Nautica Cologne Guide

Nautica Cologne Guide: Men Setting Sail for Sensual Adventures

Latest posts by Caroline Lambert (see all)

A Nautica cologne guide is a way to find your direction to be the man you wish to be. You need to learn about the notes, smells, age ranges, and compass personalities of each scent, and let’s not forget, it helps to know what expresses the need to set sail or berth your boat.

Your signature fragrance says everything about you. I can tell so much from my partner’s cologne each day, from his mood to his ambitions for the upcoming challenges at work or in his social life. My partner sure knows his direction every morning.

I want to help you find your direction using a sensual compass. I’ve mastered perfumes and colognes over the years, being such an avid collector and reviewer. I won’t sugarcoat the setbacks of any cologne, either. Each one suits a specific man who has unique desires.

Nautica Voyage is my partner’s oceanic foundation from the brand, and he smells like the horizon before the boat disappears over it. Let’s see if I can help you spot your new venture on the sensual horizon so that you can set sail.

The Nautilus of Nautica

A Nautilus is a beautiful aquatic creature whose shell tells many tales, which is why I call Nautica’s story one. The brand origins are fascinating, as designer David Chu founded it in 1983 to express a lifestyle rather than a fashion statement. He first wanted to be an architect.

Ironically, the brand that expresses the compass lifestyle of seamen and sailors who know where they’re going was established by a man who changed direction from buildings to fashion, accessories, and furniture. David constantly evolved his approach for his brand.

Nautica started as a clothing brand in salute of naval lifestyles, relaxed, casual, and adventurous. Still, it quickly became an apparel brand with many branches, including the colognes you’re about to explore. David was obsessed with a naval lifestyle, designing jackets like sailor coats.

It makes sense that he had to change direction because he couldn’t build skyscrapers in the middle of the ocean. His brand exploded into a collection of sportswear, nautical motifs, outdoorsy fun, oceanic names, and the adventure within American lifestyles.

The brand’s logo is a spinnaker, a lightweight sail intended for downwind sailing, almost a subliminal message saying that Nautica is the compass to an easy-going lifestyle. The brand first released colognes in 1992, and Coty is the support behind the continual fragrance venture.

What Makes the Nautica Brand Special?

Nautica is a worthy opponent for other oceanic cologne brands, even winning a Fragrance of the Year award in 2016 for Nautica Life Energy from the Fragrance Foundation. The Times of India even calls Nautica Voyage a royal cologne for men with successful mindsets in 2021.

Nautica has a range of colognes, but you can see how men enjoy them by reviewing Amazon feedback. Verified consumers always speak their minds because they either love or hate a cologne, and it’s the best way to know how unique a brand is to the people who use it.

Nautica Voyage has more reviews than most colognes on Amazon, and it’s the number one EDT for men in 2021. Sean Mills claims that this cologne exceeded his expectations, and it was versatile enough for casual and formalwear, becoming his new signature scent.

Nautica Voyage review

Nautica Blue is an Amazon Choice with over 13,000 reviews, and Keith proves that the sea isn’t the only place it journeys. I assume Keith travels by air a lot, and he uses Nautica Blue as a companion in the skies. Who says it’s only for the coastal lifestyle?

Nautica Blue Review

Nautica Voyage N-83 is a newer addition to the brand, and it has accumulated over 5,000 reviews. John loves the way it lasts much longer than the original Voyage on his skin. They’re both Eau de Toilettes, meaning they should stay the same time, but he loves this cologne and its value.

Nautica Voyage N-83 Review

As you can see, every brand has some positive feedback. It doesn’t mean it has zero negative reviews, but people don’t mind turning Nautica into a signature fragrance. It’s special enough to earn admiration from different men. It’s all about what suits you, which you’ll find out now.

Nautica Cologne Guide: 15 Compass Directions for the Senses

Imagine Nautica cologne being a compass directing you to the lifestyle you wish to live. Examine the notes, alternatives that smell similar, and the disadvantages of each cologne, but consider the direction in which you’ll move if you wear any of the scents. That’s how you find your signature.

