Afternoon Swim by Louis Vuitton

Afternoon Swim is going to be the first full review that I’ve done of a Louis Vuitton scent, on the site. I’ve got decants of most of the releases and will work my way through them over the coming weeks and months. This one was brought to market in 2019 as a part of the Les Colognes Louis Vuitton series. What does it smell like? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does Afternoon Swim by Louis Vuitton Smell like?

Notes include: bergamot, mandarin orange, orange, ginger, ambergris

My Full Review

Before I get into my personal review, let’s see what Louis Vuitton has to say about Afternoon Swim: Passionate orange, to sail toward pleasure. A plunge into an ocean of sensations. Feeling all the energy of the waves washing over the skin on a hot summer’s day.

Alright, so from the start, just know that this isn’t a very complex fragrance. It’s also heavily weighted to citrus notes, so, if that’s not your thing try another Vuitton perfume.

Afternoon Swim kicks off with its orange notes front and center. I do smell mandarin, but another orange seems to have the upper hand, and there’s also a solid dose of bergamot.

It reminds me quite a bit of Dior Homme Cologne or Allure Homme Sport Cologne by Chanel, just with different citrus notes, and more ginger. Less spicy and resinous than the Chanel. 

I like the addition of the ginger note, as it gives Swim a bit more heft than just being another thin and quick citrus scent. It’s also one of my favorite spices, so it really grabs my attention.

The other scent that I am reminded of is, Millesime Imperial by Creed. That one and this LV fragrance both have an ambergris note, at the base, but it is much lighter here.

Personally, I love a good summer citrus fragrance, and this one is a great example. Bright, juicy, and full of vibrancy. Very much like being at the pool or walking a seaside promenade during the warmer months.

As it moves along, I get more of the bergamot on my skin versus the orange note and just enough of the ambergris to add a touch of saltiness to the composition. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Most of the time, these sort of colognes aren’t powerhouses. Afternoon Swim, included. It’s on the lighter end of moderate and will project 4-6 feet from the skin, at its peak, before drawing closer and closer.

Though, this Vuitton wasn’t a complete skin scent until later in the wear. It has enough substance to keep bringing wafts of the aroma for a good while.

On my skin, it stuck around for 5-6 hours. Not amazing or any type of marathon runner. Though, again, to be expected with a summer citrus splash. But, at this price, you might be of the mind that you want more out of it.

Afternoon Swim is a safe to wear unisex scent. I’d keep it to the daytime, mostly in summer, but it’s great here in spring too. Not going to be a nightlife, club banger, or sexy sort of scent. Probably not a bad choice for a pool or beach party, though.

Wear it casually or semi-formally when the temperatures start to rise, in your neck of the woods. This is one that I loved wearing outside, over the summer. Just at the beach, boardwalk, or other more vacation mode type of activities.

Overall Impressions of Afternoon Swim

Do I like this fragrance? I do. I really enjoy these citrus colognes for the summer months and this one gives me some really juicy orange notes. Orange is usually one of my least favorite citrus notes in fragrances, but the pair are great, along with bergamot.

It’s not a scent that is going to be overly complicated or even a signature wear for anyone. But, if you want a great summer wear that can hold up well in the heat, Afternoon Swim can deliver.

For the type and style that this perfume is, Afternoon Swim is pretty fantastic. It has a much more limited use case, but is a very nice wear within that.

Is it worth the price? I don’t know that I’d reach for this, if Louis Vuitton prices are a stretch for you budget. Again, you can get similar results from Dior Homme Cologne, which is more affordable.

Update: The Dua Brand has its version of Afternoon Swim, called Gone Swimming. I personally purchased their blended version of this Louis Vuitton with their version of Virgin Island Water…and it’s fantastic.

If you want the Louis Vuitton experience, at a cheaper price and with better performance, I highly recommend getting a hold of one of the Dua versions. Gone Swimming in Caribbean Waters is amazing and will be one of my go to fragrances in the summer.

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.