Reviews of Cool Water by Davidoff
So glad I didn’t blind-buy this. Reading the notes in it sounded good, but it was so fake smelling and boring. Maybe the reformulation ruined it, but this sad thing has been absolutely neutered. Nothing even remotely interesting.
After reading many of the other comments, apparently there's an original formula, and a "new/current" formula, and as usual in these cases, the original I read is the better one. That said, I've only smelled the "new" formula I guess, because I smelled it for the first time tonight, and don't like it so much.
In fact, I borderline hate it, but there's still something there that maybe I don't hate, so I gave it a Neutral rating. Perhaps it would grow on me in time, but I doubt I'll give it that chance, with all the other great scents out there to wear instead.
Also, to be fair, I'm basing my review only on the smell of the aftershave cream, which I applied to the top of my hand, but it was from a Davidoff Cool Water gift set at Sam's Club that had the aftershave cream, some other cream, and a bottle of the cologne, and of the 4 packages left, ALL of them had the bottle of cologne missing; I assume stolen, so I had no other choice, but I'm sure the cologne smells the same as the aftershave cream.
To me, this has a very sharp, "green", flowery but chemical-ly, cheap smell. Almost makes me nauseous in all honesty.
I generally like all men's colognes to some extent, but this one? I think I'll take a pass.
In fact, I borderline hate it, but there's still something there that maybe I don't hate, so I gave it a Neutral rating. Perhaps it would grow on me in time, but I doubt I'll give it that chance, with all the other great scents out there to wear instead.
Also, to be fair, I'm basing my review only on the smell of the aftershave cream, which I applied to the top of my hand, but it was from a Davidoff Cool Water gift set at Sam's Club that had the aftershave cream, some other cream, and a bottle of the cologne, and of the 4 packages left, ALL of them had the bottle of cologne missing; I assume stolen, so I had no other choice, but I'm sure the cologne smells the same as the aftershave cream.
To me, this has a very sharp, "green", flowery but chemical-ly, cheap smell. Almost makes me nauseous in all honesty.
I generally like all men's colognes to some extent, but this one? I think I'll take a pass.
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Very easy to wear! Clean, fresh, and aquatic. The bottle definitely matches the scent. A classic! I was lucky enough to come across a vendor who is selling brand new and sealed boxes of the original formula which comes across as more green and piney. Previously, I wore the updated Cool Water which is what we see being sold all over the place now.
Fragrances in general tend to die pretty quickly on me and this is no exception. Within an hour, I can't even smell it even if I sprayed it ten times on myself. That is my only complaint about this fragrance.
Other than that, it's totally safe. If I can't decide what to wear, this is usually what I'm grabbing.
Fragrances in general tend to die pretty quickly on me and this is no exception. Within an hour, I can't even smell it even if I sprayed it ten times on myself. That is my only complaint about this fragrance.
Other than that, it's totally safe. If I can't decide what to wear, this is usually what I'm grabbing.
If you don't like it, then you don't like it. Cool water could easily be sold at 5 times the price under a different name by a different house and it would fly off the shelves. A wonderful summer fragrance, has a happiness about it and makes me feel good. I first wore it in my teens, 30 years on and I still enjoy it.
It's had many comparisons to Green Irish Tweed for good reason. They are different but share a similar DNA . Cool Water can be picked at such a reasonable price that it's a no brainer to put one in your wash bag.
It's had many comparisons to Green Irish Tweed for good reason. They are different but share a similar DNA . Cool Water can be picked at such a reasonable price that it's a no brainer to put one in your wash bag.
A strong, clean and long lasting scent, a classic. I kept on getting pleasant whiffs of this through out the day.
I've known Cool Water for.. let me think... over 25 years now and yes, it was different from what it is now. Apparently I had a chance to buy Green Irish Tweed occasionally and let me tell you a story...
Cool Water in 90's was stronger, less chemical to me than it is now. Right off the bat it was lush greennes, I felt mainly sea accord, lavender, mint and sandalwood. That's it. It was quite a lot similar to how GIT smells nowadays (to me and my nose). I've used plenty of bottles, it was one of my first real scents, I started using it when I was 15 (eventhough it didn't really fit me, I didn't care, I liked the smell). I went through... liters of it, no joke. And suddenly I got bored. I started bashing it.