Nautica Classic

Nautica Classic is a Woody Chypre fragrance that smells fresh, alive, and masculine. It starts as a wildly fresh burst of citruses balanced with woody and spicy accents before you get into the heart, where spicy and powdery elements hide, and it ends with a soft but masculine floral finale.

Set Sail Features

  • Tiding Accords: Aromatic, woody, citrus, aldehydic, fresh, fresh spicy, powdery, white floral, floral, and warm spicy
  • Northern Notes: Aldehydes, lemon, bergamot, lime, coriander, cinnamon, clary sage, cypress, tarragon, and neroli
  • Center Notes: Geranium, jasmine, rose, cyclamen, and caraway
  • Southern Notes: Cedarwood, patchouli, amber, musk, sandalwood, and oakmoss
  • Wave Intensity: Intimately moderate for 4 to 6 hours
  • Compass Directions: Untamed, adventurous, and desirable
  • Sailor Age: 30s to 40s
  • Similar Colognes: Explorer Ultra Blue by Mont Blanc and Cedar Essence by Ferrari

Berth Your Boat

  • It has terrible longevity for such an incredible fragrance

Nautica Blue

Nautica Blue

Nautica Blue is an aquatic, aromatic blend that smells vibrant, sexy, and modern. It begins with robust woody notes that blend into fruity and sweet undertones balanced with a hint of florals before you get a powdery heart that sends you into a fresh, aquatic, and soft floral finale.

Set Sail Features

  • Tiding Accords: Woody, fruity, floral, sweet, fresh, powdery, citrus, aquatic, white floral, and musky
  • Northern Notes: Pineapple, peach, and bergamot
  • Center Notes: Jasmine and water lily
  • Southern Notes: Musk, cedarwood, and sandalwood
  • Wave Intensity: Intimately moderate for 4 to 6 hours
  • Compass Directions: Confident, daring, and sexy
  • Sailor Age: 20s to 40s
  • Similar Colognes: Time to Play Man by Puma and Blue Seduction by Antonio Banderas

Berth Your Boat

  • It’s not doing much better on longevity, and it smells overly sweet at first

Nautica Blue Sail

Nautica Blue Sail

Nautica Blue Sail is an aquatic, aromatic fragrance with an enthusiastic and energizing feel. You start in the heart of aquatic and marine notes before experiencing the aromatic touches introducing greener, sweeter notes, and it ends in a beautiful warm and woody finale.

Set Sail Features

  • Tiding Accords: Fresh, aquatic, aromatic, marine, green, sweet, fruity, musky, and woody
  • Northern Notes: Fresh apple, aquatic notes, and refreshing green leaves
  • Center Notes: Sailcloth and deep oceanic notes
  • Southern Notes: Amber, oakmoss, and musk
  • Wave Intensity: Intimately moderate for about 6 hours
  • Compass Directions: Invigorating, alive, and alluring
  • Sailor Age: 20s to 30s
  • Similar Colognes: Aqua by Perry Ellis and St. Kitts for Men by Tommy Bahama

Berth Your Boat

  • The oceanic notes are predominant in the first hour or two, almost making the aromatic and woody notes unnoticeable

Nautica Blue Ambition

Nautica Blue Ambition

Nautica Blue Ambition is another aromatic, aquatic fragrance with hints of vibrancy and youthful determination. It has an unusual burst of fresh and fruity notes at the start before it dries into a subtler aromatic and aquatic blend, and it ends with a warm, woody reminder of sailboats.

