8 Best Aquatic Colognes for Men – Get Fresh and Crisp for 2023

The best aquatic colognes will transport you somewhere far, far away… Ideally, to a yacht in the middle of the ocean, but hey, we’re not picky. If a boat is beyond your budget or you’re stuck in a dreary cubicle, aquatic men’s colognes will give you the essence of being out on the open water.

Easy to wear and highly versatile, aquatic colognes are some of the best everyday fragrances. Since they’re on the lighter side, they’re ideal for office wear or sticking in your gym bag for after a big workout.

Ready to dive in? These timeless scents will be dependable options for years to come.

Key Takeaways

Our top aquatic pick is the ever-classic Acqua Di Gio by Giorgio Armani, which has been on the market for over two decades and has remained a fan favorite thanks to its refreshing notes and ease of wear.

If you’re looking for something more luxurious, consider Wood Sage and Sea Salt by Jo Malone, which is a perfect everyday scent for guys seeking a breath of fresh air, balanced out by sophisticated wood notes.

Our Top Picks

a bottle of nautica voyage washed on the beach — nautica / Instagram

In the world of the best aquatic colognes, there’s no chart-topper quite like Acqua di Gio by Giorgio Armani. This best-selling fragrance has been around since 1996 and is an ideal choice for daily wear, with fresh and bright notes that transcend the seasons. It’s reminiscent of the Mediterranean coast, filled with punchy citrus and watery nuances that make it a treat for the senses.

Acqua di Gio opens with mouth-watering bergamot for an instant hit of freshness, followed by marine heart notes balanced out by florals and rosemary. To wrap things up, it’s grounded with cedar base notes and a hint of patchouli for some much-needed depth. Due to its ease of wear, versatility, and standout scent profile, this is definitely a go-to.

This is the best aquatic cologne for men who don’t want to break the bank. But don’t let the low price deter you because it has all of the qualities of a luxury fragrance, wrapped up in a budget-friendly package.

Nautica lives up to its name with this scent. Smelling like a sunny day on a sailboat, Voyage will take you places with its crisp notes and captivating profile. The top layer is distinctly fresh with green leaves and crunchy apples, before dissolving into softer coastal scents like water lotus. The base of cedarwood, amber, and musk wraps this aquatic fragrance up in a bold package, making it a prime choice for a daily summer cologne.

As far as aquatic colognes go, this one is my personal favorite. It’s overwhelmingly fresh, with enough dimension to make it a true head-turner. I’m complimented every time I wear it because it’s nothing short of irresistible.

It’s certainly on the more luxurious end of the spectrum (similar to niche fragrances), coming from the famed London fragrance house Jo Malone. This is one of the brand’s best sellers, transporting wearers to the breezy seaside.

Fusing refined ambrette seeds with crunchy sea salt and woody sage, everything about this scent screams high-end. For more complexity, you can also layer it with other fragrances, like Jo Malone’s Blackberry and Bay.

Polo Blue is a trusty scent that’s classic, masculine, and suitable for year-round wear. It’s easygoing, making it a prime daily scent that’ll keep you cool through any sweltering summer. You can also get away with wearing it through winter, thanks to the muskier base notes.

Suitable for the modern gentleman, Polo Blue pulls its aquatic qualities from fruit, with watery cantaloupe top notes, evened out by herbaceous sage and basil. Compared to the Parfum and Eau de Parfum renditions of the same scent (which are long-lasting colognes), the Eau de Toilette is by far the most marine-inspired. Every spritz smells like a breath of fresh air.

This Calvin Klein fragrance has been around for more than a decade and is a dependable scent if you’re looking for something light and refreshing. Reminiscent of days by the shore, lounging in the dunes, Eternity Aqua embodies everything we love about aquatic men’s cologne.

The fragrance opens with watery cucumbers, and dew-covered green leaves, complemented by herb-forward heart notes of sage, basil, and tarragon. Grounded with warm sandalwood and spiced patchouli, it’s an invigorating cologne that’s great for daily wear around the office and weekends by the water.

There’s something irresistible about Chanel fragrances, and Allure Homme Sport lives up to the hype. It’s definitely aquatic, though the wood qualities give it an earthy freshness you won’t find in other water-drenched scents.

