Silver Mountain Water (1995)
by Creed

A very nice summer daytime scent: light and breezy, yet also possessed of some earthy mystery and a distinctive edge.

Silver Mountain Water opens up with a well balanced currant and tea accord, spiked with a touch of the aquatic and a twist of citrus. As the heart exposes itself, the tea and violet contribute an herbal, soil-like undercurrent that enriches a scent that might otherwise be too much of a lightweight.

Another distinctive feature is a hard-edged "industrial," or perhaps "stony" note (robyogi's "inkjet toner?") which for me lifts the whole composition onto a new plane. The element of subtle dissonance this note injects keeps me coming back for another sniff.

The drydown is very rapid on me, and reveals an accord familiar to anyone who's worn Millesime Imperial or Green Irish Tweed. In the case of Silver Moutain Water there is also a persitent echo of the current/tea accord that adds a little zest to the end stage. This is one of those scents that seem to disappear after a couple of hours, only to re-emerge unexpectedly from time to time.

Intriguing, and very well worth trying, regardless of gender.

Like derekp, I too had the tingly nose response the first 4 or 5 times and generally didn't care for the fragrance to cost ratio. And frankly, it smells very similar to the other Millesimes in the Creed line. So similar in fact to Himalaya and Millesime Imperial that I wouldn't bother with the others if you had one of them, unless you just *had* to collect all the Creeds like some fragrance Pokeman challenge.

Then something happened on the 6th try that forced my hand to trade a Montale for it. I'm not sure what changed, but I no longer had that almost allergic reaction and I started falling a little in love. Rich characteristics popped out that had previously remained hidden and what emerged was a refreshing chill that was so pleasant, I had to have more!

I still think it smells similar to several other Creeds, but I might buy just one more...

Let me start by saying that this is not, I repeat, is NOT a fragrance that uses lots of natural ingredients (in fact it's probably entirely synthetic). At that, it smells great and I suppose you could say it smells a little bit natural, considering it smells like gasoline.

Onto the scent itself.... Overall, Silver Mountain Water smells like sweet black currants with a strong, inky/petroleum note, along with something akin to green tea and patchouli. It might seem counter-intuitive, but the ink/petroleum note is actually what I love most about SMW (maybe because I love the smell of petroleum at gas stations). Finally, like Millesime Imperial and Green Irish Tweed, SMW dries down to an ambergris (sweet and clean musk) base.

IMO it’s one of the best fragrances for spring and fall - just so crisp and fresh without overdosing on aquatic notes or smelling anything like Aqua di Gio. I have to admit that it does turn a little sour on my skin if I wear it in hot weather, but I’m sure that it’s just chemistry. Otherwise, a great one enjoyed by many.

8.75/10

Silver Mountain Water is my personal favorite Creed fragrance, and any lover of clean, fresh fragrances would do well to give it a try. The blackcurrant and tea combination is remarkably uplifting, and the subtle "ink" note gives the composition some extra depth; it's really a unique-smelling blend, and it even smells quite natural. Additionally, Silver Mountain Water lasts for the better part of the day on me; while it doesn't have immense projection, I tend to get whiffs of it throughout the day, which I find to be very pleasurable. If you're looking for something fresh but unique and long-lasting, Silver Mountain Water is well worth the investment.

Count me among the not easily hypnotized.

If GIT was created for Bono, this one was made for someone who occasionally sings at an open mike. Hard to get swept away by tea (the stream of tea) and though the sense of going below the surface (Black Currant, the ferric metallic ink) is there it seems only fingertips depth, in an out. It does "get" you, but ever so briefly, IMO, and at a level later that seems less meaningful.

Blame it on my personal exp with its longevity? Or praise is because it exceeds the expectations of others (or even my own) who in some form of mindgane are able to pass through Creedhype, do an about face simultaneously challenging this scent while finding it amazing? Does longing for it to last make this a masterpiece or somehow a perceived yet denied case of overspending? What did I expect or not expect in the first place?

This overpriced juice deserves a pun: it will really tease you.

smw doesn't work for me. I guess I'm one fo the very few that don't like it at all. I don't get to enjoy the tea note , there is kinda ink smell in there. now, that was a rush judgement. as of now i yearn for that smell which is dominated by blackcurrent.after experiencing many scents. this is in the elite class.