After the perpetual half-life of the past year, we’re all in need of escape – a change of scenery and a change of outlook.

Imagine a land of wild beauty, majestic mountains and glacial lakes, where the air is fresh and the views are as eternal as the hope.

The Norwegian fjordlands are about as far from London’s lockdowned life as you could envisage.

But fortunately, thanks to The House of Creed’s brand new fragrance Viking Cologne, you can now get a little closer to them, and the freedom they represent.

When it came to crafting their latest fragrance, Master Perfumer Olivier Creed and his son Erwin were inspired by the Norwegian fjords – both the breathtaking landscape and the promise of adventure.

What could be more different from lounging on the sofa trawling through another boxset than standing atop a mountain peak with a world of discovery stretching out before you?

Viking Cologne encapsulates this spirit of exploration, the excitement of a new journey and anticipation of a fresh challenge.

The new Viking Cologne is made for trailblazers. The only question is, are you ready for your next adventure?

A fresh take

Creed Viking Cologne
More

The House of Creed launched the original Viking in 2017. A masterful men’s fragrance, it was inspired by the Norsemen’s voyage to Iceland – a land of fire and ice, volcanoes and glaciers.

The new Viking Cologne is a cooler, more universal scent, created for him and for her. It enjoys a marine-like twist – an invigorating counterpoint to its fiery predecessor.

Although named ‘Cologne’, it’s actually an eau de parfum in strength. Its heady complexity has been combined with the freshness traditionally associated with Eau de Cologne, but it shares the same high concentration and Millésime quality as you’d expect from all Creed Eau de Parfums.

Viking Cologne is also a bold, modern take on the iconic fougère fragrance. Fougère comes from the French for ‘fern’, and has become one of the main families of perfumes categorised by its citrus, herbaceous, and floral notes.

These are tied together perfectly in Viking Cologne – a scent that evokes a reawakening, and bottles the green shoots of growth.

As with all Creed creations, the finest aromatic botanicals have been selected from around the world. Indeed, the scent itself represents the spirit of exploration. For example, you’ll find bergamot from Calabria, geranium from Egypt, frankincense from Somalia and sandalwood from Australia. The House of Creed will literally travel to the other side of the world to ensure it sources the perfect ingredients.

The result is an exhilarating scent that opens with exuberant top notes of zesty bergamot, lemon and mandarin, with an energising spiced pink pepper following next.

There are heart notes of heady lavender, nutmeg, rosemary and sage, woven with the delicate green notes of geranium. It’s like a stroll through a verdant forest after heavy rainfall.

And then you’ll reach its base – assured and steadfast, there’s deep, sensual sandalwood, warming cedarwood and bright frankincense layer. The blend is completed with earthy notes of patchouli and vetiver.

Viking spirit

Creed Viking Cologne
More

Popular portrayals of Vikings would have us believe they were a fierce, violent people who ruthlessly conquered any land they came across. But these depictions are inaccurate. In fact, the Vikings didn’t even have horns on their helmets. (You can thank a 19th-century opera costume designer for that.)

Instead, the Norsemen were explorers, driven from their harsh shores by a lack of natural resources. They searched abroad for better goods, tools, clothes, food, farmland and luxuries – both material and cultural.

The Vikings journeyed far and wide to bring home the finest goods the world had to offer. They developed a taste for personal grooming, fragrant cuisine and luxury craft – wine from France, spices from Istanbul, gems, glassware and fragrant woods from India, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

They were the international jet setters of their era – and created spice routes centuries before their southern European counterparts. Indeed, Leif Erikson discovered America nearly 400 years before Christopher Columbus set foot there.

It’s this spirit of exploration that The House of Creed has captured in its latest creation.

In a time when travel is still sadly restricted, Viking Cologne transports us to another world.

Creed Viking Cologne is available via the official Creed online boutique in both a 100ml and 50ml spray bottle format.

Father's Day Gift Guide