Luna Rossa Ocean EDP by Prada

The Luna Rossa series from Prada continues with the recent additions of the Ocean flankers of this line. For 2023, the brand released Ocean Eau de Parfum, a follow-up to the fairly popular EDT entry. I recently purchased a travel sprayer size of this fragrance to test out. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it better than the original?

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What does Luna Rossa Ocean Eau de Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, wood, incense, vanilla bean accord, amber extreme

Click here to try: Ocean EDP

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My Full Review

Here’s how Prada describes it: Luna Rossa Ocean Eau de Parfum combines intense sophistication and sensuality through pioneering technology and nature’s finest ingredients. Opening with an invigorating burst of grapefruit essence, contrasted with the woody vibrancy of incense and a rich Vanilla Bean accord.

The opening of Ocean EDP gave me high hopes that this version would take the highs of the original and flesh things out more. It opens up somewhat like that initial release.

However, we get a grapefruit note to start things off, as our citrus ingredient. Not the same as the original, still, there is a closely related blue-ish sort of aroma here.

Not as sweet, lacking the caramel and suede influence, but I like the way it kicks things off. Still smooth and a bit powdery. Tonka bean and iris aren’t listed as notes officially, but there’s enough of that Ocean EDT influence to make me believe those notes are present.

But, that opening is short-lived, after a few minutes it really shifts into a slightly smoky vanilla and amber fragrance.

Initially, this will be a sweet, smoky, and spicy blend with some woody freshness. The spice will fall first, then the smoke, and you’re left with what this one is really all about.

That being, an amber and vanilla blend with woods and a general sweetness about it. Warm and it gets smoother as you go deeper into the dry down.

There does seem to be a phase where Luna Rossa Ocean EDP is sort of screechy with its sweet/amber mix, but seems to resolve itself.

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Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The ability to project and leave a scent trail, in your wake, is pretty much the same as with the original EDT. Now, that first initial 20-30 minutes might be a tad stronger, and the first hour might be a bit more steady. Outside of that, not much of a difference.

Though, EDP does have a slightly heavier feeling due to the amber extreme and vanilla notes, versus the iris dry down of the EDT.

The longevity here is also about the same. On my skin, it sticks around for 5-6 hours of total wear. Like its predecessor, Ocean Eau de Parfum isn’t a great performer. It’s about average and nothing more.

I tried again and again, in different conditions with this one, and still only hit around that six hour mark.

This one is still very versatile with its use cases. I’d say, it’s not as good as the original in warmer weather. I like this more in the chilly temperatures or something more temperate.

It’s good for daily wear, casual situations, or going out at night. Ocean EDP doesn’t strike me as being all that formal, but it’s fine pretty much anywhere else.

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Overall Impressions of Ocean EDP

Overall, do I like Luna Rossa Ocean Eau de Parfum? I do to some extent. I’m not enthralled by it, it smells fine, and I don’t want a full bottle.

The Ocean lineup thus far is annoying with its performance woes. Plus, I’m tired of getting lured in by that opening act, just to be unimpressed by the rest of it.

Seriously, every time that I’ve worn this or the EDT, I enjoy how they start and think I may want to wear it more often. Then, the back half comes in and it’s completely middling.

I also think the ‘oceanic’ theme could have been done differently with these to make the name fit. Though, the EDT’s blue-ish opening is better suited to that name.

The amber and vanilla thing has been done a million times before…and much better. Coach Platinum, Invictus Victory, probably some of the Armani Code’s are all sort of like Ocean EDP’s dry down. Luna Rossa Black has a similar style, but way better.

It’s fine, a nice enough fragrance, that is overpriced at retail level. With a substantial discount, I wouldn’t be opposed. But, I do think this is one of the weaker Luna Rossa scents, that Prada has put out.