You can surely rely on Royal Water by Creed when you wanna carry a refreshing yet elegant aura throughout the warm seasons. This underrated gem comes with a bunch of contrasting accords that work brilliantly together.
However, it’s very pricey, and not everyone can buy short-lived summer fragrances at such a high cost.
So, after months of research and trial, I shortlisted some inexpensive Royal Water alternatives that evoke a similarly charming feel.
Wanna know about these amazing dupes in detail?
Then, stay till the end of this write-up.
What Does Royal Water Creed Smell Like?
Released in 1997, Royal Water is a fresh, citrusy, aromatic fragrance by Creed. It has an uplifting peppermint aroma that elegantly infuses with green basil, citruses, and juniper berry nuances. With a smooth hint of musk and cedar, the base smells cozy, masculine, and classy.
Olivier Creed beautifully composed this clean and vibrant cologne to give tribute to the young British royals from the House of Windsor.
Now, let’s check out the sophisticated note profile of Royal Water:
Top Notes: Citruses and Mint
Middle Notes: Juniper Berries, Jamaican Pepper, Cumin, and Basil
Base Notes: Musk, Cedarwood, and Ambergris
From the first spritz, Royal Water will overwhelm you with a fresh, upbeat, citrusy aroma gracefully combined with peppery mint. The opening is so refreshing that it reminds me of taking a cool shower on a summer morning.
The piney juniper berry aroma becomes prominent with time. When the core arrives, green basil, along with a spicy undertone, makes the aroma bold and energetic.
Even though this is a fresh and clean composition, it presents some warm qualities during the dry-down. Its musky, woody closing with an animalic undertone creates a mature and seductive ambiance.
Moreover, Royal Water is a perfectly balanced fragrance that you can use from summer to spring. Plus, its musky, woody aura lasts over 8 hours with moderate sillage.
But it’s very pricey. So, if you wanna enjoy this refreshing aroma at an affordable price, check out the following alternatives.
What Colognes Smell Similar To Royal Water Creed?
Royal Water by Creed has such a brilliant composition that no other cologne in the market can exactly replicate its aromatic experience.
However, after testing out numerous similar-smelling fragrances, I’ve sorted out the ones that can be used as replacements for this Creed masterpiece.
So, let’s check out the best 7 Creed Royal Water alternatives:
1. Eau de Guerlain
Top Notes: Lemon, Bergamot, Basil, and Fruity Notes
Middle Notes: Bergamot, Mint, Caraway, Lavender, Carnation, and Sandalwood
Base Notes: Oakmoss, Neroli, Musk, and Amber
You can surely use Eau de Guerlain as an affordable Creed Royal Water substitute due to its similarly refreshing, citrusy, minty aroma. Even though it was created in 1974, it never smells dated or old to me.
From top to bottom, Eau de Guerlain conveys a clean, uplifting feel that no one can help but enjoy.
This cologne starts with a prominent citrusy aroma with a subtle green undertone. I actually find it a little bit sharper and lighter than the Royal Water.
Peppery mint stays prominent even in the core. Here, instead of juniper, aromatic lavender, along with some floral accords, gives the fragrance an airy, fresh quality.
I won’t say the dry-down is as addictive as Royal Water. But the classy masculine tone is there, which intensifies with the warm, musky hint of amber and oakmoss.
Eau de Guerlain may lack performance, with around 5 to 6 hours of longevity and moderate projection. But considering its inexpensive price, I think this is a great substitute.
So, if you are up for something more refreshing, this Guerlain fragrance won’t let you down.
When To Wear
The cool and fresh tone of Eau de Guerlain goes perfectly with summer or springtime vacations, beach parties, or any casual outings. But I think you can wear it to any occasional settings during the warm season.
Why Should You Buy
- All-time classic summer cologne.
- Perfectly balanced light and heavy accords.
- Invigorating floral twist.
- Attracts compliments.
- Cheaper and more masculine than Royal Water.
2. Corallium Carthusia
Top Notes: Bay Leaf, Calabrian Bergamot, Italian Mandarin, and Myrrh
Middle Notes: Cedar, Woody Notes, and Patchouli
Base Notes: Sage, White Musk, and Resins
Though it’s not a clone, Corallium by Carthusia has perfectly captured the classy, citrus-woody essence of Royal Water.
When you first spray this fragrance, you’ll feel a strong bergamot aroma, along with the fresh juiciness of orange and spicy bay leaf. Myrrh’s sweet, balsamic nuance adds classiness to the opening while also balancing out the citrusy sharpness.