Set Sail Features

  • Tiding Accords: Fresh, fruity, aromatic, aquatic, soft spicy, woody, and amber
  • Northern Notes: Mandarin orange and bergamot
  • Center Notes: Seaweed, clear wood, and pine needles
  • Southern Notes: White amber, cashmere wood, and oakmoss
  • Wave Intensity: Moderate for 4 to 6 hours
  • Compass Directions: Trend-setter, vibrant, and ambitious
  • Sailor Age: 20s to mid-30s
  • Similar Colognes: Aqua Pour Homme by Bvlgari and Homme Icy by Joop

Berth Your Boat

  • It doesn’t last long enough for a day on the sea, and it only suits young guys

Nautica Life

Nautica Life

Nautica Life is an aromatic, woody blend that smells mysterious, uplifting, and masculine. It begins with a natural smell of floral and oceanic notes before it dries into a heart with spicy and woody blends, and it ends with a beautifully soft aquatic and tangy twist.

Set Sail Features

  • Tiding Accords: Green, white floral, woody, aromatic, aquatic, floral, and warm spicy
  • Northern Notes: Sage, lavender, ginger, and sea notes
  • Center Notes: Aromatic spices and green notes
  • Southern Notes: Woodsy notes, Hinoki wood, violet, and sea moss
  • Wave Intensity: Intimately moderate for about 6 hours
  • Compass Directions: Refined, untold, and modern-mature
  • Sailor Age: 30s to 50s
  • Similar Colognes: Bleu de Chanel by Chanel and Hei by Alfred Sung

Berth Your Boat

  • It smells odd on young men’s skin (definitely not suited to Gen Z)

Nautica Life Energy

Nautica Life Energy

Nautica Life Energy is another woody, aromatic blend that smells confident, romantic, and energetic. It smells like a refreshing oceanic walk before you get citrus bursts that dry down to musky and woody undertones before the aromatic blends come back to life and end freshly.

Set Sail Features

  • Tiding Accords: Aromatic, marine, citrus, musky, woody, green, fresh spicy, herbal, fresh, and white floral
  • Northern Notes: Sea notes, grapefruit, and bergamot
  • Center Notes: Lily of the valley, ivy, and clary sage
  • Southern Notes: Musk, cedarwood, and vetiver
  • Wave Intensity: Intimately moderate for 4 to 6 hours
  • Compass Directions: Young-romantic, daring, and invigorating
  • Sailor Age: 20s to early-40s
  • Similar Colognes: Cool Water Deep by Davidoff and Y by Yves Saint Laurent

Berth Your Boat

  • This cologne doesn’t last as long as the original, and it doesn’t smell great on mature men (Gen X and older)

Nautica Oceans

Nautica Oceans

Nautica Oceans is an aquatic, aromatic blend with cheeky masculine notes. It begins with oceanic elements before the saltiness dries into an aromatic twist and sends you deep into the heart of freshness and florals that seduce your mind, but it ends in a lovely woody, aquatic finale.

Set Sail Features

  • Tiding Accords: Marine, salty, aromatic, fresh spicy, citrus, lavender, woody, and aquatic
  • Northern Notes: Amalfi lemon and seawater
  • Center Notes: Geranium, salt, and lavender
  • Southern Notes: Amber and teak wood
  • Wave Intensity: Intimate for about 6 hours
  • Compass Directions: Sexy, seductive, and modern-masculine
  • Sailor Age: 20s to 40s (versatile enough)
  • Similar Colognes: Mustang Blue by Estee Lauder and Egoiste Platinum by Chanel

Berth Your Boat

  • It has an alluring floral note that feels slightly feminine, but it’s modern for men to smell like that nowadays, especially younger guys

Nautica Voyage

Nautica Voyage

Nautica Voyage is an all-time favorite from the brand, and it’s an aquatic, woody blend that smells like a sensual adventure. It ventures through refreshing fruity and floral notes before dropping into an explosive aquatic undertone warmed by woody and musky notes.

