Reviews of Baie de Genièvre (1982)
by Creed

Very interesting! I think the person who said "smells like the inside of a pencil sharpener" had it right, almost. It is such a complex scent, in my opinion. Mix the pencil sharpener with Juniper and I think that'd be the best way to explain it, but really, I think it goes a bit deeper than that.

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.

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.

I don't dislike this one. Every time I wear it, it bangs me right back to the time when the barber used to have a board to put across the seat so he could get you high enough to cut! I'm quite surprised to find it's as late as the 1980s, to me it's more 50s. It's the smell that pervaded that barbers long ago. Lasts a long time on me.