The core is smooth and delightfully masculine, with cedar and fresh woodsy accords.
Gradually, it settles into a nice and warm base. Here, a smooth and soft, musky, ambery aroma with a dominating sage nuance creates an elegant ambiance.
My husband loves its zesty aroma so much that he has been using this cologne for years. And he got around 8 hours of longevity from Corallium.
So, if you like summer colognes with a clean, smooth, and woody composition, definitely go for this affordable Creed Royal Water dupe.
When To Wear
With a fresh and breezy nuance, Corallium by Carthusia is best suited for any daytime events during the summer, spring, or sometimes in the fall. Yet, I think you can wear it anytime you wanna smell refreshing and, at the same time, immensely elegant.
Why Should You Buy
- Enjoyable summer scent.
- You can get it at a reasonable price.
- Brings in compliments.
- Women love to smell it on men.
- Good lasting power.
- Seductive and refined dry-down.
3. Yuzu Man Caron
Top Notes: Yuzu, Lemon Verbena, and Basil
Middle Notes: Black Fig, Fruity Notes, and Pistachio
Base Notes: Virginia Cedar, Sandalwood, and Spices
If you like refreshing fragrances with a little fruity punch, I believe Yuzu Man by Caron will be a great Royal Water dupe for you.
Its opening has a zesty lemon aroma with a subtle green undertone. The sweet, citrusy yuzu nuance is quite prominent and stays noticeable throughout the cologne.
The core is sweet and very calming, with a delightful mix of fig and fruity accords. Pistachio’s creaminess balances the citrusy tone and adds a sense of depth to it.
Although the base doesn’t have any musky notes, its upbeat, spicy, woody aroma will surely remind you of Royal Water by Creed.
Here, cedar and sandalwood combine gracefully to give the aroma a smooth, warm, and extremely sophisticated finish.
Plus, this affordable cologne will allow you to smell fresh, classy, and addictive for around 6 hours. Considering the low price, its sillage and projection are also impressive.
When To Wear
Yuzu Man by Caron works best when the days are warm and clean. So, wear it during any summer or springtime event where you need to smell fresh, playful, and refined throughout the day.
Why Should You Buy
- Well-balanced citrusy accords.
- Fruity, nutty twist in the core.
- Smells refreshing and classy.
- Women find it quite attractive.
- Very reasonable pricing.
- Addictive floral green undertone.
4. Acqua di Parma Colonia
Top Notes: Sicilian Citruses, Rosemary, and Lemon Verbena
Middle Notes: Bulgarian Rose, Jasmine, and Lavender
Base Notes: White Musk, Vetiver, Amber, and Sandalwood
Acqua di Parma Colonia will be a perfect option for those who want a Royal Water alternative that stands out on its own.
This fragrance is actually the first-ever cologne from the house. And it became so popular that even celebrities like Audrey Hepburn admired this fragrance.
Colonia opens up with the invigorating citrusy aroma of Sicilian lemon smoothly blended with rosemary and lemon verbena.
The aroma gets smoother and more on the floral side as soon as it reaches the heart. Prominent Bulgarian rose, along with jasmine’s indolic nuances, gives the aroma some fresh, rich texture.
It then settles with a smooth, musky, woody base, where sandalwood and musk mingle in the best way possible.
What makes this scent stand out is the soft, airy touch of lavender that gives Colonia a new dimension of addictive freshness.
Additionally, if you wanna enjoy more timeless compositions like this one, check out other colognes similar to Acqua Di Parma Colonia.
When To Wear
Colonia’s super-fresh aroma can be your perfect signature scent for summer or spring. From vacations to formal meet-ups, this cologne will make sure you always get an addictive and pleasing aura.
Why Should You Buy
- Offers great value for the money.
- Quite versatile.
- Classy, elegant, and soothingly masculine aroma.
- Good longevity and projection.
- Lasts on the skin for over 8 hours.
- Suitable for both formal and casual events.
- Captivating scent trail.
5. Eau du Sud Goutal
Top Notes: Basil, Bergamot, Grapefruit, and Mandarin Orange
Middle Notes: Lime, Lemon Verbena, Mint, and Jasmine
Base Notes: Oakmoss, Vetiver, and Patchouli
With a comparable note profile and aroma, Eau du Sud by Goutal is the next Creed Royal Water clone on this list. It smells utterly refreshing from the very first sniff.
