Nautica Voyage vs Nautica Classic Comparison

In this edition of the head to head fragrance comparisons, I’m going to be taking a look at two cheap options, from the brand Nautica. The two colognes are best sellers still, but which is the top wear: Nautica Classic vs. Voyage? I have worn each and will break them both down by category before declaring a winner. Which smells better? Which lasts longer? Which is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape

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

Nautica Classic

Notes include: lime, sage, cedar, sandalwood, jasmine, lemon, amber, musk, and more

Click here to try: Nautica Classic for Men by Nautica 3.4 oz 100ml EDT Spray

Opening

Voyage opens up with notes of apple, musk, and mimosa. It’s clean and has an aquatic feeling, but it isn’t oceanic, in its aroma. The crisp apple and mimosa create a watery sort of smell and this is layered with musk and some lotus flower.

Nautica Classic starts off with a clean blend of citrus with a fresh sea-like breeze to it. There is also a prominent jasmine note and some musk, which gives the scent a soapy sort of quality. Underneath this top is a woodsy/spicy blend with notes of sage, tarragon, and cinnamon.

Which is better? Nautica Classic has been reformulated and doesn’t really smell like how I remember it.

Nonetheless, I like how it starts off better than Voyage, which I never particularly enjoyed the first few minutes of. I like the citrus and spice blend and the soapy aroma isn’t too front and center, from the start.

Edge: Nautica

Projection

The sillage on Vyoage is pretty moderate. It is never loud or very bold, yet, it is quite consistent on my skin. It doesn’t just crap out, an hour in. Meanwhile, Classic, starts off about the same but it does weaken pretty darn fast. This is a case, where it was probably better in the past, but doesn’t compete now.

Edge: Voyage

Longevity

What I like about Voyage, is that, you do get a pretty solid performance for a low price. It will last 5-7 hours, on my skin, and never feels all that weak to me. Classic will go for around 3-4 hours of wear. That’s disappointing.

Edge: Voyage

Versatility

These two fragrances pretty much occupy the same space, as to when they should be worn. Both are best in warm weather, but fine for year round wear.

Both are better for casual situations, school, or maybe the office. They aren’t nighttime, club scents, or romantic wears. There’s no real separation between them.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

It’s difficult to do this comparison now. Nautica Classic isn’t the same as it was in the 1990s, from the actual smell, to the performance. I know that I smelled the old formulation, at the time, but it’s really hard to remember a scent from 25 years ago.

As such, I can only describe what it is now. The smell itself is nice enough. You get an upbeat citrus with aquatic elements up top. Herbal spice and jasmine, with some woodiness in the dry down. It is later pretty fresh and soapy.

The problem is, the scent really doesn’t perform well anymore. Yes, it’s only around $10 a bottle, but it could definitely be better than it is. For those reasons, I cannot give it an edge versus Voyage.

Voyage, still smells better in my opinion, and has the performance to back it up. I’m not a huge fan of how it starts, but I do like the dry down quite a lot. There’s a reason it’s basically the best selling cheap men’s cologne. It wins this match up, but honestly, you can grab a bottle of each for under $25…so it’s not too much of a stretch to just wear both.

Winner: Voyage

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.