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Drilling thick boards requires patience
TL;DR: Takes half an hour to develop. Great woody scent accompanied by some earthy and hesperidic notes with strong sillage and longevity.
The bottle is stylish. This was already true for the predecessors, and this time the flat bottle with the massive metal cap and the snake wrapped around it is visually striking. As before, the bottle is prone to fingerprints. However, the liquid inside is not pitch black but whiskey brown. So, caution is advised with non-black clothing. The visible black is a print, but it is so cleanly and smoothly integrated that it looks like it is part of the glass. The spray head is not pressurized, so I recommend pressing firmly; otherwise, it sprays like a syringe.
Hawas Black starts with a strong note of alcohol. The rather harsh citrus of grapefruit is softened by pineapple. Otherwise, I mainly smell "wood varnish." This is just a personal association of wood + alcohol = wood varnish. I can't put it any other way; the opening of Hawas Black is harsh, unpleasant, and uninviting.
The scent really develops only after maybe twenty, more likely thirty minutes. The alcohol has disappeared, and the citrus is very subtly perceptible in the background. The spectrum of woody notes widens, the scent becomes softer and very pleasant. It remains rather dry and woody. It has a slight green and fresh undertone and definitely does not head towards an oud bomb.
The longevity is very strong, as is the sillage. You will only get rid of it from your clothing through intense washing in a timely manner. Therefore, I advise interested buyers to be cautious and frugal with the dosage. This is a "one spray per day" performer.
I purchased this fragrance at the end of January 2025 from a German online discounter. I have heard and read a lot online about the alleged potency of the Hawas fragrances and bought them in 2024 from the same online retailer. My experiences with Hawas (reissue) and Hawas Ice were at best mediocre. I am still not sure if I received fakes, if something was off, or if I simply do not smell certain compounds used in them. But since I have always received originals from there for other more expensive products, I wouldn't assume that.
The bottle is stylish. This was already true for the predecessors, and this time the flat bottle with the massive metal cap and the snake wrapped around it is visually striking. As before, the bottle is prone to fingerprints. However, the liquid inside is not pitch black but whiskey brown. So, caution is advised with non-black clothing. The visible black is a print, but it is so cleanly and smoothly integrated that it looks like it is part of the glass. The spray head is not pressurized, so I recommend pressing firmly; otherwise, it sprays like a syringe.
Hawas Black starts with a strong note of alcohol. The rather harsh citrus of grapefruit is softened by pineapple. Otherwise, I mainly smell "wood varnish." This is just a personal association of wood + alcohol = wood varnish. I can't put it any other way; the opening of Hawas Black is harsh, unpleasant, and uninviting.
The scent really develops only after maybe twenty, more likely thirty minutes. The alcohol has disappeared, and the citrus is very subtly perceptible in the background. The spectrum of woody notes widens, the scent becomes softer and very pleasant. It remains rather dry and woody. It has a slight green and fresh undertone and definitely does not head towards an oud bomb.
The longevity is very strong, as is the sillage. You will only get rid of it from your clothing through intense washing in a timely manner. Therefore, I advise interested buyers to be cautious and frugal with the dosage. This is a "one spray per day" performer.
I purchased this fragrance at the end of January 2025 from a German online discounter. I have heard and read a lot online about the alleged potency of the Hawas fragrances and bought them in 2024 from the same online retailer. My experiences with Hawas (reissue) and Hawas Ice were at best mediocre. I am still not sure if I received fakes, if something was off, or if I simply do not smell certain compounds used in them. But since I have always received originals from there for other more expensive products, I wouldn't assume that.
Translated · Show original
Opportunity Makes Scents
I will try to approach this matter in a sober and pragmatic way. A review usually focuses on a personal impression and a few perspectives. Therefore, I will mention if I omit something in my evaluation whenever possible.
Scent:
It starts with an opening of fresh, fruity pineapple that is immediately accompanied by a smoky aroma. The pineapple is clearly in the foreground here, while the other fruity notes and the peppery kick act as cheerleaders.
