The mid-morning sun kisses your bronzed skin as you idly comb the sand with your toes. A gentle, salty breeze. Crashing waves leaving meandering trails of foam in their wake. Subtle wafts of cedar and hibiscus from the distant clifftops come, then go.

Lovely. Just lovely. Now if only someone could bottle that feeling…

Alright, alright. I’ll drop the charade already and cue my top picks for cologne that smells like the beach. The last thing I want to do is pigeonhole summer scents to one set of top, middle, and base notes. There’s plenty of room for nuance, especially considering how biodiverse coastal environments are around the world.

Floral and citrus scents. Aquatic fragrances. Earthy, woody notes like cedar and musk. Combined at the hands of expert perfumers, all of these fragrance profiles (and countless others) can and do come beautifully together to create fresh, crowd-pleasing colognes brimming with beach vibes.

From wallet-friendly bottles to your next prized fragrance, these are my top six beach cologne picks for your spritzing pleasure.

Key Takeaways

To find the best cologne that smells like the beach, I began by poring over dozens of bottles, fragrance profiles, ingredient lists, customer reviews, photos, and even my own stash of fragrances.

The resulting six are the best of the best based on factors that include but aren’t limited to top, middle, and base notes, versatility, longevity, and projection. My top overall pick—Tommy Bahama Maritime Journey—is packed with beachy scents and boasts impressive longevity. On its heels is a classic, almost universally complimented cologne: Jimmy Choo Man Aqua Eau de Toilette.

Why it’s great: Sail into the brisk sea breeze with this fresh and clean fragrance. Be whisked away by the energizing blend of crisp apples married with springy notes of cilantro, transitioning to a calming mixture of florals. This scent ends on a dry, yet grounded, woody and pepper base. The fragrance is perfect for the man that seeks adventure around every corner, evoking the sensation of a full-sails ride across the waves.

How to use it: For optimal results, apply the cologne to pulse points such as the wrists, behind the ears, and the base of the neck. Its invigorating aroma is best experienced when applied after a shower, ensuring longevity throughout the day.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: While this Tommy Bahama fragrance encapsulates the maritime theme beautifully, some might find the initial apple note a bit overpowering. However, as it settles, the harmonious blend of other notes comes to the forefront, making it a well-rounded scent.

Top Notes: Green apple, Guatemalan Cardamom, Lavender | Middle Notes: Cilantro, Violet, Wild Orchid | Base Notes: Moss, Clear Wood, Cedarwood | Size: 4.2 oz | Type: Eau de Parfum | Season: All Seasons, Summer

Why it’s great: Jimmy Choo’s Man Aqua is a harmonious blend that captures the essence of a refreshing marine journey. The opening notes of stimulating spice and the sweetness of cardamom ride a sparkling wave of grapefruit. As it settles, the heart reveals icy geranium and clary sage, both mingling with the core marine accord. The base notes of patchouli and amber are given a unique twist with the addition of salted moss, making it a scent that lingers with a soft, seafaring-inspired touch. The fragrance is an olfactive ode to the ocean, with packaging that resonates with the maritime theme, adorned with the iconic Jimmy Choo Man crocodile in a dynamic blue-grey.

How to use it: A strategic spritz on the collarbone and inner elbows sets the tone. Heading out under the sun? A dash on the ankles ensures the scent rises, echoing the strength of the tides. Dive deep into its marine essence, and let this aroma be your wingman from dawn’s first light to the night’s final call.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: While the fragrance beautifully captures the marine essence, some might find the marine accord a tad too dominant. However, as it settles, the harmonious blend of other notes shines through, making it a versatile scent for various occasions.

