Creed Aventus is one of the most popular men’s fragrances on the market. A number of wet shaving soaps and creams have taken inspiration from Aventus for their own. Here are 11 Aventus inspirations.
What Is Creed Aventus?
From the Creed Boutique website:
The exceptional Aventus was inspired by the dramatic life of a historic emperor, celebrating strength, power, and success. Introduced in 2010, this scent has grown to become the best-selling fragrance in the history of the brand. Olivier Creed created its iconic name derived from a (“from”) ventus (“the wind”), illustrating the Aventus man as destined to live a driven life, ever galloping with the wind at his back toward success. Aventus is a sophisticated blend for individuals who savor a life well-lived.
Creed Aventus is a fragrance created by Erwin and Olivier Creed. Father and son developed a distinctive concept for creating a single iconic fragrance: Imagine Napoleon in his glorious victories, bathed in manly sweat, riding his steed with his weapons on high. Because of the enormous power of Napoleon’s strength, courage, and impulsive nature they developed a stunning work of fragrance art. That’s the reason for Aventus.
What Does Creed Aventus Smell Like?
The “Official” scent profile of Creed Aventus is:
- Top notes: Pineapple, Bergamot, Blackcurrant Leaves, Apple
- Middle notes: Birch, Pink Berries, Patchouli, Jasmine
- Base notes: Ambergris, Sandalwood, Oakmoss, Vanilla
This stuff is expensive (Amazon affiliate link) but luckily Steve at The Shave Shack Of Texas has a sample sprayer he let me try.
When I first spray it, I get the blast of citrus led by the pineapple-like flavor that is the distinctive factor in Aventus. The initial opening is so strong and dominant in its pineapple-vibe that no other perfume has been able to compete.
Shortly thereafter musk starts to make an appearance and citrusy odors diminish, but the pineapple smell lingers faintly in the background, like it does not want to disappear, so it still lingers late in the dry-down stage.
After about 30 minutes the musk starts to dominate, mixing itself with ambergris, oakmoss, and patchouli, giving it a long-lasting, masculine scent.
Variations
Creed is a specialty house that produces its merchandise in small batches. Due to this fact various batches have occasionally differed in quality. Some batches aren’t woody enough, others have insufficient projection, and others don’t last as long as the online advertisements claim they will. As a result, Aventus is not only a very popular fragrance, it also became a controversial fragrance.
Some batches are regarded more fruity than others. For some, the batches are more popular over time. Fragrance gurus say the batches from 2018 and from 2020 are considered to be dubious when compared with others: they don’t have the fruit notes or smokiness of Aventus as they should. The tester I used from the Shave Shack Of Texas was a 2019 ‘vintage.’
The original Creed Aventus is an Eau di Parfum (EdP). There is also a Eau di Cologne version (Amazon affiliate link) with a different scent profile!
From the Creed Boutique website:
Aventus Cologne is a universal legend that perfectly complements its counterparts while providing an expressive and unconventional fresh olfactive experience entirely of its own. This woody/fresh fragrance bottles the defining moments of individuality and one’s journey to own it.
- Top Notes: Mandarin, Ginger, Baie Rose (Pink Pepper)
- Middle Notes: Indian Sandalwood, Patchouli, Vetiver
- Base Notes: Tonka Bean, Musk, Birch, Styrax
In addition to batch and product variations, in 2021 the European Union (EU) changed some regulations regarding the ingredients in fragrance oils. This resulted in some additional slight variations to the Aventus scent.
Wet Shaving Versions Of Creed Aventus
Special note: Name trademarks and copyrights are properties of their respective manufacturers and/or designer. None of these products are affiliated with Creed or the “official” Aventus in any way.
Note: Amazon, PAA, Saponificio Varesino, and West Coast Shaving links are affiliate.
As far as I am able to determine, the scent profile of all these products are based on the original Creed EdP.
Description (in italics) and ingredient list are from the product’s web page. In alphabetical order:
Ariana And Evans Spartacus
From the AE Grooming website:
This classic of all classic scents evokes power, masculinity, strength and success.
Notes: bergamot, blackcurrant leaves, apple, pineapple, pinkberries, birch, patchouli, jasmine, musk, oakmoss, ambergris, vanilla.
If you are a fan of Creed Aventus and our tallow base with goats milk & lanolin, you’ll really love this soap. It really doesn’t get much better than this.
