Carmina by Creed

Finally trying a Creed fragrance.

To my knowledge, I honestly haven't yet sampled a Creed scent. But as soon as I heard of Carmina, I knew I had to.

With notes of black cherry, pink pepper, saffron, rose, peony, violet, cashmere wood, amber, musk, myrrh and frankincense. This can nothing, but be good.

I don't know this house's DNA, so first spray came as a surprise to me.
Firstly, the scent opens very light and fresh, almost clean, despite the floral, sweet and deep notes. As soon as the initial spray evaporates, the cherry sweetness appears, and I instantly identify peony - a light, almost watery clean floral note.

I am on a cherry hunt, but I must say that I wouldn't classify Carmina as a cherry fragrance. The cherry note is only here to add sweetness, like vanilla often is in woody or smokey fragrances without making them gourmand.

Carmina is beautiful. It is feminine, lightly floral and sweet, but not overpowering and cloying.
When I test a new fragrance, I always do it from the lens of "would it fit into my collection?".
Though wonderfully elegant, I feel satiated with owning Pivoine Suzhou by Armani and in all actually also Mon Evidence by Yves Rocher. The scents are not similar, but they are in the same family of emotions and moods.

I doused myself in Carmina and I take it all back. Carmina is a cherry fragrance, but I seem to always compare a cherry fragrance with Lost Cherry by Tom Ford, which isn't fair.
Carmina stands on it's own. It is an airy floral fragrance sweetened by the presence of cherry and maybe a bit of cherry blossom. Do I need it, perhaps not, would I like to have it, definitely, but is it fruity enough for what I'm looking for?
Maybe, but I still have three fruity fragrances to try from my newest kit.
Stay tuned.

Notes from Parfumo:

Top Notes