fragrance Notes

The fragrance notes in Creed Imperial are as follows:

• Top Notes: Crisp fruit notes, sea salt
• Middle Notes: Sicilian lemon, bergamot, mandarin, Florentine Iris
• Base Notes: Musk, woody and marine notes

If you don’t understand the difference, read our article explaining top notes, middle notes, and base notes.  Personally, we don’t experience a lot of the base notes when wearing Creed Imperial Millesime.  They are far less noticeable than they are in a fragrance such as Creed Bois du Portugal, where they dominate.

Rich and Famous Creed Imperial Clients

Some of the well known celebrities, executives, world leaders and stars who have worn Creed Imperial include:

• Pierce Brosnan
• Harrison Ford
• Nikki Taylor
• Eva Herzigova
• Andrew Agassi
• Sean Combs (P. Diddy)
• Usher
• Carson Kressley
• Glenn Close
• Jennifer Lopez
• Justin Timberlake

Creed Imperial Prices and Sizes

As of today, you can buy Creed Imperial in several sizes and price points.

• 1 ounce / 30 ml travel bottle of Creed Imperial – Retail: $130.00
• 2.5 ounce / 75 ml bottle of Creed Imperial – Retail: $225.00
• 4.0 ounce / 120 ml bottle of Creed Imperial – Retail: $270.00
• 8.4 ounce / 250 ml flacon bottle of Creed Imperial – Retail: $350.00

The larger 8.4 ounce bottle of Creed Imperial offers the best value on a per ounce basis but requires an refillable atomizer, which must be purchased separately.

More Details About Millesime Imperial by Creed

The 8.4 ounce / 250 ml flacon bottle of Creed Imperial is the best value for your money.  At $350, it represents a cost of only $41.67 per fluid ounce.  It works by pouring the liquid fragrance into an atomizer, which you can purchase from many designers or the House of Creed itself.  It may even be possible if this is your “signature fragrance” to call the Creed Boutique and special order a bottle twice as large (17+ ounces) for a bit more money, providing even more savings.  It would take years to get through that much fragrance.

The 4.0 ounce / 120 ml bottle of Creed Imperial is the standard preferred size if you enjoy this scent.  In fact, the bottle sitting on my desk as I write this review is of this variety.  At $270, it retails for $67.50 per ounce.  Given the pedigree of the perfume house and the quality ingredients, this is still a bargain.

The 2.5 ounce / 75 ml bottle of Creed Imperial is a second popular choice and at $225 per bottle retails for $90 per fluid ounce.  Given the lower price, I prefer the larger 4 ounce bottle but for some, this is a better choice.  Like with other Creed scents, if ingredients become scarce, it is possible Olivier Creed will only release 2.5 ounce bottles and not 4.0 ounce bottles until production can once again be increased.  (This is happening with Bois du Portugal at the moment.)

The 1 ounce / 30 ml travel bottle of Creed Imperial retails for $130 per ounce.  There is no way that price can be justified on a per ounce basis.  Instead, buy a larger size and decant your own scent into an atomizer to save money.  We do not understand why anyone would purchase a bottle of this size, especially if they enjoyed the fragrance.

Where You Can Buy Millesime Imperial by Creed

Creed fragrances, including Millesime Imperial, can be purchased at fine retailers throughout the world.  In the United States, this includes Bergdorf Goodman, Saks, Halls, and Neiman Marcus.  You can also order online from the official Creed Boutique, which operates a store in New York City.

You should note that Creed controls its distribution model tightly.  You cannot buy Creed fragrances at a discount.  The only way you will ever see a bottle of Creed selling for less than retail is if it is 1.) counterfeit, 2.) past its shelf life date and department stores won’t sell it for the sake of their reputation, or 3.) used.  Really.  We promise – it just isn’t possible and you will probably be cheated out of your money if you try to be clever.

The Official Scent Description for Creed Imperial

This light and invigorating scent for men and women evokes the citrus groves and lush landscape of a seaside palace in Sicily. As versatile as it is beautiful, CREED Imperial Millesime can be worn by men and women for any occasion, from corporate suite to evening out.

A scent for persons of stature, Millesime Imperial is famed for its golden look and feel that fit perfectly with the Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony, a reason for this fragrance’s lasting popularity with the world’s top entertainers, male and female. Imperial Millesime is literally the gold standard in fragrance.

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