Top Notes: Cardamom, Grapefruit | Middle Notes: Geranium, Clary Sage | Base Notes: Patchouli, Amber, Salted Moss | Size: 3.4 oz | Type: Eau de Parfum | Season: All Seasons, Summer

Why it’s great: No list about men’s cologne that smells like the beach would be complete without a nod to Nautica Voyage. It’s a classic fragrance with green, fruity notes, floral undertones, and a flourishing finish consisting of musk, cedar, and amber. The end result is one of the most popular spring and summer colognes of all time (as partially evidenced by its nearly 100,000 5-star reviews on Amazon). Not quite a barbershop cologne and far from a luxury product, Voyage lives in the sweet spot of wallet-friendly fragrances that are actually created thoughtfully and with nuance.

How to use it: Voyage’s blend of crisp, green opening notes and masculine base notes make it an excellent everyday option that can even hold its own during a casual date or at a wedding.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Voyage has a shorter longevity of around four to five hours, so you’ll need to bring your bottle to work if you want it to last through happy hour. (Or from happy hour to nightcap.)

Top Notes: Apple, Green Leaves | Middle Notes: Lotus | Base Notes: Musk, Cedar, Oakmoss, Amber | Size: 3.3 oz | Type: Eau de Toilette | Season: Spring, Summer

Why it’s great: Creed. Yes, as you’ve likely predicted, here comes renowned fragrance brand Creed. This time with its beachy head-turner, Royal Water. Citrus and mint kick things off before giving way to similar yet deeper notes of juniper and basil. And as you’ve come to expect from Creed’s other fragrances, Royal Water’s long finish is punctuated by heady notes of musk and ambergris.

How to use it: As most luxury bottles are, this one should be used to compliment your existing fragrance collection. Bust this special bottle out during the spring and summer to make an impression at the alfresco steakhouse, rooftop cocktail soiree, or during any other occasion that you want to grace with your newly renovated pulse points.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Royal Water—or any Creed fragrance, for that matter—works best for guys looking to elevate an existing cologne collection. It’s a standout fragrance best reserved for select occasions.

Top Notes: Citrus, Mint | Middle Notes: Juniper, Basil | Base Notes: Musk, Ambergris | Size: 3.3 oz | Type: Eau de Parfum | Season: Spring, Summer

Why it’s great: Short-sleeve button-downs with flamingos and margarita glasses all over them aside, Tommy Bahama knows how to make a damn fine fragrance. Beach fragrances, specifically. Take St. Barts, for example, with its top notes of lime, tequila, and agave (sounds familiar) that segue into salt and guava before rounding out with vanilla, musk, and hints of leather. If it sounds like spritzing a better-smelling margarita on your body, that’s because it’s like spritzing a better-smelling margarita on your body.

How to use it: Take this bottle with you to your next beach vacation to enhance the natural scents all around you from day well into night.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: You’re working with a super specific fragrance in Tommy Bahama’s St. Barts. Its semi-sweet top and middle notes are balanced nicely by deeper base notes, but the opening may still be too crisp for some wearers.

Top Notes: Lime, Tequila, Agave | Middle Notes: Salt, Guava | Base Notes: Palm Leaf, Vanilla, Musk | Size: 3.4 oz | Type: Eau de Cologne | Season: Summer

Why it’s great: Another potential entrant to the luxury category is Tom Ford’s Costa Azzurra Acqua. The name alone takes you to the beach, but Ford goes one further with lemon, juniper, cypress, amber, and labdanum laced throughout this sexy, summery bottle. It’s a super balanced eau de toilette that’s ready for any and all fair-weather shenanigans you can throw at it. Amazon reviewers have been sleeping on this one, but it’s not to be missed if you’re looking to quickly get your hands on a bottle.

How to use it: Save this come-hither fragrance for those warm spring and summer nights spent on breezy patios or taking sunset joyrides on a deck boat.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Costa Azzurra Acqua is less versatile than some other colognes on this list in terms of where you should wear it.

Top Notes: Lemon, Juniper, Myrtle | Middle Notes: Cypress, Pine | Base Notes: Amber, Labdanum | Size: 3.4 oz | Type: Eau de Toilette | Season: Spring, Summer

Why it’s great: Bvlgari is no stranger to expertly blending beachy scents. One of my favorite all-around colognes for the warmer months is its beautifully balanced Aqua Pour Homme. Like the other greats on my list, its top and middle notes keep things sunny, drawing from citrus, seaweed, lavender, and cotton. Where does it go from there? You guessed it: wood, patchouli, sage, and amber. It’s a tried and true formula that Bvlgari pulls off better than most.