Set Sail Features

  • Tiding Accords: Green, floral, fruity, fresh, aquatic, powdery, musky, woody, and yellow floral
  • Northern Notes: Green leaves and green apple
  • Center Notes: Lotus and mimosa
  • Southern Notes: Amber, oakmoss, cedarwood, and musk
  • Wave Intensity: Moderate for 6 to 8 hours
  • Compass Directions: Stylish, sexy, and chilled
  • Sailor Age: 20s to 40s
  • Similar Colognes: Select Day by Mercedes Benz and DKNY Be Delicious by Donna Karan

Berth Your Boat

  • Some men think it has a feminine touch with a robust fruity accent

Nautica Voyage N-83

Nautica Voyage N-83

Nautica Voyage N-83 is an aquatic, aromatic blend that smells spirited, explorative, and youthful. It journeys through the vibrant aromatic notes before diving deep into the fresh marine heart, and it feels uplifting as it rises back through woody and floral notes before ending in saltiness.

Set Sail Features

  • Tiding Accords: Aromatic, fresh spicy, marine, green, woody, lavender, musky, powdery, salty, aquatic, and warm spicy
  • Northern Notes: Sea notes, petitgrain, and spicy mint
  • Center Notes: Nutmeg, cardamom, and lavender
  • Southern Notes: Sandalwood, musk, and cedarwood
  • Wave Intensity: Intimately moderate for about 6 hours (the intensity doesn’t work better for everyone)
  • Compass Directions: Young, adventurous, and daring
  • Sailor Age: 20s to mid-30s
  • Similar Colognes: Friction for Him by Fcuk and Mr. Burberry Indigo by Burberry

Berth Your Boat

  • It’s a super urbane smell that only suits young men, and it doesn’t last forever on everyone’s skin

Nautica Voyage Sport

Nautica Voyage Sport

Nautica Voyage Sport is a woody, aromatic blend that smells sporty, dynamic, and adaptive to modern men. It begins in the fragrant notes before you get a natural burst of freshness and aquatic undertones that lead into woody and spicy hues, and it ends with a salty, musky finale.

Set Sail Features

  • Tiding Accords: Aromatic, green, marine, fresh, citrus, woody, fresh spicy, fruity, salty, and musky
  • Northern Notes: Sea salt, apple, citrus, sea notes, and coriander
  • Center Notes: Palm leaf, geranium, and green peppercorn
  • Southern Notes: Brazilian redwood, musk, patchouli, and vetiver
  • Wave Intensity: Intimately moderate for 4 to 6 hours
  • Compass Directions: Flexible, modern, and active
  • Sailor Age: 20s to mid-40s
  • Similar Colognes: Essential by Lacoste and Team Force by Adidas

Berth Your Boat

  • It has a solid aromatic bite at first, and it doesn’t last too long

Nautica Voyage Heritage

Nautica Voyage Heritage

Nautica Voyage Heritage is a woody, aromatic blend that smells legendary and bold. It starts with a beautiful aromatic twist that lends into the rich woody undertones before you find the iconic lavender ingredient in the heart, and it ends with a fresh, natural, and spicy finale above florals.

Set Sail Features

  • Tiding Accords: Aromatic, woody, fresh spicy, green, warm spicy, and lavender
  • Northern Notes: Rosemary and spicy mint
  • Center Notes: Ginger and lavender
  • Southern Notes: Guaiac wood and sandalwood
  • Wave Intensity: Intimately moderate for about 6 hours
  • Compass Directions: Classical, masculine, and legendary
  • Sailor Age: 30s to 50s
  • Similar Colognes: Forever Sailing by Moschino and Legend Spirit by Mont Blanc

Berth Your Boat

  • It smells too classical for young men (Gen Z)

Nautica Aqua Rush

Nautica Aqua Rush

Nautica Aqua Rush is an aquatic, aromatic blend that smells next-level adrenaline for sporty types. It has a bold start with aromatic and marine notes intertwining into a refreshing heart, where woody undertones uplift the smell to create a stunning finale of spiciness and saltiness.

