If you’re like most people you probably associate Victorinox with pocket knives and multi-tools. For over one hundred years the iconic brand has supplied the world with the tools any adventurer needs. From boy scouts to soldiers, and soccer moms to soldiers, these products are used by millions of people each year. In fact, I use my own pocket knives and swisscards for various tasks throughout the day. Because of this constant association between the brand and the tools that made it famous, many remain unaware of the fact that the Victorinox brand has expanded into other industries.

One of these industries is, obviously, the perfume and cologne industry. One of the colognes produced under the Victorinox name is named (rather uncreatively) Swiss Army, and it is quickly becoming one of the most popular fragrances for men. You might ask why so many people would choose to buy their cologne from a brand not typically associated with luxury, but you would be answering your question with those very words. Men like to be men whenever they can, and many colognes simply aren’t geared for those barstool brawlers and wildlife warriors. Wearing a fragrance issued by the supplier of knives, however, isn’t sacrificing too much masculinity. If anything, it’s adding to it.

What man doesn’t want to buy mens cologne with the famous cross and shield stamped across it? It’s almost like spraying on pure testosterone. Got a hatchet? No. Got some beer? No. Got a twenty inch bicep? No. Got some Swiss Army Cologne? Yes. Okay we’re all set. Of course, the addition of the previous items would only boost your man rating even higher. And, while BO and dirt is the official scent of the wilderness, any movie will tell you that the real heroes don’t have this problem (and, as a result, probably have a bottle of Swiss Army stashed away in their rucksacks).

Speaking of heroes, Swiss Army will get you noticed. While you may not have the looks of Stallone, you can definitely amp up your attractiveness with this scent. Many reviewers have found Swiss Army for men to be one of their most complimented fragrances, and this is without the oversaturation that more popular colognes tend to reach, where their popularity is no longer attractive but merely tired and conformational. No; this scent will isolate you from the pack, and the ladies will be sure to notice.

Enough with the hyperbole though. I’m sure you’re really just interested in how the damn thing smells. You’re a man after all. Why should you have to read all this nonsense? Well, the general concensus is that this is a Green/Acquatic scent that smells fresh and minty. From the notes listed it seems as though the cologne is trying to replicate the smell of a brisk romp through the forest (Top Notes: Bergamot, Mint, Yuzu; Middle Notes: Edelweiss, Rosemary, Swiss Blue Genetian Flower, and Violet; Base Notes: Appenzell Fir, Cedarwood, Chestnut Firewood, Musk). You might obviously draw your own conclusions, however, and all of this depends on your own olfactory experiences and memories.

The most basic reviews of this cologne all state that this cologne smells clean and is cheap to buy. More negative reviews focus on the fragrance’s more synthetic qualities: something that only more experienced noses would be able to distinguish. In regards to longevity, some people say it lasts forever while others say it hardly lasts at all, which implies that this fragrance is just as susceptible to body chemistry as the next.

If I were to recommend a cheap cologne for a young man, this would probably be at the top of my list. It’s definitely a wonderful fragrance, but more worldly men who have been around for more than a few decades might find Swiss Army for men to be at odds with their personality. Indeed, this is for the young explorer who wants to impress a young gal or two; beyond that, its effectiveness is probably diminished. Of course, if you can pull it off as a signature scent then you should go for it. Just be sure to measure how other people react. Definitely best for day-wear, and probably not something to wear to work unless work is outdoors.

Creed’s Green Irish Tweed is the ideal signature scent. It respects tradition, but puts a modern twist on it. The typical floral and woody fragrances are enhanced by aquatic scents (a combination that started a whole new family of modern colognes). Many have described this Creed cologne as mossy, which is the perfect description. Moss is manly without being overpowering. It reminds us of the forests just outside of town: a delicate balance between nature and civilization. It is neither “pretentious or pastoral” as one reviewer puts it. It is a wonderful choice for the office, for dates, for home, for outside, for anything really. And, while it may sound like I’m laying it on rather thick—perhaps I’m gushing so much because I can’t afford it—many others have similar things to say. If it weren’t so expensive, you would most certainly be sick of smelling it, since every man would keep it as part of their arsenal.

While listing ingredients is never the best way to describe perfume and cologne (I prefer describing the general atmosphere) I’ll list a few of the more important/noticeable ones so that you can better understand what Green Irish Tweed is meant to smell like, although its very name is probably the best example you can get. The cologne begins like most traditional colognes with a blast of citrus. Lemon and verbena are two of the top notes most usually mentioned, although you may or may not be able to isolate them due to your own personal sensitivities. The middle notes contain iris and violet leaves, among other floral ingredients, and continue the traditional progression of scents. The base notes, however, are what the cologne is famous for and include sandalwood and ambergris.

