Nautica Voyage vs Cool Water by Davidoff

For this edition of the cologne match ups, we have two sent that dominate sales, in the inexpensive part of the market: Nautica Voyage vs. Cool Water by Davidoff. Which of these popular men’s fragrances smells the best? Has better longevity? Sillage? Versatility?

Tale of the Tape: Voyage vs. Cool Water

Nautica Voyage

Notes include: apple, musk, cedar, lotus, amber, mimosa, and oak moss

Click here to try: Nautica Voyage Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 oz

Read my original review: Nautica Voyage Review

Cool Water

Notes include: lavender, mint, tobacco, amber, musk, jasmine, sandalwood, neroli, coriander, rosemary, and more

Click here to try: Davidoff Cool Water Edt Spray for Men, 6.7 oz

Read my Review: Cool Water

Opening

Nautica Voyage has a watery opening that is crisp and has a chilled feeling. It starts out with apple, mimosa, and musk. It is green, a bit musky, with a floral kick. It’s not my favorite part of the wear, but does a decent job at introducing this cologne.

I enjoy the juicy fruit and the colder aspects of it, much more than the mimosa floral. It’s not my favorite flora, but it works fairly well in Voyage.

Cool Water is an aquatic scented fragrance from the start and these marine notes are initially joined by mint and tobacco. It is sharp and has a green quality as well, from the uncured tobacco, before white floral notes join those at the top. It then becomes somewhat soapy.

By the name, you would expect much more of an aquatic sort of cologne, but it really only sways that way in the beginning. And even the, it is tempered.

Which is better? I prefer Cool Water, even though, I’m not crazy about it. I like the mint, tobacco, and aquatic notes…not so much the soapy scent. However, Voyage doesn’t start out great, in my opinion. It’s the mimosa and musk combo is a bit much.

The opening act really isn’t the strong suit of either fragrance.

Edge: Cool Water

Projection

Nowadays, I think that these two colognes are pretty similar in terms of sillage. They both hit that moderate chord, pretty well. If we’re talking vintage Cool Water, it’d have the advantage. None exists now.

Either way, neither of these are going to be complete bombs. However, you will notice that you have them on throughout the day, as they aren’t completely weak.

They aren’t going to leave huge scent trails behind you or just leap up off of the skin either. But, they’re nice for what they are.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Again, reformulation hinders the newer bottles of Cool Water somewhat. It used to be good for over 8 hours, but now seems to go 6-7, on my skin. Voyage will do 5-7. No real advantage in terms of how long it can go, but maybe Cool Water has better consistency.

Voyage is very consistent in that 5-7 hour range. I’ve never gotten any more from it. Really depends on the day, but it is good for at least those 5.

The performance is at least good enough from both, to keep them in the value play category of scents. I’ll give this category to the Davidoff.

Edge: Cool Water (slightly)

Versatility

Voyage has solid versatility. It can go casual and even some work environments. Mostly a spring/summer wear, but you could technically wear it year round.

The same is true for Cool Water, its probably a more mature fragrance, and better for the office or daily wear. Neither is particularly a ‘sexy’ scent, nor a club wear. Cool Water has more of a sense of refinement, versus the more casual Nautica.

Edge: Cool Water (slightly)

Overall Scent

I’m not a huge fan of either or these colognes, I like both, but they’re not something that I wear all of the time. I like the dry down period of Voyage a lot, that’s much better than how it opens. Much smoother, with some oak moss and lotus added.

Cool Water has a nice opening with the mint. I’m not all that into the soapy smell, but when its woody notes hit, I get back into the fragrance.

Which of these two is better? I’d lean Cool Water, I think it has more depth, and has a better smell throughout the wear. Neither is perfect, but both are really good cheapies.

For younger guys, I’d probably go with Voyage. If you’re older, Cool Water would probably fit better. It’s not that much better, but the Davidoff wins here. Vintage bottles, would have more of an edge, but you have to go out of your way to find those around.

Winner: Cool Water

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.