History of Versace Cologne and Perfume

Gianni Versace opened the doors of his first store in 1978. Although it was an immediate success, Gianni had spent meany years prior honing his craft and becoming a respected member of the fashion industry. Born in 1946, the future fashion giant learned the basics of the trade, along with his siblings, from his mother, who was a moderately successful tailor in their hometown of Reggio di Calabria. He would eventually use his mother’s shop to sell clothes that he had designed, giving him the necessary foundations for his future success.

At the age of twenty-five, Gianni moved to Milan so that he could design clothes for Complice, Genny and Callaghan. His success in these endeavors encouraged Gianni to design his own signature collection for women (followed a few months afterward by a collection for men) at the Palazzo della Permanente Art Museum of Milan in 1978. This led to the opening of the aforementioned first boutique and the many more that would follow.

It would be four years before the Versace label produced a fragrance, but it, too, would lead to many future successes. Similar to the clothing, Versace perfume and cologne is meant to create an atmosphere of youth, vitality, and energy. The name is synonymous with sexiness, and Versace products are typically adopted by rock stars and supermodels because of their modern, urban flair.

Although Gianni Versace was murdered in 1997, the company continues to impress the fashion industry and its consumers with similarly impressive collections. This isn’t a surprise, however, since it is run by Gianni’s siblings and niece, who were already a major part of the brand. It is still privately run, although talks of going public have occurred on more than one occasion.

Types of Versace Cologne and Perfume

Bright Crystal is a mixture of Donatella Versace’s favorite fragrances. It’s a light floral blend that is perfect for the daytime, having hits of fruity fragrances. It contains notes of pomegranate, magnolia, lotus, peony, vegetal amber, and mahogany among others. The most frequently used word to describe this Versace perfume is “nice,” as it doesn’t break any barriers but it fulfills its purpose: modern femininity.

While Bright Crystal praised modesty, Crystal Noir is a perfume for women who want to proclaim their sexuality. Sometimes described as a “man-magnet,” this perfume contains notes of gardenia, amber, sandalwood, peony, and orange blossom to create an atmosphere of nighttime liaisons and unbridled energy. While this is not recommended for the work place, it is an excellent fragrance for more intimate and romantic occasions.

Versace pour Homme is a fresh, aquatic cologne for men. With notes of bitter orange leaves, Diamante citorn, bergamot, geranium, clary sage, blue hyacinth, cedarwood, mineral amber, tonka, oud, and musk, this is a fragrance that is reminiscent of the Mediterranean. This Versace cologne is meant for the professional, confident man. It’s main flaw, however, is its similarity to a countless number of other mens colognes.

Versace l’Homme is one of the original scents, but it is in no way outdated. Much more rugged than Versace pour Homme, this fragrance is best classified as a woody-oriental, although others might see it as being a leathery chypre. It opens with citrus notes and transitions into more sensual, masculine scents like cinnamon and cedarwood as well as some florals. Recommended for evenings or the ourdoors, it is one of the more rugged Versace colognes.

The Jeans collection is a rather interesting line. Sporting varieties for men and women, these cheap fragrances are surprisingly attractive. Although it would appear as though this collection is being phased out, you can still get your hands on them if you try hard enough. Although none of these would work very well in formal locations, they’re perfect for physical activities or errends, especially on the younger crowd.

James Henry Creed, the founder of the legendary perfume company that shares his family name, opened his first shop in 1760 within the heart of London. As most entrepreneurs will tell you, location (location, location) is everything, and the success of creed cologne and perfume is no exception. Close to the English aristocracy, the perfume and cologne quickly became the official supplier of fragrances for the royal court under the orders of Queen Victoria, a ruler synonymous with elegance and sophistication.

Continuing the long line of royal patronage, emperors and empresses like Napoleon and Eugénie of France, Franz-Joseph and Elizabeth of Austro-Hungary and Christina of Spain all used Creed cologne or perfume. At one point, it is said, all the palaces of Europe were filled with the beautiful fragrances put out by James Henry Creed and his descendants. By 1854, Creed relocated to Paris. Having served over ten royal houses, it established its reputation as a provider of the finest, most luxurious fragrances. As one of the hundred oldest family businesses in the world, Creed has been handed down from father to son, not only keeping its royal tradition intact, but also its familial traditions.

The current owner is Olivier Creed, who has maintained the tradition of his great great great grandfather. Not only has he produced numerous fragrances that are worthy of their brand, but he has done so using ancient techniques that are too often replaced by synthetics and factories these days. Not only does this mean that a Creed cologne is one of the best colognes available, it also means that it’s one of of the best colognes of all time.

