As a beauty writer, I love recommending products to friends, family and, increasingly, my boyfriend. So when he recently picked up two aftershaves that have been quietly gaining popularity online, I was intrigued. But I wasn't prepared for just how much I would enjoy them myself.
The Fragrances That Won Me Over
He recently added two fragrances from Cremo to his rotation: the newly launched Italian Bergamot (100ml, £34.95) and the cult-favourite Spice and Black Vanilla (100ml, £30.95). Both have earned praise from fans for their unique scent blends, impressive quality and surprisingly affordable price tags. After smelling them for myself, I completely understand the hype.
Italian Bergamot
I was there when he sprayed them on for the first time and instantly knew we were in for a treat. Italian Bergamot, inspired by the elegance of the Italian Riviera, is fresh, crisp and refined, with notes of neroli and vetiver layered over a sparkling citrus base. It smells clean, expensive and effortlessly summery. On first spray, it is bright and uplifting, but once it settles into his skin, it becomes warmer and undeniably sexier. Fragrance can genuinely make you more attracted to someone, and this scent absolutely did that for me. My only gripe, and his too, was the longevity. While the scent smelled incredible, it faded after a while, requiring a top-up. I would love to see Cremo release travel-sized versions for easy reapplication on the go.
Spice and Black Vanilla
The next day, my partner tried Spice and Black Vanilla, one of the brand's most talked-about scents. This one ticked every box for me. With rich notes of black vanilla, tobacco and cardamom, it is sweet, warming and slightly smoky without being overpowering. I tend to gravitate towards deeper, spicier fragrances, and it turns out my boyfriend does too. It immediately reminded me of Maison Margiela's Jazz Club (£62 for 30ml), a cosy, addictive scent that evokes dimly lit cocktail bars and winter evenings. The longevity was slightly better with this one, although it still did not perform quite as well as some of his other fragrances, like Lush's Lord of Misrule (£30 for 30ml), which tends to cling to skin and clothes for most of the day. However, both Cremo scents come in 100ml bottles, offering more value for money without worrying about frequent reapplication.
Matching Body Washes
Alongside the fragrances, we also tried the matching body washes, which were a surprisingly luxurious addition. I could not resist jumping in his shower and stealing the Spice and Black Vanilla Body Wash (475ml, £12.95) for myself. It lathered beautifully, smelled incredible and left my skin feeling genuinely fresh and clean afterwards. Even the packaging looks far more premium than the modest price tag would suggest, sitting neatly on his bathroom shelf like something far more expensive.
Final Thoughts
Overall, these fragrances made me understand why Cremo has built such a loyal following online. They smell far more luxurious than their price point suggests, offer genuinely distinctive scent profiles, and in my case, even made me fancy my boyfriend a little bit more.
Scent Notes
- Cremo Spice & Black Vanilla: Cardamom (top), Tobacco (middle), Black vanilla (base)
- Cremo Italian Bergamot: Italian bergamot (top), Neroli blossom (middle), Fresh vetiver (base)
