Finding the best Nautica colognes for men doesn’t have to be a drag, since we’ve done the research for you. After looking through dozens of Nautica’s signature scents, we’re confident that the five colognes reviewed here represent only the finest colognes available from Nautica today.
Founded as an apparel and home furnishings brand in 1983, Nautica’s immediate success led the company to quickly expand their offerings into clothing, accessories, and fragrances. Since the debut of their first cologne in 1992, Nautica’s maritime-themed fragrances have only continued to become more refined and sought-after.
In this guide, you’ll find our recommendations for the best Nautica colognes for men, complete with aromatic profiles and suggestions for when to wear each scent.
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
5 Best Nautica Colognes For Men In 2022
Developed in partnership with world-renowned perfumer Coty, all of Nautica’s colognes are worthy of inclusion in any man’s collection. The following five colognes, however, represent what we think are the finest fragrances available on the market today.
Nautica Voyage (Our Top Pick)
A scent that simultaneously carries refreshing maritime hints as well as the fragrant burst of coastal woods, Nautica Voyage will awaken your senses from the moment of your first application. In our opinion, it’s easily the best smelling Nautica cologne, and deserves to be added to any man’s cologne selection.
Fresh and juicy green apple is paired with shredded green leaves to create Voyage’s top notes. A floral heart composed of fragrant lotus leaves and mimosa flowers further reinforces this cologne’s imminent freshness, while musk and oakmoss join deeply resinous base notes to give a long development to this scent’s aromatics.
Though it only shows a moderate intensity, Nautica Voyage has quite an exceptional duration. This makes it a fantastic value for the price, and absolutely worthwhile to include in your cologne selection. While it shows best during cold weather, it’s also a wonderful night time cologne any time of year.
Notes:
- Top notes of green apple and green leaves
- Middle notes of lotus leaves and mimosa flowers
- Base notes of musk, cedar, amber, and oakmoss
Best For:
- Everyday wear
- Cold weather wear
- Great value cologne
Nautica Classic For Men
A reformulation of the 1992 original that started Nautica’s cologne catalog, Nautica Classic for Men displays amazing complexity in a fresh and short-lived fragrance. If you’re looking for an everyday carry cologne to include in your bag for work and the gym, Classic for Men is an excellent choice.
The first few moments of Nautica Classic for Men are where this scent really shines, showcasing a wild medley of citrus peels, flowers, herbs, and spices. Heart notes of succulent jasmine and savory caraway then steal the show, before giving way to a woody base filled with sandalwood, cedar, and musk.
Offering a moderate intensity but quite short duration, Nautica Classic for Men is a cologne that you’ll need to apply multiple times throughout a day to freshen up. Its absence of rich and heavy aromatics positions it perfectly as a cologne for everyday wear in the spring and summer.
Notes:
- Top notes of lime, lemon, bergamot, neroli, cypress, tarragon, coriander, cinnamon, and clary sage
- Middle notes of jasmine, rose, caraway, and geranium
- Base notes of sandalwood, cedar, musk, oakmoss, patchouli, and amber
Best For:
- Daytime wear
- Spring and summer wear
Nautica Blue
Debuting in 2005 to fill the role of a fruity, sweet, and incredibly approachable cologne in the Nautica catalog, Nautica Blue is as easy going as colognes come. It’s a near-perfect scent for freshening up after a game of beach volleyball, and truly shows its best sides as the weather gets warmer.
Pineapple and peach create the juiciest introduction to a cologne that you’re likely to find, joined by bergamot to prevent the top notes from becoming cloying. Jasmine is the primary scent in this cologne’s center, giving it a light but intriguing transition into a base of fresh sandalwood and cedar.
Though it will project only a few inches from your body, Nautica Blue has surprisingly good longevity. A single application is enough for a whole day of summertime wear, or works as a fantastic way to freshen up after hitting the gym.
Notes:
- Top notes of pineapple, bergamot, and peach
- Middle notes of water lily and jasmine
- Base notes of sandalwood, musk, and cedar
Best For:
- Summertime wear
- Freshening up after the gym
Nautica Voyage
Adapting the approachable notes of the original Voyage, Nautica Voyage N-83 sports a fascinating combination of aquatic and spicy aromatics that positions it uniquely within the Nautica lineup. A recent addition to their offerings, N-83 found its place in the cologne world when it debuted in 2013.