It doesn't take long before these cheerleaders step back a bit, and the fresh, fruity pineapple transforms into a fruity-sweet candied (smoky) pineapple. Alongside this comes a spicy-fresh character that, according to some naysayers, reminds one of shower gel (do people all use the same brand, and if so, which one is it?) or the character of spicy fougères. Some say it’s a cross between Sauvage Elixir and Aventus. I understand what is meant, but I don’t find the description accurate.
I would say it leans more towards a warm, spicy scent. Musk, labdanum, woods, and spices flank this smoky-candied pineapple excellently. For some, this might be too much harmony, too much streamlining, where they search in vain for the contrast and ambivalence celebrated by many lovers of men’s fragrances.
Except for perhaps the last 2 hours, the candied-smoky pineapple artwork remains intact; after that, the fruit leaves the stage, and a fresh-smoky, slightly spicy base tone lingers that slowly fades away. The base tone lacks a bit of color, but that has always been my impression of Aventus.
So, that’s my impression of the scent. I like it; it’s a great fragrance that can be worn anywhere.
It has the complete DNA of Aventus in it, but it is its own thing.
Does it make the original redundant or vice versa? Hmmm. For me, not owning a matured batch of the original Aventus to compare it to, it does. But for someone who already has a matured batch that they personally like, they might not find enough new here.
S/S:
I have tested several batches of the original by now, but all had poor longevity on my skin. I have never been able to test the OG batches from 2010-2013. The Absolu is also not a "beast mode" scent, but the longevity on skin and clothing is acceptable. It lasts about two days on my shirt, but on my skin, the pineapple flame burns out after about 6 hours.
Bottle:
The bottle is typically solid and nice to look at for Creed; the spray head distributes generous amounts of the precious liquid with too little pressure as a stream. It does not drip or leak.
P/V:
Should one evaluate a fragrance now independently of everything, including the price in absolute numbers, the price-performance ratio in relation to other creations from the same house, and other products from the same niche?
Yes, one should. For exactly these considerations, there is the price-performance value that can be awarded. And how is this price-performance ratio? Oh dear. "Deficient" would still be generous. No, the P/V is a disaster by design.
However, anyone who believes they will enjoy an equivalent and even identical scent experience with one of the more well-known fragrance clones, such as those from the CDNIM line, those from Afnan, Al Haramain, or Parfums Vintage, will also be disappointed. I cannot pass judgment on the new offerings from DUA, but I would also be skeptical.
Based on that, I would come to the following conclusion: Anyone who already has an original Aventus should seriously consider whether they need this scent. Those who want this Creed fragrance will likely be willing to pay Creed prices for it anyway. But for those searching for a scent with the Aventus DNA, there is plenty of selection out there (even beyond fragrance clones) where not only the scent but also the P/V ratio is right.
Scent:
It starts with an opening of fresh, fruity pineapple that is immediately accompanied by a smoky aroma. The pineapple is clearly in the foreground here, while the other fruity notes and the peppery kick act as cheerleaders.
It doesn't take long before these cheerleaders step back a bit, and the fresh, fruity pineapple transforms into a fruity-sweet candied (smoky) pineapple. Alongside this comes a spicy-fresh character that, according to some naysayers, reminds one of shower gel (do people all use the same brand, and if so, which one is it?) or the character of spicy fougères. Some say it’s a cross between Sauvage Elixir and Aventus. I understand what is meant, but I don’t find the description accurate.
I would say it leans more towards a warm, spicy scent. Musk, labdanum, woods, and spices flank this smoky-candied pineapple excellently. For some, this might be too much harmony, too much streamlining, where they search in vain for the contrast and ambivalence celebrated by many lovers of men’s fragrances.
Except for perhaps the last 2 hours, the candied-smoky pineapple artwork remains intact; after that, the fruit leaves the stage, and a fresh-smoky, slightly spicy base tone lingers that slowly fades away. The base tone lacks a bit of color, but that has always been my impression of Aventus.
