6 Colognes that Smell Like the Ocean or Beach

Since summertime is fully upon us now, in the northern hemisphere, images of the ocean and sitting on the beach are in full swing. There are plenty of sights, sounds, and indeed aromas which we associate with these locations; many of which, have been distilled into all sorts of different fragrances. Today, I want to create a list of men’s colognes with a marine or beach aroma, that evokes these smells in a bottle.

What Men’s Fragrances Smell Like the Ocean or Beach?

Alright, I’ve already done a list of the best aquatic colognes, on this site. As such, there is going to be a bit of an overlap, but you can treat that list as a supplement to this one. Check it out, there are some great fragrances featured in that post.

For this one, I am going to solely focus on colognes with a distinct oceanic aroma or other options which bring up images of the beach. A slight differentiation from ‘aquatic’, but a distinction, nonetheless.

Best Oceanic Scent

BVLGARI Aqva Atlantiqve Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.3 Ounce– Aqva Atlantiqve is possibly the best of the Aqva releases from Bvlgari, ever since it was released. The fragrance bears somewhat of resemblance to Dylan Blue, except with a much greater oceanic note, permeating its heart.

The two are most alike at the start, when the citrus is strongest. The sea notes are there, but it isn’t overly salty, and there is of course the ambergris. Atlantiqve does a great job at evoking the depths of the ocean, while still bringing the pleasant citrus notes.

Summer by the Pool

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Intense Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 1.6 Ounce– Eau Intense never completely struck me like an ‘ocean’ scent, rather, it was like sitting by the pool at a hotel on the coast. You get that salty breeze element, but the immediate aquatic aroma, isn’t that oceanic…at least to me. 

The other thing about Intense, is the addition of a ‘frozen’ grapefruit note, which does give this one a great chilled feeling. That’s pretty great on a hot summer’s day. This is one of my favorite aquatic/marine fragrances. I like it better than the original and its performance is great. Eau Intense Review

Citrus and Seaweed

Bvlgari Aqua By Bvlgari For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces– The original Aqva really goes full on with the oceanic theme, as it uses seaweed as its main ingredient. The top is actually much more citrus, utilizing two types of orange notes, some cedar, and the sea weed.

As it passes about 10 minutes, you get the salty sea water, to go along with the more prominent sea weed. There’s also some lavender, in the picture.

Aqva does give you a really good approximation of an ocean scent, but the sillage is pretty weak, and it lasts for about 5 hours. So, if you get it, get it for cheap. Oh and go heavier with the sprays. Bvlgari Aqva Review

Dark and Spicy Depths

Giorgio Armani Aqua di Gio Profumo, 4.2 Fluid Ounce– Acqua di Gio Profumo is based on the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. It does feel deep and dark at times, but is dominated by bergamot and the salty sea notes.

What is interesting, is how they add incense notes, which give a smoky depth to this fragrance, along with some earthy notes like patchouli. Rosemary, sage, and the incense create a spicy herbal aroma in this fragrance, which I think is great.

Profumo has really good sillage and longevity. Ultimately, it is an oceanic/bergamot blend with the smoky herbal spice undertones. Acqua di Gio Profumo Review

Drink on the Beach

Tommy Bahama St. Barts Men Cologne,3.4 Fl Oz– Set Sail St. Barts starts off with that potent lime note with a creamy almost coconut-like scent lurking underneath. It’s also boozy and features a guava fruit note, at the top. It’s like sitting on a beach with a drink in hand, as it does contain tequila.

However, you don’t just get the tropical drink thoughts, as it does dry down with a great sea salt spray note and palm tree. I really like wearing this one during the summer, since I picked up a bottle years ago.

The sillage isn’t amazing, but I can get 6-7 hours of longevity, when I go heavy on the sprays. I will say, you’ll want to buy it at a discount, as the performance isn’t great enough to pay full Tommy Bahama prices. St. Barts Review

Simple and Beachy

JAKE (BLUE EDITION) * Hollister 1.7 oz / 50 ml EDC Men Cologne Spray– Jake is the other best seller from Hollister besides Socal. This one is much more straightforward in my opinion, but it has a really great aroma within its simplicity.

It has a citrus top that features a slight floral kind of sweetness over the top of a wood/sea water base. Fresh summer shore vibe, that is pleasant all around.

If you can get this at a discounted price, this is a good cheapie option for the summer, particularly for younger guys.

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.