Top Notes 
Bergamot
Lemon
Melon
Orange
Basil
Cumin
Rosemary
Violet
Heart Notes 
Coriander
Ginger
Jasmine
Pepper
Cyclamen
Base Notes 
Musk
Cedarwood
Oakmoss
Sandalwood
Amber
11/21/2013
Apicius
224 Reviews
Apicius
Top Review
8
Secrets of a Bore?
Creed fragrances are problematic to me since very often, they are not easily accessible. Most of what this brand has released so far is boring to me at first sight: too much understatement, eternal recurrence and no experiments. Whoever is looking for new and spectacular fragrances will easily be disappointed.
The 1992 release Erolfa could very well be handled under these premises. Nevertheless I think there are some aspects worth mentioning that will make this fragrance attractive for a small group of perfume enthusiasts.
When Erolfa was launched it turned out to be among the first wave of aquatic fragrances that rolled down to us in the early nineties. Its foam left traces in the common fragrance memory. Far away from some of the later aquatics with rather synthetic appeal Erolfa includes a complexness of nuances that was still typical for early nineties fragrances. Here, a marine impression is formed out of a potpourri of citric, herbal, spicy and flowery notes – it is the blend that does the trick! Typical aquatic potions like calone and others seem not to play the most important part in it.
With this style, I see a certain resemblance to other earlier aquatics such as the well known Quasar by Jesus del Pozo or the long ago discontinued Trussardi Action Uomo. In this environment Erolfa would take the place of the more refined fragrance.
And this is exactly the point where Erolfa becomes interesting. Mostly, aquatics are anything but dapper old-fashioned gentlemen's colognes. Bottle design and advertising rather transport freshness and sportiness. They generally fit in better with jeans and T-shirt rather than suit and tie. As a typical Creed fragrance, Erolfa gets quite out of this line. It was a remarkable merit of the perfumer to compose an aquatic fragrance in a way that it would fit in with the image of such a conservative brand.
The highest complexness of Erolfa is presented in the top notes. Citruses, flowery notes and spiciness are embedded into a boozy but lean and sharp environment. It is just the sharpness that one would connect to inexpensive Pre-Shaves. So, the first impression ties in with classic gents' cosmetics, and the label "Barbershop style" may be at least justifiable.
In its heart notes Erolfa gains its inner tension especially from lean and blond spices: coriander and a peppery note. Personally, I do not like dry coriander spiciness very often but here it is perfectly integrated into the fragrance. It is the proverbial salt in the soup.
Towards the base notes there may be a short period of soapiness which provides some volume to this overall lean fragrance. Spiciness and aquatic freshness keep up for a while, down into the slightly dry and woody base. In that base however, nothing exceptional can be found.
The prices of the Creed perfumes are those of ambitious niche perfumery – and so one has to swallow a bitter pill if the expensive cologne more or less resembles some of the mass market scent experiences. This is the case especially with Erolfa's base note. Something like it can be found elsewhere as well – and for a much lesser price. Also, the base note is already fully reached after 3 hours. One has to accept a lot of Creed's understatement here.
As an elegant aquatic for those who wear suit and tie, Erolfa is partly recommendable. Personally I expect from a high priced perfume that it is not descending to mass marked quality after 2 or 3 hours. But since only a few colognes cross the bridge between an aquatic and an elegant stlyle, or between classiness and modernism, a closer look at Erolfa may be justified. Make sure you have time for a rather thoroughly test, maybe it fits!
The 1992 release Erolfa could very well be handled under these premises. Nevertheless I think there are some aspects worth mentioning that will make this fragrance attractive for a small group of perfume enthusiasts.
When Erolfa was launched it turned out to be among the first wave of aquatic fragrances that rolled down to us in the early nineties. Its foam left traces in the common fragrance memory. Far away from some of the later aquatics with rather synthetic appeal Erolfa includes a complexness of nuances that was still typical for early nineties fragrances. Here, a marine impression is formed out of a potpourri of citric, herbal, spicy and flowery notes – it is the blend that does the trick! Typical aquatic potions like calone and others seem not to play the most important part in it.
With this style, I see a certain resemblance to other earlier aquatics such as the well known Quasar by Jesus del Pozo or the long ago discontinued Trussardi Action Uomo. In this environment Erolfa would take the place of the more refined fragrance.
And this is exactly the point where Erolfa becomes interesting. Mostly, aquatics are anything but dapper old-fashioned gentlemen's colognes. Bottle design and advertising rather transport freshness and sportiness. They generally fit in better with jeans and T-shirt rather than suit and tie. As a typical Creed fragrance, Erolfa gets quite out of this line. It was a remarkable merit of the perfumer to compose an aquatic fragrance in a way that it would fit in with the image of such a conservative brand.
The highest complexness of Erolfa is presented in the top notes. Citruses, flowery notes and spiciness are embedded into a boozy but lean and sharp environment. It is just the sharpness that one would connect to inexpensive Pre-Shaves. So, the first impression ties in with classic gents' cosmetics, and the label "Barbershop style" may be at least justifiable.
In its heart notes Erolfa gains its inner tension especially from lean and blond spices: coriander and a peppery note. Personally, I do not like dry coriander spiciness very often but here it is perfectly integrated into the fragrance. It is the proverbial salt in the soup.
Towards the base notes there may be a short period of soapiness which provides some volume to this overall lean fragrance. Spiciness and aquatic freshness keep up for a while, down into the slightly dry and woody base. In that base however, nothing exceptional can be found.
The prices of the Creed perfumes are those of ambitious niche perfumery – and so one has to swallow a bitter pill if the expensive cologne more or less resembles some of the mass market scent experiences. This is the case especially with Erolfa's base note. Something like it can be found elsewhere as well – and for a much lesser price. Also, the base note is already fully reached after 3 hours. One has to accept a lot of Creed's understatement here.
As an elegant aquatic for those who wear suit and tie, Erolfa is partly recommendable. Personally I expect from a high priced perfume that it is not descending to mass marked quality after 2 or 3 hours. But since only a few colognes cross the bridge between an aquatic and an elegant stlyle, or between classiness and modernism, a closer look at Erolfa may be justified. Make sure you have time for a rather thoroughly test, maybe it fits!
Cnix
AshrafR
Pio
Topfpflanze3
KLewis
GreMuser
NicheOnly
JonasSantos
Elmitz
KingPin
