Creed is a well-known fragrance house with a reputation for creating iconic scents that withstand the test of time. Launched in 2017, Viking is a fresh, woody cologne that is versatile, yet refined.
Whether you’re having a hard time tracking this fragrance down or you’re looking for a less expensive option, you’ve come to the right place. Here I’ll be breaking down some of the best alternatives and dupes you should try if you love Viking. I’ll explain the pros and cons of each option, as well as what to look out for when choosing an alternative to this fresh fragrance.
The Features We Want from Viking by Creed
Viking by Creed smells like a mix of fresh pink pepper, refreshing mint, and sweet citrus before moving through floral and spicy middle notes. As it settles into a earthy base of wood and musk subtle notes from the rest of the accord reappear and softly fade throughout the day, creating a complex fragrance accord that feels new, yet familiar every you wear it.
This long lasting, masculine fragrance feels mature and sophisticated when worn. There is also an assertive quality to it that is reminiscent of something a high powered businessman might wear to work everyday. Viking becomes more subtle as it matures which is why it is such a classic, popular fragrance that is highly sought after. There is also a vintage barbershop feel, which increases its versatility and fresh vibe. Viking works well in a wide variety of situations and wouldn’t seem out of place in a board room nor during a weekend trip to the beach.
The sillage is more pronounced with Viking, which means it may or may not work well with your individual body chemistry. However, if you love the way this uplifting classic scent smells you might be looking for a clone or alternative fragrance that elicits very similar vibes. Because Creed’s fragrances tend to be expensive, you might also be looking for a suitable alternative that works within your budget. So, without further delay, lets take a look at my top ten list of dupes and alternatives you should try if you love Viking by Creed.
10 Clones of Viking by Creed
1. DIVAIN-300 by Divain (Inspired by Viking from Creed)
First up on my list of clones and alternatives for Viking is DIVAIN-300 Homme. Upon first spray top notes of pink pepper, bergamot, and Sicilian lemon lend a very similar opening to Viking before moving through middle notes of mint, spice, and rose. As it settles into a soft base of lavender, vetiver, patchouli, and sandalwood it becomes more of a subtle skin scent before fading away. There are hints of pink pepper that tend to linger throughout the dry down, which is very similar to the way this note evolves in Viking. I think this fragrance is somewhat less minty than Viking, which gives this dupe a warmer vibe. In terms of projection, I think it does a decent job and is not overbearing nor undetectable. Unfortunately, this fragrance doesn’t last very long so you’ll find yourself reapplying it throughout the day.
2. OilPerfumery – Our Impression of Creed – Viking
If you enjoy the refreshing vibe of mint notes in Viking and wish they lasted a bit longer, then you should check out Our Impression of Creed by OilPerfumery. The opening is quite similar to Viking with sweet, citrusy notes of lemon, bergamot, and pink pepper. The mint note develops quickly as this fragrance moves through its middle floral accord. To my nose, this dupe is a bit more rosy than Viking, though it settles nicely as it develops into a base of sandalwood, patchouli, and lavandin. Lavandin is typically more potent than lavender, and this quality is quite apparent within this fragrance. Make sure you love the way lavender smells on your skin if you decide to test this dupe out, as it will be present throughout the day. You might want to give OilPerfumery’s Impression of Creed a try if you’re looking for something similar but somewhat more floral and minty.
3. Corsair by ALT.
While ALT. usually does a pretty good job of creating fragrances that are highly similar to best sellers, Corsair misses the mark somewhat. Upon first spray I immediately notice bold hints of pink pepper that tend to overwhelm the rest of the citrusy top notes. While it does settle a bit the pepper remains at the heart, giving it a much spicier vibe than Viking. Corsair is quite high in sillage, so you definitely want to try this one out before purchasing it. I did notice that it slowly transcends into a base of sandalwood, patchouli, and lavandin which help to tone down the pink pepper just a bit. Corsair will last about five hours before finally fading away. I noticed that it tends to perform a bit better in warmer weather, although the heat also makes the pink pepper note more prominent as well. This could have been due to my body chemistry though. If you really like bold pepper notes then you might want to give Corsair a try, although I’m not sure if this dupe hits the spot quite as well as some of their other fragrances do.
4. Scarlet Warrior by The Dua Brand
Next on my list of dupes for Viking is Scarlet Warrior by The Dua Brand. To my nose this fragrance is slightly woodier than Viking, especially as it dries down. Upon first spray I do notice stronger elements of pink pepper than Viking has, but it doesn’t overwhelm the rest of the notes like it does with some of the other fragrances on my list. Scarlet Warrior reveals itself gradually over the first fifteen minutes of spraying it and I noticed that middle notes of peppermint do quickly fade away within the first hour. Slightly citrusy notes are still apparent as it dries down into a earthy yet woody base of sandalwood, patchouli, and lavandin. I was impressed with its longevity, as just a couple of sprays lasted throughout the day, making it a suitable option to wear at work. If you’re looking for something slightly woodier and with a spicy, peppery heart then you might want to give Scarlet Warrior a try.
