Delphinus

This is one of my favourites from Creed, hands down. If ever there was such a thing as a fresh, daily driver gourmand with pretty much universal appeal across age, gender, sexuality, Creed, ethnicity, climate and occasion, this is it. The opening is like a huge Battenburg slice to the mush; a big sweet, incandescent hit of marzipan and some gourmand fruits. The vanilla and tonka beans are right there in the vanguard. But don't be put off. It isn't too sweet (although first time users may worry it is going to go that way at first), it isn't cloying (ditto). Stick with it. I think star of the show here is the orris and the way it works with the almond accord and the pepper in here. They meld into each other in a really attractive way, stopping this from going too gourmand or too sickly sweet. I get lovely little spicy frissons from this and as mentioned, the pink pepper is a really lovely touch. The black pepper is more subtle but it is there and there is almost a turmeric-style spice carpet underneath this. There isn't any turmeric in it but it has the feel of it in a way as the sweetness dies off after ten minutes or so into the drydown and the floral notes really get to grips with the peppery spices and the woody bottom layer really reveals itself in earnest. For the layerheads amongst us, I've tried it over the top of The Noir 29 from Le Labo and it wasn't great to begin with but ten minutes later was lovely: it goes floral and more spicy, knocking the sweetness down a few notches. It is one of the better layering combos I've tried, I think. Just go very easy on the The Noir, you only need one very small spritz. Delphinus on its own though is not a linear drydown by any means, as it gets drier and richer as the sweeter notes dry down. I love that the peppers stay in the whole time. I don't really get much leather in this and the woody note is more like a sandalwood accord, but it is the creaminess of the other notes that makes it feel that way. Of the florals I get heliotrope the most, there I think just to make the orris even more powdery than it would be: It does this beautifully. The akigalawood is all spice here, no smoke or bitterness. As it continues to dry down the pepper notes and the fruit and floral accords take on a slightly rubbery taste and texture but it is much nicer and less jarring than that sounds, conceptually. It settles into the skin after around six hours on my pasty English dermis, but the enduring accords when it does are almond, orris and pink pepper. It is really lovely. Also lovely is the very nice orange glass bottle with the embossed Creed branding and shiny gold cap. Gorgeous and very eye-catching. Delphinus can be summed up as a really attractive powdery gourmand that is much more appealing than most powdery gourmands, and has a much greater unisex appeal to boot. It is bright and carefree enough to wear for any occasion and would be a superb choice as an office fragrance, but the really sexy way it sits close to the skin after a few hours makes it a great choice for date night too. Sillage is incredible: it emanates off me in gorgeous wafts and the The Noir 29 layering ramps this up to a level I've rarely experienced. I think people in Sharjah can smell me! Creed's stablemate in this release was the much-hyped Centaurus which has been all over social media for months and has been a staple from the FragCom influencers worldwide. I cannot for the life of me understand why almost nobody has looked in earnest at its sweeter and less spicy sister. I like them both but Centaurus is less exciting to me as it is a sweet and spicy effort which is a path most of us are far more familiar with as it almost starts creeping into Viktor & Rolf realms. I suspect many of the FragCom influencers just dismiss Delphinus as a more feminine version of Centaurus and so leave it alone, and Creed is a much less covered brand by the female FragCom influencers in general, and that is why Delphinus gets so much less love and coverage than its sibling. This is a pity. I really like Creed, but I think, as many of us do, that there isn't enough really hardcore atomic performance or refined originality across the range. Delphinus delivers in spades on both counts for me. It is a serious performer and an absolute compliment monster to boot, in a way that honestly, I've only sporadically found to be the case on many others from this house. I do think though that with the release of Centaurus and Delphinus in 2024, plus Oud Zarian last year, that they are quietly going about changing that (perhaps unfair) preconception of high cost, but limited performance on lovely, lovely fragrances that do not really stand out in a crowd. Delphinus absolutely does stand out in a crowd in all the nice ways and has formidable performance to boot. Take a bow, Creed - this is wonderful stuff and I love it so much. Three Word Summary - Sweet Little Secret Scent - 9/10 Sillage - 9/10 Drydown - 9/10 Bottle/Packaging - 9/10 Performance - 9/10 45/50