I got a bottle this year. All the memories of youth... They're back! You know what? Yes, it's waaay different than GIT in... first few hours. In the drydown, the similarity is bigger than I've ever thought it can be. Now I can smell it.
Still, I think it's a good perfume. One of my spring and summer stables. Hopefully, from now on, for a long
Cool Water in 90's was stronger, less chemical to me than it is now. Right off the bat it was lush greennes, I felt mainly sea accord, lavender, mint and sandalwood. That's it. It was quite a lot similar to how GIT smells nowadays (to me and my nose). I've used plenty of bottles, it was one of my first real scents, I started using it when I was 15 (eventhough it didn't really fit me, I didn't care, I liked the smell). I went through... liters of it, no joke. And suddenly I got bored. I started bashing it.
I got a bottle this year. All the memories of youth... They're back! You know what? Yes, it's waaay different than GIT in... first few hours. In the drydown, the similarity is bigger than I've ever thought it can be. Now I can smell it.
Still, I think it's a good perfume. One of my spring and summer stables. Hopefully, from now on, for a long
The Bourdon classic that was released three years after Olivier Creed bought a prototype formula for a suit and a promise. Not much more to be said. Green, fresh, and timeless.
What is there to say about Cool Water that hasn't already been said a thousand times already? Professor Xavier might wear this (he would never wear GIT) on a summer day while mutants are at peace with the humans, but you'd never smell a student wear it at the Academy. It immediately evokes fatherliness, even if that's not its original intent. I'm personally very neutral to this. I sometimes wear it on casual summer days, but modern blues are more on trend. It doesn't hurt to own a bottle, they can be had dirt cheap at discounters online or at rack stores. Or you could just swipe the bottle from your dad's bedroom. He'll get another one for his birthday anyway.
Cool, crisp and fresh. Just the same as it was in 1988 upon it's release. Inoffensive and still draws complements after all these many years. Cool Water will always be a staple in my wardrobe. Thumbs up.
The world doesn’t likely need another review of Cool Water. It has legions of fans, and no small number of detractors. I can see both sides. But weighing it all, it’s still a big Thumbs Up for me. Partly this is because it’s such a great, affordable workhorse fragrance, perfect for almost any occasion. But also, for both the scent layman and cognoscenti, I feel like Cool Water is a dark and mysterious fougere masquerading as an aquatic. The salty marine component is there with the mint and rosemary, but the drydown dives into something much deeper—cedar, a bit of oak moss, and ashy tobacco—that has me nodding appreciatively at the end of the day at how damn good it smells. And with the current trend in fragrances with the new aroma chemicals, I think I like it even more now than when it first came out nearly thirty-five years ago. A modern classic and great reference frag that won’t break the bank.
1988, Cool Water, the beginning of the end… the primordial chemical soup that spawned thousands of calonic freshy laundry spikey noxious monsters that haunt us to this day.
I discovered this scent through my older brother at his wedding, and honestly felt like I had to get it.
Really 'nice'. Absolutely no rough edges, fresh and a bit refreshingly clean and 'minty'. Christmas gift, or for a boyfriend gift galore, hence it's a bit of a 'faberge brut' but for 90s kids. I would never feel comfortable wearing this, now that i have turned 60, unless the shower broke and my cheap deodorant ran out.
In the year 2021 and possibly after many reformulations since the late 80s, this concoction smells literally like a cheap fabric conditioner or dryer sheets. There is no class, no sophistication, just one ozonic, soapy smell that lingers. You can find it at the discounters at a ridiculously low price but it ain't worth it
It's an excellent scent, well crafted by master perfumer Pierre Bourdon and it was a genre defining fragrance. You should buy this fragrance if you want to smell like generic fabric softener. Herein lies the problem, Cool Water has become a victim of its own success. So many manufacturers of scented products have emulated the scent that it now smells just like so many shower gels, soaps, ironing sprays, fabric softeners etc.. Because it is a classic fragrance many collectors will want to have it in their collection, as I currently do. But these days there are aquatics out there that are more fresh, distinctive and modern than Cool Water. If you're looking for an aquatic cheapie it's fine, but even then I would suggest that you give Nautica Voyage a try for something more fresh and contemporary. So overall a great fragrance that in the late 80s or 1990s I would have given a thumbs up. But now I feel more neutral about it. Great in it's day but better options out there now.
