Thinking about perfume, it seems as if it can only exist if celebrities come up with a fragrance and some international corporation puts a lot of money behind it.

Thinking about perfume, it seems as if it can only exist if celebrities come up with a fragrance and some international corporation puts a lot of money behind it.

The advertising is relentless, and you're not sure if you're buying it because it smells good on you or because someone famous has told you it's good.

Of course the money goes into their pockets. But there are still old-fashioned and highly regarded houses of fragrance that have been in existence for many years. Such a perfumery was begun by James Henry Creed in London in 1760.

The perfumes he created became the official scents of the royal family. Eventually news spread to the royalty of other European countries such as France, Austria, and Spain. Over time Creed developed a world-wide clientele of discerning customers.

Now there are over 200 scents hand crafted by this small endeavor. Often Creed will mix a formula just for one client who has requested a certain scent.

It becomes their unique signature scent and is made for no one else. But other scents are available to you, and you'll certainly want to explore these.

You can find the small company now run by James Henry's descendent, Olivier Creed, in the 8th Arrondissement in Paris. It's not hidden, but it's not widely advertised either. They don't have to spend a lot of money on advertising because word of mouth does the work. People in the know find his wares.

Some of the biggest celebrities and brightest lights in entertainment and other arenas wear his scents. When it comes to perfumes, natural ingredients are always better than synthetic.

They smell like gardens and will not turn bad on your skin or wear off in a short period of time. Creed purchases the best flower essences from Morocco, Turkey, Bulgaria, and anywhere else that exotic plants grow in abundance. Florence, Italy has amazing gardens that Creed taps. The mingling of true jasmine, rose, tuberrose, or violet can never be matched.

Creed then measures, filters, and mixes everything in exactly the right proportions that have been handed down for centuries. He's a perfectionist and the product that results can truly be called perfect.

When you're looking for a truly exceptional perfume that you'll wear with pride for it's superior quality, look into Creed's. You'll feel as if you move among the elite every time the scent reaches you.