How to use it: Meet your new everyday cologne—as long as those days fall within the spring and summer, that is. Sure, like most good fragrances, you could pull it off during the fall and maybe even the winter, but the light top and middle notes will best serve you when temps are up.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly everyday cologne, something like Nautica Voyage may be more your speed.

Top Notes: Orange, Petitgrain | Middle Notes: Seaweed, Lavender, Cotton Flower | Base Notes: Wood, Patchouli, Clary Sage, Amber | Size: 3.4 oz | Type: Eau de Toilette | Season: Spring, Summer

Why it’s great: Byredo’s mostly unisex lineup of fragrances is as diverse as it is outstanding. For bottled beach vibes from the Swedish brand, it behooves you to reach for Sundazed. This popular fragrance opens with wide-ranging citrus notes, followed by neroli, jasmine, and ultimately cotton candy and musk. It’s a nuanced olfactory rollercoaster in all the right ways and also features an impressive longevity of up to 10 hours depending on your skin’s pH.

How to use it: Sundazed is not the type of fragrance to paint itself into a corner. It’s the perfect bottle for work (thanks to its long shelf life and crowd-pleasing fragrance profile), but is also suitable for spring and summer dates, happy hour, and almost any other occasion.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: This unisex scent is as light and airy as you’d expect from a beach cologne, but it lacks a deep masculine throughline that many guys look for in a fragrance.

Top Notes: Mandarin Orange, Lemon | Middle Notes: Neroli, Jasmine | Base Notes: Cotton Candy, White Musk | Size: 3.4 oz | Type: Eau de Parfum | Season: Spring, Summer

Buying Considerations For Cologne That Smells Like The Beach

Fragrance Profile

When you think about cologne that smells like the beach, you probably think salty aquatic scents, floral notes like hibiscus, and earthy notes like beach elder and driftwood. And you definitely wouldn’t be wrong.

But keep in mind that the biodiversity of the earth’s coasts is immense and that beachy cologne fragrances can include any number of nuanced ingredients. At the end of the day, you’re looking for a light and airy fragrance that’s subtly offset by earthy notes.

Longevity

Before scooping up a cologne that smells like the beach, think about when and where you’ll be wearing it. To the office? On a date? Wherever that might be, make sure the longevity of the fragrance you choose is going to stick with you for the duration.

Nautica Voyage, for instance, tends to last around four to five hours. Byredo Sundazed, on the other hand, features a more impressive shelf life of closer to nine or 10 hours depending on your skin’s pH. Further, specialty products like solid colognes meet you somewhere in the middle with a typical range of between four and eight hours.

Price

If you’re new to cologne or are thinking about dipping a toe into the fragrance world, you may not realize that there are several outstanding options out there—many of which are below the $50 mark. Of course, the same is true on the opposite end of the spectrum. Luxury fragrances abound. With scent being as subjective as it is, remind yourself to never judge a book by its cover when it comes to the price of cologne.

Why You Should Trust Us

As a fashion and grooming writer at FashionBeans, I compare, test, and research the products that make a gentleman a gentleman. If it can be worn, carried, or used in a way that elevates your look and feel, I’m into it.

For this review, I pored over trusted sources, fragrance profiles, ingredient lists, customer reviews, and my own fragrance collection to understand what makes the best cologne that smells like the beach. After comparing dozens of bottles, I chose the resulting six based on considerations like longevity, top, middle, and base notes, versatility, and projection. Ultimately, I want to see everyone find the best cologne for them.   

Final Verdict

Colognes that smells like the beach typically contain a combination of aquatic, floral, and earthy notes. Hibiscus. Salt. Driftwood. These profiles create excellent smelling fragrances, but there’s plenty of room for nuance.