I traveled to Vietnam in 2008 with two of my friends, and we were going out one night. I hadn't thought of bringing any fragrances on that trip and, to be honest, I really wasn't into fragrances at that time, as I only owned Acqua Di Gio and Code from Armani. As we were about to leave the hotel, I could smell this fresh, somewhat aquatic scent on my friend, which I found quite noticeable.
I asked him for a spray, and liked it. It performed quite well in the super hot, ultra humid Vietnamese climate. When I flew back home, I got a bottle of this, and was surprised at how low the price was. I wore that fragrance for some time, especially during summer nights. It did not seem to perform nearly as well as it did in Vietnam, though.
Cool Water has good sillage for maybe an hour or so, but it quickly becomes a skin scent. Its longevity is below average, which usually had me use another spray during the night.
It's a pretty bread and butter fragrance, which may come in handy every now and then. I don't wear it anymore, but honestly, I still have to give this one credit for being one of the first few fragrances that I ever bought and enjoyed.
It is a cheapie, and I suppose for anyone who's just a casual user of fragrances, looking for a good value, this is a blue scent that you can wear occasionally on summer nights. It is not particularly refined and it definitely smells somewhat dated. Therefore, I'd probably say this is better suited for a middle aged man at this point, meant to be worn occasionally.
I asked him for a spray, and liked it. It performed quite well in the super hot, ultra humid Vietnamese climate. When I flew back home, I got a bottle of this, and was surprised at how low the price was. I wore that fragrance for some time, especially during summer nights. It did not seem to perform nearly as well as it did in Vietnam, though.
Cool Water has good sillage for maybe an hour or so, but it quickly becomes a skin scent. Its longevity is below average, which usually had me use another spray during the night.
It's a pretty bread and butter fragrance, which may come in handy every now and then. I don't wear it anymore, but honestly, I still have to give this one credit for being one of the first few fragrances that I ever bought and enjoyed.
It is a cheapie, and I suppose for anyone who's just a casual user of fragrances, looking for a good value, this is a blue scent that you can wear occasionally on summer nights. It is not particularly refined and it definitely smells somewhat dated. Therefore, I'd probably say this is better suited for a middle aged man at this point, meant to be worn occasionally.
Cool Water was released the same year I was born (1988). And, of the handful of scents that was omnipresent (especially growing up in the 90s), Cool Water was always at the top of the list. This was one of the first scents that I remember absolutely falling in love with when I was a young lad.
Cool Water was one of those scents that I didn't identify by name until my adult life. But, after buying a bottle recently; I recognized this scent immediately, and fell in love with it all over again. So, a part of my verdict will be coming from a place of nostalgia. Nonetheless, I will be as objective as I can be.
A few sprays of Cool Water, and you're greeted with a tsunami wave of pine tree and moss. Along with the wave evergreen, is the smell of an early-spring seaside breeze and a pleasant soapy fresh scent. Add a pinch of lavender and that's pretty much the top notes of Cool Water. Even though "orange" is listed as one of the top notes; I don't detect any citrus note. Maybe, it's just me.
Cool Water has been around for over 30-years, and many people have made the observation that it smells very similar to many men's bottled bodywashes. I will attest; to me, it smells like a combination of Irish Spring bodywash mixed with Old Spice Pure Sport deodorant. That description might sound unholy to some - to me, it's simple and refreshing. But, it's not necessarily the opening notes that made me fall in love with this scent.
Top note projection lasts roughly 1-1.5 hours. But, for me, the real magic happens after this period - where the the top notes begin to peter-out, and the mid/base notes start to emerge.
After the piney, ocean/mossy opening; gradually, we are greeted with the arrival of amber, musk, and sandlewood. I'm not gonna lie, I'm a complete sucker for those three individually in a fragrance, let alone together. But, it's the addition of the cedar and pepperment that makes me love this scent.
I absolutely love the woody smell of ceder. And, the pepperment in this smells like sniffing a fresh tin of Altoids, or the minty smell of spearmint Extra chewing gum; before you chew the gum: it smells like the gum still inside the paper/aluminum sleeve.