Yesterday I reviewed Centaurus by Creed. While it was a fine fragrance, it wasn't for me. Today I'm looking at its sibling, Delphinus. My knowledge of Delphinus is comparable to that of my knowledge with Centaurus when I initially reviewed it; zero. So I have no idea what I'm walking into, but I hope I enjoy it more than I did Centaurus. Let's get into it; Scent: The opening is sweet, powdery, and nutty. The primary notes I get are orris, bourbon vanilla, almond, and incense. The strongest of the notes are the orris and bourbon vanilla. The orris hit my nose right from the first spray with a hefty dose of powder. At first I thought it was an iris note, as it does have a bit of that "makeup-y" vibe to it that iris is known for. It is, however, much smoother than standard iris notes and has some earthy qualities as well. Sharing the spotlight with the orris is the bourbon vanilla note. Like most bourbon vanilla's, this one is strong, sweet, and creamy with boozy undertones. It blends together with the orris very nicely to create a soft, powdery sweetness. Up next is the almond and incense. The almond adds to the sweetness brought by the bourbon vanilla, but adds a touch of bitterness along with its noticeably nutty tone. As a pleasant surprise, it also has an undeniable cherry accord to it that draws comparisons to Guerlain's L'Homme Ideal Eau De Parfum. While this is not unheard of with almond notes, it's not very common either. Lastly, the incense wafts in and out of the background as a gentle, smoky accord; not too strong and not too soft. The dry down is still sweet, powdery, and nutty. The primary notes I get are orris, almond, bourbon vanilla, and tonka bean. The strongest of the notes are still the bourbon vanilla and orris. Both notes are largely the same as they were in the opening, with the most notable difference being that they are both a bit more pronounced. The powdery qualities of the orris come out a bit more, and the sweetness of the bourbon vanilla is a bit heavier. This is followed by the almond and tonka bean. The almond still has its nutty, bittersweet accord with the same cherry tones, albeit toned down just a bit. Lastly, the tonka bean adds its signature powdery sweet note in the background. Performance: Initial projection within the first hour is very strong and can easily fill a room. Sillage matches that intensity with a heavy scent trail. After a few hours the performance was largely unchanged; maybe just a bit softer but not by much. When I checked again nearly 9 hours later the projection was still about 3-4 feet and the scent trail was still noticeable. The fragrance became a skin scent a little after the 12 hour mark. When to wear: Delphinus, like its sibling Centaurus, is a fall/winter fragrance best worn during the evening. It is also a formal/special occasion fragrance that would fit well with dates, anniversaries, weddings, or anything you would wear a suit to. In fact, this probably compliments suits better than Centaurus. Still, this isn't something I'd wear to the office. Blind buy: When I was wearing this fragrance, I was heavily reminded of L'Homme Ideal Eau De Parfum. So if you enjoy fragrances in that style, or you just enjoy sweet and powdery fragrances in general, this is a safe blind buy for you. Final verdict: I'm glad I reviewed Delphinus after Centaurus, because Delphinus absolutely ended up being the better of the two fragrances. It's sweet, powdery, and nutty with undertones of cherry; I love everything about it. I'm also glad that it didn't lose that cherry undertone in the dry down either. When it comes to performance, it outperformed Centaurus; massive projection and scent trails for at least the first few hours, and continuing on past the 12 hour mark where it finally became a skin scent. Like Centaurus, versatility is not the name of the game with this fragrance. It's crafted to be a cold night special/formal occasion fragrance, and it does that exceedingly well, but that's as far as it goes. Although I will say that Delphinus assuredly has more mass-appeal than Centaurus. It doesn't have any weird or off-putting notes, and the main notes it does focus on are notes that a lot of people enjoy. In conclusion, I think Delphinus was an amazing fragrance, and I will definitely be getting a bottle when I can. Mind you, I won't be paying the $545 retail price because that's literally insane, but I'll pay a discounter rate for it. I'd recommend anyone to at least sample Delphinus; it really is special. Scent: 10/10 Longevity: 9/10 Sillage: 10/10

This is my Creed Delphinus story. I travel a lot for work, and some of that work involves air travel. That involves Duty Free, and with Amouage now available in certain UK airports, things can get pricey! I had a vacation trip at the end of October going into November. I recently decided to try and get a new Tom ford in the Airport Duty Free after a very good bargain on Ebene Fume on a previous trip. The wanted Tom Ford was not in stock in the Airport Duty Free. I was a bit bewildered and wandered the YSL and DIOR stands. Then, to my surprise, I saw that the Creed company had a brand new stand that had not been in the Airport when I last travelled. I have a small number of Creed's in my collection, and I know how good a fragrance house they are, but I was not looking to buy a new Creed. Yet...I wandered over out of curiosity. In the Duty Free, they had Delphinus in stock and it was priced at 280 EUR. This was actually cheaper than the Tom Ford I had originally intended to buy. The last "new" Creed that I smelled was actually Delphinus itself...in 2023, believe it or not. This was in the Ceaser's Palace shops in Las Vegas. At that time it was priced at $400, and the dollar was almost parity then. It did NOT seem like good value and did NOT seem like a good price. I smelled Delphinus again in the Duty Free this time and something had changed in my brain. I really liked it! At that price, I bought it on the spot, which I think took the sales assistant aback. I was very happy with the purchase and the felt scent was perfect for days in the desert. Close, personal, not too overpowering. I wore it for all of the holiday and nobody seemed to notice or care what I smelt of. No biggie - I am not in it for the compliments, and as long as I know I smell clean and fresh I am happy. However, come to the last day of the trip some strange things happened. I was up early and ready to check out, showered, shaved, and wearing heavy clothing for departing Las Vegas, as I knew we'd be hitting lower temperatures on landing home. I sprayed Delphinus on my neck (both sides), behind my ears, and on the collar of my Zipper Top. Went to go downstairs and check out of the hotel, settle any last minute extras, and catch a brunch. As I was leaving the room, the housekeeping ladies were already at work on my floor. I had only been wearing the Creed about an hour, but I was complimented by the Hotel Chambermaid on how good I smelled. Totally caught me by surprise, in a nice way. It's the first compliment on a scent I have had in quite some time. I had my Brunch, and with a couple of hours before my ride to the Airport I decided to walk the Strip one more time and kill a few hours. I needed a new Nail Clippers, so I went into the Walgreens, the smaller one close to the Hard Rock Cafe. I couldn't find the aisle so I asked the help of Sheila, the sales associate. She said to me I was in the wrong area and walked by me to point me to the correct area. Suddenly she exclaimed "Oh My Lord, you smell divine! What IS that scent?". This was about 3 hours after I had applied the Creed. I was really, really taken aback and - not going to lie - secretly delighted. I sometimes - rarely - get compliments on scents I wear, and never usually from strangers. And now 2 in one day? Consider me impressed. So, I get on my 10 hour flight home, and spend another hour collecting my luggage and shooting the shit with the guys. I get to my Mother's house and I know my middle Brother will be visiting. I have presents for them all. I give my brother his present and a hug. He seems to have been blessed with a great sense of smell and he noticed my scent. Complimented by my brother after a 10 hour flight and several hours before that, was the most surprising of all! He is VERY reserved and not like that most of the time. I don't think I need to say any more than this. Creed Delphinus is a 10/10 scent.