Ingredients: Stearic Acid, Beef Tallow, Aqua, Goats Milk, Potassium Hydroxide, Kokum Butter, Shea Butter, Castor Oil, Cocoa Butter, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Manteca, Aloe Juice, Avocado Oil, Hemp Seed Oil, Apricot Kernal Seed Oil, Lanolin, Agave, Slippery Elm, Sodium Lactate, Xanthan Gum, Silk Amino Acid, Tussah Silk, Marshmallow Root.
On the puck I get an initial fruity (-ish) note which then recedes into much more of a complex cologne note. On the face of it I think Spartacus is closer to its inspiration than many of the others on this list.
Captain’s Choice Venture
From the Captain’s Choice website:
The multiple layers of this scent are not only well-balanced but inspirational as a whole. First, a hint of pineapple followed by a foundation of bergamot and jasmine – so refreshing!
Shave cream ingredients: Water (Aqua), Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Lauric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Fragrance (Essential Oil/Natural Fragrance Blend), Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Triethanolamine, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, DMDM Hydantoin, Sodium Hydroxide
Venture is also available as a shave soap.
Shave soap ingredients: Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Sodium Stearate, Cocomide MEA, Stearic Acid, Water (Aqua), Cetyl Alcohol, Mineral Oil, Fragrance, Isostearamidopropyl Morpholine Lactate, Triethanolamine.
Venture takes its inspiration from Aventus, but it’s a scent that can stand on its own. My admittedly insensitive nose gets a scent that’s moderate in the jar but relatively mild when lathered, with much more citrus and much less wood from Venture compared to the baseline scent. That’s not to say I don’t like the scent–in fact I rather enjoy it–but it is different. Click/tap here for my full review of Venture shave cream.
Smallflower also carries Venture (both shave cream and shave soap).
Declaration Grooming Sellout
From the Declaration Grooming website:
Smells like a scent that rhymes with shmaventus….
Ingredients: Stearic Acid, Water, Castor Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Vegetable Glycerin, Bison Tallow, Mango Butter, Avocado Oil, Shea Butter, Sodium Hydroxide, Lanolin, Bentonite Clay, Yogurt, Buttermilk, Egg Whites, Coconut Milk, Goat’s Milk, Tocopheryl Acetate, Maltodextrin, Milk Protein, Salix Alba L. (White Willow) Bark Extract, Arctium lappa (Burdock) Root Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Silk Amino Acids
Smallflower also offers Sellout.
Fine Accoutrements Platinum
From the Fine Accoutrements website:
Inspired by Creed Aventus (2010), the scent features a spicy pineapple top note over a smokey oakmoss base note – and exudes the confidence born of wearing a perfectly tailored suit.
Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Stearic Acid, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Castor Oil, Fragrance (Parfum), Potassium Hydroxide, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Tallow Acid, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Carbonate, Limonene , Linalool.
Smallflower and Amazon also carry Fine Platinum
Gingers Garden Aventus Type
From the Ginger’s Garden website:
Men’s shaving soap with an Aventus type Creed duplication. A citrus based scent with currants, apples, bergamot, pineapple, jasmine and birch
Available as a tallow shave soap or a vegan shave soap.
Tallow shaving soap ingredients: Stearic Acid, Tallow, Olive, Coconut, Palm Kernel, Mango Butter, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Hydroxide, Castor, Beeswax, Essential Oil Blend, fragrance.
Vegan Wet Shave Soap ingredients: Coconut oil, Stearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Fragrance.
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements (PAA) Doppelganger Grey
From the PAA website:
An Homage to Creed Aventus.
Ingredients: Potassium Stearate, Glycerin, Potassium Cocoate, Aqua, Potassium Kokumate, Sodium Lactate, Potassium Shea Butterate, Potassium Castorate, Sodium Stearate, Potassium Cocoa Butterate, Potassium Avocadoate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum (Capuacu) Butter, Astrocaryum (Murumuru) Seed Butter, Platonia Insignis (Bacuri) Seed Butter, Parfum [Fragrance]
This soap uses PAA’s ultra-premiun “CK-6” formulation.
Razorock Emperor
From the Italian Barber website:
RazoRock Emperor is inspired by the great CREED AVENTUS. We choose one of the best perfume houses in France to blend us a scent that is very close to the original and made a wonderful shaving cream soap and matching after shave splash. The best part is, you will experience all the glory of Aventus without the major hurt to your pocket…!
Scent: A masterful blend of Pineapple, Bergamot, Black Pepper, Smoke & Leather
Ingredients: Stearic Acid, Aqua (Water), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut)Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Tallow Acid, Hydrogenated Lanolin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea)Butter, Parfum (Fragrance), Argania Spinosa (Argan)Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Extract(Aloe), Geraniol, Citral, Limonene, Linalool.