Like many older fragrances, reformulation hasn't been too kind to it; on me, Cool Water is a 6.5hr fragrance at best. It's a shame, really. Cool Water is like that 2 1/2 minute catchy pop/rock song that you'd wish would go on longer...but, doesn't. It's there, and then it's gone. But, the memory of it lingers with you for the rest of the day.
Who would I recommend Cool Water to? Well, that's kinda tricky. Normally I would say this scent covers a very large age-range. But, times change. Trends change. Cool Water might not appeal to young noses; they may associate this scent with guys who are old now: Fathers. Older male relatives. Teachers. Colleagues. Bosses, etc.
It is cheap though; you can get a 4.2oz bottle on discount fragrance sites and Ebay in the low-mid 20$ range all day long. Testers and smaller bottles go even lower.
Due to its aquadic/fresh nature; Cool Water is a daytime scent I would wear on spring/early-summertime day, particularly near a beach or a seaside coast. But, because it's such a versatile scent, you can throw this in your gym bag or wear this at formal occasions.
If Cool Water was a car, it would be an old, well-preserved Toyota Camry: Unassuming. Kind of boring. Simple. And, many have used it.
But just like a boring old Toyota Camry: It's cheap. It's reliable. Many people used have them; and a lot of great memories were made with them. And, it works.
It still works...at least it does for me. Maybe I'm just a rube.
4.25 out of 5.
Cool Water was one of those scents that I didn't identify by name until my adult life. But, after buying a bottle recently; I recognized this scent immediately, and fell in love with it all over again. So, a part of my verdict will be coming from a place of nostalgia. Nonetheless, I will be as objective as I can be.
A few sprays of Cool Water, and you're greeted with a tsunami wave of pine tree and moss. Along with the wave evergreen, is the smell of an early-spring seaside breeze and a pleasant soapy fresh scent. Add a pinch of lavender and that's pretty much the top notes of Cool Water. Even though "orange" is listed as one of the top notes; I don't detect any citrus note. Maybe, it's just me.
Cool Water has been around for over 30-years, and many people have made the observation that it smells very similar to many men's bottled bodywashes. I will attest; to me, it smells like a combination of Irish Spring bodywash mixed with Old Spice Pure Sport deodorant. That description might sound unholy to some - to me, it's simple and refreshing. But, it's not necessarily the opening notes that made me fall in love with this scent.
Top note projection lasts roughly 1-1.5 hours. But, for me, the real magic happens after this period - where the the top notes begin to peter-out, and the mid/base notes start to emerge.
After the piney, ocean/mossy opening; gradually, we are greeted with the arrival of amber, musk, and sandlewood. I'm not gonna lie, I'm a complete sucker for those three individually in a fragrance, let alone together. But, it's the addition of the cedar and pepperment that makes me love this scent.
I absolutely love the woody smell of ceder. And, the pepperment in this smells like sniffing a fresh tin of Altoids, or the minty smell of spearmint Extra chewing gum; before you chew the gum: it smells like the gum still inside the paper/aluminum sleeve.
Like many older fragrances, reformulation hasn't been too kind to it; on me, Cool Water is a 6.5hr fragrance at best. It's a shame, really. Cool Water is like that 2 1/2 minute catchy pop/rock song that you'd wish would go on longer...but, doesn't. It's there, and then it's gone. But, the memory of it lingers with you for the rest of the day.
Who would I recommend Cool Water to? Well, that's kinda tricky. Normally I would say this scent covers a very large age-range. But, times change. Trends change. Cool Water might not appeal to young noses; they may associate this scent with guys who are old now: Fathers. Older male relatives. Teachers. Colleagues. Bosses, etc.
It is cheap though; you can get a 4.2oz bottle on discount fragrance sites and Ebay in the low-mid 20$ range all day long. Testers and smaller bottles go even lower.
Due to its aquadic/fresh nature; Cool Water is a daytime scent I would wear on spring/early-summertime day, particularly near a beach or a seaside coast. But, because it's such a versatile scent, you can throw this in your gym bag or wear this at formal occasions.
If Cool Water was a car, it would be an old, well-preserved Toyota Camry: Unassuming. Kind of boring. Simple. And, many have used it.
But just like a boring old Toyota Camry: It's cheap. It's reliable. Many people used have them; and a lot of great memories were made with them. And, it works.
