Royal Water by Creed is a Citrus Aromatic fragrance for women and men. Royal Water was launched in 1997 as an Eau de Parfum. The nose behind this fragrance is Olivier Creed.
Royal Water is a very popular fragrance by Creed. The keynotes of this Citrus Aromatic fragrance are Citrus, Mint, Juniper Berries, Musk, and Ambergris.
A note from the brand:
A fragrance for the glamorous socialite, Royal Water Eau de Parfum is perfectly balanced, retaining the zesty freshness of summer citrus notes whilst lavish herbal and spicy notes provide a touch of sophistication to this signature scent. An understated necessity to your fragrance wardrobe, this perfectly balanced effervescent perfume will take you from winter through to summer with ease.
| Perfume Name | Royal Water |
| Brand | Creed |
| Year Released | 1997 |
| Concentration | Eau de Parfum |
| Scent Family | Citrus Aromatic |
| Gender | unisex |
I recently bought a decant of Royal Water from my local stockists. This is how I felt trying out this popular scent from Creed.
What does Royal Water by Creed smell like?
Royal Water by Creed smells bright and energetic, although the citrus opening can be sharp. The opening is followed by juniper berries and basil and later musk and ambergris in the dry down.
This fragrance is very similar to 1872 Masculine by Clive Christian as both have that citrus element, although 1972 Masculine is a bit more floral, in my opinion, as well as having a lot more notes. Royal Water, in contrast, is a lot more cooling. There’s also something in Royal Water that remind me of Les Indemodables Escale Indonesie ambergris.
| Top Notes | Citruses and Mint |
| Middle Notes | Juniper Berries and Basil |
| Base Notes | Musk and Ambergris |
My Experience
This fragrance opens with a bright mix of spice and citrus. While the citrus is the star of the show, the juniper berry and mint complement it perfectly. I can detect some of the basil, but it’s not always consistent during the opening when I wear this fragrance. However, it comes back more forcefully later on.
The citrus is quite sharp, but the juniper berry and the other notes in the opening take off the edge, so it never feels like too much. After some time, the fragrance retains the sharpness brought about by the citrus, but the basil note now starts becoming a lot more prominent. The basil combines with the mint and gives the fragrance a unique twist. This stage lasts for quite a few hours.
As Royal Water continues to dry down, the musk and ambergris start coming out while the spice notes have almost completely faded. I don’t find Royal Water to be a very complex scent, but it’s still a really good and smooth fragrance overall.
Sillage & Projection
The sillage of Royal water is moderate overall. Don’t expect it to fill a whole room. On my skin, I’d rate the projection as being within 5 feet of the skin. So it’s definitely not weak. It’s just enough for people to notice and draw people in without being too much in someone’s face.
Longevity & Versatility
Royal Water lasts around 7 to 8 on my skin which, for this type of scent, I’m quite content with. However, at this price point, a little bit more longevity would be more than welcome.
This is a great scent for spring and summer. It could also work well in the warmer days of fall. It’s a pretty versatile scent that you can wear dressed up or down. It’s also office-proof. However, when choosing something to go out at night, I’d give this a pass. I prefer my nighttime scents to be a bit darker – a bit sexier.
Closing thoughts
Royal Water is a nice and refreshing scent, and it could be a great signature scent for someone if they don’t mind the hefty price tag. It’s certainly worth a try, but I’d advise against a blind buy. Although if you are a big Creed fan, a blind buy of Royal Water isn’t a big risk, and you will most likely also like it.
If you really like this scent and don’t mind the price tag, then I think it’s full bottle worthy. It’s also pretty unique in my book. I’d score it an 8.5 out of 10 for uniqueness. Royal Water will definitely garner you some compliments. However, it will be from people that know and appreciate good fragrances. It’s not a type of mass-appealing scent, although it’s certainly an inoffensive scent.