Throughout the opening, I could feel the vibrant smell of bergamot and grapefruit, along with a spicy, green hint of basil.
A luminous blend of lime and lemon verbena makes the core more citrusy and uplifting. But it never gets too astringent or sour, as mint is there to balance it out with its cooling, peppery nuance.
From the top to the core, I find Eau du Sud a bit more citrusy leaning than the Royal Water. But the fragrance never loses the classy freshness that I like the most about it.
Instead of a musky tone, its dry-down offers an earthy, mossy aroma beautifully layered with vetiver’s fresh woodiness.
When To Wear
To get the best experience, wear Eau du Sud on any occasion during the summer, spring, or early fall. Its refreshing, citrusy blast can make you feel energized only with 4 to 6 sprays.
Why Should You Buy
- Less expensive price.
- Sharper and slightly sweeter than Royal Water.
- Classy, masculine, and pleasant dry-down.
- Over 7 hours of longevity.
- Arm-length sillage.
6. 1872 For Men Clive Christian
Top Notes: Petitgrain, Lime, Grapefruit, Bergamot, Lavender, and Rosemary
Middle Notes: Clary Sage, Tagetes, Cyclamen, Freesia, and Jasmine
Base Notes: Virginia Cedar, Musk, Amber, Patchouli, and French Labdanum
If you need a longer-lasting Royal Water dupe with high-end quality, nothing can be better than 1872 For Men by Clive Christian.
When I first sprayed this gorgeous cologne, I felt an invigorating aroma of citruses, along with the green spiciness of petitgrain and rosemary.
Where Royal Water stays citrusy and fresh throughout the core, this fragrance gets a delicious floral turn as it evolves. The middle is smooth, refreshing, and immensely refined, with a blend of sage and floral notes.
The deeper notes come into play when the fragrance starts to settle. Here, musk, cedar, and amber harmoniously combine, giving the base a rich, masculine, and seductive aroma.
During the dry-down, I could also smell a light citrusy, green tone under the musky powderiness.
Overall, I would say this is one of the best Geza Schoen compositions that comes with niche quality. But if you need something cheaper, you can try inspired colognes that smell similar to Clive Christian 1872.
When To Wear
Whether it is a night party or a day gathering, you can wear Clive Christian 1872 at any event throughout the summer, spring, and fall.
Why Should You Buy
- Gorgeous citrusy, lavender combination.
- More than 12 hours of longevity.
- Room-filling projection.
- Natural smelling citrusy accords.
- Refined and manly aroma.
- Luxurious-looking bottle design.
- It can be a great gift option for your man.
7. Quercus Penhaligon’s
Top Notes: Amalfi Lemon, Lime, Bergamot, and Mandarin Orange
Middle Notes: Lily-of-the-Valley, Jasmine, and Cardamom
Base Notes: Oakmoss, Galbanum, Sandalwood, Musk, and Amber
With Christian Provenzano’s fabulous composition, Quercus Penhaligon’s came to the market back in 1996. This is another premium cologne on my list that resembles Creed’s Royal Water.
It begins with a cheering mix of bergamot, lime, and Armafi lemon. The stimulating citrusy nuance is then perfectly balanced out by the sweet juiciness of Mandarin orange.
As the aroma develops, some floral notes with a spicy, nutty undertone add a serene character to the core.
Finally, in the base, you’ll feel the woody, powdery nature of musk alongside some earth, resinous accords.
The cologne is top-notch, and there’s no doubt about it. But considering its high price, I wasn’t really satisfied with its performance. It only lasted around 6 hours with intimate sillage. I wanted this luxurious aroma to last on my skin a bit longer than that.
Yet, if you wanna enrich your premium collection of fresh scents, this one would be a great choice for sure.
When To Wear
This is a fresh and clean scent for regular use in summer, spring, and early fall. But I think you can wear it anytime when you wanna smell fresh, sophisticated, and alluring.
Why Should You Buy
- Exquisite citrusy composition.
- Appealing earthy, musky sillage with a tangy undertone.
- Luxurious quality.
- Fresh, upbeat, yet classy aroma.
Final Words
Finding a balanced citrusy, woody composition such as Royal Water can be time-consuming. But I made the work easier by sharing this list of the best smell-alikes of this high-end fragrance.
So, don’t wait anymore, just go through the list and find a suitable one for you.
And let me know your further queries in the comment box.