It still works...at least it does for me. Maybe I'm just a rube.
4.25 out of 5.
Fresh and blue, absolutely perfect and beautiful. The reference aquatic and yet so much more. The performance of current formulations is admittedly sub-par; it reminds me of what a cheap 'knock-off' of Cool Water would have been like in the 1990s. Having finally (thanks to a kind BNer) had the opportunity to obtain a bottle of vintage(Lancaster) If you like/love CW, vintage is worth it. For me the opening has just that tinge of aged/alcohol but after that I was blessed with a thicker, heavier, richer Cool Water with a worthy projection and longevity I was really hoping for.
Reviewing the modern run-of -the-mill version:
It's a little brighter and synthetic than Creed's Green Irish Tweed but 1/10th the price. Lavender, peppermint, rosemary, and orange blossom blend into that refreshing iconic top that denotes CW. It's insanely affordable with longevity relative to the price point. You can currently obtain the big 200mil bottle and body wash for less than $50 US. This was my signature scent from 1990-1994. Fast forward 25 years and this is still a revelation. As one of the most important fragrances of all time it must be experienced. Blind buy worthy for that alone. Thumbs Up
150 wear update: As far as I'm concerned I'm the self proclaimed Cool Water ambassador.
Reviewing the modern run-of -the-mill version:
It's a little brighter and synthetic than Creed's Green Irish Tweed but 1/10th the price. Lavender, peppermint, rosemary, and orange blossom blend into that refreshing iconic top that denotes CW. It's insanely affordable with longevity relative to the price point. You can currently obtain the big 200mil bottle and body wash for less than $50 US. This was my signature scent from 1990-1994. Fast forward 25 years and this is still a revelation. As one of the most important fragrances of all time it must be experienced. Blind buy worthy for that alone. Thumbs Up
150 wear update: As far as I'm concerned I'm the self proclaimed Cool Water ambassador.
A fresh classic. Still, in 2020, this one does not smell dated to me. Sure, nothing super special about it - just a nice, clean every day fresh scent.
Low priced and long lasting. I get longevity of a full work day (8 hours) and above average projection for close to 2 hours.
No wonder it has been a top seller for decades.
The scent 8/10
Projection/sillage 7/10
Price/value 9/10
Low priced and long lasting. I get longevity of a full work day (8 hours) and above average projection for close to 2 hours.
No wonder it has been a top seller for decades.
The scent 8/10
Projection/sillage 7/10
Price/value 9/10
Ohhh Cool Water. My high school scent of choice brings back nostalgic memories related to chilly football games, pickup trucks, and a complete lack of discretion for cologne projection.
Blast 2 or 3 (or 6) sprays of this dark blue magic and the soapy clean open slowly turns into a synthetic hot mess of musk and aquatic-ey woods recently described as "Most Mens Bodywash".
While you could do much worse, I think my biggest hangup with Cool Water is how generic it smells these days, similar to those $1 sprays you could buy in a mall bathroom. While it may have been trendy and cutting edge upon debut (was it?), nowadays you have smelled Davidoff (or its dozens of knockoffs and inspired-bys) on dozens and dozens of gentlemen in various different inexpensive soaps, sprays, aftershaves, etc.
Not bad, not great, too forgettable to put in the "Nostalgia" pile, but maybe best as an inexpensive weekend scent that doesn't take much thought.
Blast 2 or 3 (or 6) sprays of this dark blue magic and the soapy clean open slowly turns into a synthetic hot mess of musk and aquatic-ey woods recently described as "Most Mens Bodywash".
While you could do much worse, I think my biggest hangup with Cool Water is how generic it smells these days, similar to those $1 sprays you could buy in a mall bathroom. While it may have been trendy and cutting edge upon debut (was it?), nowadays you have smelled Davidoff (or its dozens of knockoffs and inspired-bys) on dozens and dozens of gentlemen in various different inexpensive soaps, sprays, aftershaves, etc.
Not bad, not great, too forgettable to put in the "Nostalgia" pile, but maybe best as an inexpensive weekend scent that doesn't take much thought.
Big thumbs down, I literally hate this stuff on my skin that's the problem. Smells good on my brother so I gave it to him.