This cologne’s popularity, however, has another reason. It is worn by some of the most famous men in the world, all of whom are associated with class and sophistication. Among some of Green Irish Tweed’s fans are Prince Charles, George Clooney, Pierce Brosnan, Robert Redford, and Clint Eastwood among others. When people whose very images depend on the atmosphere they create admit to wearing this cologne, it speaks a lot for its quality. While this isn’t the best way to choose a cologne, it certainly lends credibility to the product.

Assuming you’re not simply buying a sample, Green Irish Tweed will cost you over a hundred dollars. This is where most criticisms come in. Since Green Irish Tweed has inspired so many similar fragrances, one could save a lot of money by settling with other aquatics like Cool Water. “How can anyone justify spending so much money on a single bottle of glorified perfume?” is what most people will ask, and many will be unable to answer. Obviously, you shouldn’t be going anywhere near this cologne if you’re already drowning in debt or pressed for cash. If you can afford to spend that much every so often, however, you may find purchasing this cologne extremely worthwhile. Like most status symbols, you will feel better about yourself, and you may garner more respect than normal. You will also be able to experience one of the greatest scents of all time, of which its competitors come nowhere close.

Since you’ll be spending an arguably large amount of money on this product, you may want to educate yourself about the number of fake perfumes and colognes currently on the market. I believe, and this is just off the top of my head, that about ten percent of all the products out there are fakes, and these illegitimate clones are being found in some of the most unexpected of places: upscale boutiques. Since getting ripped off is one of the worst things in the world, and getting ripped off when a lot of money is involved is even worse, you should learn as much about Green Irish Tweed, or any perfume or cologne in general, as you can.

The best advice I can give you, however, is awareness. Although it may seem scary that so many fakes are out there, simply using your better judgment may save you a lot of grief. Don’t fall into a false sense of security simply because you’re purchasing a product at your local mall and there’s nice music in the background and the workers are friendly. It’s highly possible that you will come across one or two clones.

Green Irish Tweed Clones

If you can stand listening to an extremely uncharismatic man discuss the differences between the real Green Irish Tweed and the many illegitimate impersonations you may come across, you will most likely find a lot of valuable information in the video above. Honestly, I can’t tell whether or not the fact that he got ripped-off makes him sound this way or not, but let’s pretend he was the happiest man in the world before this happened so the lesson sticks better. Personally I had to stop watching the video half way through, but that was for reasons besides the man’s monotonous voice:

1. I only buy colognes from legitimate sites

2. I only buy colognes from legitimate sites
3. I only buy colognes from stores I trust
4. I know exactly what to look for

You might wonder how you can know what to look for if don’t know what the cologne is supposed to look/smell like, but it’s really quite simple, and will be covered more in depth at a later point in time. As you can see in the example, misspellings of words are typically one of the biggest tip-off when it comes to fakes. Obviously a legitimate warehouse isn’t going to mess up the wording. The packaging will also seem rather flimsy or cheap. If you’re paying over a hundred dollars for a substance, you can be sure that the substance will be in a nice container. If you have doubts, feel free to contact the company; if it turns out to be the real packaging, at least you informed the company that they suck at producing luxury goods. But moving on, the most blatant example of how to tell if something is fake or not is when an item lacks a serial number. This is a dead givaway. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that companies do change their products from time to time. Contacting them with your concerns is always the best choice. Like I said before, though, the best thing you can do is simply stay aware.

Sensual Perfume and Cologne Summary: if you want to experience a Creed cologne, Green Irish Tweed is the best one to start with. These days it’s seen as the flagship fragrance, and the House of Creed’s bestseller. Although Green Irish Tweed is certainly well-respected and well-liked, its high price stops it from becoming too popular and the most overused fragrance in the world. Although this cologne is probably beneficial to almost any man, it really just depends on your own personal preferences. If you want to be seen as a suave man, well-versed in fashion, you should definitely give this cologne a try.

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.

Regardless of brand or type, any perfume and cologne can be described in relatively basic terminology. Although this is helpful for quickly finding what you are looking for in a store, it is even more helpful when making a purchase over the internet. Although you will find a seemingly innumerable amount of different varieties and makes on the world wide web, it is financially impossible to try all of them individually. Therefor, knowing what to look for and what certain descriptions mean will save you both money and time, and leave you smelling your best, even if you buy perfume and cologne online.

Most perfumes and colognes will be composed of various scents. To describe these scents, the industry has created a simple musical metaphor. In a well-crafted song, one note leads to the other in a harmonious manner. Different emotions can be triggered by the progression, and each note conveys a certain mood. Further, the song would not sound right if a note was left out, and would cause the whole piece to fall apart. For these reasons you will find that the stages of perfume and cologne are designated as top notes, middle notes, and base notes.

