Spring Flower (1996)
by Creed

I got this for my mother as a gift due to its connection to Audrey Hepburn. While I don't believe this was ever truly worn by Audrey (she wore Interdit by Givenchy) try not to draw conclusion about the scent from Creed's claims. I always take those with a grain of salt.

I smell it now and it really reminded me of Aqua di Gio pour Homme! The men's version! Really weird. Though this is very young and feminine and has the usual Creed metallic house accord I associate them with. Great scent, I think, when you remove all predetermination of the 'background'.

I'm surprised so many reviewers compare "Spring Flower" to other aquatic/fruity/florals; In fact,"Spring Flower" is remarkably unique in a sea of tropical-caramels and rasberry-oceanics. "Spring Flower's" earthy prettiness and quiet playfulness makes it utterly charming and unexpected competition for those other thin, airy and saccharine scents classified as "fruity-floral"; a fragrance family that has since been stripped and "overbred" by the years of influence from marketing groups ("More Gourmand" they scream--"Drier, sweeter and headier!").

While the opening notes do unfold in a burst of bright tartness, they are immediately smoothed over by the sensation of buttermilk creaminess and sweetness--like strawberries or lignonberries in cream. Then follows a succulent watery-ness that begins to develop and run, like snow melting in early springtime sunshine, throughout the fragrance until drydown: It is at once too carnal to pass as water; to elegant to be mistaken for nectar or fruit juice. It almost seems like a kind of iced tea...one sparkling with lemons, peaches, rose petals and rosemary.

There is something so unexpected and sprightly about "Spring Flower" that although it is quite feminine, it would be a disservice to wood nymphs everywhere to call it "proper"; "Spring Flower" is melting snow dripping off spring buds, fresh grass, fields of flowers and wild strawberries. In other words, it's an interesting, raw kind of fragrance that mischeviously whispers: "Forget this party, school class or customer report...sneak away like Maria from "The Sound of Music" or play like "Marie Antoinette"...run to the woods, brooks and fields---stare at the bright blue skies, watch clouds pass by and live off berries and fresh cream! Who cares what anyone thinks or if you get your feet dirty." Unlike those quickly developed and mass produced fruity florals on store shelves (those that also seem to reproduce like rabbits in fragrance departments) "Spring Flower" has something they all lack: Spunk, character and a sense of humor. "Spring Flower" is a tickling delight...and almost seems to thumb its nose at those who feel otherwise. "lighten up, stop and smell the roses" it says, "think transcendental thoughts in lazy midday sunshine or stomp in rainy-day mud or crisp snow."

Recently I tested Cool Water Woman by Davidoff, ironically, this Creed Spring Flower graces my wrist only a few days later...and I'm not finding much difference between the two! My impression of CCW was "sweet fruity floral top with a woodsy ozone marine drydown". SF is actually even less than that! As VIBERT points out there is not much flower in evidence here...he's absolutely correct, I don't get any flower notes. What I do smell is a fruity opening with a somewhat sickly ozone/aquatic base. Unfortunately quite a disappointment for me.

Though a bit sharp, this fragrance is a really nice fruity floral that yes, is... happy. I saw this on Samantha's bathroom toilet in an episode of Sex and the City and thought, "did they really think Samantha would wear Spring Flower?? It's so girly and free sprirted." But that's the beauty of Spring Flower, it's youthful but ageless. It reminds me the brightness of Gucci Envy and it seems to sour a bit after about 30 minutes on my skin, a little bit like when one holds a penny for a couple seconds, but in general, nice... not fresh, not particularly floral, just bright a bright and friendly fragrance.

It's quite a 'pop' flower smell-rather modern and definitely something for a younger lady. I agree there are some fruity undertones too - I doubt Audrey Hepburn wore this either. She was too busy being over-rated, rather like this.

Spring flower opens with bright, sweet citrus notes and not much flower in evidence. As the scent develops, it remains a melange of citrus, watermelon, and aquatic notes. In fact, it reminds me a bit of Millesime Imperial, though far less poised and natural.

The citrus sharpens dramatically over the first half of an hour, becoming very tart, so that the whole thing smells like a lemon drop. Still nothing particularly floral in there!

Instead, Spring Flower remains citrusy, with an unpleasant synthetic edge, and winds up remarkably cheap smelling and generic. I refuse to believe that Audrey Hepburn ever wore this shoddy, synthetic fruit mess.