It is for this reason that Creed perfume and cologne is still synonymous with success today. Used by royalty, public leaders, celebrities, the successful and fashionable, the brand is just as highly valued as a producer of luxury even today. Notable wearers include John F. Kennedy and Winston Churchill who wore Vetiver and Tabarome, respectively. George Clooney, Clint Eastwood, and Angelina Jolie have also been known to wear a Creed fragrance from time to time. These famous types of perfume and cologne worn by George Clooney and Audrey Hepburn, leaders and diplomats, kings and queens are simply symbols of success.

You can buy Creed cologne and perfume online, but it can also be purchases at a few physical locations as well. For now, it would seem, this highly respected company will remain within the family as the heir to the dynasty is already learning the business, and contributing to recent fragrances as well—which is definitely good news for us lovers of fine things, just like us at sensual perfume and cologne.

Types of Creed Cologne and Perfume

Green Irish Tweed is one of the most famous Creed colognes. This is the fragrance of the who’s who; countless numbers of famous names have sported this scent at one time or another. With top notes of lemon and verbena, middle notes of iris and violet leaves, and basenotes of ambergris and mysore sandalwood, this Creed cologne is a lightweight, elegant fragrance for any time of the day. While some people compare the smell to that of Cool Water (which came out three years afterward, but is more widely known), most will concede that Irish Tweed is in a league of its own, unsurpassed by the majority of modern colognes.

Millésime Impérial is another favorite, with notes of bergamot, green mandarin, iris and lemon. A strong competitor to Green Irish Tweed, Millésime Impérial is quickly becoming a bestseller. With a citrus-y beginning, the fragrance quickly turns watery and ethereal. Many people describe this as a tropical or marine fragrance, which mostly depends on the person’s frame of reference. The biggest gripe is that this cologne smells similar to Sean John Unforgivable.

Spring Flower is a perfume for the ladies. Created for Audrey Hepburn in the mid-eighties, it made its way to the public in 1996. Described as an ultra-feminine fragrance, this floral perfume contains notes of apples, melons and peaches, along with with rose and jasmine. It is now worn by many celebrities who want to carry on the long line of tradition exemplified by this floral perfume.

Virgin Island Water is a much more recent fragrance, first introduced in 2007. For men and women alike, the name of this unisex Creed cologne is really quite self-explanatory. Containing coconut toddy, mandarin, ylang-ylang, ginger, sugar cane, and white rum as some of its more dominant notes, it truly is like the Caribbean in a bottle. However, the general consensus on this fragrance is rather mixed. Many people have been off-put by its similarity to suntan lotions or sunblock, but others seem to love it.

When Jean Cocteau wrote of Christian Dior, he took care to mention that the fashion’s icon name “combines God (Dieu) and Gold (Or),” in a most beautifully serendipitous way. Cocteau, however, was obviously not familiar with this history of the Dior name, as its magical quality would have swiftly been replaced with irony. Before the name became synonymous with high fashion and luxury, it was actually associated with a relatively profitable fertilizer company (before it went bankrupt, anyway).

It would take many years for the Dior name to become synonymous with high fashion and quality perfume and cologne. The man made his way to the top by starting off as a sketch artist for women’s magazines, then as a pattern designer. While World War II would interrupt his ascension, it also served to be a blessing in disguise. When he finally opened a fashion house in 1946, he rose to prominence across the world for designing dresses that sharply contrasted the wartime styles everyone was used to; fabric was no longer something to be rationed in the eyes of Christian Dior.

The man was not simply interested in dresses, however. He was well aware of the importance of a fragrance for any complete outfit, calling it a “finishing touch.” With the launch of Dior’s first line came “Miss Dior,” a revolutionary fragrance mixing chypre and green floral accords. Following the tradition of less-is-not-an-option, Christian bottled his perfume in the best of materials (following an ancient tradition at the same time) that included crystal, gold, and quilted packaging. The war was over and it was time for the world to live in luxury once more, in a way that only French perfume could.

Adding to the feeling of elegance associated with his womens perfume (now including Diorama, Eau Fraîche and Diorissimo along with Miss Dior), the fashion legend made sure that people would have to go to the finest of locations to buy Dior perfumes: elegant hotels, luxury stores, etc. The man’s strategy was sound, because he instantly became a success, so much so that he considered himself “as much a perfumer as a fashion designer.”

The Dior brand would later include fragrance’s built for men with the introduction of Eau Sauvage in 1960, a fragrance that would be considered a perfume cologne for men or perfume for women, equally. Since then, Dior perfume and cologne has been a favorite amongst sophisticated socialites everywhere. Today, Dior J’adore, Dior Hypnotic Poison, Dior Miss Dior Cherie, Dior Midnight Poison. Dior Pure Poison, Dior Addict, and Dior Fahrenheit are some of its most popular brands in a long line of popular perfume and cologne.