We are all aware that liquids evaporates, but perfumers take this a step further by knowing how quickly every substance in a perfume takes to evaporate. This knowledge allows them to create beautiful “melodies” by perfecting each note so that it is both perfect on its own, but also transitional. What you smell when you first apply a scent is the top note. This quickly dissipates into the middle (a.k.a. heart) note, which in turns brings us to the base note. The whole process takes about thirty minutes, although the base note will last for a much longer time than that, depending on its volatility.

Just like we use terminology to denote a G note from a C note in music, the same is also done in perfumery. There are about thirteen basic categories that we use to describe the smells of each note: floral, soft floral, floral oriental, soft oriental, oriental, woody oriental, woods, mossy woods, dry woods, citrus, fruity, green, water, and Fougère. Although these categories are fairly self-explanatory there are some details that should be cleared up.

First, leathery scents will most likely be found in the dry woods category. Next, the fruity category excludes all citrus fruits, since they have their own category (and have for a very long time). Fougère usually contains scents from an eclectic group of categories such as couramin, lavender and oakmoss. You may also come across the term Gourmand, which means that the scent smells very similar to certain gourmet foods and drinks.

While these terms are helpful, they are rarely completely accurate. Most perfumes and colognes will be composed of a variety of different fragrances from different classifications. What you should do, however, is determine which scents you prefer or dislike, and then search from there. I always like to look at the overall ambiance being created, as the whole is greater than its parts. When buying perfume and cologne online, it is important to be able to have a good sense of your own personal tastes and a similarly good imagination.

If you have extra money, many sights offer the option of purchasing samples (usually for less than ten dollars). If you can’t make a definitive decision, this is the best route to take. While you will spend some extra money, you may also save money by avoiding costly mistakes. You might even find something you didn’t expect.

If you’re like most people you tend to be rather critical of the guys and girls that wear too much perfume and cologne, and rightly so. These fragrances are highly potent in small quantities, so people who apply too much are actually assaulting our noses with too many powerful molecules. When it comes to perfume and cologne, less is always more. It would appear that you can in fact have too much good stuff. In the same way that consuming too many sweets, or fruits, or too much of anything, really, leaves you feeling nauseous for hours afterward, too many smells will not only make you sick but also affect your mind.

Scent’s close relationship with memory means that just the smallest hint of a fragrance will trigger certain thoughts and images from years past. Thus, the more smells a person perceives, the more memories may be triggered. If there are too many different smells, or one extremely overpowering one, the mind may be completely overwhelmed. Consider how you feel when you enter a room thick with smells; usually you will feel a sort of mental fog and not be able to fully process your surroundings. On the opposite end, consider how you feel when there’s is an unpleasant smell nearby. It’s hard to think about anything besides getting away from that offending smell.

Thus radiating just a hint of a fragrance is much more enticing than blatantly advertising it, and it leaves people wanting more rather than less. Also, you won’t risk making people become obsessed with avoiding you should they not like your chosen scent. Thus, you will be enticing to those who like your scent and neutral to those who don’t like it. That is the balance that you want to strive for: polite yet interesting. Not only does this make people like you more, but it also makes your fragrance more personal.

So why do people wear too much perfume and cologne? There are numerous reasons. The first being that they were simply not taught properly, or taught at all. How much of the fragrance you apply depends on two things: what you will be doing and how strong the substance is. If you’re going to be in relatively close quarters with others, it is best to wear as little as possible. On the other hand, if you are going to be in a relatively open space, you can feel free to wear a little bit more. Most people recommend no more than two or three applications, but some perfumes and colognes are more potent than others, so the range should theoretically be one to four.

Another possibility for why people wear too much of a certain scent is that they may be sick, or genetically dispositioned in some way. Studies have linked people that wear too much perfume and cologne to zinc deficiencies and depression, among other things. Luckily, these maladies can be easily fixed with modern medicine, and may also improve a person’s nose in the process. Also, it is important to remember that all of our senses are varied in strength; for instance, numerous people have weak vision or hearing. This also holds true for our sense of smell. Some of us just have better sniffers.

And last but not least, some of us just have bad taste. The best way to help someone who wears too much perfume and cologne, then, is to tell them the truth. Don’t let them live in ignorance while you secretly grow resentment for them. Be upfront and help each other out. They may be extremely grateful for your advice. Or, if you are afraid that you wear too much, ask someone who will give an honest opinion, and whose opinion you actually respect. Scent can be a wonderful thing—and it is!—as long as it is used properly.