Davidoff Cool Water Intense Eau de Parfum Spray

Looking for a "cheap and cheerful" unisex fragrance? Cool Water Intense by Davidoff ticks that box perfectly. If you’re after a budget-friendly scent that brings tropical vibes with zero effort, this one’s a no-brainer. The 40ml version can often be found for around $20 (or your local equivalent) - and trust me, don’t spend more than that! Despite the familiar name, this isn’t just another flanker of the legendary Cool Water. Instead, perfumery veteran Annick Ménardo (the nose behind classics like Bvlgari Black and Diesel Fuel for Life) crafted a scent that takes a completely different route. Cool Water Intense (2019) ditches the original’s aquatic DNA and replaces it with something much sweeter and more playful. There's non of that GIT vibe here. A juicy blast of green mandarin sets the stage for what’s essentially a coconut cocktail in a bottle. As the citrus fades, a creamy coconut nectar accord steps in, evoking sunscreen, beach bars, and carefree summer days... but to be truthful this isn’t a niche masterpiece. It leans "synthetic", and if you’ve ever smelled one of those coconut-scented air fresheners from the ‘90s, you’ll recognize a familiar touch of nostalgia. My father used to have one, pretty much with the exact same smell! The dry down keeps things simple but effective. A slightly warm, ambery sweetness that continues the tropical mood going without becoming cloying. There’s no complexity here, but that’s exactly the point: it’s fun, easygoing, and effortlessly wearable. For something this affordable, Cool Water Intense actually delivers respectable performance. Expect around 8 hours of longevity, with a noticeable presence for the first 2-3 hours before it settles closer to the skin. It won’t fill a room, but within arm’s length, it does a decent job. If you're after a simple, budget-friendly tropical scent, Cool Water Intense is an easy grab. It shines best in warm weather and casual settings, making it perfect for vacations, beach days, or just when you want to channel summer vibes year-round. This could also be an ideal post-gym fragrance. Yes, it’s synthetic, but for $20 or less, you’re getting a fun, relaxed fragrance that punches well above its price. For your Ryanair tropical escape, this one’s hard to beat.

Let's say right away that it has nothing to do with the original Cool Water, they are just two completely different things. I think the name “Intense” is spot on, for me two sprays are more than enough, in larger quantities I find it annoying. The fragrance is dominated by an amber base, which is enriched by the sweet/sour scent of green mandarin and a coconut background (which for me is very light and certainly not in the foreground). As far as quality is concerned, it may actually give the idea of something artificial and unnatural, but considering the low cost it can certainly make sense as a 'tropical' alternative for summer evenings.