A cool sea breeze introduces Voyage N-83, carried by spicy mint and bitter orange leaves in the fragrance’s top notes. The spicy heart is filled with green cardamom, freshly grated nutmeg, and crushed lavender, while a classic base of musk and cedarwood anchors the whole scent into familiar territory.
With moderate longevity and moderate intensity, Nautica Voyage N-83 is well positioned to become your new everyday cologne. Its lighter tones make it best for daytime wear, where it is restrained enough to apply before work each day.
Notes:
- Top notes of sea breezes, spicy mint, and petitgrain
- Middle notes of lavender, cardamom, and nutmeg
- Base notes of musk, cedarwood, and sandalwood
Best For:
- Year-round wear
- Daytime wear
Nautica Life
One of the latest additions to Nautica’s Voyage family of colognes, Nautica Life is a refreshingly direct fragrance that artfully blends oceanic and green aromatics into a seamless whole. It’s the most intense of the Nautica colognes featured in this review, and an excellent cologne for special occasions and date nights.
Freshly crushed green leaves are carried on a salty and cool ocean breeze in Life’s top notes, abruptly turning the corner into a heart full of sweet baking spices. Freshly cut woods comprise the entire base of this cologne, giving a strong element of freshness through the entire scent.
Boasting a noticeable intensity but only a moderate duration, Nautica Life is an excellent value for the money. If you’re looking for a cologne to break out of the norm without breaking the bank, Nautica Life is an excellent choice.
Notes:
- Top notes of fresh green leaves and sea breezes
- Middle notes of cinnamon, allspice, clove, and nutmeg
- Base notes of freshly cut wood
Best For:
- Year-round wear
- Holiday parties
- Date nights
Are Nautica Colognes Good?
Nautica cologne strikes an excellent balance between affordability, unique fragrance composition, and good longevity. In our opinion, this makes it an excellent cologne brand that is great for casual everyday wear.
Each of Nautica’s fragrances shows especially well during the spring and summer, where their fresh and marine notes evoke the spirit of the season. Because they can trend towards lighter intensity, Nautica’s colognes are also excellent for freshening up after a mid-day trip to the gym.
What Smells Better, Nautica Blue Or Voyage?
Both Nautica’s Blue and Voyage colognes have a lot going for them, with classically-influenced compositions that make them suitable to most men’s skin chemistry.
Speaking strictly from our viewpoint, though, Voyage has the upper hand in a comparison between these two colognes. It’s better suited for wearing in more seasons and situations, whereas Blue is better kept only for the warmest months of the year.
In the end, the choice of which cologne is better will have to come down to your personal preference. Just because we love the green apple and musk combination of Voyage doesn’t mean that you can’t prefer Blue’s explosively fruity top notes.
What Is Better, Nautica Blue Or Classic?
Of all Nautica’s colognes, it would be hard to find a pair that is more different than Blue and Classic.
On one hand, Blue is a fresh and fruity fragrance with a very modern composition; on the other, Classic is a more traditional fragrance with a complex mingling of herbs, flowers, and citrus. Because of this, which cologne is better between the two will largely come down to when and how you intend to use it.
While both colognes are definitely best suited for wearing in the spring and summer, Blue is a much easier and more approachable fragrance. To really appreciate Classic, you’ll need to give it some time to open up on your skin; Blue is immediately appealing thanks to its powerfully fruity top notes.
If you’re into Nautica colognes, then you might like our list of best Adidas cologne, best Paco Rabanne cologne, or the best David Beckham colognes.
Brian Adee
Brian has been fascinated with fragrances since his 8th birthday, when his Dad gifted him a bottle of Acqua di Gio. Since then, he has become a men's grooming & style aficionado who teaches men how to look sharp. Backed by personal experience, Brian's articles are known for his no-holds-barred style where he holds nothing back. You will get his real opinions on the latest men's grooming products and best practices where he reveals the best (and worst) style advice every man should know.