6 Fragrances that Smell Similar to Virgin Island Water

There are plenty of great options from the Creed line of fragrances, for both men and women. Virgin Island Water is one of, if not, the most popular option from the brand for wear during the summer months. People really enjoy the coconut, lotion, boozy aromas that this scent delivers. However, there is the factor of the Creed expense. VIW isn’t cheap, so, folks start to look for alternatives which may be. In this post, I want to cover scents which smell similar to VIW and at least deliver a somewhat like experience.

What Scents Smell Similar to Creed Virgin Island Water?

Lime, Sea Air, and Booze

Tommy Bahama St. Barts Men Cologne,3.4 Fl Oz– This one is often cited as a less expensive alternative to Creed’s Virgin Island Water (without coconut). Set Sail St. Barts starts things off with its sea notes and an intense lime aroma. The lime here, is much more prevalent than in the Creed scent.

While I do feel that this Tommy Bahama fragrance has plenty of overlap with VIW, they are both distinct colognes, and not the same as one another. Our lime note, is also paired with a guava note, giving it a very tropical smelling citrus smell. I thoroughly enjoy the lime note here.

The lime will fade, however, the fragrance gets a boozy boost of agave with sea salt and palm wood flanking it. Very fresh and clean, with a creamy lotion quality, that is ultimately different from Virgin Island.  St. Barts Full Review

Closest Caribbean

Caribbean Waters Dua– As far as cheaper similar styled, Caribbean Waters by Dua, is as close as you’re going to find currently. This one still has the coconut and the boozy aspects, from a similar rum note.

However, the rum note here, is much rougher and doesn’t have nearly that same smooth quality as does our target Creed fragrance. The lime note is nice up top and gets paired with a very clean tropical coconut aroma. Together, with a hint of sugar and the rum, is quickly turns into a cocktail-like scent that brings about thoughts of the Caribbean.

Caribbean Waters can be a difficult fragrance to find at times (gets sold out), and I’ve been seeing prices, hovering in the $50-60 range still. Not a super cheapie, but it does a decent job at being close to Virgin Island Water.

Caribbean Blend

Gone Swimming in Caribbean Waters– So, this is another version of the Dua Brand’s perfume. I purchased a full bottle of this one, and I have to say, it’s great.

Gone Swimming blends inspirations of Afternoon Swim by Louis Vuitton with our Creed fragrance. The pair combined create a fantastic summer wear. You get lime, other citrus notes, coconut, rum, cane sugar.

The opening leans more towards Afternoon Swim, but overall, the scent becomes pretty balanced between the two. The longevity and sillage are both great, with 2-4 sprays total. If you want something based on Virgin Island Water, but given a remix; Gone Swimming is one to for sure check out.

I’ll be wearing this one all summer.

Fruitier and Aquatic

Bond No. 9 Coney Island Eau De Parfums Spray, 3.4 Ounce– Coney Island is somewhere on the spectrum between Set Sail St. Barts and VIW. I’d say that it’s closer to the former, but has a connection to what we’re targeting.

It’s more aquatic, but Coney Island does bring its booze soaked, elements to the forefront at times during the wear.

This one starts off with melon and a blend of citrus, to go along with its oceanic accord. It’s cold with a tequila-like finish. Citrus, guava, and melon with a fine layer of salty breeze. It’s very much a cocktail fragrance, with underlying woody notes, during the end of the wear.

This one, isn’t a fragrance to spray on everyday, but can be an upbeat wear for chill days during the summertime. Sort of niche and limited, while having its positive qualities.

Citrus and Tequila

Kenneth Cole Vintage Black– Vintage Black is another one, that is closer to Set Sail St. Barts, but shares a similar category to VIW. This one doesn’t have coconut, nor does it contain oceanic notes.

What is it? A sharp citrus spray with tequila booze soaked cleanliness, that dries down into a lavender/woody mix. The lime and grapefruit, give a similar experience, as to what we’re looking for.

We just happen to thing things, in a non-island smelling direction. This is a version more akin to an urban environment, rather than, sitting on the beach.

Coconut, Floral, Without Rum

Hawaii Volcano 30ML (Alexandria Fragrances) There is actually an Intense version of this fragrance, as well, that is spicier and contains the rum note. Hawaii Volcano is the one for those, who want a fruitier, less spicy scent.

This one is also pretty darn close to Virgin Island Water. You do get the great coconut scent from this one, with a sugary finish, and again not the rum.

It is pretty straightforward and doesn’t develop all that much. But if you want a lime and coconut blend, with hints of floral notes underneath, this is definitely a cheaper option.

Best Men's Colognes

Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.