Cool Water Cologne: Timeless Or Tired?

Cool Water by Davidoff is a men's fragrance introduced in 1988 and is considered a classic in the world of colognes. It is an aquatic, aromatic scent with top notes of sea water, lavender, rosemary, and mint, heart notes of geranium, neroli, jasmine, and sandalwood, and base notes of musk, oakmoss, tobacco, and cedar. It is a fresh, clean scent that is suitable for casual occasions and is particularly popular in the summer.

While Cool Water has been widely successful, some consider the scent to be dated and synthetic. The fragrance has been criticised for its aldehydic musk and fatty creaminess, which can turn rancid on some skins. Additionally, the fragrance is considered emblematic of the late 1980s and early 1990s, which may be off-putting to those seeking more modern colognes.

Despite this, Cool Water remains a popular choice for men, especially those in their early 20s, and can be purchased at a very reasonable price.

Cool Water's notes and scent profile

Cool Water is a men's fragrance introduced in 1988 by Davidoff and produced under license by Coty Inc. as part of its Coty Prestige brand portfolio. The perfumer is Pierre Bourdon. Cool Water contains mint, sea water and rosemary as top notes, lavender, jasmine, geranium and neroli as heart notes, and oakmoss, musk and sandalwood as base notes.

Cool Water's perfumer and its similarity to Green Irish Tweed

Cool Water by Davidoff and Green Irish Tweed (GIT) by Creed are both fresh-smelling fragrances for men with some notable similarities. Both are classified as fougères, a classic fragrance family characterised by a blend of aromatic, sweet and sharp notes. Fougères are typically built around a base of oakmoss and coumarin, with top notes of lavender, bergamot and other citrus.

Cool Water and GIT share a perfumer, Pierre Bourdon, and were released three years apart, with GIT launching in 1985 and Cool Water in 1988. GIT is a well-regarded fragrance, described as a "masterpiece" and "well-made but conservative". Cool Water, on the other hand, is often dismissed as dated, clichéd and synthetic. However, it is also described as a "classic" and a "bargain".

Despite their similarities, there are some key differences between the two fragrances. GIT is described as green, herbal, aromatic, rich, smooth, woody and complex, with a high-quality lemon opening and notes of grass, ambergris, musk, sandalwood and amber. It is long-lasting and suitable for hot weather. Cool Water, meanwhile, is described as aquatic, blue, watery, aromatic, sharp, synthetic, cheap, cheerful and nostalgic. It has a bright, happy character and is best suited to summer.

While some people struggle to distinguish between the two fragrances, others find them entirely dissimilar. One commentator says: "I can confirm that they simply don't smell alike... GIT is a sharp, green fragrance with an opening of freshly-cut grass, and a strong Creed Musk/Sandalwood/Ambergris combo in the base. CW is a very aquatic-smelling blue fragrance, with some spices, woods and subtle florals." Another says: "I don't get the similarity... GIT is greener, while Cool Water provides an explanation as to where the ozone layer went."

Some people prefer GIT, finding it more complex and of better quality, while others prefer Cool Water, finding GIT too dull or boring. One commentator says: "Cool Water is what I want when I want a 'fresh out of the shower' feeling." Another says: "Cool Water is just a really excellent bargain (though many associate it with middle school)."

Ultimately, the choice between the two fragrances may come down to personal preference and budget. GIT is described as a fragrance for those who "love" perfumes and are "serious about building an excellent collection", while Cool Water is for those who simply "like" fragrances and "want to smell good".

Cool Water's performance and longevity

Cool Water is a men's fragrance introduced in 1988 by Davidoff and produced under license by Coty Inc. as part of its Coty Prestige brand portfolio. The perfumer is Pierre Bourdon.

Cool Water's top notes include mint, sea water, rosemary, lavender, coriander, green notes, and calone. Its heart notes are lavender, jasmine, geranium, and neroli. The base notes are oakmoss, musk, sandalwood, tobacco, cedar, and amber.

Cool Water has been described as fresh, aquatic, aromatic, and masculine. It is a versatile fragrance that can be worn during the daytime, in the summer, and at the gym. It is also suitable for the office and formal occasions.

Regarding its performance, Cool Water has been described as having moderate longevity and sillage. Some users have reported that it lasts only a few hours, while others have experienced longer wear time, around 6-8 hours. It has been noted that the fragrance performs better in hot weather.

Some users have also mentioned that newer batches of Cool Water have weaker performance compared to older formulations. The scent may also differ between batches, with some describing it as cheap, synthetic, and outdated, while others find it pleasant and refreshing.

Overall, Cool Water is a well-known and classic fragrance with moderate performance. Its longevity and sillage may vary depending on individual body chemistry, weather conditions, and the batch of the fragrance.

Cool Water's value for money

Cool Water by Davidoff is an affordable, aquatic, aromatic fragrance for men that has been a top seller since its release in 1988. Its scent is fresh, clean, and masculine, with notes of mint, lavender, rosemary, and musk. The cologne is suitable for casual occasions and is best worn by younger men during the summer.

Cool Water is available in a range of sizes and limited editions, with prices varying across different retailers. The 1.35oz Eau De Toilette spray is priced at $15.84 on FragranceX, while the 4.2oz spray is $29.55. FragranceNet offers the 1.3oz spray for $18.73, and the 4.2oz spray for $42.69. Macy's sells the 4.2oz spray for $50.

Overall, Cool Water is a good value for money, offering a pleasant, long-lasting fragrance at a reasonable price.

Cool Water's history and advertising campaigns

Cool Water by Davidoff is a men's fragrance introduced in 1988 by Davidoff and produced under license by Coty Inc. as part of its Coty Prestige brand portfolio. The perfumer is Pierre Bourdon.

Cool Water contains mint, sea water and rosemary as top notes, lavender, jasmine, geranium and neroli as heart notes, and oakmoss, musk and sandalwood as base notes.

Cool Water was first launched in 1988 and has since had numerous editions, including:

• Cool Water Woman (1997)
• Cool Water Energizing Cologne (2002)
• Cool Water Frozen (2004)
• Cool Water Deep (2004)
• Cool Water Sea, Scents and Sun (2005)
• Cool Water Deep: Sea, Scents and Sun (2005)
• Cool Water Summer Fizz (2006)
• Cool Water Deep Summer Fizz (2006)
• Cool Water Game (2006)
• Cool Water Wave (2007)
• Cool Water Happy Summer (2007)
• Cool Water Game: Happy Summer (2007)
• Cool Water Freeze Me (2008)
• Cool Water Cool Summer (2009)
• Cool Water Ice Fresh (2010)
• Cool Water Summer Dive (2011)
• Cool Water Pure Pacific (2012)
• Cool Water Into the Ocean (2013)
• Cool Water Coral Reef (2014)
• Cool Water Night Dive (2014)
• Cool Water Summer Seas (2015)
• Cool Water Exotic Summer (2016)
• Cool Water Ocean Extreme (2016)
• Cool Water Pacific (2017)
• Cool Water Wave (2017)
• Cool Water Caribbean (2018)
• Cool Water The Coolest Edition (2018)
• Cool Water Summer Edition 2019 (2019)
• Cool Water Intense (2019)
• Cool Water Aquaman (2020)
• Cool Water Street Fighter Champion Summer Edition (2021)
• Cool Water Parfum (2021)
• Cool Water Grapefruit & Sage (2022)
• Cool Water Reborn (2022)
• Cool Water Oceanic Edition (2023)

Frequently asked questions