So, that’s my impression of the scent. I like it; it’s a great fragrance that can be worn anywhere.
It has the complete DNA of Aventus in it, but it is its own thing.
Does it make the original redundant or vice versa? Hmmm. For me, not owning a matured batch of the original Aventus to compare it to, it does. But for someone who already has a matured batch that they personally like, they might not find enough new here.
S/S:
I have tested several batches of the original by now, but all had poor longevity on my skin. I have never been able to test the OG batches from 2010-2013. The Absolu is also not a "beast mode" scent, but the longevity on skin and clothing is acceptable. It lasts about two days on my shirt, but on my skin, the pineapple flame burns out after about 6 hours.
Bottle:
The bottle is typically solid and nice to look at for Creed; the spray head distributes generous amounts of the precious liquid with too little pressure as a stream. It does not drip or leak.
P/V:
Should one evaluate a fragrance now independently of everything, including the price in absolute numbers, the price-performance ratio in relation to other creations from the same house, and other products from the same niche?
Yes, one should. For exactly these considerations, there is the price-performance value that can be awarded. And how is this price-performance ratio? Oh dear. "Deficient" would still be generous. No, the P/V is a disaster by design.
However, anyone who believes they will enjoy an equivalent and even identical scent experience with one of the more well-known fragrance clones, such as those from the CDNIM line, those from Afnan, Al Haramain, or Parfums Vintage, will also be disappointed. I cannot pass judgment on the new offerings from DUA, but I would also be skeptical.
Based on that, I would come to the following conclusion: Anyone who already has an original Aventus should seriously consider whether they need this scent. Those who want this Creed fragrance will likely be willing to pay Creed prices for it anyway. But for those searching for a scent with the Aventus DNA, there is plenty of selection out there (even beyond fragrance clones) where not only the scent but also the P/V ratio is right.
Translated · Show original
Bausparaquat.
The obvious aquatic opens with a successful portion of grapefruit, fruity and spicy with a kick of cardamom and rounded off with a slightly floral note.
Just moments later, however, the field of heart and base notes opens up. The moss is briefly very dominant here and will certainly irritate some, but it quickly finds its rhythm and forms a counterpoint to the maritime freshness with the patchouli.
The ensemble remains, even though the grapefruit quickly fades, distinctly fresh and aromatic despite the green-earthy and spicy-aquatic notes.
It is more of a "cheerful day at the gravel pit" than a "sunbathing on the Italian Riviera" type of aquatic.
The scent does not reinvent the wheel; apart from the little moss situation, it is unobtrusive, polite, and pleasant. It is a well-made functional fragrance, not an olfactory journey into a fairy tale realm. Some cynics might call it "conformist and characterless," but some cynics also smell like damp barns and civet urine and feel good about it.
How one evaluates the longevity largely depends on one's own expectations. On my skin, the scent lasts a good 4 hours, but it remains significantly perceptible as a skin scent for much longer. The performance is absolutely fine, especially for closed spaces and a professional environment, even at high temperatures.
Just moments later, however, the field of heart and base notes opens up. The moss is briefly very dominant here and will certainly irritate some, but it quickly finds its rhythm and forms a counterpoint to the maritime freshness with the patchouli.
The ensemble remains, even though the grapefruit quickly fades, distinctly fresh and aromatic despite the green-earthy and spicy-aquatic notes.
It is more of a "cheerful day at the gravel pit" than a "sunbathing on the Italian Riviera" type of aquatic.
The scent does not reinvent the wheel; apart from the little moss situation, it is unobtrusive, polite, and pleasant. It is a well-made functional fragrance, not an olfactory journey into a fairy tale realm. Some cynics might call it "conformist and characterless," but some cynics also smell like damp barns and civet urine and feel good about it.
How one evaluates the longevity largely depends on one's own expectations. On my skin, the scent lasts a good 4 hours, but it remains significantly perceptible as a skin scent for much longer. The performance is absolutely fine, especially for closed spaces and a professional environment, even at high temperatures.
