Cool Water by Davidoff

I bought it without testing it, and as soon as I caught a whiff of the opening, it transported me back to university because I had a very similar version from Oriflame. From the very first moment, it smells fresh, icy, and special. In the opening, I notice salinity and spicy green notes, but as it dries down, it becomes sweeter and softer on the skin. It brings back memories, so it has more emotional meaning; unknowingly, I used to wear a distinctive aroma like Cool Water, which seems essential in every collector’s wardrobe.

Hello, I bought it for around £17 for 100 ml. This is the last time (I’ve had several bottles). It’s a classic that I always keep in my collection. A masculine scent (without going over the top like others from the 80s), with that marine touch I love. I also wear it in winter during the day if I’m going errands, because honestly, I like it. It’s a pity it used to last 7 hours on the skin (if that’s even possible), today only 3 hours and a bit. Obviously longer on clothes. Although, given the price, it stays in my collection. For me, it’s more masculine than feminine. Although they should smell it in that first or second hour to notice, at least in my case it usually pleases if they detect it. I recommend it if you like classic masculine and aquatic scents. I’ll buy it again when I finish it. Best regards!

Every man should own one. Refreshing. Ideal after a shower in very hot weather. Unfortunately, my bottle has been sitting for a year and it still doesn’t improve the longevity.

@yeik I’m surprised. I have the 2024 formula and it lasts 6-8 hours without any problem. Re-applying is an absolute disease, let the perfume die in peace.

It’s been a delicious, cheap classic for over 30 years. At first, I thought it was rancid, like old clothes, but once I wore it, it opened up and it was simply delicious! It smells like a pure, tough, classic man – strong yet charismatic and natural. It’s like that fresh tobacco from the packet with a touch of amber and moss, rich and clean. It lasts about 3 hours if you bathe in it. It’s not for impressing others, but for enjoying, setting the mood, or after a smoke before heading to work. Scent: 9.6, Projection: 6.5, Longevity: 2.9. Final rating: 6/10 (63.3% perfection).

Nice scent, smells good and lasts quite a while.

I used to wear it in my adolescence and remember it differently; I suppose my olfactory memory played a trick on me. When I bought it recently, I perceived it differently. The first use wasn’t as I expected, but the second time, applying it generously, it reminded me of freshly washed and hung laundry – that fresh, clean burst that makes you close your eyes. A momentary pleasure. It’s called Cool Water. Its Achilles’ heel is performance, but also its strength, as it gives you many options: going shopping, having a drink, to the cinema or the shopping centre. It also works for an intimate date, where it performs best in close proximity. The performance is weak but pleasant. You feel it well for 4 hours; if you pass close to someone, they’ll notice it. After 6 hours, it’s right on the skin, at 10-15 cm. Cool Water won an award in 2009 and is in the hall of fame. According to Coty, a bottle is sold every 8 minutes worldwide and it’s the brand’s most successful line, among the top 10 best-selling men’s fragrances. In summary, it must be in every collection that takes itself seriously.

I call this fragrance ‘Father’s Hug’. When you were a child and an adult relative greeted you or gave you two kisses, you’d hear that clean marine scent. It brings back memories of my childhood. Ideal for hitting on the ‘daddy issues’ crowd of those in their twenties and upwards.

Acclaimed for its aquatic freshness, in reality, it offers an experience I can only describe as a synthetic slap disguised as cheap nostalgia. From the first spray, marine and lavender notes try to seem clean but sound like bathroom disinfectant with perfume pretensions. The fougère structure is so loaded that it transports me to a decadent 80s barbershop where cheap aftershave reigns. The worst is the longevity: it doesn’t last a short time, but too long. An invasive projection that turns any enclosed space into an involuntary homage to bad taste. The dry-down is an oxidised aquatic accord with a flat, artificial woody base. A true synthetic festival. To gift it? Only if I want to end a friendship. To recommend it? Only to someone who wants to relive the worst of 90s mainstream perfumery. That said: try it first if you dare. I can’t handle it.

If there were a bestseller in fragrances, this would have to be in the top 10. I think everything has already been said about it. It is clean, fresh, and at an excellent price. Women love it (if you’re looking for compliments). Informal, winner-man vibe. There might be some confused person who thinks it smells like disinfectant, but for me, it is a gem. I hope they never discontinue it. I’m already on my third bottle (and I own over 100 perfumes).

I find it simply unpleasant. Extremely synthetic and green, but in a bad way. The first spray burns the hairs on your nose. I wouldn’t recommend it even to my worst enemy.

Super fresh, it smells like a trip to the beach. I’ve received a few compliments when people get very close. It’s fine if you can get the 200ml version for around £25, but it doesn’t last long and its sillage is small. The only downside is the opening; it smells of pure alcohol for the first minute until the citrus and marine notes appear.

To those who disdainfully criticise this perfume, I’d like to see them in a blind test. It is easy to judge by the price. Perfumery is a pareidolia. Cool Water is not worse than Green Irish Tweed, nor is it a clone; the similarity is limited. The price difference isn’t just about ingredients. Cool Water is a flanker, not a clone. Many perfumers use creations as inspiration. It is inferior to Creed only in longevity, but its aromatic quality is superb. It is more musky/soapy and seductive, with a warm touch. Creed is denser and more elegant, but they are distinct perfumes. The quality/price ratio of Cool Water is unbeatable.

I like it, although I’m not a huge fan of green notes and that is what predominates most in Cool Water. It is fresh from start to finish. The opening is harsh, green, and slightly bitter. After a few minutes, that bitterness disappears and it becomes soft, green, aromatic, clean, and a bit soapy. It is pleasant to smell. The longevity is nothing to write home about, about three hours, then it stays close to the skin. In summer, you get out of the shower, spray it on, and feel luxurious. All for £27 for 200ml. Being a classic, it is almost a crime not to own it.

A classic I only discovered recently; I always saw it on sale and dismissed it as too ‘vintage’. Upon trying it, I thought, ‘I’ve heard this before’ – it’s a familiar scent that someone in your circle is likely wearing. It’s rich, fresh yet present, and the performance is surprisingly good for the price: lasts around six hours. Ideal for those aged 25+ in spring/summer, perfect for a post-gym refresh. I picked up the 200ml bottle for this summer. It’s better than its flankers; the Parfum didn’t suit me, and while the Intense smells nice, it doesn’t quite convince me.