Acier Aluminium

I finally acquired an unused bottle of this, a 2011 batch. I am absolutely obsessed. I had read every review on the internet, and found this to be the most fascinating sounding cologne I'd ever heard of. The name in and of itself is unique and alluring. Who names a cologne "aluminum steel?" Only Creed. Unfortunately, this was discontinued in the 2010s, so I had to pay a premium for a 75ml bottle, but it was still slightly cheaper than buying a 100ml bottle of any modern day Creed direct from their website or boutique. My immediate reaction at first spray was a wide grin. It exceeded my expectations in every way. There is a cool metallic essence that blends perfectly with an underlying sweet warmth. Often described as a banana scent, I feel it is more evocative of bananas in a desert form, such as banana bread or bananas foster. It manages to be spicy, sweet, and rich all at once. Projection is strong, and longevity is excellent. I sprayed this on my chest before bed, and could still smell it strong on my skin and comforter 8 hours later. On fabric, longevity is exceptional. There's a rich, spiced quality that is reminiscent of a rum cocktail. There's also a heavy richness that almost vaguely evokes motor oil exhaust (one of my guilty pleasure scents, especially from a boat on a lake). But it's not a strong or overwhelming element of the scent. There's also a somewhat leathery component. There are just so many different things happening with this scent. It's completely unique, and reminds me of absolutely no other fragrance, soap or beauty product I have ever used. It is entirely of its own accord. I agree with reviewers who've stated that this reminds them of something the fictional character Dirk Diggler might have worn in the 70s. Is it sultry? Yes. Vaguely sleazy? Only in an upmarket kind of way. Like Roger Moore's James Bond. Would pair well with a rich velvet suit, a la Ron Burgundy. Ultimately, I'm obsessed with AA and would say it was worth every penny I spent on acquiring a bottle. Its rich, intoxicating, and utterly unique. A great addition to my collection. Every time I wear it, I marvel at its ability to remind me of so many familiar scents, while remaining entirely unique in its overall comportment. Lavish, luscious, and entirely thrilling.

The smell of old money— polo ponies, Georgian mansions, mahogany paneled studies, cashmere sweaters around the shoulders, pedigrees back to William the Conqueror. It is refined, but not conventional. It is elite, but not arrogant. It is aloof, but not opaque. This is an aspirational scent. In a world where tradition, manners, and social strata are rapidly deteriorating, this potion will soon have no place in our world. It is a gentleman’s fragrance, but this is the visual I had in my head when I first smelled it: You pay a visit to the jaded but swanky residence of your recently deceased aunt. She was of a long line of high society, and enjoyed a life of ease in the last century. Her life-sized portrait, reminiscent of the work of Sargent, hangs languidly upon the drawing room wall. She holds an ostrich feather fan in her gloved hand, dragging it on the ground, as the other grasps a strand of pearls that reaches to her waist. Her head is cocked away from the viewer, revealing her striking profile. You make your way up to her attic, as you and your family are dividing the estate between relatives and benefactors. You spot an antique Louis Vuitton trunk against the wall. You undo the buckles and lift the lid— here is where the fragrance comes in— you are thrilled with the sight of immaculate antique clothing gracing labels such as Gabrielle Chanel and Lanvin, Hermès handbags and scarves, alligator heels, and the like. The precious perfumes she used to anoint herself with linger upon the items after all these years— perhaps it was No. 5, perhaps L’Heure Bleue. The feminine charms of the perfumes have waned to a more musky and vintage tinge, but it is a smell of quality and class nonetheless. Old money— it is the smell of old money. A world that has danced passed us. I am very much intrigued by it.