5. Seven Seas by Alexandria Fragrances
Although Seven Seas is intended to be a dupe of Viking, this fragrance opens up very differently. Top notes of lemon and bergamot are much more pronounced than the pink pepper notes, making this fragrance smell nothing like Viking upon first spray. Middle notes of mint and pink pepper do eventually make an appearance as the top notes settle, but to my nose this fragrance still smells quite different. Bottom notes of earthy patchouli, sandalwood, and lavender do eventually show up, but the formulation smells somewhat synthetic and slightly off putting. While both Viking and Seven Seas have very similar fragrance accords, they develop quite differently. Seven Seas will last about six or seven hours, however, you should try this fragrance out before buying a bottle. While Alexandria Fragrances typically does a great job of creating dupes of best sellers, I think they may want to consider reformulating this one.
6. Old Spice Original Shulton Company for men
For an affordable, everyday fragrance that captures a similar vibe as Viking be sure to check out Old Spice Original. While they are formulated a bit differently and have a different set of fragrance accords, both share a very similar dry down experience and a classically fresh vibe. A combination of nutmeg and star anise immediately hit my nose at first spray, closely followed by more subtle citrus notes of orange and lemon. Cinnamon, pimento peppers, and hints of floral jasmine and heliotrope begin to take shape about an hour after the initial spray. The base notes take a while to develop, but eventually warm amber, sandalwood, and tonka bean reveal themselves as it settles into a musky skin scent. Old Spice and Viking both give off a similar mature vibe, however Old Spice is a very spicy fragrance whereas Viking strikes my nose as a bit fresher and modern with a much more subtle opening. If you enjoy layering and experimenting with different fragrances you could pair Old Spice with Viking and see how this combination works for you.
7. Beach Hut Man Amouage for men
If you enjoy the minty notes that develop in Viking and wish they were a bit stronger you might want to check out Beach Hut Man by Amouage. This fragrance has a brighter, greener vibe than Viking does, however, it has a similar musky base and features subtle citrus notes. The pink pepper is virtually nonexistent in Beach Hut Man. Rather, this fragrance leads with refreshing top notes of mint, fragrant orange blossom, and herbal galbanum. Middle notes of vetiver, moss, and ivy blend seamlessly into a musky, woody base of myrrh and patchouli. Beach Hut Man is a very masculine fragrance and projects pretty well. The mint stays quite noticeable throughout the dry down process, which I find to be quite rare with most fragrances. Check out Beach Hut Man if you’re looking for something that’s similar to Viking but more fresh and minty without strong notes of pink pepper throughout the accord.
8. The Barbarian In The Box for men
For a slightly woodier fragrance that reminded me quite a bit of Viking be sure to check out The Barbarian. The Barbarian leads with peppery notes that are more earthy than the pink pepper notes featured in Viking. To my nose this pepper top note is somewhat overwhelming for the first few minutes after initially spraying it. However, it’s quickly muted by bright citrus bursts of orange and lemon which is reminiscent of Viking. Cooling mint notes start to appear as it dries down, which nicely balance out the peppery notes that remain throughout wear. Eventually, The Barbarian transitions into warm, woody notes before settling intimately on the skin. The sillage is a bit higher in this fragrance than some of the other options on my list, and it tends to project better in warmer weather. The Barbarian lasts longer than Viking does which makes this a convenient option for work or a night out. To my nose the formulation is much more simplistic than Viking, however, if you’re looking for an option that lacks the floral notes featured in Viking you may want to check The Barbarian out.
9. Notting Hill English Laundry for men
For a more floral option with a similar fragrance accord I suggest checking out Notting Hill from English Laundry. While I can usually pick out the main accord in most fragrances I think that Notting Hill has several notes that are present throughout the day. Notting Hill starts out brighter than Viking as top notes of bergamot, lemon, and lime fill the air, giving it a fresh, fruity vibe. While peppery notes become more apparent as it starts to settle, I also notice soft floral jasmine notes which take centerstage. As it eventually settles into a musky base I also notice fragrant amber and cedarwood begin to take form. Viking features a prominent pink pepper note that outlasts other notes within its accord, however, jasmine, pepper, and citrus notes all seem to reappear throughout the day with this fragrance. If you like Viking and are looking for something similar with a much lower price point, you might want to give Notting Hill a try.
10. Isle of Man Frapin for men
While Isle of Man by Frapin is marketed as a men’s fragrance, I think it works well as a unisex option too. To my nose Isle of Man starts off with a tropical vibe as top notes of bitter orange and pineapple are revealed and are closely followed by fragrant basil. Isle of Man almost smells like a tropical cocktail at first before moving into freesia and violet notes. There is a hint of salt in this accord which gives Isle of Man a slightly oceanic vibe that is quite different from Viking. As Isle of Man dries down into a subtle base of vetiver, musk, and wood, fruity notes continue to develop before fading into a skin scent. While I do think Isle of Man is well formulated it lacks projection and it doesn’t last much longer than a couple of hours. However, if you’re looking for a tropical spin on Viking and you don’t mind reapplying throughout the day then Isle of Man might be for you.
On a Final Note
When you’re searching for a fragrance similar to Viking be sure to look for peppery top or middle notes within the formulation. While pink pepper elicits a slightly more floral vibe, black pepper is suitable as well as long as it doesn’t completely overtake the rest of the notes. You should look for hints of mint and more pronounced citrus notes that fade as it dries down. Finally, look for an earthy, woody or musky base that doesn’t project too boldly. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll find the perfect clone or alternative to Viking that fits your preferences.
