The A-List Cologne: Is Creed Aventus Worth the Hype (and Price)?

My review on the fragrance that never goes out of style.

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It’s the cologne that is widely considered the gold-standard when it comes to a super luxury fragrance brand. But at upwards of $250 for a small bottle, is Creed Aventus really worth it? And what could it smell like for that price?

I’ve purchased this one for myself in the past (about 1 year ago) and have used it somewhat regularly – well, within reason since I don’t want to waste it.

Originally launched way back in 2010, Aventus by Creed has quickly become a bestselling cologne for men and a favorite among many fragrance snobs.

We all know the price is through the roof, so to speak, but the true standout feature of Aventus is its scent. From a high level, I find it to be a bold and masculine scent that exudes confidence and power.

The top notes of pineapple, blackcurrant, and bergamot give it a fresh and fruity opening that is both bright and inviting. As it settles, the middle notes of birch and patchouli come forward, giving it a smoky and woody character that is balanced by a touch of jasmine. The base notes of oakmoss, musk, and vanilla give it a warm and sensual finish that lingers on the skin.

Let’s breakout some of the notes, longevity, sillage, price comparisons and more below.

NOTES BREAKDOWN

Aventus has a pretty genius combination of notes that create a complex, layered scent that evolves over time on your skin. The sweetness of the pineapple and blackcurrant give way to the smokiness of the birch and patchouli, which is then balanced by the floral jasmine and finished off with the warm, sensual base notes. Here’s more of a deep dive:

TOP NOTES

Pineapple: A sweet and fruity note that gives the fragrance a bright and lively opening.
Blackcurrant: A tart and juicy note that adds depth and complexity to the scent.
Apple: A crisp and fresh note that adds a touch of sweetness to the fragrance.
Bergamot: A citrusy and slightly bitter note that adds a bright and invigorating quality to the fragrance.

MIDDLE NOTES

Jasmine: A floral and sweetly fragrant note that adds a romantic and sensual quality to the scent.
Birch: A woody and earthy note that provides a solid base for the fragrance and adds a touch of smokiness.
Patchouli: An earthy and slightly sweet note that adds depth and complexity to the fragrance.

BASE NOTES

Vanilla: A sweet and creamy note that adds a warm and comforting quality to the fragrance.
Musk: A warm and slightly animalistic note that adds a sensual and intimate quality to the fragrance.
Oakmoss: A woody and slightly earthy note that provides a solid base for the fragrance and adds a touch of freshness.

WHAT DOES AVENTUS REALLY SMELL LIKE

As always, it’s so difficult to really convey what a cologne smells like when you’re just reading about it online. I’ve tried my best paint a picture to help describe what it truly smells like and a variety of different scenarios to help bring it to life for you.

Creed Aventus is a bold, masculine scent with a fruity, smoky, and woody character. Some scenarios I find to help bring the scent to life include things like:

A ripe, juicy pineapple with a touch of smoke from a grill or campfire.
The scent of a freshly pressed suit with a touch of leather and wood from an old wooden cabinet.
The smell of a high-end barbershop, with hints of citrus, wood, and musk.
The aroma of a luxury car interior, with leather seats, wood paneling, and a touch of sweetness from a vanilla air freshener.

How’d I do?

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST

Out of all the individual colognes I’ve reviewed, I’d say that the longevity of Creed Aventus is definitely on the higher side compared to all the others.

While things like climate, temperature, individual body chemistry (and more) can impact the longevity of a fragrance, I found Aventus to last upwards of 10 hours.

Hours

AVENTUS SILLAGE LEVEL

Aventus has a pretty strong sillage level. When initially applied, it has a strong, fruity opening that can catch the attention of those around you. As it dries down, the smokiness and woody notes become more prominent, creating a more subtle yet still noticeable scent.

Sillage Level:

STRONG

Remember, everything in moderation. You don’t need to go overboard with this one. Less is more as it’s pretty strong right off the bat.

THE PROS & CONS

WHAT WE LOVE

Complex and sophisticated scent profile.
Long-lasting fragrance, with an average longevity of up to 10 hours.
Well-balanced fragrance that is both fresh and warm.
Made with high-quality ingredients and blended by hand.

JUST A HEADS-UP

It’s definitely expensive – high cost compared to many other colognes.
Some people may find it too strong or intense for everyday wear, so it could be better to save it for some special occasions.

IF YOU LIKE AVENTUS, YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Tom Ford Noir Extreme

Bond No. 9 Greenwich Village

Kilian Black Phantom

Mancera Cedrat Boise

Yves Saint Laurent Y Eau de Parfum

CREED AVENTUS PRICE COMPARISON

There are a variety of sizes, but I specifically took a look at the most affordable option, which is their 1.70 ounce bottle.

CREED BOUTIQUE

$ 0

MACY'S

$ 0

NORDSTROM

$ 0

SAKS

$ 0

It’s always going to be really difficult to find anything from Creed on sale or “cheap.” Specifically with Aventus the most common price I found from the top retailers brings in the bottle at $365.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Let’s just call it like it is. The price point of Creed Aventus is undeniably high, which may be a deterrent for some and was something I was really hesitant about. Like, do I truly care enough about a fragrance to spend that much?!

However, for those who are willing to invest in a quality fragrance, I really think it’s worth the cost. The quality of ingredients and the craftsmanship of the scent justify the price tag, and the bottle is elegant and luxurious, making it a great addition to any cologne collection.

Personally, I use it and recommend it as a go-to for important events (read: weddings, date night, important meetings, etc). It also makes a great gift for special occasions and some of the most important people in your life like for Father’s Day, an anniversary milestone, something to gift your groomsmen – you name it.

If you’re willing to splurge a bit on yourself, I say go for it.

Aventus Cologne Editor Rating:

Rated 4.5 out of 5

WHERE TO BUY IT ONLINE

Patrick Varone

Patrick is the Founder, Chief Trends Editor, and overall fun guy of Trendsicle.com since 2006 (yes, really). He used his digital expertise to create and launch BestProducts.com for Hearst Magazines in 2015, was named as one of the "Top 100 Thought Leaders" by Folio Magazine, and has contributed original content to publishers like BestProducts, Brostrick, Giftsicle, The Wine Down Report, Harper’s BAZZAR, Esquire, Cosmopolitan, Redbook, and more. He's also the published author of The Manifestation Journal. Overall, he's been writing about and reviewing products since 2014.

The A-List Cologne: Is Creed Aventus Worth the Hype (and Price)?

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT

NOTES BREAKDOWN