Creed — Acqua Fiorentina The Encore
Essence
Acqua Fiorentina The Encore is Creed’s 2012 reworked return of Acqua Fiorentina: a crisp, polished fruit-floral centered on greengage plum, apple, rose, and pale woods. It is smoother and fuller than the 2009 original, but the identity is messy because Creed later sold related bottles under the simpler Acqua Fiorentina name again. As a scent, it is sunny, refined, and easy to wear; as a catalog object, it is version-confusing.
Scent Profile
The opening is bright orchard fruit: greengage, apple, plum, and tart citrus. The fruit is sweet and polished but not syrupy, with enough acidity to stay fresh. It has the cheerful lift that makes the Light Blue comparison inevitable, though The Encore is rounder and more luxurious in texture.
The heart adds rose, pear, and carnation. The florals are pretty and restrained, giving the fruit a polished feminine surface rather than a dense bouquet. Carnation adds a small spicy-petal nuance.
The base is light cedar, sandalwood, and grapefruit. It gives the fragrance a clean woody finish without adding much darkness or weight. Compared with the 2009 original, The Encore is commonly described as heavier, smoother, less aquatic, and less lemony.
Performance
Performance is mixed. Some wearers get strong longevity, especially on clothing, while others find it too quick to fade for the price. The safest expectation is intimate-to-moderate projection and average longevity, helped by generous application. It is not a powerhouse, but it is present enough for daytime use when applied with intention.
Wearing Context
This is spring and summer daytime perfume: office wear, sunny social occasions, daytime dates, and polished casual settings. It reads feminine, fresh, and expensive-smelling without being formal. It works best for someone who wants approachable elegance rather than drama.
Comparisons & DNA
Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue is the central comparison, with The Encore reading softer, less bitter, and more rounded. Atelier Cologne Clementine California is sharper and more citrus-forward. Dior J’Adore is a broader premium fruity-floral reference rather than a direct match. The most important internal comparison is the 2009 Acqua Fiorentina: same family, but The Encore is the fuller, smoother reprise.
Reception
Reception is mixed-positive. Admirers describe it as elegant, refined, and signature-worthy. Critics find it pleasant but too expensive, especially when longevity disappoints or when the Light Blue-adjacent structure feels familiar. The discussion is also muddied by version confusion: many buyers and reviewers are not fully certain whether they are talking about the 2009 original, The Encore, or a later plain-name bottle.
Versions & Reformulation
The Encore is itself the version story. It followed the 2009 Acqua Fiorentina and added the Diamond Jubilee Apple concept, greengage/prunella detail, and a fuller note pyramid. It launched in 2012 in travel, regular, and large-flacon sizes, then later disappeared under The Encore branding while related Acqua Fiorentina presentations continued. Buyers should assume identity ambiguity until the bottle and date are clear.
Acquisition Notes
The Encore is discontinued under that name and belongs to Creed’s luxury tier. Sampling is the right first move because version identity, storage condition, and performance vary. Confirm whether a seller is offering The Encore specifically or a later Acqua Fiorentina presentation, and be cautious with any bottle whose age or condition is unclear.
Notable Facts & Lore
- The Encore was positioned as a response to American clients asking for Acqua Fiorentina’s return.
- The Diamond Jubilee Apple note nodded to Queen Elizabeth II’s 60-year reign.
- Its visual story kept the Renaissance Florence and silver-rose bottle language.
- It is a rare Creed case of a discontinued scent being revived, revised, and rebranded.
- Its biggest practical issue is not smell but identity: original, Encore, and later plain-name bottles blur together.