Aspen and Tres Nuit are so much closer to GIT. I do not detect any grassiness in CW. Smells cheap and bland on my skin. In a word, literally, yuck.
Aspen and Tres Nuit are so much closer to GIT. I do not detect any grassiness in CW. Smells cheap and bland on my skin. In a word, literally, yuck.
hello, I am new here and new to collecting fragrances. Good to be here and it is really good to hear that I am not alone on my review of cool water.
I have been saying for years to many people that as I get older I really love nice smells. I appreciate all the good scents! Of course, we are all human with a nose, right? Although as I said as I have grown older I really have become fond of good scents of all kinds and forms.
I have been studying fragrances online and Utube for weeks now. I spent 400 dollars on fragrances and really like all of them. I have been buying a bunch of mini bottles and sets so that I can explore.
I decided to buy a 4.2 oz bottle of Davidoff cool water because of all the positive professional reviews. I figured that if it is not great, I can spray it on my towels and bathroom fixtures as I have done with bargain basket fragrances in the past.
I opened the bottle of cool water yesterday for the first time. I sprayed my arms one time each. I could not believe that I have heard, seen, and read so many positive reviews on this fragrance. I even did not want to waste my time keeping it and spraying it on my bathroom fixtures. I put it right back in the box drove to the post office and shipped it back, because the company will accept products that have been tested. I wasted the price of shipping which is close to a third of the cost of the bottle.
I have no problem with not liking this fragrance. My problem is, why so many fragrance experts have said great things about this scent? It is nothing special and it did nothing what so ever for me. Now I can not take the word of all the experts, because of this and that stinks.
From now on I have to sample products before I purchase. This was not much of a waste of money, but a good lesson. I will spend the money on a sample before I buy a product. Maybe someone is being paid to say great things about this product. It is nothing special what so ever. I purchased it from a reputable company, so it had to be authentic. Would anyone spend the time on making a fake Coolwater? lol, I really have a problem understanding why so many people have boasted about cool water being so great? Tobacco note? yeah really.
I have been saying for years to many people that as I get older I really love nice smells. I appreciate all the good scents! Of course, we are all human with a nose, right? Although as I said as I have grown older I really have become fond of good scents of all kinds and forms.
I have been studying fragrances online and Utube for weeks now. I spent 400 dollars on fragrances and really like all of them. I have been buying a bunch of mini bottles and sets so that I can explore.
I decided to buy a 4.2 oz bottle of Davidoff cool water because of all the positive professional reviews. I figured that if it is not great, I can spray it on my towels and bathroom fixtures as I have done with bargain basket fragrances in the past.
I opened the bottle of cool water yesterday for the first time. I sprayed my arms one time each. I could not believe that I have heard, seen, and read so many positive reviews on this fragrance. I even did not want to waste my time keeping it and spraying it on my bathroom fixtures. I put it right back in the box drove to the post office and shipped it back, because the company will accept products that have been tested. I wasted the price of shipping which is close to a third of the cost of the bottle.
I have no problem with not liking this fragrance. My problem is, why so many fragrance experts have said great things about this scent? It is nothing special and it did nothing what so ever for me. Now I can not take the word of all the experts, because of this and that stinks.
From now on I have to sample products before I purchase. This was not much of a waste of money, but a good lesson. I will spend the money on a sample before I buy a product. Maybe someone is being paid to say great things about this product. It is nothing special what so ever. I purchased it from a reputable company, so it had to be authentic. Would anyone spend the time on making a fake Coolwater? lol, I really have a problem understanding why so many people have boasted about cool water being so great? Tobacco note? yeah really.
32 years after it's debut, and this Godfather of the aquatic-freshie genre is still a very popular best-seller, that transcends generations with it's winning, timeless fragrance!
Jasmine, lavender, peppermint, sandalwood, oakmoss all combine so nicely in a fresh symphony. Straight-forward yet multidimensional in it's development, with various aspects of the fragrance delightfully returning in gentle wafts hourly during its dry-down! And so affordable! You just can't go wrong with this.
Jasmine, lavender, peppermint, sandalwood, oakmoss all combine so nicely in a fresh symphony. Straight-forward yet multidimensional in it's development, with various aspects of the fragrance delightfully returning in gentle wafts hourly during its dry-down! And so affordable! You just can't go wrong with this.