There are some fragrances that are standouts and very popular no matter the price point. The inexpensive scents of the bunch can go on to be best sellers and be well regarded by those around a man while he wears these colognes.
One such scent, is an offering by Nautica called Voyage. This was released in 2006. In this review I want to take a closer look at the fragrance and see if Voyage is really all its cracked up to be.
As usual, I will asses what’s the ingredients, how they smell, how it performs, when it should be worn and whether or not it is actually worth a purchase.
What Does Nautica Voyage Smell Like?
Also see: Nautica Voyage N-83 Cologne Review and Voyage vs N-83 Cologne Comparison
Notes include: apple, musk, cedar, lotus, amber, mimosa, and oak moss
Click here to try: Nautica Voyage on Amazon
My Full Nautica Voyage Review
The first thing that I notice about Voyage is how it gives off that vibe of late spring and summertime. It is an aquatic cologne. But one that has a different type of summery feel to it than the much more expensive, Creed Imperial or something of similar price range like Set Sail St. Barts.
It is less oceanic than other scents from Nautica or even those two colognes that I just mentioned, it is softer and has more of a woodsy influence to it. The other colognes tend to have, notes of sea water or salt, to give it that purely oceanic feel.
The amber lurks in the background to lend a layer of warmth. With Voyage, it is more like a crisp watery aroma, than a oceanic one.
Here’s how Nautica describes this scent:
For a man setting sail on his own heroic journey, capturing his adventurous spirit as he navigates his endeavors with precision and passion.
It opens with an apple note, watery notes, mimosa, and some prominent musk. Voyage has that cold watery scent, that you typically associate with cucumber or dew. It’s a light non-oceanic aquatic aroma.
Underneath all of that, the scent has a green/floral undertone with wet moss (the dew smell) plus lotus/mimosa.
I like the apple note here, it isn’t like a candied apple aroma, that you get from a lot of other fragrances. Instead, it is much more naturalistic, and light.
Sometimes, the opening bit of time wearing this gets on my nerves, as I don’t really care for the lotus and mimosa influence upfront. However, Voyage definitely settles down into something more pleasant and summery. Just those floral notes, with the musk, can have to ‘green’ of a smell.
As the composition moves along, I pick up more of the cedar and oakmoss, to go along with that apple. It still retains that dew-iness, but the musk is less pronounced, and Voyage becomes cleaner and smoother.
The base gives it a drier profile, with an outdoorsy freshness, feeling less aquatic towards the end of the wear.
It is also during this time, that there does emerge a slight saltiness. To my nose, its really not that much at all, and there are plenty of other colognes that have a really salty profile. It’s just a pinch underneath the green. It is the amber note, doings its job, it just isn’t a very strong aspect of this composition.
However, where it does seem to line up with these other summertime aquatics is its use of a fruit note, in this case apple. The apple gives it a light and crisp fragrance that can only be described a refreshing.
Keep in mind, this isn’t a sexy night life scent, Nautica Voyage is a daytime wear all the way. It has a youthful sensibility and subtle charm to it that makes people come back for more. It’s actually pretty straightforward and linear, once you get about an hour into the wear.
Voyage Sillage and How Long Does it Last?
Projection wise, it’s pretty good. This isn’t a heavy cologne, nor should it be. However, this isn’t one which projects like a beast, so keep that in mind. It’s a moderate and fresh cologne that is bright and shines in the warm weather.
When I first apply it, it is fairly noticeable from 5 to 7 feet (I’ve tested this out on clothing and it is about the same), it then dries down to hang much closer to the skin.
Longevity wise I’d say it’s moderate, depending on the day or the person’s skin chemistry, it can vary in length of time…7 hours is what I find the max to be for my skin.
Some folks, seem to get better wear, but honestly 7 hours is pretty good for most purposes. Other times, it will be closer to five hours. It will just depend on the climate and your personal skin chemistry.
When Should It Be Worn?
Seasonally, I’d wear this in spring and summer. It holds up fine in the colder months, it just seems out of place. Even if I’ll wear Voyage when it’s hot out, I never really apply it in the winter, as there are so many better choices built for the cold.
This is a daytime casual cologne to be worn at school or work. Again, not a nightlife scent by any stretch, but a very good and affordable option for daily use.
This is an inexpensive option, so, it isn’t some crazy formal scent by any means. However, it doesn’t strike me as just being for teenagers, and can work well for older guys who just want a cheap casual scent.
Does Voyage Smell Good Overall?
Overall, is Voyage worth a purchase? Yes, it is a fantastic and inexpensive choice for men. It is better than many other fragrances which cost multiple times as much, smells great, and performs well during the warmer months of the year.
I would recommend giving it a try. The key here is the price versus what you get for the money.
To me, it’s not the greatest cologne in the world, but it’s just such a good value. It performs well, is pleasant to wear, and isn’t going to choke anyone out of a room.
It really fits a certain vibe and will continue to be a best seller for a long time. I like to throw it on before the gym or when I’m just hanging around, on a summer’s day. That’s when it fits. I’m not always in the mood for it, but I do still enjoy Nautica Voyage, every so often.
Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with the different fragrances that I’ve owned, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, that new hobby grew into a consistent passion, helping millions of readers along the way. I have personally written reviews for well over 800 perfumes and colognes for both men and women. This is along with writing hundreds of other in-depth fragrance guides. You can also follow me on: YouTube, Instagram, and Tiktok!