Set Sail Features

  • Tiding Accords: Aromatic, marine, green, citrus, woody, aquatic, fresh spicy, soft spicy, ozonic, and salty
  • Northern Notes: Yuzu, coriander, and seawater
  • Center Notes: Clary sage, spicy mint, and violet leaf
  • Southern Notes: Teak wood, woodsy notes, musk, and amber
  • Wave Intensity: Moderate for about 6 hours
  • Compass Directions: Masculine on another level, sporty, and adventurous
  • Sailor Age: 20s to mid-40s
  • Similar Colognes: Curve for Men by Liz Claiborne and Polo Sport by Ralph Lauren

Berth Your Boat

  • It might smell more like a burst of testosterone than adrenaline to some people (hint, hint)

Nautica Aqua Rush Gold

Nautica Aqua Rush Gold

Nautica Aqua Rush Gold is a fruity, aromatic blend (unusual for the brand), and it smells like modern-man and urbane adventures. It begins with fresh citrus and fragrant notes before you venture into the heart, where oceanic and fruity accents blend with woody undertones.

Set Sail Features

  • Tiding Accords: Citrus, aromatic, marine, fruity, woody, aquatic, floral, fresh spicy, fresh, and powdery
  • Northern Notes: Pink grapefruit, green Mandarin orange, green apple, lime, seaweed, pitahaya, and bergamot
  • Center Notes: Violet root, pink pepper, water lily, jasmine, sea notes, and nutmeg
  • Southern Notes: Musk, vetiver, amber, oakmoss, cedarwood, and sandalwood
  • Wave Intensity: Intimately moderate for about 6 hours
  • Compass Directions: Modern-urbane, unapologetic, and courageous
  • Sailor Age: 20s to mid-30s
  • Similar Colognes: Made to Measure by Gucci and Yacht Man Metal by Myrurgia

Berth Your Boat

  • It has a strong feminine vibe (unless you’re a modern-urbane man), and it’s discontinued (maybe for the best – and that’s coming from someone who loves modern-urbane men)

Nautica Pure Nautica

Nautica Pure Nautica

Pure Nautica is an aquatic, aromatic blend that smells young, elegant, and ambitious. It has a feral burst of citrus before it gently moves into aromatic and marine notes. It then dives into the woody and powdery heart before it smells fruity with a refreshing but spicy finale.

Set Sail Features

  • Tiding Accords: Citrus, aromatic, marine, woody, powdery, fruity, salty, aquatic, and fresh spicy
  • Northern Notes: Mandarin orange, bergamot, and fruity notes
  • Center Notes: Sea notes and powdery notes
  • Southern Notes: Woodsy notes and spicy notes
  • Wave Intensity: Intimately moderate for 4 to 6 hours
  • Compass Directions: Sophisticated, determined, and vibrant
  • Sailor Age: 20s to late-30s
  • Similar Colognes: Uomo for Men by Ferrari and Aqva Amara by Bvlgari

Berth Your Boat

  • It smells too young at times, and it doesn’t last long on your skin (which does seem to be a problem with Nautica because they’re all EDTs)

Nautica Pure Discovery

Nautica Pure Discovery

Nautica Pure Discovery is a spicy, woody blend that smells confident, sexy, and refreshing. It has a powerfully refreshing citrus burst before the aromatics take charge, and then it leads down to a warmer, spicier heart before you dive into the depths of woody undertones.

Set Sail Features

  • Tiding Accords: Citrus, aromatic, warm spicy, soft spicy, and woody
  • Northern Notes: Amalfi lemon, Mandarin orange, and clary sage
  • Center Notes: Lavender, coriander, and ginger
  • Southern Notes: Virginia cedarwood and sandalwood
  • Wave Intensity: Moderately strong for about 6 hours
  • Compass Directions: Explorative, traditional-masculine, and seductive
  • Sailor Age: Mid-30s to 50s
  • Similar Colognes: Instinct Sport by David Beckham and Love & Luck for Men by Ed Hardy (Christian Audigier)

Berth Your Boat

  • Sadly, it’s another discontinued fragrance from Nautica, making it hard to find unless you’re okay with one-ounce bottles

Choosing Your Directions for a Signature Fragrance

Imagine sailing into the sunset with a variety of smells looming, from woody accents on the sailboat to the salty airbrushing through your hair. You smell the tropical fruits along the line of coconut trees extending to each side of your boat before setting sail.