Well known to be energizing and bold, Chanel Allure Homme Sport has been on the scene since 2004, created by the famed nose Jacques Polge who was the Head Perfumer for Chanel for over a whopping 37 years. It’s clean and cool with notes of mandarin, cedar, and tonka beans for deeper aquatic cologne than other options on this list.

Guess Seductive is one of the best aquatic colognes for guys, especially in the adolescent department. It’s a solid budget price point (among the best colognes under $50) and is sophisticated without being over the top. With more than ten years on the market, this is a top fragrance for young men who are starting out on their cologne journey.

An interesting fusion of water and pepper, this scent lives up to its name. It’s seductive, alluring, and next-level flirty, inviting whoever you’re with to draw in closer. Beginning with aquatic accord and blue coral, the cologne grows with intensity thanks to the citrus and cardamom. It’s bright, it’s fresh, and it’s worth considering for any young man in need of a signature scent.

Top Notes: Citrus Caviar, Cardamom, Black Pepper | Middle Notes: Blue Coral Aquaspace | Base Notes: Cashmere Wood, Moss | Size: 1 / 1.7 / 3.4oz | Type: Eau de Toilette B Season: Fall, Winter, Spring

It should come as no surprise that colognes women love are often the freshest. This aquatic fragrance by Bvlgari blends maritime elements with charged citrus to bring a delightfully crisp scent to men worldwide (and to women smellers).

Opening with top notes of grapefruit and bitter orange, Aqva Marine leans into its aquatic elements with heart notes of seaweed and fresh water, distinguished by uplifting minerality. The scent grounds itself with toasty amber and cedar for a casual fragrance that will keep women sniffing the air behind you. It’s like a day out on the water, but so much better.

a bottle of ralph lauren polo blue — poloralphlauren / Instagram

What to Look for in the Best Aquatic Colognes

Scent

Aquatic colognes come with all sorts of different scent profiles. At their core, they’re marine forward, with watery top and heart notes to give them a lighter feel. But from there, the scent can really take a turn, with different elements that add depth and dimension to an otherwise breezy cologne.

Many aquatic colognes are complimented by wood, citrus, or herbaceous notes, which strike a unique balance while keeping the fragrance super fresh—great for warm weather scents or even a fall go-to.

However, you’ll also come across aquatic colognes that are enhanced by florals and deep notes like sandalwood, amber, and musk, which give the fragrance a more grounded, hearty feel. You can easily get away with wearing these types of scents at night and as winter colognes.

Size

Size is worth considering because most aquatic fragrances make epic everyday colognes, so it’s worth investing in a larger size to spritz it daily without fear of running out. You also tend to get more bang for your buck when you purchase a bigger bottle, which you should keep in mind if you’ll be using it frequently.

But if you’re just starting out on your aquatic cologne journey or have commitment issues, it’s always smart to start off small. You can also keep an eye out for solid colognes, which are a great way to experiment with a smaller quantity.

Price

Finally, you’ll find aquatic colognes suited to every budget, ranging from $20 to $150 and up. While oftentimes you get what you pay for, this isn’t necessarily true with aquatic fragrances. Some of the best-selling, most renowned aquatic colognes have accessible pricing, which helps with their popularity with the masses. Take scents like Acqua di Gio, Eternity by Calvin Klein, and Guess Seductive, which are all under $100 without sacrificing quality.

As you begin exploring aquatic colognes, test the waters (literally) with budget-friendly fragrances before dropping hundreds on a luxury scent just for the sake of it. You may find that the best colognes for men aren’t always the priciest.

a bottle of giorgio armani aqua di gio — rfstore.col / Instagram

Final Verdict

At the end of the day, if you’re looking for the best aquatic colognes for men, you’ll never go wrong with Acqua Di Gio by Giorgio Armani. This timeless scent transcends age and seasonality to bring you a truly captivating fragrance. But if you’re looking for something more unique and luxurious, consider Jo Malone’s Wood Sage and Sea Salt, which is an upscale aquatic cologne for the modern gentleman.

FAQ

- At their core, aquatic colognes smell like marine elements. Think watery melon and cucumber, sea salt, and even aquatic accords. But these fragrances are balanced out by different scents that give each cologne its distinct aura. On top, aquatic colognes can smell like citrus, wood, greenery, or musk while putting emphasis on a breezy, water-like quality.