Saponificio Varesino Opuntia
From the Saponificio Varesino (US) website:
The Opuntia edition is based on the extract of the Opuntia Ficus-Indica, or prickly pear, and features the characteristic fragrance of the collection.
A fruity and aromatic fragrance with top notes of bergamot, pineapple and blackcurrant that give way to floral body notes of birch, rose and jasmine. Woody, musky and slightly amber base notes anchored by patchouli, vetiver, white musk and oak moss.
Ingredients: Sodium Cocoate, Potassium Stearate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Rapeseedate, Sodium Sunflower Seedate, Aqua/Water/Eau, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract Maltodextrin, Fraxinus Ornus (Manna Ash) Sap Extract, Erythritol, Coco Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Ricinus Communis Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Copernica Cerifera Cera, Cera Alba, Galactoarabinan, Sucrose Cocoate, Shorea Stenoptera Seed Butter, Parfum/Fragrance, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Starch, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Citric Acid, Everina Prunastri (Oakmoss) Extract, Alpha Isomethyl Ionone, Citral, Coumarin, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Limonene, Linalool.
Smallflower also offers Opuntia.
Stirling Soap Executive Man
From the Stirling Soap website:
You make your own decisions and stand by them. You give orders and expect them to be immediately followed. You walk into a room and all eyes are on you. You are the Executive Man.
Ingredients: Beef Tallow, Stearic Acid, Distilled Water, Castor Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Vegetable Glycerin, Fragrance Oil, Almond Oil, Shea Butter, Coconut Milk, Lanolin, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lactate
The scent is similar to Aventus but I think the Executive Man scent is “brighter” and more fruit (especially pineapple) and floral-forward. My dull nose gets very little of the Creed base notes in Executive Man (however, remember “your nose may vary”). The scent is moderately strong in the tub, softening some when lathered up.
Click/tap here to read my full review of Executive Man.
Smallflower also carries Executive Man.
Wet Shaving Products (WSP) Olympus
From the WSP website:
Named after the home of the Greek gods and inspired by Creed’s Aventus, this is the scent fit for a king or emperor. It is creamy & smoky and crisp & fruity; provocative and masculine. The initial blast of fresh fruit will hit you sharply. The apple will give way to freshly cut pineapple. Then the smokiness will come out wrapping you in a woody, creamy cloak reminiscent of sandalwood.
A magnificent example of a fruity chypre fragrance, it opens with a burst of fresh pineapple, apple, & bergamot with a hint of blackcurrant; drying down to a woody & warm heart of birch, juniper berries, patchouli and a touch of jasmine; all built on a warm base of vanilla, oak moss, musk, sandalwood & ambergris.
Olympus is available in WSP’s Rustic or Formula T shave soaps, and a shaving cream
My insensitive nose gets a mild citrus fragrance from the jar: the subtleties are completely lost on me (that’s not a knock on WSP–it’s my nose). The scent pretty much disappears when lathered on my face.
Click/tap here for my full review of WSP Olympus shaving cream.
Wickham’s 1912 Classic 24
From the website:
With the essence of a 50s barbers shop, Classic 24 is a fruity, leather fragrance for the modern, classic man. An uplifting blend of rich elements, this scent embodies style, confidence and independence.
Top notes: Bergamot and Pineapple.
Heart notes: Rose, Dry Birch, Moroccan Jasmine and Patchouli.
Base notes: Oak Moss, Musk, Ambergris, and Vanilla
Ingredients: Potassium Stearate, Aqua, Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Cocoa Butterate, Sodium Palmate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Sodium Avocadate, Parfum, White Kaolin, Allantoin, Glycerine.
Conclusion
Summing up, if you are looking for a shaving soap that smells similar to Creed Aventus, any of the eleven soaps listed above should do the trick. Just be sure to pick the one that best suits your needs and preferences.
I hear Just Jack Adventure for Him is very close to Aventus. I haven’t tried it but I do have a few bottles of Just Jack fragrances which are very good clones.
I’m curious, Mark, why you didn’t compare (or give a list of) the splashes/aftershaves/colognes that are “riffs” of Aventus? I mean, wouldn’t the soaps have added “fragrances” from the different butters, oils, etc. used? No disrespect, just curious.
Still a great article, though!
Yes I struggled with that too. I should probably do a separate article about aftershaves.
Great article. I’d love to see more of these similarities in soaps as it can be a bit of minefield when choosing.