Himalaya

SMEL.' Himalaya takes aim at Creed's cult citrus-woody classic. The opening is a bright, zesty rush of bergamot, grapefruit and lemon that closely tracks the original's crisp, cold-morning-air freshness. Where the two diverge is the middle and base: Creed's Himalaya settles into a subtle, creamy sandalwood with soft musk and ambergris that reads expensive and understated, while Copycat's version reaches the sandalwood and cedarwood heart faster and with less texture, landing on a simpler ambergris-musk base that doesn't carry the same quiet sophistication. It performs adequately through the first few hours before fading into a clean skin scent, shorter than the original's 6-8 hour run. As a citrus-woody signature for the office or daytime wear, it captures the spirit of Himalaya's fresh character without the depth that makes the Creed original a favourite among fragrance enthusiasts who know what to look for.