Delphinus was more or less what I expected at first, but the way it came together completely impressed me. I thought it would be in the same general space as Parfums de Marly Pegasus or Guerlain L’Homme Ideal EDP, and while the almond and vanilla profile is definitely there, this takes that idea and turns it into something softer, more refined, and way more elegant. The opening is a creamy mix of almond and orris, with a slightly waxy texture that gives it that familiar makeup-compact vibe, but it still feels fresh and modern. There’s a cherry-like sweetness in the background, most likely from the benzaldehyde, that adds depth without leaning into sugary territory. As it develops, the vanilla and tonka become richer and more velvety. Underneath it all, you get subtle traces of leather and incense. They're not unexpected in a scent like this, but they’re essential. Without that depth, it would risk smelling like nothing more than a sweet, airy cloud. This leans slightly feminine, mostly because of the powdery and floral tone, but it never feels overly delicate. It’s graceful and polished in a way that can work on anyone with the right taste. If you like smoother, almond-forward fragrances with a bit of sweetness, this is easily wearable. Performance is pretty solid. It projects moderately for about two hours, and then sits closer to the skin, but I still catch wafts well into the 8-9 hour mark. Delphinus is easily my favorite from Creed, partly because almond is one of my favorite notes, but also because it brings so much more to the table than just that. It’s not trying to be a statement-maker or a compliment magnet — it’s just beautifully made, well-balanced, and elegant. If you’re into almond, vanilla, or powdery florals, this one’s absolutely worth trying. Pricey, yeah, but in this case, the quality backs it up. To me it’s worth it, and if you find it discounted, it’s a no-brainer. Scent (on skin): 9/10 Scent (sillage): 10/10 Projection: 6.5/10 Longevity: 7/10 Value: 3/10 Originality: 7/10 Mass appeal: 7.5/10 Versatility: 7.5/10

This is the perfect example of how important it is to test perfumes on skin. The first time I tested it on a paper strip I honestly immediately disliked it. Then in the next days I smelled it in the air from my friend who bought it and was wearing it, and I was shocked, it smelled like a totally different fragrance. After about 3 months I decided I NEEDED to have it in my collection and now I cannot live without it. I don't know what it is, but it gets me hooked and intoxicated, it does something to me that it's hard to explain. I decided to go for the 100ml, 340 euros (the concept of discounter for Creed doesn't really exist in my area), because first of all I love the scent, and second, it was released just a few months ago, which means we are still in the very first batches. As we all know for niche houses, especially Creed, the more time and batches go by and the worse their perfumes perform, so this is basically the best and strongest version of Delphinus I will ever be able to own. And coming to performance, again everything is subjective and depends on skin chemistry mostly, but my personal experience is that it has a monstruous longevity. I spray it at 6.45AM, I go through a full workday indoors/outdoors, shower, and reach dinner time that I can still CLEARLY smell it with light movements of my head, meaning that it still has a nice sillage. By the time I go to bed, around 10.30PM, I can still smell it on myself in a lighter way. That's insane longevity. Projection is heavy in the first 2 hours. Sillage, as I mentioned, definitely easy to detect for 12 hours+. If you are into sweet/slightly spiced/ambery/iris fragrances, definitely check this one out, but also be sure your test it on your skin and you experience the whole dry down before you come to a conclusion. In my case, I would recommend this fragrance 100%, I am obsessed with it.