Baie de Genièvre (1982)
by Creed

Baie de Genièvre (BdG) opens on me as a battle between two notes: juniper berry and cinnamon leaves. They fade in and out; sometimes the cinnamon dominates, then the juniper, back and forth. Sometimes they are superimposed upon each other and when they do I get the impression of an animalic accord: or as my son described it to me, “body odor”. It is interesting to me that only one other reviewer noted anything animalic. As the battle progresses, the juniper eventually wins. Quirky and different, yet simple - a Creed that pushes the envelope! I get decent longevity out of this, a non-millesime Creed.

While I like BdG quite a bit, it isn’t something I would wear frequently. Indeed, I think I would wear it just a few days a year. It would be nice if it came in 15 ml ‘mini’ bottles or at most an ounce.

I also feel passionate and romantic every time I wear BdG: it puts me in the mood! And even though I don't consider BdG to be feminine, per se, I think I would enjoy smelling it on a woman.

One word of caution: I have bought both samples and a bottle of this that were not at their freshest. Each of the notes has greater weight in this relative simple fragrance, so the degradation was pronounced. Make sure you are getting fresh BdG should you choose to buy it.

I've purchased Neroli Sauvage, Royal English Leather and now this potent potion. Baie de Genievre doesn't remind me of gin at all. More like the inside of a pencil sharpener or fine western red cedar at first. Perhaps a cigar box. A sweet yet clean and manly odour replaces the sawdust scent soon after. For me this is the finest Creed for regular wear. Sophisticated, worldly, inoffensive, and unique. Smells like nothing you'd find in a department store. If you like Bois du Portugal you should sample Baie de Genievre. Final note, this is an all-day pleasure; BdG is not fleeting like many Creeds.

Update: I can't wear this one like I thought I could. Too sticky. Out of style. My taste is now more Silver Mountain Water.

However, for the full-on eighties Creed experience, I like to layer BdG with Chevrefueille Original. Like two long-lost brothers reunited at last.

My first olfactory encounter with juniper berries was Baie de Geneivre. 'So, this is what it smells like!', was my first thought.

However, who could have imagined how that crisp, aromatic and very tailored accord would blend so skillfully with cinnamon leaves? Incredible. Not so much as spicy as some cinnamon prominent fragrances that I love, BdG's cinnamon leaf note is subtle, muted and diffuses on skin and in the air like a fine cornstarch talc powder.

I think the effect of formality and stiff formalness that the scent presents itself with at the top loosens itself up as it dries down to a pleasing and light almost eau-de-cologne base note. I also treasure this as a Creed scent that does not have a strong prominent ambergris base note.

BdG should appeal to lovers of spicy fragrances, who want something brighter than JHL, yet more serious and conservative than Comme des Garcons Eau de Parfum.

Juniper berries have a tendency to smell really horrible to me but when paired with other things it can be quite lovely. This does not work on my skin at all. I have tried a juniper shaving cream by L'Occitane before and juniper stings the skin.

This review is under revision.

An immediate whiff of juniper and spices. The spices are quite apparent in the mixture, particularly the cinnamon. It’s an enticing coniferous / cinnamon experience with neither the juniper nor the cinnamon dominating the accord. As refined as it is, Baie de Genièvre is a bit more aggressive than the usual Creed offering, but there is no doubt that this is a Creed. I like this interpretation. It’s quite energetic – almost has as much energy as Orange Spice. This juniper berry / cinnamon accord has loads of depth and character; however, the opening stays for too short of time. When the top accords have disappeared, what takes over is an excellent vetiver plus the typical Creed drydown. This base is excellent – as excellent as the top level of the fragrance. Unfortunately, the drydown has no more longevity than the top – forty-five minutes at the most for the entire fragrance. The accords of Baie de Genièvre are lively, refined, and sophisticated. But its longevity on my skin is unacceptable. Apparently others don’t have a longevity problem with it and I’m jealous of that. If your skin doesn’t eat it up, Baie de Genièvre is a great fragrance.