Choosing an aquatic fragrance isn’t the simplest task because they all take you to a place of adventure, sunsets, and dreams. You should take it to another level. Sure, you should choose a cologne that best suits your age group, but there’s another little secret to picking your favorite.

Each cologne has three compass directions, which are the types of moods and personalities set by the unique unfolding of the aroma. Determine which directions you want to sail into, and allow your new signature scent to become the compass of your sensual journey over the waters.

How to Use the Tide to Sail Into a Sensual Paradise

The tide of Nautica cologne is not a strong one, and it’s peaceful, short-lived, and won’t sail you too far. I’m talking about the longevity of each cologne. Nautica has beautiful fragrances, but they weren’t too concerned about making them last for hours and hours.

You need a few professional tricks to make your scent stay longer and smell stronger. Looking after your cologne is the first secret because little do people know, but colognes go bad. Keeping them away from harsh environmental influencers helps, especially when you use an organizer.

Using cologne effectively also prolongs the stay on your skin. Be careful of citrus colognes if you plan to sweat a lot, but spraying your cologne on hot points like your biceps, over your heart, and on your pulse can extend it. You can even spray it in your wavy locks to smell better.

The greatest secret for extending your tide is to use the layering technique. You can either layer your cologne with a similar-smelling brand that lasts longer by spraying once before applying the other cologne. The recommended brands below work well. Otherwise, use lotions to layer it:

Perfumes

I’ve already shared two excellent alternatives for each cologne, but I’ll show you the brands that smell as oceanic and sporty. Moreover, you can use these brands to layer your Nautica cologne. Remember to choose two colognes with similar notes before layering them.

  • Jimmy Choo has a few marine notes in some of its colognes
  • Curve has a range of fun colognes with sweet notes
  • Michael Jordan has a few sporty colognes
  • Tommy Bahama is about experiencing the island lifestyle
  • Invictus has sporty and marine colognes

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How Does Nautica Voyage Smell?

Answer: If you love the smell of apples, this is your cologne. It begins with a green, fruity, and floral accent that feels fresh and vibrant like an adventure, and it moves into the heart, where aquatic and woody explosions drydown to powdery elements before it ends with a floral finale.

Question: What Makes Nautica an Exceptional Brand?

Answer: Nautica’s colognes are popular, but they fall short in longevity. Thankfully, that doesn’t steal the value of the brand. They’re affordable, and they smell like a leisure cruise along tropical islands. They’re fresh, modern, and work for ambitious men with successful mindsets in 2021.

Questions: Does Nautica Use Aphrodisiac Cologne Ingredients?

Answer: I have no problem with men wanting to be seductive, so let me show you the ingredients proven to be aphrodisiacs, and you find many of them embedded in the heart and base of Nautica colognes. In short, yes, Nautica uses alluring ingredients like:

  • Jasmine
  • Amber
  • Ginger
  • Sandalwood
  • Lavender
  • Citrus
  • Cinnamon
  • Lily of the valley

Nautica Cologne Guide: Final Sail

David Chu was obsessed with aquatic and marine lifestyles, and his passions became a sensual pleasure for men anywhere, anytime. The greatest letdown is that his fragrances don’t last long enough. He focused on creating Eau de Toilettes, but some of them are powerful and lasting.

Nautica’s colognes are more than marine-inspired, and they smell like the sweet and fruity accents of tropical islands, which are two trending smells for modern men. For those who want something more traditional, there are a few colognes with more robust woody undertones.

I love the smell of Nautica Voyage on my partner. It suits his personality, blends into his skin like a refreshing adventure, and entices me to feel a little adventurous myself. My partner loves smelling like a contemporary, cultured man, and it’s part of why I love him so much.

If you have a passion for sailing into a sensual sunset with a cologne that fits the mental image, I suggest you choose your direction now and get your scent today. Missed opportunities are decided, so do you choose to grab this one or let it go?

To read about more fabulous colognes:

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