Citron Del Mar

Citron Del Mar takes its cue from Creed's Millesime Imperial, opening with a sun-drenched accord of lemon zest, sea salt and juicy melon that nods to the original's watermelon-and-green-mandarin freshness. A heart of cool, powdery iris and orange blossom softened by bergamot follows, echoing the sophisticated, slightly grey texture the original is known for. The base settles into generic woody notes, musk and ambergris, aiming for the same transparent, salty-musky drydown. Where genuine Millesime Imperial carries a distinctive ozonic, almost metallic marine quality alongside its iris heart, this dupe leans sweeter and fruitier, with the melon and citrus doing more of the work and the mineral, salty tang toned down considerably. Longevity is where the two diverge least, both fragrances wearing relatively lightly, though this dupe's citrus-iris character fades a touch faster into a soft musk-ambergris skin scent. It's a pleasant, easy-wearing marine citrus for warm-weather days, boardwalk strolls or smart-casual daytime wear, at a fraction of the original's price.