Ol’ Reliable

A family member of mine (who is not into this hobby at all) asked me the most open-ended question about fragrance I could imagine: "So, what cologne should I buy?" No notes about what he likes, the occasions he would or would not wear fragrance, the vibes or smells he hoped to experience – nothing – and my mind INSTANTLY went to Nautica Voyage.

My opinion about this fragrance, formerly in my collection but from which l've since moved on, is that you can't really go wrong. It's not too strong, it's not too season-dependent, it's not offensive in scent profile. It shows up to the housewarming party on time with a decent homemade side dish and a $20 bottle of wine. It is the near-perfect default budget cologne spray for the man who wants to smell good. (Side note: I know non-men who wear this too!) There are other perfumes out there that accomplish this feat... but they can be more expensive, ten or twenty times more in some cases. Voyage starts and ends with "this smells pretty good", but importantly, it is also INSANE bang for your buck.

Note breakdown is simple. It's an aquatic fragrance with a fruity touch. It is very fresh, very synthetic, and very unchallenging. It wears easily on the skin, doesn’t meaningfully evolve in any way, and doesn't scream at you ever. In short, it is pleasant.

If you have somehow found yourself on this fragrance enthusiasts’ app by mistake, and you don't know how you got here, and you just want to know what perfume will do the job for $15 or under, look no further than Nautica Voyage. It's cheaper than a dozen donuts and a small coffee at Dunkin'. And it smells good.