**WARNING BIAS REVIEW!!** Creed's Acier Aluminium was the first Creed I ever bought after trying it. I felt mature, strong and masculine. It quickly became my signature fragrance, I wear it only for special situations; such as my graduation from the Fire Academy. I was extremely sad that they vaulted it despite keeping worse fragrances like Royal Mayfair... which is going to be vaulted soon, due to not being popular (who saw that coming). I hope they bring it back so I can stop buying flacons (don't ask how many I have) Creed describes Acier Aluminium as feeling like a "Knight in Shining Armor" and you really do, well to me. I Honestly cannot say enough good things about this. Yes, it gets hate from modern men who probably say "toxic masculinity" on a daily bases. However, this is a masterpiece and I think everyone should smell it once and if you don't get the same images of a Nobel Knight and give you a massive boost in confidence I would be shocked. I know most of you know me for a non bias reviews but on this fragrance I cannot do that. This is my favorite, always was, is and will be. Do not take my word or the rest of the cult following for it, don't listen to the haters. Try it. I did, now. it holds a special place in my heart. I know for my views here I will not be celebrated or given a lot balloons but in this case. I don't care. I spoke my heart and my belief. My Opinions for Use: Seasons: Winter, Fall and maybe Spring. Better for cooler weather. Time of Day: Day or Night Situations: Elegant Events and Special Occasions... maybe Dates and Work if you want to project power and authority. Not suitable for Gym. Projection: God Mode. Staying Power: Forever. Age: 25 and up. Hope this helped to dispelled some lies and hate keeping you from this fragrance.

Blind buying is when you are in a sort of hurry to buy something and you pick up something that looks nice and not look at the price or you don’t smell it before in case of perfumes. What to do if somebody is selling expensive perfume on ebay for 1⁄4 of the regular price? That happened to me with the Acier Aluminium. What I was expecting was typical but well crafted cologne... what I received is amazing mix of old type perfume with modern soul. In my opinion there is no steel or aluminium in this creation but it is full of overripe fruits mostly banana with hint of vanilla balanced by spices. I can only imagine how revolutionary this fragrance was in the early 70s. Such perfumes we know from nowadays e.g. Pulp by Byredo (2008) or Aromadite by Farmacia SS. Annunziata (2011). But Acier Al. still has a stamp impressed by old school perfumery. These typical powdery elements you can find in early Caron creations. I like it a lot and recommend to any gender for any time. Udate April 13th (Friday :-) After whole day wearing AA I know how this fragrance evolves. After about 4 hours the banana slowly disappears and kind of gourmand nuances develop. My first impression was the yummy cheesecake with delirious vanilla smelling weep cream. After another few hours ginger gives it a small sting that is not sharp but obvious. The fragrance is never cloying however sweetness plays crucial role during its development. The spices redirect it a little to the male side. Every minute I’m more and more in love with AA.

Acier Aluminum is a very elegant, rich scent that grabs your attention and is at once sweet, (not cloying) spicy (more warm and smooth than HOT and sharp) and very, very sexy... I get the bergamot in the opening, clear and slightly bitter green, but why this is considered a citrus aromatic is lost on me. It has citrus (a bit) and is aromatic, no doubt, but is not really a citrus dominated perfume. The heart notes of mostly dried fruits (similar to dates, tamarind, figs or plums) and well-blended spicy aromas dominate the scent and make it much more of a fall scent to me than a bright summery citrus. It is a lushly rich fruity aroma (not the usual fresh or watery fruits), and the spices are like nutmeg, cardamom and maybe some cinnamon,(or is that allspice?) but not like a curry blend at all. The drydown is oriental to me (the amber resin and vanilla) but with hints of leather, it works well with the fruity nuances and warm smoothness. This scent says "class" and could easily be worn by a dashing white knight in armor (if they wore colognes); or maybe more like a dark mysterious knight on a jet black stallion, stealing his true love and riding into a darkened forest... Sillage: great Longevity: good Overall: 4/5 CREED never ceases to amaze me, (with their scents AND titanic prices) but if you want a well blended natural scent made with stunning attention to detail and perfume alchemy-they are worth it! This is the rouge with a heart of gold to me...